Noah's Ark

'Lambriggan' means a holding for small animals which is very appropriate .Although the animals and birds did not exactly arrive 'two by two' as in the proverbial saying , arrive they did. Jon as all our guests know is passionate about his birds (the feathered variety) and has been since a young boy living on the edge of The New Forest in Hampshire.A cycle ride away lived an older lady- a wonderful character - called Ailsa Stewart-Craig. She was the housekeeper to Lord and Lady Lucas-Tooth. She had a few aviaried birds in her garden which Jon would hear as he cycled by. Of course curiosity got the better of him and he wandered in to have a look.Mrs.Stewart-Craig encouraged his interest and Jon became involved in both the domestic birds and the huge variety of pheasants and other game kept on the estate. This particular estate was also the first place to breed Australian grass finches in this country.
Jon's passion continued until in latter years he has become more interested in the more unusual breeds of birds and wildlife. A few years ago when we were living at Morwellham Quay in Tavistock he started breeding rheas which are flightless birds of the ostrich family. We were supplied the eggs which we put in the incubator. When the time drew near for the chicks to hatch Jon was constantly on the phone seeking advice from 'the experts' - or anoraks as I affectionately call them ( I call Jon this too!). Just before they hatch the eggs start rolling around in the incubator and 'talking' to each other in high pitched whistles. The shells on these eggs are very hard and usually the parent bird initiates or helps with hatching. With no parent bird available it is up to the breeder to carry out this task. Jon had to break into the egg at exactly the right place at the right time. At first he was terrified and so was I as it's rather a bloody process and one that I tend to refer to as birthing rather than hatching. Throughout this procedure he maintained telephone contact with 'the expert'. It was all rather dramatic at the time although we can laugh about it now. It was a successful birth and we had our first rhea chick but unfortunately all the other chicks were calling to be born so it was an extremaly busy time. After carrying this procedure out around 50-60 times Jon is now an expert himself and gives out advice to others. The birth of a rhea is in fact very reminiscent of the dinosaurs hatching out of their eggs in Jurassic Park
Late last Summer saw the arrival of 6 rhea chicks at Lambriggan Court. They are unusual in that they are white instead of the common or garden grey - and they are growing fast. They wintered in the stable but are now out in the field with the other unusual animals. They have a child's natural curiosity and love to run over to greet visitors and are particularly interested in pecking at anything that shines such as earrings, shiny buttons etc.
As they grow older they will 'see off' any predatory foxes and with a neighbouring village called Calestick (the place of the fox) there are many about.
Now about the other animals....