signs of spring

["Jack and Andrea Holland" <>]

The choughs that nested last year round the dam at the end of Kathner St 
Chapman (see latest CBN) are busy preparing again.  Unlike 2008 when they 
came, built and started breeding within a couple of weeks, they have already 
been present for well over a month this year.   They were first noticed on 
25 June near a very shallow nest (we thought it may have been old) about  30 
m from last year's site.  Over the past couple of weeks this has been built 
up to over twice its original height (and very uniform in colour), several 
birds were still busy adding to it this morning.
If egg laying takes place over the next week or so, this will be very 
similar timing to the first brood last year.
Jack Holland