Wednesday 28 April 2010

Donations and a DVD (updated with Video)

Update Again - Pipped egg and Video added (see end)

Hatching Day is fast approaching! So it seems timely to ask for donations to help to underpin this project. In past years, blog readers and webcam watchers have been generous in their support and we hope that your resources are not exhausted because the project does need continual funding each year. To find out how to make a donation see financial support .
Newcomers to the Derby Cathedral Project peregrine site this season may also be interested to learn that a 35 minute DVD, The Peregrines of Derby Cathedral, which tells the story of these birds was made in 2008. It has numerous video clips of the whole breeding season and features not only the project team but also Chris Packham, the well known BBC Springwatch TV presenter.

To buy a copy, either call at Derby Museum shop on The Strand in Derby, or The Silk Mill Museum on Cathedral Green, or get one from The Cathedral Centre opposite the Cathedral on Irongate.

By post you can get one from The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust by phoning 01773 881188 in office hours and using your credit/debit card. This method has been used successfully by many people perfectly safely, eg for making donations and for paying their subscriptions to the Trust (we have 12,000 members). The DWT office is open in office hours, Monday to Friday.

The price is just £6 (exclusive of P&P in the UK, extra for sending abroad - please ask). Now, thanks to the generosity of the producer, once the costs of copying the DVD have been covered, the project gets the whole of the money left as a donation. So you get an excellent DVD and make a small donation to the project at the same time...a win/win situation!

Nick B (DWT)

Update: At least one egg is now "pipped" with a small hole made by the chick from within the egg. The first photo wa captured at 11:30am on 28th April. (see also video clip at end of this post) The second on 29th April at 07:19am


Pipped egg


146 comments:

Craig said...

To Mr. Nick B (DWT). - See you were up late. Watching the birds no doubt.

It does indeed seem like the right time to ask for a donation.

I have on a number of occasions been onto your website (DWT) and tried to donate online. I don't recommend anyone try it this way. I keep receiving the message "We're sorry but we weren't able to process your payment". Epic fail on behalf of Virgin Money.

Perhaps the DWT could advise if there is a PayPal route or other, other than Virgin Money, internet means?

Only because otherwise need to remember where I stashed my cheque book... covered in a think layer of dust in some dark corner drawer somewhere. Lets not mention the cost of postage these days.

Mucho thanks.

AnnieF. said...

@ Craig: I agree, PayPal would be much more convenient, but I don't know if they would charge the beneficiary for the service. Nobody seems to use cheques much these days!
@ Nick B (DWT) : Do we still need to specify that the donation is for the Peregrine Project?

Tiercel seems very contented on the eggs, and all appears to be quiet underneath him.

AnnieF. said...

Sorry, Nick B., I should have clicked on the link you gave - it answered my question.

AnnieF. said...

@ Craig: Your comments for this a.m. are on the previous page!
The falcon was shifting her position on the eggs and I noticed that one at the back has a small white, roundish mark. It could be a stain, but could it also be the start of a hatching?

AnnieF. said...

Tiercel's on the tower looking windswept and slightly dishevelled.

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

Image of pipped egg now added to the end of this blog post. So it could be later today or tomorrow!

Terry, Herts UK said...

With so many people using internet banking these days, perhaps a good idea to publish the bank account details so they can do direct transfers. Ie. account number and sort code.

Craig said...

11:35 I spy with my little eye something beginning with eggs, was that a crack/hole in the egg closest to mummy or just a spot of dirt, only just caught it?

11:38 Male's returned to the tower.

12:16 He's still on that tower... suppose he's having a well deserved rest before the kids turn up, afterall he won't be getting any rest at all then :)

Ann ( Canada ) said...

Oh good, finally some sign of hatching at long last. Well it won't be long now then, if anything like the past 2 years anyway. Thanks for posting the picture of the pipped egg. Here's hoping for more egg-citing news really soon. As to donations we found it easy to just pay for an international postal order in British Sterling and mail it to The Derbyshire Wildlife Fund. Marking it for what ever project you would like it to go to. The team can provide the address and the office staff, people like Elizabeth, are very helpful. It worked for me. We do have a pay pal account now. If that is an option I would like to know that also.

