Hey everyone. Sorry for disappearing. Seasonal depression kicked my butt this winter, and on top of that, two friends of mine died within a couple weeks of each other in December/January. So I had a lot of grieving and processing to do.
I'm doing alright though, and I'm sorry if I've worried any of you! I've wanted to check in but just haven't had the drive to be any sort of active here on BYC. Hopefully with spring coming that will change. I'm already starting to feel better as it gets warmer and lighter outside. I miss you all lots and lots
Some updates:
Sybil never molted. Her feathers are a mess so I'm still hoping she's just going to molt late. She only stopped laying for about a week, if that, at some point.
Gytha, Esme, and Magrat finished their molts with no issues and everybody is laying again.
Yesterday the girls finally made their way through the woods to the neighbors' house for the first time since late fall/early winter. They weren't home at the time, but I'm sure when they got home they appreciated all the "presents" the girls left behind
The red-shouldered hawks are very active again. We've got our resident pair, their young from last year, and possibly another pair and/or the young from the year before. They call and display over our property and the surrounding area a lot throughout the day, every day. It's really cool, but nervewracking when I let the girls out. I'm thinking of contacting... someone (I don't know who) to come study the red-shouldereds here, because they're apparently rare in my area, but these resident hawks are clearly doing very well. Maybe something can be learned about which habitats suit them best, and how to provide them with more livable spaces. But that's off topic.
Dad and I are rethinking our plans for turning the old playhouse into a coop. We still want to do it, but differently. We have a couple different ideas.
Now have a few recent pictures of the girls
And a video from yesterday morning
)
