Again enjoyed your update on Stronsay life and livestock, Bruce, much appreciated. Love your story of the protective hen! On my visit to Orkney last July we popped on on Kirkbister Farm and there we saw a proud hen leading her flock of 6 wee ducklings - yes, ducklings! Apparently hens make much more protective mothers than ducks. Wonderful sight. Is there anything particular happening on Stronsay the week of 18th to 23rd July? I'll be staying on Mainland around then. Can't wait! And am i right in thinking there are no foxes on the Orkney Islands? Fiona (in York UK) _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with cool new emoticons http://www.msn.co.uk/specials/myemo

Fiona, that's right there are no foxes in Orkney so we can let our hens run free! And yes ducks are appalling parents - it's amazing the species survives. Although shelducks are better - often on the shore in the shallow water you will see a couple of shelducks overseeing a large brood. Seemingly one or two females act as "child minders"while the other parents are off feeding. Enjoy your visit in July. Summer finally seems to have arrived today! Sian Graemsay

Hi Sian - What's the temperature at midday, and what time is it getting dark now? Here in Washington state, it gets dark about 2200+. We've been in the low to mid 70s F- About 20 C, I think - a bit hot for me, the flowers need water every day. I long for Orkney, since my first trip there in April was entirely too short. I'd love to hear about life on Graemsay - off list is fine. Charlie Petersen from Port Townsend, Washington ----- Original Message ----- From: "SIAN.THOMAS" <Sian.Thomas@btinternet.com> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 3:19 PM Subject: RE: [<orcadia>] Fletcher saga 01 July 2004 > Fiona, that's right there are no foxes in Orkney so we can let our hens run > free! And yes ducks are appalling parents - it's amazing the species > survives. Although shelducks are better - often on the shore in the shallow > water you will see a couple of shelducks overseeing a large brood. > Seemingly one or two females act as "child minders"while the other parents > are off feeding. Enjoy your visit in July. Summer finally seems to have > arrived today! > > Sian > Graemsay > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > >