Pied Shag - Growing Up

Growing up and spending more time spreading and flapping its wings. Next week it will be approximately 4 weeks old and I'm expecting a little branch hopping before this nestling takes off. It was quite windy today and the balance wasn't too bad - a few nose dives into the nest but overall not to bad - easy to say with my feet firmly on the ground.

Note how the wing feathers are more developed and the nestling now has a tail. Their plumage is permeable underwater, shedding air and reducing buoyancy, while out of water, plumage traps air and increases thermal insulation. This characteristic means that swimming in cold water is reduced to less than 30 minutes or birds become hypothermic.

The face area is still underdeveloped with the eye needing to turn blue surrounded by yellow and more defined markings under the beak area.

Thank you for your comments over the last couple of days, I'm slowly catching up. Some of you were asking how the third nestling died - well, perhaps starvation is one thought or maybe trampled - there is not alot of room in the nest but I don't understand why the nestling hasn't been sent overboard.....Anyway, that's nature and all very interesting and makes me wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Friday is here bringing the weekend - a busy one for our family.

Have a great weekend everyone :)