We now have two chicks hatched out. The picture above was captured by Larelle_M_R on 30th April at 3pm.
What follows below is a blow-by-blow account of developemnts on Wednesday evening as we got more and more evidence of first one, then a second chick hatching out. The shell-nibbling video clip is worth watching out for. We hope to bring some proper videos of these moments to you in the near future.
We have evidence that our first egg has hatched!About 19:15pm this evening Nick M (who has sound) heard distinct rasping/cheeping noises and kept watching until he got some evidence, but pretty soon the female covered the eggs up from view again.
Checking back on the captured images we can show the first glimpse of a broken egg with what certainly looks like the chick still inside. Click the image to see a larger version.
(Note: This blog entry was updated at intervals throughout the evening as we get more information and images during the course of the night, culminating in a second chick appearing around 11pm.)
About 20:25 we had superb views of the half shell which the female then began to chew. We plan to bring you a stop motion video later this evening of her eating the egg. This is an important way for mother birds to restore some of their denuded calcium stocks, and has nothing to do with keeping the nest tidy as someone asked earlier this evening. ....so now we want a clear view of the first chick...but she's not giving us that option at present!
Derek Ratcliffe in his famous reference book, says that peregrines nibble at egg shells but don't really seem to devour them...they just crumble and disappear in little bits. In one year we did seem to get very convincing evidence of the egg being consumed, rather than dropping away. Here's a stop motion video we've put together from webcam images captured earleir this evening.
We're already starting to get our first pictures added to our new Flickr photo pool for Derby Cathedral Peregrines, so thank you and keep them coming!
This very first image of our first chick was posted by Jennifer Windridge on our new Flickr group which itself only hatched today - proving it was worth all the effort to get it up and running in time.
This next image was captured and posted by Dave Arrowsmith.
This image labelled "chick1" was posted by rajenkinson but it does look rather like at 23:01 it's captured the second egg in the moment of hatching, presumably with Mum taking a well-earned break for a moment.
And at 6.30 am today (Thursday 30th) there was a prolonged feeding by the female bird of two tiny white chicks with the other two unhatched eggs clearly visible.....it's going well so far!
109 comments:
think a second egg is showing signs of pipping.
fantastic joly good show chaps
Apologies for the rushed post earlier on the other thread, should have given more details – it was the excitement. I noticed what I think was a chick at around 7.25/7.30, then saw an empty shell a bit later. 20.21 (just now) camera time, you can see the empty shell.. hurrah!
RJ
Someone signing up for flicker messed up my blogger sign in. Meanwhile:
Here you go, shell, can't see the chick:
ShellKarenAnne
Has the camera frozen? There doesn't seem to be any movement
Had to stop my packing to move house. Wish I had more time. This is a welcome change from packing. Well done Colin. Well Done Mom and Dad. Well done team for another great start to the year. We over the pond here wish we could be there right now. I know I do. Hope to come and see you in September.Need a miracle though. funds are extremely tight this year. Mom looks so beautiful to-day.
I got back in as me, whew :-) I meant I somehow, or rather flicker/google, messed up my sign in, not some nefarious "someone." :-)
You'd think that if google has all these things linked together, it would have enough brains to recognize a user when they show up at one of their new thingummies and not demand that they create a new account.
YYeeesssss!!!!! ;}
When does the feeding the chicks begin? I thought it would be immediately after the chick hatched
keep warm little one i expect feeding to start in the morning more food about!
Brilliant. We have been watching the peregrines since 7.00 tonight and managed to witness it all. Put some photos on Flikr.
Eating of egg shells would make good sense - both to stop the white interiors showing up the nest location and as a bit of mineral recycling too!
However, Derek Ratcliffe in his famous reference book, says that peregrines nibble at egg shells but don't really seem to devour them...they just crumble and disappear in little bits.
The chicks have to dry off and gain strength - but Ratcliffe says that the male (tiercel) starts to bring food to the nest very soon after hatching begins...either having seen the first chick himself or as a result of signals from the female that hatching had begun. So that should start to happen tomorrow no doubt...though he also says that the chicks have to 'learn' to open their beaks on hearing the creaking noise that the female makes.
Nick B (DWT)
Wow,
i cannot wait for feeding to start so we can have a good look at the little one. ( hopefully little ones )
:)
I have added a photo to flickr which clearly shows the first chick, enjoy!
Well done Mrs P. I have been watching all night, much better than television.
Pax Canada
wonderful news, way to go mom P :)
I give up with Flicker.
All the photos I added to the Derby group are not showing up. They were there earlier. They are still under my username, but it won't let me log in. Gak.
