New egg from MI! :D

Hello everyone! I'm new to the bird raising community, but have worked with a varied number of bird species in my past!

I am currently starting as a Master's student and will be researching migratory behavior/restlessness of Blue-winged Teal in captivity. With eggs collected from the wild, I have 14 teals that have hatched (8 in the pre-juvenile stage and 6 hatched a few days ago) and 13 in the incubator, close to their hatch date! I will be using cameras and infrared sensors to constantly record their behavior once they are a little older and closer to the time of migration. I am looking forward to being a "duck mother" or so to speak!

I have been interested in working with birds and studying their behavior for quite sometime! I have worked with Zebra Finches in labs, Magellanic Penguins at a local zoo, rehabilitated native songbirds, exotic and native gamebirds (from the Reeves Pheasant and beyond to the Northern Bobwhite and Ruffed Grouse), captive Trumpeter Swans and Australian Black Swans, and native raptors (Red-tailed Hawks, Great Horned Owls, Eastern Screech-Owl, Barred Owl, and Barn Owl). I went to Antarctica for my study abroad and was able to check off many life list birds and witness different species of albatross, petrels, and of course, 6 different species of penguins (Adelie penguins being my all time favorite bird species).

But even with all prior bird experience/knowledge, I am new to rearing/raising ducks from the egg! So I am very excited for this opportunity and fortunate to have books and forums like this to help! I look forward to seeing and talking with other bird obsessed individuals on the boards!

Thanks for reading!

~ Jessica