Craig said...

12:20 Just seen PM's post and the picture of the pip

Also, male decided to get some work done and flew off. Suppose I also should get back to work.

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

Just a quick response to a question addressed to my colleague, Nick B:
Do please indicate if you want your donation to go the the Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project, though donations are always welcome to support the general work of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

For anyone considering making a large donation, do please follow up in writing to indicate that you would wish your contribution to be carried forward from one year to the next. This helps keep the Trust's accountants happy, as they normally expect any donations to be received and spent within the same financial year. We don't need you to do this for the smaller donations as there is always expenditure related to our project. But for bigger contributions this ensures we can use your money to best effect.
As they say: every penny helps, so a big thank you to supporters, past, present and future.

Anonymous said...

I donate each year to the Peregrine Project. Please remember, if you are a UK tax payer, you can sign a Gift Aid form and the project receives extra funds via HMR&C.

Exciting times ahead!

Jane

Craig said...

14:02 Something's been spotted by the Falcon, she's sat up all official like 'What do you want, I mean business'. Seems to be nothing in sight on the cams. She's settled down after a minute or so. Probably nothing more than a passing birdy.

14:31 Good view of the eggs, and that pipped egg.

Craig said...

15:03 Female is off the eggs, think it is she who is standing on the top edge of the box. Now would be a nice time to play with the zoom button.

15:06 She has moved back to the eggs. Just a stretch of the legs.

:mungo said...

3:05pm lady falcon hanging out on side of the ledge, eggs are still eggy....

I wonder what their first feast will be....

Eggsiting times ahead!

Mad Susan said...

eggsiting!! LOL.

my book says that a falcon ate a goose once, but i think for a small chick that would be ova-doing it.

Craig said...

15:32 Noticed the male's back on the tower and he flew off moments later. Female definitly spotted him, she perked up a bit.

15:46 Female is trying to sleep. She's very calm and content. I'm sure most watching the cam feed are eagerly awaiting the new arrivals and not wanting to take their eyes off. (I confess that's me)

16:34 Male landed on the nesting box.

16:44 He's still there, but I can't watch anymore.. home time approaches.

Looking closer, I think it's the female on the ledge actually. I must have missed them change sometime.

Phoebe said...

I missed the changeover but the tiercel was on the eggs, he just got off them and flew off - meanwhile the falcon is sitting on the RHS of the scrape. The pipped egg can be seen clearly.

Getting egg-citing!

Joy said...

Wow I have actually seen the eggs, a peregrin on the other side of the scrape as well.

Phoebe said...

The tiercel is back on the eggs. Maybe the falcon has gone for a bath and a rest ready for the busy night ahead.

AnnieF. said...

The tiercel's left wing is slightly extended, compared to the right, as he egg-sits - could he be making room for an imminent arrival?

:mungo said...

OVA-DOING it, LOL!! you are FUNNY mad Sue.

15:27 one on the eggs the other on the ledge looking out OVA cloudy Derby...

16:52 eggs are bare (brrrrr) a peregrine on right hand side of box..

I have some pictures how do i post them here rather than flickr??

AnnieF. said...

You can see the egg now that he's sideways on to the camera - it's sheltered under his right wing & looks as if it might be about to crack.

AnnieF. said...

As soon as I posted that, he moved again!

Karen Anne said...

p.s. photo uploaded to flickr.

Karen Anne said...

One or two eggs (or could they be eggshell remnants?) are exposed. I don't usually see that when the parent is just sitting.

Joy said...

I hope it won't be long before we seem some action.

Craig - do you do any work and what does your boss think about you spending all this time watching peregrins.

Craig said...

Joy, yes I do, and he doesn't know... as long as the work gets done he doesn't care... he's the one who introduced me to your Peregrines anyway.

AnnieF. said...

@ KarenAnne :Just looked at your Flickr pic, & that's exactly the moment I was describing in my post of 18.03hrs. Thanks!

Rubber Bands said...

Are there any plans for a name for the first chick if it hatches today? I have a suggestion!

:mungo - I'd love to see your egg pics. SHELL i show you how to how to post them? HAR HAR

Mo Cole, Belper said...