I do not understand the connection between Blogger accounts, yahoo accounts, and Flicker accounts, but I am backing out of Flicker before I break my ability to use Blogger and yahoo groups, which for awhile earlier today was the situation.
That someone who asked whether shell-eating was for housekeeping or calcium was me, & I'm a bit put out by your scornful exclamation mark - it was an unnecessary response to a straightforward question from a non-birdie. Thanks to Nick for your explanation - and a donation is in the post!
Ann - thanks for your offer of a donation - these donations are much appreciated and needed - so please keep them coming!
Not sure who put the offending exclamation mark or where....but no doubt your reprimand has been noted by someone!
Nick B (DWT)
She just moved back & I saw 3 eggs & 1 chick.
Awesome news!! Have been away from the laptop for 2 or 3 hours and thought I'd check in just before bedtime, and so glad I did. It's all been happening. Brought tears to my eyes when I saw the pics of the 1st chick. But why oh why does the left camera keep freezing? It's such bad timing. Fingers crossed for another 3 healthy chicks any time soon.
Ann, how are you getting that? From where I'm sitting Camera 1 is stuck on 22:42:18 and I'm getting very frustrated, grrrr.
Just added a pic of the chick and three eggs momentarily exposed on the flickr thing.
RJ
Now it's stuck on 22:56:19 - has this freezing problem got anything to do with thousands of people all understandably glued to the webcam simultaneously, giving the same data flow problem you used to get in the 'old days' (2006) with the continuous live streaming?
Dang! “n1ck1ee” got a slightly better shot of the event – WD! (They’re here, as per the link on the blog: http://www.flickr.com/groups/derbyperegrines/
RJ
Pax Canada
I think a second chick has hatched
Just saw another half-eggshell - second hatching?
Hang on.. another?
23.23hr - pic on flickr
RJ
Pax Canada
I think so Ann :)
2nd chick pick on flickr
n1ck beat me to it again! sob..
@Ann, Birmingham Sorry the person waving exclamation marks around like a mad thing was me, not Nick B.even though his name appears as author under the blog entry. I've been editing videos and uploading clips to a blog entry he first prepared earlier this evening.- there was no intention of being scornful, though I agree it looked that way. I guess when you've dangled off a rope, scraping up the rather smelly and grizzly debris of a year's worth of peregrine meals, the idea of tidy falcon's nest is a million miles from reality. But it was a fair question and deserved a fair answer. I hope I'm forgiven?
And thank you very much for your donation to the project too, of course, Ann.
@Karen Anne. I can still see six images that you've uploaded - not sure how many you posted. I have heard of conflicts between systems failing to recognise the same person with differnt identities, (or is it vice versa?), but I honestly can't offer any advice on that problem, sorry. Perhaps someone else has experience of this.
Thanks to everyone for the latest images and of the 2nd chick you've all uploaded. Another 16 hour day nearly over! I'm looking forward to going to work for a rest!
Nick M.
Brilliant what fantasic news
Just logged on to see mum feeding two beautiful little chicks, what a way to start the day, it's amazing!
A very prolonged and delicate feed by the female of her two chicks just now (at 6.30 am UK summertime) was very nice to see.
The question is now - will the last two eggs hatch or will we just have two as in 2007? The next 24 hours or so will tell us....
Nick B (DWT)
Fantastic news! But wouldn't you know that the camera has frozen for me, even as Nick B says that a prolonged and delicate feeding is taking place! Sob... Sob...
Camera working fine this end Ruth (6.47)....might be the amount of traffic..though most sensible UK citizens will still be in bed I guess....must be those north americans eh?
Nick B (DWT)
Well, guess what? The camera froze at 6:38 to give me a perfect (and prolonged) view of chick #1
There is some justice in the webcam world after all :-)
An explanation of the ‘chick1’ photo I uploaded. At the time (it was 23.01), I thought it was my first glimpse of the first chick (also caught at the time by n1ck) when the falcon briefly lifted off, had a look and then went back. In hindsight, given that less than 20 minutes later a second shell was spotted, I didn’t realise it was the second egg hatching - serendipity.
RJ
There is egg shell visable (2 pieces)is this from last night or is someone else on the way?
Hi, Project Member - yes, after such a gracious apology how could I not forgive you!
Wow, missed all the excitement last night, but soooo happy 2 young ones already.
Such beautiful pictures. now glued to computer till work beckons.
are we due a changeover?
WOW great news!
I hope we have all four healthy chicks soon!
is that 3 chicks and 1 egg you tell me have a look on flikr
i think that was changeover but got a little eggcited with all the white fluff
you tell me is this three chicks and 1 egg??
