A Fitting End

I have wrapped up my falcon work, but it doesn't mean that I'm done in New Zealand, and it doesn't mean the end of the Falcon Blog. Whew! I will be travelling around Aotearoa and doing some more touristy things. I also still have a couple good falcon pics that I have not had a chance to post yet.

My last day was a pretty good one. I have been radio tracking the falcons for a couple months now and it was really slowing down. The juveniles were getting more independent and the adults were not even really around the nest that much. Tracking them was not much challenge, and there was less to see. During the last week, however, we also had to track the juveniles. Of the 10 we were looking for, 9 have left their parents. These little guys are mostly grown up and living on their own. Even though it was extra work, we got to explore some new territories and see the little ones that we banded move on.

On the last day we got to check on a special falcon. The Birds of Prey Trust had an orphaned chick and so Rich got permission to add it to a wild nest. He said falcons aren't smart enough to count. Even though this has been down with other falcons, it has never been done with New Zealand falcons. Our very last job was to check on this bird and we found him perched on a ponga, silloueted by the late afternoon sun and surrounded by his adopted brother and sisters. We got a bit closer and he flew off. It seems pretty certain that the first ever transplanted New Zealand chick will make it. And then we drove off into the sunset...