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More drama this morning when 003, our only female, took her turn to fall to earth. At 7.30 she was on the top of this building which is just West of the tower. As you can see the roof is being repaired and when a workman went up to start work she took off and flew round the north side of the tower.
Unfortunately she either didn't clear the trees that grow there or tried to land in the top of them. By the time I got round there she was hanging upside.JPG)
down from a branch but soon came crashing down through the branches onto the paving below. Fortunately Jon Salloway and Graham Whitmore were on hand to help shepherd the bird into a small garden where she could be easily caught.
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down from a branch but soon came crashing down through the branches onto the paving below. Fortunately Jon Salloway and Graham Whitmore were on hand to help shepherd the bird into a small garden where she could be easily caught..JPG)
She was much bigger in the hand than the male, 005, that came to ground on Friday (see previous blog entry). In a strange way, we had rather been hoping 003 would come to ground because worries had been expressed privately about her foot being swollen up. In the hand we could see that her feet were absolutely fine and the rings were loose and free.
Our gloves and carry-box were inside the cathedral but fortunately the verger, Heather, had just arrived to open up, so we boxed her up (the bird not the verger!) and took her up the 198 steps to the very top.
We held the box by the cren
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ellation and she just scrambled out and sat there looking inwards, none the worse for her ordeal....if a little bemused. These are my less than wonderful photos...some of Jon and Graham's to follow no doubt
Nick B (DWT)
DONATIONS NEEDED!
By the way, should you want to make a donation towards this project and the work we do to look after these fabulous birds (and rescue them when the need arises) please email enquiries@derbyshirewt.co.uk and we'll send you the details of how to get money to us. This is an expensive project to operate. It takes a lot of man hours to achieve everything we have achieved and this does cost money (we do get paid for some of the time we spend on this work, though by no means all, as we give a lot of time voluntarily).
The Wildlife Trust is a charity and it has to earn its keep. We try hard to get external funding, legacies, donations and raise money in many other ways too. Despite this effort, we have a deficit budget again this year so we'll be working even harder to get the funding in to keep all out work for wildlife across the whole county going. See the Trust's website for more information about its work. Derby Museums also has to raise monies for its various project work such as this one, so here again, money underpins everything we do.
Many thanks in advance.
14 comments:
Glad to hear all is well, I work at the building next door to the cathedral so we get quite a good view of what's going on. One of the chicks from last year landed in our carpark if I remember right!! A colleague and I were worried about all the noise going off when we arrived at work this morning, so we checked to see what was going off, we're all please that the chick is well
I've been away for a few days and have completely lost the plot - on skimming through the blogs, it looks like young peregrines have been falling out of the sky at an alarming rate! I've had a quick look at the platform. Am I correct in thinking 3 have fledged (or had a darn good try) and there's one to go ("tiddler"?)
Sue H, Wendover
PS - I'm sad I wasn't away in Derby - what a thrill to go to the pub and have a peregrine land at your feet just outside!!!! (not so great for the bird though) Well done all you "rescuers"
Only one more to go now. It's all been so exciting over the past weekend. Hopefully little one will not be left alone too long. Let's all wish for the best as the last one remains to give it a shot. Poor little guy all alone. Wonderful job rescue operation. Thanks to all concerned keep up the good work. ( Ann in Canada )
Thanks Ann in Canada for answering my question! By the way, I hope lots of you will be donating to Derby Wildlife Trust to help them fund their deficit on this project - I will.
Sue H, Wendover
Poor Tiddler - all alone. Obviously intends to give it a go soon as is teleporting (on still camera) from one side to the other. Yes, it does seem to be raining peregrines in Derby (makes change from frogs as miracles go! and just as memorable!) Def give money. We did stuff a note in when we came. Unfortunately my will already made, and it's to the RSPB. xxx Penny
Tiddler is very restless, is flying from side to side of the scrape, at one point I thought he'd gone - but he was up the side of the scrape with only the end of his tail visible. He keeps looking up, so I think he knows his siblings are up there somewhere, and it won't be long before he tries to join them.
(DD)
Speaking of "hanging upside down from a branch," it must be that kind of week, because
http://palemaleirregulars.blogspot.com/
at "Monday, June 16, 2008 Cathedral Fledge Rests Upside Down" has a photo of a red tailed hawk fledgling "resting" upside down on a fence after fledging. That's St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York City. (He wound up okay in a tree.)
There was a lot of concern about those eyasses because St. John's had workmen near the nest during crucial times, but at least two of them have come thru okay.
Yes, DD I saw that too - and thought at 1ast Tiddler had launched - then saw the white line on tail feathers! Enthralling, isn't it! Several others keep appearing 'up top' too! xxx
Seems like one nest of four chicks requires a small army of human helpers to aid the fledgling process! What happens 'in the wild'?
I suppose the urban environment plays a big part. Is 'take-off' from the ground a skill that adults acquire?
Well these juvies keep you all busy. Great job again! This time the rescue of 003. These juvies can be very glad they have the Project Team to protect them. The urban enviroment does play a major part.
Our own juvies at De Mortel nestsite live in the wild. One of them could not get up the tower when fledging and had to land on the ground. And flew into a tree. No harm done there. 2 days later he was able to fly up and gain height and land on the 130 meter high tower.
The city however is a much more dangerous place. I'm so happy this juvie 003 is safe ! Thank you all !!
Does anyone know if Tiddler has been left any food today by either parent ? now he's on his own I hope Mum/Dad will continue to feed him until he fledges.
(DD)
Maybe they are starving him a bit to encourage him to make another flight? It's a regular tactic.....
Incidentally Colin Pass tells me he's sure that he has seen all four of the young on the wing, though not all at the same time!
Latest news at 1400 hours UK time: all four young now back on the tower with just the one (tiddler) in the platform.
Nick B (DWT)
Looks like "Tiddler" is tucking into some grub now. Don't know where it came from though, I didn't see it arrive.
Rose
Yes, 'Tiddler' seems to have a whole pigeon to himself. It's there minus the head, on the platform. He doesn't seem ravenous, so maybe it will entice one of the others back to spend the night with him? xxx
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