Saturday 23 June 2007

Update

First fledgling on the nave rook of the Cathedral Saturday 23rd. Click to enlarge. Photo J.Salloway.Latest news from our intrepid reporters!!

Having searched a wide area there is still no sight of the missing chick. There are, however, several enclosed courtyards around the cathedral area so she has probably gone to roost overnight. It is now 9.50pm local time and getting dark so I should think she is resting. The male was seen to take off a while ago and has not been seen since - probably just gone to the pub (you know what males are like!!!) Both the RSPCA and the Police are alert for a downed Peregrine so if she is found we will soon know. I should think she will reappear in the morning - more fingers crossed. We will, of course, keep you updated as and when we get more news.
Click to enlarge. Photo J Salloway.
Just to answer some viewers' questions: yes, our remaining chick has been fed by her parents today, so don't worry that she's been abandoned in any way. In recent days the chicks have had very long intervals without feeds. Reports are coming in on Sunday morning that our remaining chick disappeared from the tray around 4.40am local time, and returned some time later.



Update Sunday 9.00am
I have just received a telephone call to say that the 'missing' chick is alive and safely sitting on the dome of the Industrial Museum. All is well.

We'd urge you to read the comments posted by viewers - today they contain more information than our project team can otherwise update you with. Our apologies for any delay in comments being published - all comments currently have to be moderated before being visible - and we've all been a bit busy!

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hope she is okay. Probably tucked up safe and sound in a tree.

From watching other fledge sites, I have seen that people tend to be able to find fledglings in the daytime because other birds (potential prey) set up a racket, or a parent is nearby.

Anonymous said...

The second falcon took off at 4.38am your time, 8.48pm here in B.C. Canada

Anonymous said...

Hi.
At 4.47am the second fledgling disappeared from the nest box, oh my god I hope she's OK.
Joe & Vee, Wigan.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Again.
At 5.10am She's back safe & sound.
She must have gone for a fly round.
Joe & Vee, Wigan.

Anonymous said...

the falcon is back in the nest
at5.28am your time
9.28 here in B.C. Canada

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

Thanks, everyone. That's very helpful to know. I wonder if she went for a small "hop" up onto the camera mounts, or if she did a full fly round. We do know it's very hard for fledged birds to judge getting back onto th platform, but either way, that's good news.
It's raiing steadily hear in Derby this morning - just what we need for our Springwatch Festival!
I wonder what furthr activity we'll see from our two chicks today.

Anonymous said...

8:15am here in Wendover, Bucks and the camera image looks just the same to me - one fat and lazy girl still in the box. But what are the blogs telling me - she's been out on a test flight or two and bird 1 has gone awol, last seen near a hugely hazardous site! This is even worse than "the wait". I am glued to the site praying for better news! Have a great Springwatch. Thinking of you all.

Anonymous said...

phew! am so glad to hear she is okay.

Anonymous said...

Hi All
Good news at 10am she was back on the nave, sitting where she had spent the day yesterday. As the weather is so poor at the moment we do not expect a lot of movement (famous last words!!)
Chris and Andy

Anonymous said...

12.50pm the second chick has just left the perch!

helenhoward said...

1248 local time our remaining chick jumpd onto on of the joists and momntarily perched 1249 and the box was empty!!
Been watching all morning hnce why i am still in nightclothes at this hour!! These girls encourage bad habits!!

Anonymous said...

Very happy to know all is well so far - thanks to all you real time watchers who post news and put us remote bloggers out of our agony. The weather in Bucks is horrid too - but hey guys, what else would you expect of Midsummer Day in England? It's a special day for me and I'm now off to Whipsnade Zoo as a treat to see my beloved asian elephants - they have babies too. No propblems wondering when they'll fly though! I wonder what news when I get home later ......

Anonymous said...

Glad to see the fledged bird is still alive. I wonder if she will return to the platform. Can anyone tell me if the parents have gone to find their girl? Or still resting at top of the Cathedral?

In case the fledged bird doesn't come back, I wish her safe trips, good health and good luck! Hope to see her again next year. Jennie, Hong Kong

helenhoward said...

1608 and two birds back in the nesting box but not to sure if its an adult or the missing chick.

Anonymous said...

Two birds were eating on the platform at around 4:08pm. I can't tell if one of them is the first bird, seems like they are alike, almost the same size. But I can't see on the webcam if her leg is rung. Jennie, Hong Kong.

Anonymous said...

16.20 Delight delight, it appears that big sis. has come back to join her sibling for a meal. I wasn't sure at first, but just saw the ring on her foot. Her flying skills have obviously greatly improved. Great!!

Anna, Ripley

Anonymous said...

16.35pm it looks like one of the parents is spending time with the chick! 8.35 am B.C. Canada

Anonymous said...

I am glad she is safe and well!

Anonymous said...

I can sleep now, silly realy, but it has been a first class show by all, including the humans.

helenhoward said...

having a peruigine fix in between the ironing and thrilled to see both girls plus a parent!! sure beats housework!!

Anonymous said...

12:27 pm U.S East coast time, 3 birds in the nest box. One is feeding another, so I assume one parental unit and one chick. Who is the third? The other parent, or the other chick? I will try to figure out how to send you a photo.

helenhoward said...

ps so excited forgot to tell you the time- 5.30

Anonymous said...

5.35p.m. Three Peregrins on nesting site, not sure how many are adults, but certainly there is food.
Sandra mickleover

Anonymous said...

sunday 17.40 ish 3 peregrines in the nest who is who?

Anonymous said...

I couldn't figure out how to email you the photos, so I put them in a temporary area online.

http://members.cox.net/katkolling/derby1.JPG
is one chick being fed.

I thought the other bird was maybe a chick about to be fed after awhile, as the parent looked at her(?), but then in a blink of an eye the parent flew away. That's this picture just afterwards. If the third bird was a chick, maybe she got fed before...
http://members.cox.net/katkolling/derby2.JPG

You need to captialize the JPG when trying to retrieve the photos, it's some ftp oddity.

ianforrest said...

Peregrine 001 flew about quite a bit today. After reappearing on the knave she sat opposite the cathedral entrance for a few hours then was next spotted on the roof of the flats over the Derwent. Mum stooped 4/5 times and eventually returned with a pigeon which she plucked, ate some and stored. 001 returned to the next box in an uncertain manner and landed in the box with a crash. Dad brought food for the young ones. 002 flapped her wings energetically but made no attempt to fly. I have a couple of good pictures of 002 - how do I upload.

Ian and Judith

helenhoward said...

1749 and parent is back now I must get on with that damn ironing!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this brilliant, brilliant show. So pleased to see no.1 chick is safe. Life will not be the same when we can't watch these lovely creatures.

Anonymous said...

10.53am B.C. Canada time 6.53pm there. It almost looks like a rerun
of before the 1st one fledged!

Anonymous said...

18:40-49 The older chick seemed to be urging the younger chick(Junior) to stand up and move (fly?). Junior did get up for a while but soon just flopped at the back of the nest again. However, from sights of the older chicks wings when outstretched, it is Amazing how beautiful they look and are arranged - with different angles at differrent places on the wing. As this will for steering + manoeverabilty, perhaps we shouldn't expect too much of Junior too soon. Though I still think she is drawing the short straw at feeding times.

John (back from Wigan)

helenhoward said...

What delightful prey is laying in the nestbox

Anonymous said...

19:06 Hope i haven't been too hard on Junior. When on the green, I heard that the elder chick had hurt its foot when attempting to land, and had been seen hobbling around... So perhaps the older chick had been resting while junior had been flapping her wings for exercise prior to her own first flight... 19:10 Both chicks are now 'resting'...
John

Anonymous said...

I'm interested to see people are posting pictures captured from the webcam. I didn't know that was possible. How do you do it?

Anonymous said...

Jackie,

Press the Print Screen (prt sc) key on your keyboard. That puts an image of the screen into the clipboard. Then you can paste it into Paint and trim down to the photo.

Now I am worried about the chick's leg...

Anonymous said...

Went to Springwatch Festival at Osmaston Park.
Saw birds of prey, including a peregrine up close.
What manificent creatures they are.
Heather, Derby

Anonymous said...

20.15 Big sister looks shattered after her adventures of the past 24 hours - can't beat the comfort of your own bed!

Anna, Ripley

Anonymous said...

I'm with you Karen Anne - worried sick with reports of injury to fledging 001's foot! Come on you guys in the know - tell us something reassuring!
Sue, Wendover

Anonymous said...

20.50 I expect I'm being overly sentimental, but the two sisters seem to be sharing a real bond tonight, by their body language and closeness - it's magical.

Anna, Ripley

Anonymous said...

So worried. Are both chicks ok? Is it normal for no 1 to return to the plaform? I know you all must have been very busy today and hope it all went well. Saw some of the activity today (between other chores) and thought I saw the parents on the 'rail' in front of the Georgian style building you can see on the pictures. I know you must be very tired but please try to keep us worried individuals informed. You've done a great job so far! Best wishes from Barrow in Furness

Anonymous said...

this is addictive cant stop checking on them, they do look very serene and close its so nice to see them safe, i can go to bed now with peace of mind but bet i will be back on line over breakfast to see what they are up to etc, they look lovely tonight dont they.

helenhoward said...

i agree with anna from ripley the girls do tend to be sharing a special moment tonight. its as though they are making the most of their final days possibly hours together
oh god pass me the kleenex box again!!

Anonymous said...

Betty,

With the San Jose, California and Pennsylvania web cams, fledglings have often returned to the nest box area. I am kind of surprised that the first fledglng made it back here, as those other nest sites have big ledges to land on. She must be a good flyer.

Anonymous said...

Injured foot?

Having watched the peregrines live all day on Saturday (from 7.15 am to 5.30 pm) and for several hours today (Sunday)I can honestly say that there didn't appear to be any evidence of Peregrine 001 having an injured foot! This appears to have come from a bystander at today's watchpoint but I reckon is based on sightings of the chick cleaning her feet (which all the peregrines do as part of their preening. They do appear to hobble around but their legs aren't built like ours!

After my spell of duty on Saturday's watchpoint, I'd like to thank everyone who turned up and showed their interest in our birds, from the older members of the community who nearly missed their early morning coach trip to the last few late in the afternoon.

Andy & Chris Marshall

Anonymous said...

Don't know what we'll do when they have flown, life won't be the same. this has been fantastic.

Anonymous said...

Hello from Dayton, Ohio, have been peeking in and out all day, looks like it's been busy! At this time (1:30 a.m. for you) both the young ladies are resting well on their ledge. So sweet, truly.
Our chicks are not doing so well, one spending the night at the local Raptor Center, one missing, and one flying very well with/Dad.
I'd personally like less "excitement" and more soaring...wishing you well from here. You've all done such a wonderful job, congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Didn't mean to worry people. but on Sunday afternoon (4:30-5:00pm)I was told by a long standing watcher with binoculars, that 001 had made a real mess of landing, clattered into things and had ended up near the camera stand/pigeon spikes and was then seen hobbling. I did not see this myself.
John

Anonymous said...

just after 12.00 midday, one youngster on own and parent then flew in with some food.