The lyrebird chick I found is now three weeks old and is beginning to shed it's down. Although it might benefit from that deep soft plumage for a few days yet as there was a fall of about two feet of snow last week up on the hill range in the nesting area and it was still lying around the nest. The adult female was nowhere to be seen when I approached the nest or while I was there. She will be spending most of her time foraging and will bring food back to the chick maybe once an hour. The chick is independent of her for daytime warmth now, but she will continue to brood it at night for another two weeks or so. Then it will be wholly on its own, until it fledges at seven weeks.
The blue irides are the true colour of the young bird's eyes.
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