Can anyone answer.... At what elevation is the top right hand picture, is it above, below or same as the nest ????????

Anonymous said...

@ Mo

If you scroll down on the front page of the blog to ‘Royal visit to Derby’ you see a picture of the Royal Standard flying over the cathedral. That gives view of the thing that looks like a classic church window but is the wooden slatted front to the bell chamber (not sure of the technical term). At the bottom left of it you can see the scrape, and if you look closely you can even see the two cameras that give us the left and right views that we can see. Above the top of the ‘window’ you can see five things that stick out from a ledge. Those are the protruding bits you can see on the other view (and one is a favourite place to de-feather prey) because the top camera (aka the ‘pudding’ camera) is on the left of that ledge. Hope that helps.

RJ

Mo Cole said...

To RJ....Many Thanks, didn't realise it was at such a high level.....

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

Thanks to RJ who beat me to a reply.

Here's a Google Street View of the rear of Derby Cathedral taken from the bottom of Amen Alley.

http://bit.ly/cathview

The platform with its two cameras is visible in this image as a brown strip (which can be zoomed in further). Our third camera is right at the top of the tower, pushed through a very small guttering hole on the left side of the line of gargoyles and gutters that run just below the top with its sharp pinnacles.

You might wish to drag the image around and zoom in/out to view the area around the Cathedral which was taken during the redesign works which are now completed.

BTW: There are no plans to name our chicks or the parents. The project Team did discuss this at length some years ago and we felt that, because these were wild birds, it would be inappropriate to anthopomorphise them by giving them names. However we accept that a name was needed for the injured bird from last season, now cared for and flown by Colin, a local falconer.

@Craig Nick B and I did joke this afternoon that we ought to post a message under the name "Craig's Boss" and say: Get On With Your Work! (But we thought better of it)

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

And further technical details of our set-up here, if you're really keen to know more:

http://bit.ly/camtech

If there are any local professional electronics repair companies that would be willing to offer their services to our project for free, we'd welcome some assistance.
We have two Philips DVDR3460H, both of which have developed stuck disc-trays that can only be opened by using a screwdriver in the underside slot. Plus we have a Samsung Monitor and TV in Derby Museum which was playing our webcams in the galleries, but this has just died - we think a capacitor has probably blown on the PSU.

Craig said...

21:08 Mums back, dad is reluctant to move both are beak to beak over the eggs, Dad gives in and flys to the tower.

KerrySuffolk said...

21:14
Change over, clear view of all 4 eggs, all still in tact! Hurry up you lot and break your way out!

Karen Anne said...

Four eggs on view. I think this was a changeover, but I was busy saving the photo and so missed some of it. Photo to flickr.

Phoebe said...

Posted 3 pics of the changeOVA - no hatchling yet. Tha Falcon look very agitated at the moment... we may have a chick by morning :D

Marski2009

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

12:55am female popped out for a few seconds, revealing four intact eggs.

See you in the morning, guys.

Karen Anne said...

3 of the eggs were visible about 02:11 your time, no obvious chick.

Karen Anne said...

Four intact eggs.

Pax Canada said...

off the eggs 02.38

Pax Canada said...

back on at 02.40, a quick stretch

Pax Canada said...

change over at 05.23 poppa's on the eggs

Pax Canada said...

Mom is on the tower cam 0.525

Helen said...

Still four eggs this morning! Juat got a clear vies of them. That chick sure is keeping everyone waiting. At least the children in school may get to see the hatching for themselves later today ... hope so!

Pax Canada said...

Dad left the eggs uncovered 06.07
eggs covered again 0.616

Pax Canada said...

mom off the eggs 06.54

Anonymous said...

07.26 one chick definitely on its way. Clear view of cracked shell.

Pax Canada said...

having a break (no pun intended)

Pax Canada said...

has the cam frozen???

Craig said...

07:02 Mum has a move around, 3 eggs visable.

07:32:10 Nice zoom on the eggs, camera froze too.

Anonymous said...

Photos on Flickr

Pax Canada said...

seems to be ok now, had to get a glass of wine to calm my nerves
(11.49pm her)

Craig said...

