Tough choughs

A slate quarry in North Wales seems an unlikely place for choughs to nest, especially with the daily noise and explosions. But they nest very successfully here on the cliffs and increasingly in abandoned buildings. One nest has three chicks, one of which has already fledged and two on the cusp of leaving the nest. There are many links between choughs and quarrymen. In the past, before choughs were protected, quarrymen would take them from the nest and raise them as pets. They are very good mimics. Chough numbers are on the increase in Wales.