Nene nest special.
The Nenes are incubating! I knew we had lots of heavy females, but they really waited right up until the last minute before laying their eggs. The sunny weekend of the 9th of February stimulated the mass lay, and it felt that by the 16th, everyone was incubating! We currently have 16 nests around WWT Slimbridge, and all have their own distinct character and vibe. Scroll down to view 4 of the very best...
BAP and BBX are the feistiest pair of Nenes in my care, and she delivers the sharpest nip of all the girls! All of the cover feeders who feed the collection birds have been instructed to provide them with food at least 5 metres from the nest, because this beastly bird literally jumps up off her nest to attack you, sending her eggs rolling! She is bursting with pride this season, and I am very impressed with their nest quality. In previous years their nest has been a touch... strange. In 2010 they were stuck against the electrified perimeter fence, and in among the nettles on a steep slope. In 2011 they chose to nest in the deep dark depths of the horrific pink-stemmed species brambles in the Tropical Garden, and I simply couldn't get in to check on them. Let's hope this bamboo is their spot of choice henceforth...
Nest fidelity is a really sweet part of Nene breeding style... BAD and his female BBA always used to nest in a corner near the exit of the Tropical house; some of you may have seen her there being very ineffectually defended from threats by her most decidedly "BAD" hubby. In 2010 the poor thing was struggling in the undergrowth nearby and stabbed her left eye with a piece of juncus. After treatment for the injury her eye healed into a thick cataract, and thankfully she kept her eye. Ever since they have abandoned that spot, and taken up residence in the wilderness of the Long ground behind the canoe safari. Very secluded and quiet, she has chosen the very same exact spot beneath and Elder for the past 2 years in a row. She is barely 10 inches away from last year's scrape nest! BAD lives up to his name, in the most decidedly unromantic way. When you approach the nest, he runs backwards, and when you stand up to leave he runs behind and pecks at the back of your knees. Not the best defense methodology...
LCU and her partner BGL have made a more prudent choice of nest site this year... Last year they nested against a willow wall bordering water, and 2 of their eggs rolled in! As 3 year olds this should be their first forecastable breeding year, so cross your fingers for her. That expression is simply adorable! The nest is of a good design and wonderfully aerated with dry material and a generous amount of down; I hereby declare this nest, perfect!
Not everyone chooses the best spots however... BBZ and BAX are the most reliable pair WWT Slimbridge has ever seen. They lay 4, all 4 are usually fertile. They are meek, silent, dedicated, sensible and above all, devoted to each other. Since the re-design of the African exhibit, the poor love found herself heavy enough fit to burst, and without the ability to get through the fence to their normal haunt beneath the lonicera in Africa, the poor thing sat down as close as she could get. On the rear side of the African pen she had nested beneath a willow pollard, next to a dirty blue barrel, with a nest design which includes a rotten old rubber glove, 4 metres from last year's nest site! The dedication and sweet nature of these glorious birds really do get us ready for spring.
Surely the Nene always has been and always will be one of the BEST species with which to inspire the need to conserve rare and endangered species. Come down to Slimbridge sometime soon, and see which of these dedicated pairs you can spot... Cross fingers for a baby boom!
