Breeding Report from Paradise Park

This year we had three nests in our seclusion aviaries at the Park. We were very hopeful that two of these nests would produce chicks, the third being a speculative first pairing.

Last year, for the first time in several years, we hatched a male chough chick. This bird was put into the third aviary, even though it was highly unlikely to breed. Despite his youth, he still managed to build a ramshackle nest with his older mate. We are hopeful of this pair for next year.

Chough chick one week old - R B Hales

The other two pairs laid seven eggs, six of which hatched. As with our second pair last year, the female gave up on feeding the young after a week. The two survivors were pulled from the nest, but one died almost immediately. The second bird was hand reared By Ray Hales, but also died a further week later.

Our main pair of nesting choughs also had problems. An infection of E Coli, killed off two chicks at very early stage, leaving the total number of two youngster fledging. Although this number is a disappointment compared to our previous two years, it still represents a good increase in numbers.

Chick with parents - A J Hales

Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary, Hayle Cornwall TR27 4HB, UK
www.paradisepark.org.uk