Here are two videos showing our new peregrine chicks being fed. The first clip was recorded on 2nd May, with chicks between 1 and 3 days old. The second was recorded on 5th May, and their increase in size and ability to support themselves is clear to see. We'll see a rapid change in their appearance each day from now on, though frequent webcam watchers may well not notice the difference as readily as less regular visitors, to whom these changes may be more noticeable.
Thanks to cocotags for the photo below -just one of many who uplaoded some super screenshots this week.
Warning: The title of last Sundays blog entry is very timely as the Project Team have been made aware that a frequent visitor to Derby Cathedral Green has recently been pretending to work for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. He may attempt to borrow money or pretend to solicit donations for our Project. The police are involved and we can confirm that we would not accept cash donations there unless during official Watchpoints, where Trust staff or other helpers are clearly identified. We don’t want to encourage further discussion/speculation here, or describe the individual concerned (he is known to us), but anyone with concerns is invited to contact the project team directly or leave their contact details with the Cathedral vergers for us to get back to you.
To make a donation in person, we recommend you hand it in at the vergers office inside Derby Cathedral, or to staff on any of our Museums’ reception desks. Cheques are always safer than cash, and should be made out to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and labelled “for Peregrine Project".
70 comments:
great clips chaps thankyou
Great clips, as n1ck said. What prey is being fed to the chicks? There does seem to be many feathers on the corpses when they get to the nest.
Cheers .... BobofFife
I have been so lucky to have seen them being fed each day this week so far, and twice on Monday :o)
Jackie xx
Fantastic video clips. The chicks are so enthusiastic. I particularly like the background music in the 1st one :)
Fantastic Video Clips!! Thanks for sharing.
AWESOME!!
I missed the handoff, but the parent with the chick was looking up and the other parent was at the pudding cam with prey. Now it's feeding time.
I hope I'm very wrong, but one of the chicks looks like it is not moving and not being fed. Is anyone else thinking the same?
I think Mr. P has sussed our pudding cam and is playing games with us :)
Yes, Anon, I am worried, but I didn't see the whole feeding, and last year we used to worry a lot but it turned out okay.
I missed that last feed too. Hopefully the chick was just satiated and had flopped over. They all looked fine a few hours ago, I can't think that anything could have happened to one of them since then.
Mum brought in some more prey a few minutes ago, and they all had a feed. I have uploaded a picture.
Note that the site is up to no 15 on top birding sites. The best ever?
Brilliant view of mum feeding chicks earlier this morning and dad up close and personal with pudding cam. Just having a quick check at 1445 and see dad is still there. Wonder if he's watching us?!!!
Mum's left the nest && 4 little heads & bodies are moving.
These videos are superb. Just been watching all 4 little ones, most asleep but one keeps poking his head up. Joy
Glad you all liked the video clips.
As for backgrund music -I'd not apreciated this when I made the recording. I hope the Performing Rights Society don't get to hear of it!
@Don last year our blog (and blog alone - not the webcams!) reached no 6 in the top 500 birding website list around fledging time. So we might need to do a bit more publicity and promotion of the Project this year if we're to achieve the same ranking. I think last year we peaked at around 7,200 visitors to our blog each week - see Clustr maps archive). Watching stats can be fun, but the peregrines don't care one bit!
The prey items usually get plucked up on the tower, often by the male, so they mostly arrive in an unidentifiable state. Often its a case of "spot the legs".
Nick M.
Oooh tea time!! looks tasty.......
Pax Canada 8.31am
Feeding time again, a clear view this time, wonderful videos, thanks
just watching the feeding 16.45 local time....isn't nature wonderful?????
steph...canada
I cannot believe how fast they have grown! Ma and Pa now having really problems stowing them away under their wings.
Really splendid video clips! They really show how the parents are careful to deliver the right size morsels, and distribute the food to different chicks. Our screenshots are fun, and create a wonderful progression record - but nowhere near the exitement of video with sound. Ha ha - I wondered about the background music! Next time invite the local brass band.
Pax Canada
Falcon loves that pudding cam
Love the video clips team. Thanks a lot. Could hear the background, can't figure out my daughters computer. What is it. "The Young Ones" by Cliff Richard? :)
Got the grandkids hooked now. First thing they say how are the babies doing Nanny. Wonder why Dad is staying so close all day. Like he's standing guard maybe.
Sorry that should have said could not hear the background.
Ann
Is anyone else having problems with the nest scrape camera, it seems to be extremely close up? The other camera seems permanently blocked by the other peregrin. I wish he'd move. Joy
I get the sense that everyone’s asleep. Downstairs and upstairs. I uploaded a pic this afternoon of the teircel: “are you looking at me”. He’s still at it..
RJ
@Joy. I moved the camera out a bit for you. Hope that's better. Personally I was quite enjoying the intimate close-up and watching the chicks snoozing ;-)
I enjoyed the close-ups :)
I do worry when you see the chicks motionless for more than a few minutes. They're obviously being very well fed though.
I know what you mean about the liitle tykes not moving, i sat glued earlier until we saw one of them in particular move, all these babies, you just can't help but worry!
