After getting off to a dodgy start when the first nest was predated, the avocets are now running with leaps and bounds as the number of active nests on the freshmarsh reaches 30! Avocets will lay up to four eggs at 1 to 2 day intervals but will not start incubating until the complete clutch has been laid, thus leaving the eggs vulnerable to predation (it was during this interval that a crafty crow whisked off our first egg). Both the female and the male will incubate for 23-25 days and once hatched the chicks can run around and feed within a few hours. Our second nest began incubating in early April so hopefully, there will be some new fluffy chicks exploring before long!
Rowena Flavelle, Reserve Assistant