Welcome back camera, I was hoping for there to be an angry mob at you breaking the camera but my hopes were thankfully shattered.

Mum's on the eggies.

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

Soory about the camera freeze. I was acting on a complaint from a viewer that the graphic/logo was causing you problems. In trying to remove it, the video server froze up. So I think I'll leave it well alone for now!

Nick M.

Karen Anne said...

I can see the crack in the photos by Twwitcher on flickr, but not in the photo of he four eggs I just uploaded. Wonder if the crack is downside up now...

Karen Anne said...

Poor Proj Mem DM, up half the night and early in the a.m., all for the cause. What does Mrs. Proj Mem DM say about that :-)

Karen Anne said...

I like the logo, if by that you mean the chick photo.

Pax Canada said...

@ Nick, my old heart skipped a few beats LOL

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

New image added to blog of pipped egg this-morning.

Phoebe said...

I’ve been watching the tiercel on the eggs for a good few minutes, he seems to be agitated, looking around and upward with his beak open, he could be cooling himself, maybe the chick hatched, or he could be calling out. He has just looked under at the eggs, two were visible, turned himself slighty and settled again. He is still very alert!

Phoebe said...

Tiercel is up off the eggs and sitting on the nest ledge , the falcon in on the corbel below. Wouldn’t it be great if a chick hatched now in full view of the eggs? Especially for the schools.

Craig said...

@PM - I agree with Karen Anne, although you could cut a mill or two off the green above Derby and below Webcam.

@Phoebe, 09:59, I was watching that too. I was thinking of commenting that perhaps something poked him where the sun doesn't shine. But thought it'd be too rude. And I think he's just cooling himself, he was direct sun, but clouds have come along to give some comfort.

10:19 Male gets up off the eggs.

10:20 Nice zoom on the eggs

10:21 Zoomed out to see the male standing on the edge, female below on the wall.

Clean, prune, chomp, nibble and pose...

10:42 He finally decided to sit back down.

Anonymous said...

How often does the picture refresh? I'm online at nearly 11.15am but the timer on the webcam reads 11.05 and there doesn't seem to be any movement...

Karen Anne said...

Is the cam frozen? I can see both birds, but neither has moved a bit for awhile.

Pam said...

The cam has frozen at 11:05am.

Anonymous said...

Cam frozen at 11.06

Craig said...

11.05.01 Another camera freeze? Not doing well today are we. At least the male looks content.
Blame the City Council it's their website.

11.34 Any eta on when it will be back?

AnnieF. said...

There's a peregrine on the corbel under the scrape - probably the falcon.

Mo cole said...

camera freeze 11.06 heeeeeeeeeelp !!!!!!

Loui said...

Have the cameras frozen, we don't seem to have updated since 11.06.
Loui

Craig said...

11:50 No doubt your busy slaving away trying to fix the problem. Perhaps lots of posts coming in saying camera freeze and offering solutions.

I'll offer my technical expertise:
Have you tried turning it on at the plug?

Checked your cables are pushed in?

Called in an exorcist just in case of the eggs is a evil spawn and doesn't want us to watch him destroying Derby? (Not that it will be missed)

;)

MEL said...

Cameras frozen at 11.05 (now 11.55)

Phoebe said...

I think the multi screen has frozen.

AnnieF. said...

The clock on Feed 2 is stuck at 11.05. That means my last post could be wrong, as I didn't notice the clock then.

Craig said...

12:07 I see camera page 1 is working, just not page 2.

12:12 Page 1 has died again, wrong wire; put it back in.

I'm such a tease.

Karen Anne said...

Ah, lefthand cam is working, thank you.

Wow, breaking out of an eggshell is hard work. Watch a chicken manage it at:
http://www.youtube.com/v/8V5AEwTkksw

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

Just to let you all know that I am aware the video feed froze this morning.
I'm trying to resolve this, and that means from time to time the picture will freeze again whilst I attempt to remotely reboot the server inside Derby Cathedral.

The problem appears to be a communication problem somewhere between our equipment and Streamdays who host the pictures.

If you can ease up a bit on posting comments it'll probably leave me more time to sort out the problem for you all.

