Rainy half-weekend

But there were no releases scheduled, and we did need the rain. Just maybe not all three inches all at once...

The vulture babies are growing like weeds; they’ve slightly more than doubled in weight in the past week, from 124g (4.4 oz.) and 156g (5.5 oz.) last week to 256g (9 oz.) and 341g (12 oz.) this week. They’re more alert for longer and growling and flapping those stubby little wings...Just adorable!

Late this week, a nest of three woodpeckers came in; while their feathers haven’t come in enough to state with 100% certainty, they look and sound like red-bellies to me.

Saturday’s torrential rain did NOT please the great horneds, not at all. It was their first experience with rain and while they do have a blind to take shelter from the weather, they seemed to prefer sitting in the rain and looking angry.

They were nice and dry this morning, though.

Of the mixed species nestlings last week, only the house finch survived. He’s looking really good and perfectly content to sit in his little nest. House finches are pretty laid-back little birds with sweet temperaments, as a rule.

The barreds continue to mature nicely. The barred trio is now doing some limited self-feeding; the older barred has been self-feeding for about two weeks now.

The screeches are honestly starting to look nonreleasable. I do have some placement options if that turns out to be the case, but I’m still hoping for eventual releases.

And the mourning dove released week before last paid a brief visit around mid-week. She’s looking good and seemed quite content.