Beautiful, warm, sunny, lowered humidity. Hawks were placed in the Cabana before sunrise. I then go ready to work at the restaurant and beach areas. At the restaurant steps, I saw a small all black kitten (estimated age about 12 weeks) start walking out of the shrubbery on the side of the stairs on the bay-walk to the restaurant. I had heard that there was a second cat/kitten on the spotted grounds around the hotel. I even saw a cat by the hotel exit walkway last week. I assumed it was the community cat and did not think to much of it then. I reached for the kitten but it ducked into the shrubs by the stairs. A closer look with my flashlight showed that there are open areas and tunnels under the stairs, and the kitten can easily hide there I also saw some discarded trash (water bottles and plastic cups). But I also saw two containers, an aluminum bake pan type container and a sealed top (rubbermaid) type container. I can only conclude that someone is secretly feeding the kitten. I took photos of the area where the kitten was seen (3rd step down from top) and reported it to security. I showed them the area where I saw the kitten and the containers likely are used to give it food and water. They asked me what to do about it. I answered that I do not make that decision, it is up to the hotel and the island association.
There was a big wedding was last night at the beach and pool area. It was less busy at the restaurant today, I stayed until lunch at the restaurant, but the beach and pool had guests out all day. I kept one hawk up while the others took a break bathing and preening. She stayed around in the park. I also kept the T posts extended. I think it gives a 'signal' to the pest birds that the hawks are still around. Grackle activity was lower today. It was a beautiful, sunny, and many guests are out on the beach. There is a late rush of guests and I am still on call if the grackles show up and become a problem with the food. Otherwise, the island is greatly reduced in grackle numbers. I've been keeping an ear out to hear of excessive activity of grackles and I am happy to say that they are down over 95% in numbers in the evening roost, practically non-existent at this time. This is the first wave of migration of grackles from up north. When the cold fronts get more severe, I anticipate possibly a second round of grackles moving into the area in late fall/early winter. We will see. As in the past, the hotel staff has been more than cooperative and helpful in working with me and the special needs of the birds. I thank them greatly for making me comfortable, rested, and able to do my work more efficiently. I will send a note and photos of the macaw as she gets settled in her crib. Thank you again.
There was a big wedding was last night at the beach and pool area. It was less busy at the restaurant today, I stayed until lunch at the restaurant, but the beach and pool had guests out all day. I kept one hawk up while the others took a break bathing and preening. She stayed around in the park. I also kept the T posts extended. I think it gives a 'signal' to the pest birds that the hawks are still around. Grackle activity was lower today. It was a beautiful, sunny, and many guests are out on the beach. There is a late rush of guests and I am still on call if the grackles show up and become a problem with the food. Otherwise, the island is greatly reduced in grackle numbers. I've been keeping an ear out to hear of excessive activity of grackles and I am happy to say that they are down over 95% in numbers in the evening roost, practically non-existent at this time. This is the first wave of migration of grackles from up north. When the cold fronts get more severe, I anticipate possibly a second round of grackles moving into the area in late fall/early winter. We will see. As in the past, the hotel staff has been more than cooperative and helpful in working with me and the special needs of the birds. I thank them greatly for making me comfortable, rested, and able to do my work more efficiently. I will send a note and photos of the macaw as she gets settled in her crib. Thank you again.
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