A Tale of Two Kites – Chapter 6: A Diary of a Chick (Day 9 to 11)
Day 9
It was chilly and rainy. Several Black Kites played with each other above the hill when the rain paused for a moment in the morning.
It poured in the afternoon. Zen perched on the tree where he was attacked yesterday, but a Blue Magpie ambushed him behind his back. This time Zen was prepared: he kept staring behind him to foresee further attacks. That made him stood in the rain for over 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, a White-throated Kingfisher called somewhere on the hill. Both the Magpie and the Kingfisher lived and bred on the hill. They were Zen and Tai’s neighbours.
The rain stopped in the evening. Tai had been sitting in the nest for the entire day and was extremely hungry. She fed the chick some fish and ate some herself. After the meal she sat in the nest and preened the chick’s down. The chick rested against Tai’s body. He looked into his mother’s kind eyes and touched her beak.
Day 10
Cloudy and very humid. The Magpie, the Kingfisher and a Crow appeared during the day. Zen and Tai frequently chased them away.
There was some road maintenance works nearby that made deafening noise. I was extremely annoyed by the noise and can’t concentrate on observing the birds. I reckon the animals that lived on the hill was very disturbed by the noise pollution as well.
My thoughts:
'The day was humid, the road was noisy, the birds were angry, and I’m so mad!'
Day 11
Just a glimpse out of my window in the morning. Either Zen or Tai was sitting in the nest. I didn’t do any observations today.
Preview: Day 12
Never thought that just after one day of rest the chick simply “disappeared”! When did he disappear and why? Only God knows.
Sadly, on the 12th morning, I only saw…
(to be continued)
Etta 19-12-2001
It was chilly and rainy. Several Black Kites played with each other above the hill when the rain paused for a moment in the morning.
It poured in the afternoon. Zen perched on the tree where he was attacked yesterday, but a Blue Magpie ambushed him behind his back. This time Zen was prepared: he kept staring behind him to foresee further attacks. That made him stood in the rain for over 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, a White-throated Kingfisher called somewhere on the hill. Both the Magpie and the Kingfisher lived and bred on the hill. They were Zen and Tai’s neighbours.
The rain stopped in the evening. Tai had been sitting in the nest for the entire day and was extremely hungry. She fed the chick some fish and ate some herself. After the meal she sat in the nest and preened the chick’s down. The chick rested against Tai’s body. He looked into his mother’s kind eyes and touched her beak.
Day 10
Cloudy and very humid. The Magpie, the Kingfisher and a Crow appeared during the day. Zen and Tai frequently chased them away.
There was some road maintenance works nearby that made deafening noise. I was extremely annoyed by the noise and can’t concentrate on observing the birds. I reckon the animals that lived on the hill was very disturbed by the noise pollution as well.
My thoughts:
'The day was humid, the road was noisy, the birds were angry, and I’m so mad!'
Day 11
Just a glimpse out of my window in the morning. Either Zen or Tai was sitting in the nest. I didn’t do any observations today.
Preview: Day 12
Never thought that just after one day of rest the chick simply “disappeared”! When did he disappear and why? Only God knows.
Sadly, on the 12th morning, I only saw…
(to be continued)
Etta 19-12-2001
