Cahow chick checks | 6th May

The Cahow chick from the Nonsuch Island R831 nest burrow is rapidly developing its flight feathers, and is starting to loose the overlaying thick coat of down. It is quite active and spends much of its time preening . At its developmental check today (6th May 2014) it has reached its heaviest weight yet, of 422 grams, or more than a adult Cahow (adult Cahows can range between 280 and 400 grams of weight). The chick's wing chord (outer wing length) has reached 177 mm. The wing chord will grow to between 265 - 275 mm by the time it is ready to fledge to sea in early June.