First Chough eggs – follow progress on LIVE nestcams

Ray Hales, who is responsible for Operation Chough’s breeding Red-billed Choughs at Paradise Park comments “It is always good when the first eggs are laid, then we know that our choughs are happy and healthy and will soon be ready for the rigours of chick-rearing.”

“After a long winter of rain, rain, more rain, and then snow, we moved our pairs of choughs into their breeding aviaries. They were very quick to build their nests, starting with large twigs and gradually working in smaller ones, then heather and moss until finally a soft lining of horse hair and sheep wool completes their work.

The nestcams are really helpful to see what stage they are at, and they also have sound – it is fascinating to hear the sounds they make when building a nest much more than just the ‘cheow’ they are famous for.”

The live webcam can be viewed here

If the eggs are fertile, then the first chicks are expected in the first week of May.

LEFT: Ray Hales at Operation Chough HQ at Paradise Park RIGHT: Nestcams in operation

Operation Chough is a conservation project established at Paradise Park, in Hayle, Cornwall in 1987. The initial aim was to see the chough living again on the cliffs of Cornwall, now it wants to ensure that its return is permanent and sustainable. Staff breed choughs in captivity, and work with partners, including Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey where the released birds are now breeding in the wild after an absence of 100 years.