Wedge-tailed Shearwater(WTSH), "chick" (Puffinus pacificus)We are conducting some final sweeps around the island for WTSH's that need banding and weighing. There have been a number of them that are pretty much free of any downy feathers, like the guy pictured above. Those are nearing flegling status, when they first fly...and then ultimately off the island.
But still there are downy chicks, some with less than others. Some sporting mohawks of down, some a Friar Tuck look, others an Ebenezer Scrooge 'do.
This guy pictured was free of down, has slimmed up, and is a healthy good-looking bird. When they become this developed, we can tell that they are young of the year by them still sporting gray feathers on their backs.
When it's all said and done, over 500 WTSH's will have been banded.
Some day, kid, this will be you. Some day soon.
1 comment:
Matt,
Great picture of "Bitey." 500 banded sounds like a lot of good/hard work. Well done.
bd
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