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3488532334_4ee4264ff1_o.jpg
copy and paste for flickr pick
this is just lovely to watch, there are also four lovely baby chicks in worcester, www.worcester.gov.uk/peregrine if anyone wants to take a look, inbetween these two and the worcester pair i'm not getting much done! Mother nature at it's very best.........
Great camera work on lunch! Just the two chicks still..
RJ
Excellent view of mum feeding chicks, and then she flew away leaving them on their own? One had mouth open. Joy Delighted that they are here to watch
Third egg is clearly pipped.
Looks like number 3 is on the way, mum just showed 2 remaining eggs and 1 definately has a piece missing from it
I think another chick may be imminent - the egg under her right wing looks a bit chipped & she showed a sudden interest in it just now.
Is anyone's nest camera frozen besides mine? I am still at 13:11 and it is now 13:35. The other camera is fine and keeps changing as usual.
I'm missing out on progress of 3rd egg.
Can anyone help?
Yes, the nest camera has been freezing up constantly since last night. For me it's only updating about once every 10 minutes or so and I'm not getting anything interesting so I'm getting a bit bored with it now to be honest! Wish I could at least get one view of those chicks, ho hum.
try this link
http://www.streamdays.com/camera/view/derby-peregrine-falcons1
it might be better worth a try
Oh boy how frustrating is this? Its my day off and I'd set up for watching all day and now the nest platform view is frozen!!! Tried the other link to no avail. Can anyone tell me what's happening?
Thanks n1ck, I'd forgotten about the direct Streamdays alternative. It's working for me at least.
Please can someone on the DCP project team comment on why we seem to have this freezing problem at the moment? Is it just a data problem due to sudden increase of traffic? Don't suppose there's much you can do about that though is there :) Look forward to seeing any video footage of the chicks that you might happen to capture... hint ... hint ......
i'm watching the nest cam from canada and it seems to be fine.....
yeeehaaa! Got a glimps of the chicks - posting images on Flickr soon.
YESSSSSSS :D
I'm watching the nestcam from Mickleover and it seems to be great, thorouhgly enjoying. Not wanting to get on with any housework however.
3.06 birds just swapped over, one adult arrived with food. Still two chicks and 2 eggs although one does looked cracked. Can't wait. Joy
Images uploaded on Flickr now.
WHy does the parent just feed one chick?
Thanks to Streamdays, watched a very good feed for BOTH chicks.
Thank you to the person who told me the link, managed to get through and saw the 2 chicks/2 eggs before food arrived and entire feeding session.
Still no good on normal camera. Will someone be able to sort this out?
Looked to me like they both got a share of lunch. As far as I know peregrines are very fair about sharing food between the chicks, unlike owls. Am I right Nick?
Have watched intermittently during the day, and have not found the camera frozen..... just saw the chicks being fed on normal webcam,
and it is still OK.
Did i just see a third egg hatching at around 4.30.
Mum was deffinately poking her head inderneath her at something and may have just given me a glimpse :/
Pax Canada 8.35am
Looks like there is still 2 to hatch
I am sure i have just seen a third egg which is cracked.
anyone else ?
seen it too - pic added to flickr. won't be long now..
RJ
definitely two eggs still there
Ohh. I am sure i just saw a cracked third egg.
There is a picture on flickr.
take a look
Jennie
Viewers need have no worries about one chick being fed in preference to another. Past experience shows that one chick gets all the food until it's stuffed. It sways and staggers gently on its fat, over-fed little bottom, then generally flops over half-asleep whilst its brother or sister takes over the gorging process. This is the Atkins diet at its democratic best.
___________
I'm afraid I'm struggling to understand the reported camera problems as I'm not yet experiencing freezing myself at the times I'm watching.
Normally once the cameras freeze they stay frozen until I can remotely reboot our video server inside Derby Cathedral.
Can everyone report the times they experience "freezing" and when they resume again, then others can say if they've experienced it too at those times too?
Because others here are saying they've not experienced it, it's hard to determine what the cause is. It's always worth closing and reopening/refreshing a page (F5 in Windows).
If it continues I'll ask Streamdays if they're having problems. We are seeing a doubling of traffic since earlier this week, but nothing they can't cope with, I'm sure.
Sorry I can't be more helpful at this moment.
Nick M
Pax Canada
2chicks in Ohio,looks like the other 2 eggs have been abandoned
Pax Canada
#3 has arrived
Think the third one was just seen.
is that a fresh eggshell near the nest.
It deffinately looks fresh
Jess
yes I think it is and I thought I saw some little feathers
Is that number 3???
Well I saw the fresh shell just under who ever is sitting.
Nick: I've been watching on and off all day long & haven't experienced any camera freeze.
