Saturday 5 April 2008

Aren't Peregrines Perfect!

This year our three cameras and video recorders have captured some of the most intimate moments in a peregrine's life. We've filmed three mating sequences, as well as courtship and egg-laying, and there's much more to come. But thanks to comments left on the blog we were able to retrieve perhaps the most tender moment of all so far, when her fourth egg was laid on Friday 4th April at 19:52.

I don't think it needs any words from me. Just enjoy the video by clicking on the image below.


(New visitors to this blog may wish to read an overview of the peregrine project, or have their names added to our mailing list for major news items.)

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pax B.C.
your time confirms the time I saw it being laid, thanks for the wonderful video of the event, and the bells sounding, almost like they were celebrating the event :)

Anonymous said...

wow lets hope they all develop into chicks...just got back from eygpt too find four eggs......fantastic.

Froona said...

Thank you for this amazing video! It is wonderful to watch the egg being born, still shiny and wet.
And indeed the bells sound like a celebration for this new life that has begun inside the egg!
I will tell all my visitors to go and watch this very special video here on the Derby Blog!

Anonymous said...

Wow, four eggs now! Thank you for posting the video, it's really amazing. Hope to see all the eggs hatch soon. Jennie, Hong Kong.

Anonymous said...

11.30pm Pax
just saw the change over with the four eggs, I just love watching this story unfold

Anonymous said...

851 BST.
Male arrives at the scrape, apparently offering to take over the incubation for a while.

853 BST.
Female leaves and is immediately visible on the ledge, preening herself (pudding cam).
Male settles down, over the eggs.

Anonymous said...

Female just flew off. I wouldn't want to be a pigeon or mouse around Derby cathedral right now.

pat r derby said...

Just watched the vidio of 4th egg lay,I got quite emotional watching the proceedings, well done everybody and especially Mum, hard to believe that this is all happening virtually on my doorstep.

Anonymous said...

Did anyone notice that right after she lays the egg she shuffles round (sideways to the camera) and then looks striaght up at the camera, almost as if she's saying "you see that?"?!!

pat r derby said...

wow, I am not surprised, quite an achievement,must be feeling very proud of herself

Anonymous said...

Have just returned from being away and offline for 3 days and what a wonderful welcome back event and video. THANK YOU so much for making these magical moments available to us. Veronica in Cornwall

Anonymous said...

How long after laying does hatching occur?

Anonymous said...

brilliant!!!
and i love the fact that the bell ringer chose such perfect timing to sound the cathedral chimes.
it's like the old town cryer announcing the news "oh yay, oh yay, we have a fourth egg,"

so so pleased i could see all this before i go on my holidays.
lyndsey, ches

Anonymous said...

The incubation period is 28-33 days, so we can expect hatching between about 3-8th May.
On the bell front - unfortunately the 'time-telling' bells are rung mechanically....apart from the special peels when the cathedral bell ringers 'perform'...if that's the right word!
On the weather front, after this morning's snow it has been a cold day with a strong northerly wind and with further (albeit wet) snow showers this evening....the birds will doubtless sit very tight throughout!
Nick B

Anonymous said...

Pax Canada 4.45pm
I am flying to Australia on May 8th
so hope they hatch before I leave, if not I have sent the url to my daughter and will watch from over there :)dont want to miss out on any of this

Anonymous said...

I am lucky to see "The Changing of Guard" happened at around 9:08 this morning. I wonder how many times this happens in a day. Jennie, HK.

Anonymous said...

i cant get the video to play any help please

alan

Anonymous said...

Alan, Maybe you need to have Flash installed? (Just guessing.)

Anonymous said...

Alan, I have to click twice on the image to have the video played. Try if this works out for you. Jennie, HK.

matt said...

at 3am on sunday morning we had a blizzard here in derby. so at 7am i dragged myself out of bed and took awalk down to the tower with my dog. (via the river durwent) there was still plenty of snow on the ground. it was freezzing. when i got down to the tower my thoughts turned to the new eggs. i just hope that the female stays nice and tight on the eggs as temtetures dropped to below zero. hope incubation go,s well and hope to see the young soon. keep up the great work foulkes... matt (derby)

Anonymous said...

have flash installed but still no joy

alan