I've just learned that there is a pair of peregrines in Newcastle-under-lyme, we're from Stoke so i'm going to do some digging!
Phew! When I looked in this morning I was really worried because 3 of the chicks were up and feeding, and the one I'm guessing was the last to hatch was just lying there motionless. I've been fretting all day! So glad to read that they've all been up and feeding this afternoon!
No wonder the adults are now spending much of the day dozing - they spend all night watching UFO's - lol
Alan 165
Midnight snack time - but I can only see 3 little heads again... oh no... having to go to bed fretting about the little one again!
Hi Mrs B,
Just watched that too. The little 'uns have been fed numerous times today. My guess is that little tiddler doesn't need quite so much as the others.
I'm sure they're all OK. Not much longer before they start walking around on their outsize talons.
mmmm, a morning snack, yum yum!
Just saw a parent feeding itself on the pud cam, then took the remains to the chicks. Pics on flickr soon.
Hmmm... judging by the u-tube clips currently posted either someone inserted the wrong links or you've been hacked.
(or are Krispy Kreme now sponsoring?)
we cant get you tube at school
we did not see the video
Mrs B. Relax - all 4 are busy feeding just now! Shot to Flickr as evidence. :-)
I think I just saw Tiddler being fed - he/she was right at the front.
Gary Larsen might say: Laying still and flat to induce anxiety in humans was Number 1 in the list of "Games peregrine chicks can play"
Number 2 being "Take turns at wriggling to keep Mum awake".
John B,
I've just watched the YouTube videos again via the home page. The links are fine.
Haha, Roger. I hope you have a caption ready for when the eyases are teetering on the ledge in a few weeks time :)
Hi Terry - I think we could have a competition for that! I will offer a box of Mozart Kugels from Vienna as a prize. (marzipan balls in chocolate).
Have you noticed that the youngsters are much more stable now, and are managing to move about a bit. I just saw the huddle break up, with one chick off towards the back of the tray.
I missed that Roger, but it looks to me like Mum is not so much keeping them warm but shading them from the sun (they hardly fit beneath her any more).
I reckon we'll see them wandering around on their own in the next day or two.
It's been 3 days since I had time to check out what's going on and the growth of the chicks is AMAZING! I know we were told that they would do this, but it's just staggering!
Glad someone caught the pigeon on pudding cam, a bit of 'Risky business' going on! Great pics on flickr, must learn how to do it!
What a dozy pigeon!!!
@ Nick B.(DWT)
Got your note, etc. - many thanks!
Looks like they ordered another 'take-away'. Foolish pigeon on the pudding cam.
I can see Tiddler - at approx. 3 o'clock as they (used to?)say in the RAF.
great view of feeding time...all the chicks seem to be getting a fair share.
steph..canada
Also a great view of Mum plucking the pigeon on the ledge before feeding it to the babes.
Just seen a good feed, pigeon I believe
Pax Canada
I just noticed a strange shadow on the hotel wall about 4.35pm your
time almost looked like the shadow of a bird on the wing??, could anyone check that out
@ Pax Canada
Could that shadow have been from whatever's hanging of the arm of that crane? There's a lot of activity, with the pulley thing whizzing backwards & forwards.
temp pic on my blog might explain
the crane and shadows
feeding again!!! these must be the best fed chicks in the uk!!
steph...canada (just about to eat my own lunch!!)
@ Colin
I think your pic explains everything.
I think Mr. P is having an elicit affair with the pudding cam - he must've mistaken it for another female peregrine. If only Mrs. P knew, while she's at home looking after the kids...
Slightly off topic but worth a look:
bird intelligence
Feeding time again. All well fed.
Surely not more food, this must be the equivalent of a 'chocolate button' snack!!
Dad sure does love the 'pud'!
I was having a quick peek at the cams this afternoon, but wasn’t able to add to the blog. By chance I caught the moment one of the falcons on the pudding cam having a bit of tussle with what turned out to be a pigeon, which it then tucked into. I didn’t catch the beginning of the sequence, so pose the question – did it arrive with the prey, or was it already there? I ask because having looked at the flickr pics, it appears there was a daft pigeon hanging around earlier. Can the Derby team (or anyone else) shed any light?
RJ
As far as I know, I doubt a peregrine would take an adult pigeon already on the ledge. It uses the element of speed and power to incapacitate its prey, but doing this so close to the tower/cliff might expose it to a risk of injury.
We have had reports recently of the peregrines popping round the tower to take baby pigeons out of nests, but I doubt it would go for an adult in this way. (But I'm always willing to learn differently)
@John B - sorry I didn't follow what you meant about the YouTube videos. Can you elucidate?
amazing they growing sooo quick
hi everyone, i spent the morning down at the green today, no sign of the male while i was down there, the female was sat on the nest with chicks providing great views from where i was sat. again raiding pigeon nest again providing great views. cant wait to see the young fledge
23:38 7th May 2009
I saw mum fly off and almost pulled one of the chick off with her, gave me a scar I can tell you!
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