Craig said...

13:05 Male off the eggs, having another clean, Humpty Dumpty is reluctant to break today.

13:06:44 He's standing over the eggs looks like he's calling out.

13:08:59 He's vanished. Mum's turn to take over.

Craig said...

13:52 Mum's up and on the ledge. Back on the eggs 13:53.

13:58 She's up again. Nice zoom on the eggs.
13:59 She's down again.

Anonymous said...

14.16 egg hatching

Craig said...

14:07:58 Is there a reason why she's getting up every few minutes;
14:09:52 Before sitting back down?

14:13 Up again, egg 4 looks like it has a nice crack in it.
14:15 Down again. Took a screen, will try and post it later.

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

A quick up-and-down the Catheral stairs to reboot our equipment hasn't sorted out the frozen Quad View I'm afraid.

Until I hear back from IT people at both ends of the video feed I can do no more.

I hear that on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May, the Cathedral's Head Verger, Tony, is organising a Peregrine Day, with tower tours up to the Ringing Chamber (chargeable) and a watchpoint on the Green. More details to follow, but any funds raised will supoort both the Cathedral and the Peregrine Project.

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

Oh, forgot to say: suspect the fruent up-and-down of the female on the eggs is due to sounds coming from the chicks within the eggs. I can hear nothing over the microphone apart from background noise, but if the eggs are pipped, she'll be far mor agitated than normal.
We said 29th April as hatching day - let's hope we're right.

Phoebe said...

I agree about the egg noises but also the eggs will be 'rockin an rollin'under her.

Anonymous said...

Todays the day I reckon

Craig said...

Nice little zoom in there on the eggs, didn't see much rockin' & rollin'... more likely there is classical music playing to calm the savage beast. Maybe that's why they aren't coming out.

KerrySuffolk said...

Politician over heard making a comment on a microphone carelessly not removed - "Quick, the voters aren't listening to our campaign, they,re all watching and waiting for the Derby Cathedral Peregrin eggs to hatch, someone nip out and nobble the camera so we can get them to listen to us!!!!!"

Pax Canada said...

It is 8.45am here, just tuned in thinking it would all have happened while I slept, but I have not missed it yet, four eggs in view right now, sounds like you have been busy Nick, a few more grey hairs?, she is back on the eggs now.

KerrySuffolk said...

Well done for fixing the camera Nick! Hope we haven't missed the action.

AnnieF. said...

Changeover 17.51, all eggs visible,nothing hatched!

Phoebe said...

Has anyone noticed on the pic that twitcher posted of the four eggs that there looks to be two eggs cracked - top left looks like a long crack on the outer edge visible and the lower left one has the obvious pip in it. There could be two hatching at the same time. Keeping my eyes peeled and matchsticks at the ready for tonight! This is eggsausting!

KerrySuffolk said...

21:19
Brief visit to nest platform by falcon.

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

@Phoebe Oh yes, there were definitely two eggs with white shell exposed in one of the shots I zoomed in on today, and were probably in Twitcher's shots two (I've not checked those) Stupidly I forgot to bring them home on a pendrive.
Anyway it won't be long, and we have a press release all ready to be sent out once someone spots the first hatching has happened.

I've just been reading Derek Ratcliffe's bible on The Peregrine Falcon. He tells us that its usually more than 72 hours between first starring of the shell, to the chick fully emerging. And in artificially incubated eggs, 50-55 hours is the usual time between pipping and hatching, with the chick being inactive for most of this time.
It's been about 34 hours since we first saw any signs of a "pip", so perhaps a little more time still to go.


Finally, to report back on all of today's problems (and for those people - you know who you are Craig - mischievously blaming the City Council for all our woes) I've just had an email from Streamdays. They host our webcam pics and they say that a Temp file was being created for some reason on their servers. Its removal at their end has allowed the "stuck" webcam feed to resume. All we have to do now is hope they can find out why this happens and put a stop to it in the future.

Am now off for a lie down and a cuppa. Wake me up if they start hatching, someone!

Nick B (DWT) said...

