Page 259 - Hand rearing birds second

Shearwaters and Petrels 247

In the wild, chicks will start venturing outside of their burrows and stretching their wings a
few weeks before they first fledge, although this timing depends on the species. First emer -
gence is thought to be at or around the point at which a chick imprints on its natal colony site.
Some species, such as Wedge‐tailed Shearwaters, dig variable burrow depths and some may
not have as deep a burrow as others. This part of their natural history must be considered
because if a colony of seabirds permanently taking up residence at the facility is not desirable,
then steps must be taken to deter the imprint process. That being said, there is some elasticity
in new birds returning to breed, and whereas they are most likely driven to return to where
they hatched and grew up (hence the reason why translocation programs for petrels and shear -
waters work), they also can get drawn into another colony by social attraction to the sounds
and presence of other birds. Additionally, if the species normally breeds near to the ocean and
the facility is inland, then the likelihood of birds returning to the facility to set up housekeep -
ing is fairly remote.
This secondary step of using the concrete mixing bins may be skipped if there is an outside
enclosure that is fully protected and rat‐proof. Once the chicks are large enough and are starting to
be more adventurous in their explorations, they can be moved to a larger enclosure. SOS uses a
chain link dog run/kennel that is covered with a tarp and lined with shade cloth. Chicks are very
territorial regarding their burrows and space, so they must be housed separately, otherwise the
more dominant chick will force the weaker or more submissive one out of its burrow (Figure 14.7).
SOS has implemented a system of stalls in an outdoor pen that give the chicks a bit of room to
explore while keeping them separated from each other. Cleaning can be accomplished with a clean
cat litter scoop and “spot cleaning.” The sand absorbs any liquid and the chick’s developing plum-
age stays clean.

Figure 14.7 Older chicks housed outside with separate sand-bottom enclosures with burrows.