Saturday 13 May 2017

Who's The Daddy?

Our first chick of 2017 hatched very early around 04:37am today. Once again, it was one of our keen webcam watchers (BeeThistle) who spotted and reported this on the comments section of this blog.
Here are some initial screen shots taken this morning - first showing a broken egg fragment, then just a very brief glimpse of a tiny chick. (scroll down for the full video of this morning's events)



Don't forget to check our other cameras - the view from our new Cam4 on Page 2 gives a great, low-down view, letting you see the chicks more easily. As its audio isn't compatible with our streaming service, here's a live audio feed from another camera which you may want to run in the background. It stays on for longer than the cameras, and is a great way of monitoring next activity.
Listen Now (20 minute timeout):



Once again, our webcam watcher, Wendy Bartter, has come up trumps with a great video compilation of this mornings action, together with a first glimpse of the newly hatched chick and its caring parents.






2017 has seen the latest ever date for egg-laying and hatching, as you can see by the chart on our Frequently Asked Questions page. Previously, the latest date was 10th May though, of course, this season has seen a significant change in the nest dynamics at Derby. As some blog readers may be aware, we now have a new male this year. This bird (with a ring on its leg) either ousted or replaced the previous (unringed) adult male (read more here). We still don't know precisely when he moved in, or indeed whether the eggs we see hatching today were fertilised by him, or the previous male, as the first evidence we had of his arrival was in early March - quite some time after we normally start to see the adult birds mating.

58 comments:

Helen said...

Still three eggs at the moment, plus a great view of the chick a moment ago.

Wendy Bartter said...

Fantastic news, just going to check footage now hopeful for some decent views to share!

Lisa said...

Aww just seen baby on change over! Did i only see 2 eggs though!? Was on came 2 so might of been out of shot?

Lisa said...

Sorry it was cam 1!

Heather said...

Just wondering how long the chick can go without food as from comments it seems they've only had some changeovers with no feeding taking place.I see from Nick's comment that it's still possible the eggs are the ones fertilised by the previous male. So maybe the late Mr P's legacy will continue for another season, but rather ironic for the new male!

Wendy Bartter said...

Here's the vid ... https://youtu.be/mO070cPmiAU

kate said...

Great Vid Wendy Mum not sure about the Male,

wonder if she knows it is from the first Male, and protecting little one against any aggro from the new Dad.? Will be interesting to watch this years progress in particular.

Lisa said...

I know some birds dont feed the chicks for the first 24 hours after hatch, they are still absorbing the yolk sac or something like that. Not sure if its the case with these?

Heather said...

Thanks Wendy for great video, it puts it all into context timewise - I wondered why they'd both left the chick unattended. Yes Kate the male seems very interested in the new arrival, perhaps this is his first time encountering fatherhood or more worryingly he knows they aren't his offspring. Fingers crossed the latter isn't the case as he may wish to harm it during changeover. This is certainly turning out to be an interesting year.

Jill F said...

I have a great shot of the chick, how do i upload it?

Jill F said...

Forget that, Have just watched Wendy's video, amazing wendy thanks.

Helen said...

Second chick hatched!

Helen said...

Lots of cheeping from both chicks!

Helen said...

Looks like chick number three is also on it's way!

Helen said...

Yep, third chick hatched! It's been a busy day in Derby! I think there might be a bit of a wait now before the last one hatches.

Wendy Bartter said...

Dad brings prey & incubates ... https://youtu.be/c91_qEOTWnQ

Helen said...

Looks like only two chicks, I must have jumped the gun again! Sorry. But I can see a crack in one egg.

Wendy Bartter said...

Only the two so far Helen, good views on feeding vid to follow shortly! Yes, I think there is a crack!

Wendy Bartter said...

Dad visited for a chat @ 12.40 (silent due to sync problems) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMNWYYp6WmU

HATCH #2 @ 15.30 eggshell evidence only ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jAnH2T_dO4

Wendy Bartter said...

FIRST feed for our TWO newly hatched chicks ... https://youtu.be/R8gFW1k62Xo

Wendy Bartter said...

Looks as if there may have been a THIRD HATCH, no reveal so we must wait for the morning feed ... https://youtu.be/q3dkwRm2Of0

Vicky said...

Happy to hear we have 2 chicks. Good luck to them.

Unknown said...

Definitely three feeding at 08:12 great to see lets hope 4th soon.

Kate said...

@Vicky... Now Three.

feed just going on
Dad brought food and sat on the end.

kate said...

Hi Norma
Yes great to see.

I have put a couple of captures of the feed and dad on the end of scrape on the FLKR Group page.

And Wendy I am sure, will be along later with a Vid ( hopefully)

Wendy Bartter said...

Hi all, great start to the day with first reveal of THREE CHICKS at very early morning feed ... https://youtu.be/QnOjsDwfKCE

Kate said...

Great as always Wendy TY

Now edit and post the nest feed 08:10 onwards... CHOL:):)

(Just keeping you busy x)

Wendy Bartter said...

Your wish is my command Kate! Lol
https://youtu.be/cNpIsEl1bVI

Kate said...

Bless you Wendy,, you know I am only joking and would NEVER command ...and hope no offense

You are really appreciated, with all the time you spend recording, editing and bringing so much wonderful viewing of so many web cams.
Without your fabulous Videos, we would miss so much.
Thank you.