Craig/AnnieF: sorry, the Trust does not have a paypal account.
And yes, please specify that the donation is for the peregrines.
Many thanks in advance.
Nick
Ps. Seems like we have a few more hours yet before the first egg hatches out....

KerrySuffolk said...

I'm eggsasperated! I'm going to have to go to bed with out the eggcitement of seeing the first chick hatching!

KerrySuffolk said...

Both birds on nest platform.

Karen Anne said...

It's egghausting. This must be what it feels like to be ten months pregnant.

Pax Canada said...

Dad on rhs of nest

KerrySuffolk said...

Camera going a bit mad, ultra close close ups.

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

Video of Pipped Egg now added to this post.

Phoebe said...

Thanks for the video! Its good to see the streaming and hear the sounds!

Sir Richard Arkwright said...

72 hours from pipping to hatching??

waiting for these chicks is EGGShausting! lol.

:mungo said...

:yawn

Do I dare go to bed, what if I'm just not around in the morning!

00:34 one tucks into a midnight feast on the top ledge, i think....or maybe it is just having a wash before bed.

Pax Canada said...

06.38 Dad's on the tower cam

Pax Canada said...

what a beautiful shot of the falcons wings

Phoebe said...

No hatch overnight so far, fingers crossed for the schoolchildren to see it today!

Nick B (DWT) said...

I agree Phoebe - I've just seen all four eggs (0730 am)
Nick B (DWT)

Don N said...

Mum paying a lot of attention to eggs. Keeps looking under herself. No sign of a hatching yet

Craig said...

09:45 Mum has a move around and there is a good view of a eggy which looked like it had a good crack in it.

--ot--
Thank goodness it's Friday, we all get to stay up late egg watching. (What a good way to spend Friday night, hope you didn't plan anything)

Julie said...

Thanks for the video - the birds are even more beautiful in "real" time. I reckon it will be a Mayday chick!

Nick Dixon said...

With hatching imminent (or already occured perhaps), could I make an appeal for information.
I would be fascinated to know how long between hatching and the first feed, and maybe the keen eyes and enthusiasum of the Derby Cathedral watchers could help.
Our local peregrines have again laid eggs in a position totally out of site and so our only idea of a hatching date will be when food is taken into the nest site.

Dutch Eagle Fan said...

Has the chick already been heard? Usually they peep a lot right after the first hole is made, they fill their lungs with welcome fresh air.

Julie said...

Mum can't sit still for more than a couple of seconds - something must be happening? Just caught a quick glimpse of an egg and there appeared to now be at least 2 holes in it...

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

May I reinforce Nick Dixon's request for help?
What Nick didn't say is that he's widely regarded as the UK's foremost expert on urban peregrines, and we call on him for specialist information and advice from time to time.

He studies and works closely with a peregrine site at St. Michaels Church in Exeter, where they've bred since 1997. Their nest site can't be directly observed, so it's the parent's traffic with food that gives them a clue as to when their eggs have hatched, and no-one here knows exactly how long after hatching it is before the first tiny meal is brought into the chicks. So, a great opportunity for everyone to help out.

@Dutch Eagle Fan Despite listening carefully to the live audio yesterday and this morning, I can hear no sounds of the chicks calling, as I have done in previous years. But background noise is quite high, making interpretation of tiny sounds quite difficult. You can check this yourself by listening to the last video posted here.

Here's hoping for a late-afternoon hatch!


So a great



Because of the situation in which they nest, the

Joy said...

1.48 Lots of movement and moving over the eggs. Hope something happens soon. She keeps looking around

Karen Anne said...

Froona's web site seems to imply that feeding starts very early, perhaps immediately:

www.falcoperegrinus.org

Click on the English version (still incomplete) and then on Hatching.

Craig said...

Another question to yous. How long after the hatching do you ring their little (nec...) legs? I definitely ment legs.

Craig said...

15:09 Changeover time.

Helen said...

I wonder what the chances are of the tiercel being on the eggs when the chicks finally hatch? I can't remember if that has happened in previous years. Surely we won't have too wait too much longer!!

Craig said...

15:44:20 The Tiercel found something so interesting in the gravel and lent so far forward he showed us an egg before having to re-adjust himself sitting back down. The Falcon was also looking at something in the gravel in the same place earlier. Interesting.