Fantastic, seeing the 2 eyases being fed earlier on. Also, several glimpses of the third egg looking as though you have another on the way. Congrats!
Any chance of "sponsorship" from a hotel company that is Well featured on the Pudding cam???
John in Derby
Still waiting to see if I was right about that 3rd hatch. I should be packing to move house on Sunday. This is just too exciting and much more fun. I was wondering how on earth the hatched checks breathe under all those feathers?
the spider is on pudding cam lol
Is that no. 3 I can see under her/his front?
Just been able to sign on for the first time since yesterday afternoon (at Buckingham University all last evening; at a Youth Offending Team Day all today) ... and HURRAH HURRAH - 2 big cheers. That's great. (LOOK FROONA! WHEREVER YOU ARE, I HOPE YOU CAN KNOW)
Aren't they so sweet...thanks so much for the great screencaps.
one egg left
Now confirmed
clear view of chicks at 18.51 local time. sorry can't do any 'screen shots'......i'm at work!!!!!!
steph, canada
Yes I was right now I win the bet with my hubby for a trip home to Derby
Just added a pic to flickr. looks like just one egg left..
RJ
I thought that was indeed the 3rd chick at 17.19 check my post. Hubby gone to work he will not know I won the bet.
All huggled around the remaining egg how lovely Must get back to packing.
We've been experiencing camera freeze all day, as a previous post said, the pictures were updating every 10 minutes on average. I did switch off and back on again - but to no avail. Lots of people say they're putting pictures on flickr, but there's only about 16 posts on there, is that right
I have been watching on and off most of the past few days, no sign of any 'cam freeze' ...I know cos I always check the time/date on the cam. Or perhaps I have been lucky!! (I live in London UK)
Oops...forgot to add a sincere 'Thank You' to all concerned for this delightful site.
Re the ‘freezing’: Pretty much normal when I visited back during the day. Nick M has a point with either hitting refresh or closing your browser and starting again. There may be many reasons for freezing when watching streaming video, quite a few can start at your PC, particularly if you are accessing through a corporate firewall..
Right now there are 50 pictures on the flickr group – so try the above on that as well.
Cheers
RJ
I've been watching the webcams at work with no problems since just before sitting started. However today there was 'freeze' - don't know if I've been sussed by our IT dept. or because of demand. At home I don't get any freezes!
Alan 165
I haven't had any problems at all with camera freeze, but I didn't see many of the pictures that were said to have been posted on Flickr. Still the same 16, the last few being from Larelle.
All Froona's cats are settled in, according to one of the other Forums. A very nice birthday present for Froona.
As I understand it, the two youngest she adopted from her vet's place, and the vet has taken those back and will look for a home for them together. The other five are in what looks to be a super, cageless, no-kill shelter forever, if need be.
If you go to
click here
and scroll down a bit past half way, there are photos of some of them in the shelter (some are hiding after being vaccinated.)
Froona's neighbor has been feeding them before now at her apartment, but the lease is up today, so they got settled just in time.
Pax Canada
Karen Anne, thanks for the info on
Froona's cats, glad to hear they have a good home, my cat came from a place that takes in cats who have lost their homes for whatever reason.
I was very sorry about Froona but why oh why are you discussing her cats, its Peregrin news we want not about cats.
Anon said: "I was very sorry about Froona but why oh why are you discussing her cats, its Peregrin news we want not about cats."
As my Mum always said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".
I, for one, am hoping the 4th egg will hatch on Friday & he/she'll be affectionately known amongst us bloggers as Froona, seeing as it's her birthday on 1st May.
Yes, perhaps I'm a silly, sentimental old s*d but there ya go. Can't help it.
This blog has often strayed into other topics such as the plight of badgers, the sightings of red kites, buzzards and other animal topics. Nothing wrong with that, surely?
Many of us were very, very sad to hear of Froona's demise because of her huge interest and devotion to the Peregrines. Additionally, she took a great interest in Derby's birds and was a regular, educational and valuable contributor to this site.
For me, any litle snippet about her life will always be of interest. It's also a reminder to us that life is so fragile, which after all, is a very important reason why this project exists.
Sorry for ranting.
Regardless of my above rant, please have a look here and enjoy the photos and comments:
click here
Looks like fresh egg-shell in the nest tray. May 1st 01:22 on the cam-clock
I seem to be the only one having problems with the Nestbox cam. It seems everso everso slow and the clock is about 20 minutes behind.....very frustrating (no-one else has mentioned it).
I know my PC is ancient, but the Pud. cam seems fine.
Anna Flintstone, Ripley
hey nearly 200k visitors well done derby top 20 in bird watch league
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