Feeding Time for the Fab Four

Just one week after hatching, and our four chicks are feeding eagerly. And growing fast, too. It won't be long before they start to lose their tiny charm, and start to look like over-fed gluttons. But with only six weeks from hatching to flying, peregrine falcon chicks need to feed and grow just as fast as they can.

This morning we were re-adjusting our camera's zoom setting and caught a lovely five-minute feeding sequence. Here are some of the pictures we took.

This week Ian Layton, our Engagement Officer, is finalising plans for free Watch Points out on Cathedral Green. This is the pleasant, grassy area you see in the background to these pictures. They will run every Saturday from 25th May onwards, from at least 11am to 1pm (weather permitting) until the end of June. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust volunteers with telescopes will be there to talk to anyone wanting to see or learn more about the city's amazing peregrines.

There will also be WatchPoints run at other dates during the weekday, though we are encouraging local community groups and schools to book in for weekday Watch Points. But you'd be welcome to come down to use the telescopes then, too, though of course we'll be prioritising pre-booked groups.

There will soon be a new Page Tab at the top of our blog giving dates and news of all Watch Points. So do check it out. But of course Cathedral Green is open to the public, so do come down to watch the growing falcons for yourself at any time of day you like. Pop over to the front of the Cathedral and you can check out our live webcam monitor in the new display in the window of the Cathedral Cafe on Irongate (they do a good cuppa too!).
SCHOOLS: if there are any teachers reading this who might like either a visit to their school by the project or perhaps to come to Derby to see the birds 'for real' then do get in touch via peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk .

Fourth chick (and spaces left on a photography course this Sunday)

Followers on Twitter, Facebook and, of course, this Blog are reporting they saw a fourth chick around 11pm last night (Monday).
So far we've not captured a good screen shot, but no doubt we will soon. This image was captured by the Project Team this morning during a short change in incubation. The male later brought in some food, but flew off with it shortly afterwards because the incubating falcon showed little interest in it at that time.

Screen grab by Liz1155

Comments and Tweets.
We frequently moderate blog comments before they are published, so there may be a short delay before they appear. You can check out the most recently posted comments, as well as recent 'Tweets' sent from our Twitter account (@derbyperegrines) by looking at the right hand side bar of this Blog's homepage. To leave a comment, simply click on the word 'comments' at the bottom of the most recently published post.  Comments left by school teachers or school children are currently being inserted below the most recent post, as we think everyone will find it interesting to see how schools are using Derby's Peregrines as a fantastic learning resource.
You might ask why bother with Twitter and Facebook when we have such a successful blog? The answer is that people are increasingly getting their information on the move and in various forms. Whilst we can't be present on every social media platform, we do think that Facebook and Twitter are worthwhile and effective ways of reaching more people, too.

Luckily we managed to spot a comment left on an earlier posting from Alistair Henderson who said:
"While watching yesterday evening [13th May] I saw a small rodent being brought to and fed to the brood. Is it expected that rodents feature in the 'usual' diet of nestling peregrines or are times tough for the male while hunting? "

The answer is that mammals are only ever rarely caught. Aylesbury peregrines had a pipistrelle bat as a prey item, and in 2007 we captured  a video of our chicks being fed a rat. We don't think this means it's a tough time for peregrines - more a sign that they are opportunistic hunters, and may take whatever food they can.

UPDATE: Sunday 19th May, 10.30 am to 4 pm. DWT is running an 'In Flight' adult education photography course at Carsington Water in mid-Derbyshire, with a falconer present who will fly his birds. The cost is £50 and the tutor is Paul Shaw. Booking essential - phone the DWT office on 01773 881188 in office hours before 4.30 tomorrow (Friday). Note that it is not possible to book possible by ringing Carsington itself.

Number three cracks open - and an update

The third egg cracked open this morning (Sunday) about 9 am, spotted first by Helen, Luciana and Nikki. Egg shell was certainly apparent though we await a view of the chick itself. Screen grabs by Nikki and Helen are below showing the egg cracking and then the broken and empty egg shell.
(If you missed the egg-citement over Nos. 1 and 2, please scroll down to earlier posts!)

Here's a double video retrieved our from our recording equipment inside the Cathedral tower yesterday. The first half shows Saturday's two chicks being fed; the second half shows how the falcon nibbles away at the discarded shell, presumably returning lost calcium to her system. 

 UPDATE: Monday morning and still only three chicks.......so will the last one hatch? We'll have to wait and see. Incidentally, the eggs laid this year were the female's 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st in her lifetime. Of those 31, two failed to hatch in 2007 and so she's hatched 28 so far...with one yet to emerge this time around.

And, as if to celebrate the new birth, Derby's bells rang out last Sunday, captured here on video and sent to use via Twitter from 'Mroozed'




Recent Comments from schools:
We've logged on this morning and couldn't wait to see what has happened over the weekend.... 3 chicks!!! Come on number 4 we're waiting and wishing  (2M at Gorsefield Primary School, Radcliffe, Manchester)




We were very happy to sea more chicks haching. at dinner time we saw the first three chicks they were cudling up to each other whyle the feemale fed them. The feemale put little bits of meat in thire beeK.There little wings are very flapy. We think the other egg will hatch soon.The chicks were pushing in to the line to get there food. the peregrin has to sit on them because they onley have little fethers to keep them warm.  (Green Class, Brigg Infants, S Normanton, Derbyshire)

Second chick on its way...and now arrived!

Saturday morning and we have two chicks!

Thanks to everyone for your comments and screen grabs this morning. The second chick was certainly out by 6.30 am this morning (thanks Christine) but exactly when it broke free only a check of the video recorder will reveal.

Chick - and chips

Last night, Nick M wrote:
It was 1am local time, and our second peregrine egg looked like it could hatch at any moment. This night-time picture was captured just as our female peregrine (the falcon) left her nest duties for a couple of minutes. Our first chick was clearly visible, as is a 'pipped' egg - meaning that a small hole can be seen where the chick inside has managed to start breaking open the egg. It can sometime remain in this state for quite a while, though it seemed likely that later today (Saturday 11th) we would see a second new face on Derby Cathedral's 480 year old stone tower.

And that's precisely what we found this morning - webcam watchers were sending in screen shots of two small, fluffy, white chicks. Both are now being very well cared for and fed as you would expect from our excellent and experienced parents.

The video below is actually two clips in one. The first half is from Saturday morning around at 6am, some three hours or so after the chick hatched. (we have not been able to determine exactly when it appeared). It shows a tender moment when both new chicks are being fed. The full sequence lasted for almost eight minutes. The second half is from just after the first chick arrived on Friday 10th May and the falcon is nibbling away at the discarded egg-shell.

Don't forget to check out our Flickr Group Pool. There you'll find a host of new screen shots that webcam watchers from around the world have posted. Shown below is one of my favourites from yesterday evening, showing a delicate feeding moment with the male (tiercel) watching from nearby. It was caught by Flickr user, Liz1155, but we are grateful to everyone for saving, sending or posting us your favourite moments so far.

We have loved seeing the schoolchildren's comments on our blog. Do keep them coming, as it's great to see young children sharing what they have seen with everyone else.

Single chick being fed on Friday evening.

Big thanks to everyone who sent in screen grabs and comments about seeing the second chick today - they include (with apologies for anyone we missed) - Deborah in Canada, Kate in Devon, Liz, Christine, Chris M, Sofia D, Joyce S, AnnieF, Gem S, Hilary M, Sue peregrino, Julie Layton, Caroline and Mary T.