Dutch Eagle Fan said...

Well, that little white round spot is still the same size. I'm beginning to think it's not a pip at all. Surely it would have widened by now, more than 48 hours after it was first seen.

Nick B (DWT) said...

Graig/Helen: ringing takes place when the chicks are about 20 days old. Any earlier and the rings fall off, any later and there's a risk of them jumping out of the ledge.
Not sure re. tiercel being on the eggs when they hatch Helen: I would doubt it very much since the female is the dominant partner and takes the main role re. eggs/chicks as you doubtless know. Sorry they didn't hatch while schools were watching...we can't be paying them enough performance money can we!!!
Nick (DWT)

KerrySuffolk said...

It's so emotionally eggshausting waiting for these chicks to hatch!

Pax Canada said...

Well again I thought I might have missed it overnight, lets hope today is the day.

Craig said...

Listening to some music what should come up on my playlist - Queen - I want to break free... lovely, maybe someone should go play it to the eggs. Inspire them!

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

I prefer Bob Dylan's "Shell-ter From The Storm"

Julie said...

And then there was the Animals - We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.
Craig - what have you started???

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

I think you'll find that's a song more popular with Ospreys, Julie.
"We Gotta Get Out Of This Plaice."

So, I was going to suggest "Get The Party Started" by Shelly Bassey

. . . but then I found this:

http://bit.ly/eggs1

Craig said...

@ PM
Oh dear, there's 3 minutes of my life I want back after watching that nonsence.

Anonymous said...

Given that theu’re still sitting on those eggs, surely it’s “The Wings Beneath My Feet” by Bette Midler

RJ

Julie said...

I think that it's not only the chicks who need to get out more here :-)

KerrySuffolk said...

22:21
An occasional glimpse (have I spelt that right?) of a couple of the eggs, but no sign of chicks yet. The falcon is probably off the eggs and showing off her new chick as I'm writing this and I will have missed the first sight of one of the chicks!!!!

Phoebe said...

It is now approaching 60 hours since the pipped egg wats noticed! If there is no hatched egg by tomorrow morning is it something to be concerned about? There could already be a hatchling as I have not seen the eggs for a few hours now. Am I right in thinking that when an egg hatches it is likely the shell will be cast from under the sitting bird or maybe eaten by the parent? So we could see an empty shell before we see a chick.

This is the first time I have watched the eggs from the start so I am new to seeing peregrine eggs hatch so may be unnecessarily concerned. As I type and egg became visible for a brief moment - it looked in tact. Three eggs visible now.

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

Don't fear Phoebe - one year we were held up by an egg that took almost twice as long to hatch as normal. The fact that at least one egg is pipped tells us that the chick is alive and will almost certainly hatch.

Phoebe said...

Thanks team! The waiting continues...
It looks like the falcon on the eggs at the moment so I hope that is a good sign that some hatching might take place during the night. The last few nights at this time it has been the tiercel on the eggs. They will probably change over before dawn. Lets hope to see some little beaks for the morning!

Phoebe said...

I'm not sure if it is the falcon on the eggs now - could be the tiercel.

Steph (Canada) said...

Nothing yet - I guess it's up to us on the other side of the pond to keep checking - it's only 7.15pm in Ontario and Pax Canada is on the West coast I believe, so it should be 4.15pm there...correct Pax?

Edinboro_rugby_fan said...

I'm worried... has there ever been a case of falcon eggs NOT hatching!? :concerned

Steph (Canada) said...

Lots of egg checking and changing of position in the hour prior to this post - glimpses of the eggs but no chick -unless I missed it when i was making a cuppa :) but I am going to have to leave the rest of the night shift to those in the Pacific time zone - I have an early start tomorrow.

Pax (Canada) said...

@Steph, yes we are 3 hrs behind you

Anonymous said...

7.18am swop over, still 4 eggs !!

Pax (Canada) said...

Dads on the tower cam

Anonymous said...

Well I was planning to get some housework done today but looks like I will be glued to the computer waiting for our first chick to hatch out. It's a lovely day here in Derbyshire today, just right for a hatching.

Mary T, Belper