At last we had the opportunity to take some pictures of the Gyrfalcon chicks.
Next year we will set up a video camera so that we can watch the entire process of raising the chicks from the time the nest is made through to when the chicks are ready to leave the nest, for this year we have to wait for opportunities such as the following when the chicks are removed from the nest, rings placed on their legs and then quickly returned to their, by then, agitated parents.
OK, so I should have used a flash 
, but let's describe what is going on. This picture shows brian climbing the ladder to the hatch that is located just above the ledge that the Gyrfalcon makes its nest. Dorothy is seen about to enter the Mews, her job is to distract the falcons such that they will not attack Brian when he reaches in to take their chics - Dorothy is brave, Brian is brave too plus puts a lot of faith in Dorothy!
It amazes me how fast the chicks grow, in the following pictures the chics are only 10 days old!
Brian is checking to see if the pair of gyrfalcons are preoccupied with Dorothy who by now is inside the mews with the very angry falcons!
Brian reaches in to pick up one of the chics. If Dorothy is not doing a good job (..she always does ), Brian would be in big trouble since the falcons would attack his hand and do a lot of damage! - it is nice to be able to have so much faith in your helper, in this case, Brian's wife.
Got one with hand intact! Wow, what a team :0)
See what I mean about how fast the chics grow, just 10 days ago this chic was pecking its way out of a relatively small egg. In this picture a band is being placed on the leg.
Almost done - Brian has banded hundreds of gyrfalcons and expertly completes the process without causing the chic any stress.
Wait till I show Mum my new ring :0). Our Goverment requires that all falcons bred in captivity have a seamless ring placed on the birds leg for identification purposes. The number of the ring and in some cases a DNA test result must be rigistered in Victoria. Gyrfalcons are considered to be an endangered species so falconers such as Brian Davies contribute towards restoring the gyrfalcon population.
Two out of the four eggs from this clutch hatched, unlike the other pair for which four out of four eggs hatched. The falcon closest in the picture is a female and the other a male. More will be explained in the next blog about gyrfalcons that may be of interest to enthusiast.
The chics are now to be returned to their nest and parents with the same precautions being taken. Brian is seen here checking to see if Dorothy is once again distracting the falcons, meaning they are concentrating on attacking her instead of Brian's hand which must once again reack int to the nest - all went well
Brian and Dorothy Davies, what a great couple they are too!
Brian Davies is a very well know falconer and declared to be, by Frank Beeby, as one of the very best natural falconer's that he ever knew. If you knew Frank you would know that was high praise indeed and more will be written about Brian in later blogs. Brian has been with Echo Valley Ranch & Spa for fifteen years.
Nan and I had to drive to Vancouver right after the banding of the two chics, to keep an appointment. We saw lots of wildlife before reaching Clinton, the first being this bear and her cub on the road before we even got off of the ranch. Too bad we could not get closer to take a better picture, the pair of them scampered off and the only shot I got was from out of the car window. NOTE: Just to the right of the fence is a plane runway, not a super highway
Lots of deer to be seen, we counted over thirty during the first 20 km from the ranch!!
Oh yes, must not forget the little guys - we saw marmots too
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Sooooooo cute!! Love the marmots!
So happy to see Brian and Dorothy doing what they love!!!