Ready to go

Northern Giant Petrel chick from the very first egg in my study area, laid all the way back on 13th September. The female sat on that egg for about two weeks, I got a bit worried about when the male would return and give her the chance to go off and feed. But return he did, and again and again as they took their turns on the egg, then guarding the small chick, then leaving it alone but returning regularly with meals.

Now she's a very healthy looking fledgling, having lost all her downy feathers she's been flapping those wings about and will soon head off to sea with all my best wishes. If all goes well it'll be a few years before she's back on Bird Island, and a few years after that that she'll be raising a chick of her own. Most likely not too far from where she is now.