Jill F said...

I agree with that, thanks so much Wendy

Norma said...

Yes, thank you Wendy. I have hopefully put some pictures on Flickr but if it has worked it will be by luck not knowledge!

Heather said...

Logged in in middle of night and Mrs P looked quite exhausted with head very low down on pebbles but she's obviously ok. Just missed the early morning feed revealing 3 chicks but with very many thanks to Wendy this was soon rectified. Your hard work is really appreciated by all of us - it's like having an extra webcam!

Also good news that the new male is taking care of Mrs P and the chicks, when the first one hatched he did seem rather too interested. He seems to want to brood them too and reluctant to give in to Mrs P taking over but she soon asserts her authority - being larger can have its advantages. Thought it was sweet when she fed him a few morsels before feeding the chicks. What a really interesting year this is turning out to be

Phoebe said...

Thank you Wendy for the lovely first hatch video and the notations! The new male was very interested in the chick, being a young bird himself he probably thought it was food and has most likely not seen a chick before, other than when he was a chick lol.

Am off to watch the rest of the videos.

Wendy Bartter said...

Thank you all for your kind remarks & very pleased you are enjoying the vids ... this one is of 11.15 feed, the whole thing in real time as trying to see if all chicks are feeding well/fed equally ... https://youtu.be/sYDEB19mtzI

Wendy Bartter said...

This next feed @ 15.49 shows chicks crying for food & can be plainly heard above the background noises ... https://youtu.be/GUbKWr_CoA4

Wendy Bartter said...

Dad with huge prey item @ 17.26 then he gets to brood for quite some time whilst Mum sorts it out (sound removed as it's the bells throughout!)...https://youtu.be/oYX954KJhF8

Anonymous said...

At 3 am she is doing some preening and rocking. Still one to come I am guessing. glad to hear the new daddy is helping out like he should. Thanks to all who are looking after picture and video taking.

Vicky said...

3:40 AM, Mrs P is not getting much sleep. Little ones are moving beneath her a lot and she's rocking too I guess to help the last one to hatch.

Lisa said...

A few questions on the males!

1) Has anyone seen the old male at all this year? ( sorry ive come in late so not sure if he has been about)
2) Surely with the time between this male showing up, breeding and egg laying this male must be the dad?
3) Would another male take care of another males chicks and would he even know if they wasnt his?

Just things ive been thinking since seeing this post about the dad.

Oak class said...

we are very excited to see the new chick. We've just looked at the live video but one of the parents is sitting on the eggs and chicks, so we will check again later.

How big are the chicks when they hatch?
how many chicks have hatched now?

Wendy Bartter said...

Hi all they do start their feeding very early ... still THREE chicks & the unhatched egg ...
https://youtu.be/jJxTSYroDY0

kate said...

Hi all I hope this info may help Oak Class and also Lisa's Query
I am no expert and am sure someone will correct me if am wrong.
@Oak CLass( answering Question by Lola.
Nick B (DWT) said...
Hi Lola: the eggs are just a bit smaller than small chicken eggs - so maybe the size of a pullet's egg if your teacher can tell you what that is like.
The chicks, coming out of that quite small egg are naturally small too. Once their white fluff dries out they look a bit bigger but they still weigh really very little.
However they grow quickly on a diet of meat, meat and more meat and in less than seven weeks will be the same size and weight as their parents.
Nick B
4 May 2017 at 20:45
...........................
@Lisa... Read through the ARCHIVE list here this is for March this year and you will see that Both Nick and the Team will always try and write an informative BLOG heading during each Month.
http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/

Kind regards
Kate

Wendy Bartter said...

More feeding from quite early this morning for anyone who wasn't able to watch at the time ..https://youtu.be/QS_9tgcIq9c.

Vicky said...

3 little chicks in full view. Mom or dad on the other side of the scrape. 1 egg still with the chicks.

Vicky said...

Dad just flew in with food and is feeding the chicks. So sweet to see them again.

Anonymous said...

Just seen the peregrine fly in with some food which she/him is feeding to the chicks.

Unknown said...

Now we have 4?

kate said...

I have just seen her tucking the egg (or shell) under her

Jill F said...

is webcam page 1 down for other people?

Norma said...

Yes your right I saw the egg myself about 1:30, sorry false hope for the 4th I think!

Lynda said...

17 May 2017 2.15 I can see another egg.

Vicky said...

Webcam 1 is down for me too. I am in Canada. Just saw the 2 little balls of feathers sticking out from under mom.

Lisa said...

yep webcam 1 down here too.

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

Thank you for all your wonderful updates, pictures and images.
I can confirm that the camera feed on Page 1 is not functioning, although the new 'audio only' feed from it seems OK. So do click the link on the recent couple of blog posts to get 20 minutes of audio whilst watching the camera feed on Page 2.

I have emailed our webhosting company to report this issue.

Wendy Bartter said...

Thanks Nick, pleased to report that cam #3 back up for me & recording resumed!

Unknown said...

I think it's Mr P feeding the chicks at the mo.
He is so gentle with them.

Jill F said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I think that the 4th egg eventually hatched. Am I right?