After what seems like a very long time since the first chip was detected on one of the eggs, we now have our first hatching! It occured about 1pm, Saturday 1st May. The shot below shows our female peregrine on the three remaining chicks and newly hatched chick (which is just visible as a damp ball of feathers protruding from under her breast. Half an egg-shell is discarded at the side of the nest.
Many webcam watchers have captured screen-grabs like the ones above and posted them on our Flickr Pool here As the weekend goes on, the Project team will try and embed a selection of your pictures at the end of this post.
All being well, we can expect the other three eggs to hatch in the next few days. (See below for news of a special Bank Holiday Monday event at Derby Cathedral)
Many webcam watchers have captured screen-grabs like the ones above and posted them on our Flickr Pool here As the weekend goes on, the Project team will try and embed a selection of your pictures at the end of this post.
All being well, we can expect the other three eggs to hatch in the next few days. (See below for news of a special Bank Holiday Monday event at Derby Cathedral)
We expect feeding to begin quite shortly after the chicks start appearing. But here's where we need your help. Nick Dixon, the national expert on peregrines nesting on artificial structures such as buildings, pylons and bridges, is keen to discover how long it is between hatching and first feeding - so please leave a comment with the time when you first see the tiny chick being offered food and maybe again, when you see it actually taking food and swallowing it down.
The parents are incredibly delicate and gentle when they are feeding small chicks as you will see.....amazing for birds that are predators - how marvellous is evolution!
Occasionally a chick fails to get out of the egg and dies inside, unhatched. We have never had this happen at Derby but it is a possibility - so, as the old adage goes; don't count your chick(ens) before they're hatched!
If they are all successfully out of their shells by say Monday, then we will be able to watch them grow over the next 5-6 weeks with fledging likely to occur sometime around 9-11 June at a guess.
Watch Points on Cathedral Green, organised by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, are being planned now. There's not too much point in starting before the chicks get big enough to show themselves over the front edge of the next platform so we expect to start them about mid-May. Full details will be posted here on the blog. If you have never been to see the birds live so to speak, then do make the effort to come along (assuming you live within reach that is - though we have had visitors from as far away as Hong Kong in previous years!).
Meanwhile Tony, the Head Verger at the Cathedral, has planned an Open Day for THIS MONDAY, 3rd May, the bank holiday. There will be trips up to the top of the tower and a chance to see the monitor in the bell ringing chamber as you go up. There are almost 200 steps so beware of the physical demands this places on you before you think of going up. Also note that children under 8 are not allowed to climb the tower.
The Trust has arranged people to run a Watch Point on Cathedral Green behind the cathedral that day too - so between 11 am and 4pm, we will have volunteers able to show you any action and hopefully at least the off-duty bird - almost certainly the male (you won't be able to see the brooding bird or the chicks themselves from the ground for a few weeks yet).
Do go along....Derby is quiet on these holidays and parking is easy (though you will probably still have to pay).......
The Project Team
Your Photos: Photo credit is given above each image.
HelenSara 08:54 1 May
Craig, Nottingham 12:31pm 1 May
Twwitcher 12:50pm 1 May
Twwitcher 14:03 1 May
Twwitcher 14:30pm 1 May
Craig, Nottingham 17:12pm 1 May
Comment by "Dutch Eagle Fan": A new life born on the birthday of Froona Veldhuis. How fitting.
109 comments:
Chick well visible 14:17:29. Sorry - couldn't get a screen shot.
Plenty of screenshots Flickr.
Any chance of a video?
Wonderful news to wake up to this morning. "Congratulations" So the excitement is building now as we wait and see if the others hatch ok. Have a happy holiday weekend. Thanks for posting all the pictures, saves time going to Flickr.
Annoying that I missed it whilst I went for lunch. I had been watching most of the morning whilst doing other things. Mrs Peregrin keep up the good work and lets hope for 3 more before the weekends out.
14:30 Hello Dad again. You have no chance of sitting on them eggs now laddy.
14:32 Bye Dad. - He's moved to the tower to sulk. 14:33, he's gone.
well i missed it but am happy that we have a chick at last - great pictures from everyone.
Speaking of chicks not hatching, you may have read about Pale Male and Lola, the red tailed hawks in New York City, who had their nest taken down by the building owners several years ago.
They were eventually allowed to renest after a public outcry, but only after a metal structure was placed between them and the building. Despite years of successful hatches previously, they have never had any eggs hatch since. Undoubtedly something about the structure causes the eggs to be exposed and chilled from underneath or prevents rolling.
Heartbreaking every year.
How exciting!!
I got that picture on Flickr, great one!
First chick seen just after 12.30 - see Craig's photos on Flickr.
LOL - I am Twwitcher - yes a double ww just to confuse. Used because there are already users with various versions of the correct Twitcher.
Missed the eggcitment! Thanks to all of you who put photos on Flickr, they are ammazing.
Apologies for any minor typos today. It has been a rather fast and furious time.
Right, I'm off to try and do some gardening for a bit.
BRILLIANT! Such a huge privelege to be able to see all that happening. I wonder how many others found themselves shouting at the computer screen!! I'm sure the children in school will be extremely excited when I show them the pictures next week. A very big thank you to all the members of the project team for your incredible hard work!
Well at last, welcome to the world little chick, I hope it is kind to you.
Not sure what mum's doing with the eggshell, perhaps eating it. I know Chicken's eat egg shells to help produce their eggs. But is that another egg hatching right underneaf her? Looked like a nice crack in it.
I think it is, I;ve just missed a screenshot of it, pressed the wrong button. Can anyone else say the same?
@ Craig: It did look to me as though she was eating the eggshell. If not, she was having a strangely difficult time moving it!
i guess mum is eating the egg shell. or should it be dad? the body looks quite small. Jennie, Hong Kong.
Added a picture on Flickr, it does look like the egg right under her is hatching. Decide for yourself.
This is fantastic to watch - better than the TV anytime. Well done Mrs P
Jennie, Hong Kong, it's definitly the Mum, the Male has been kicked out of the nesting box twice :)
Mary T, I agree.
@ Craig: I did see a huge crack in another egg several minutes ago.
How fantastic. I don't know if it is number 2 or 3 that has just hatched, to watch this is priceless. Credit due to all Project Members !!!!!!!
Added another picture of the suspect hatching egg on Flickr, but not added it to the Group pool, it's not an easy picture to tell.
I agree Mo - we are so privileged to be able to see these beautiful birds so close up. Let's hope the chicks all thrive successfully.
second chick I think
TY Pax, I was thinking the same thing when she pulled out that egg shell and tried to wear it as a hat.
now if she would just show us it :)
Just added a screen grab from 16.40 on flickr – another one clearly ready to hatch. Shell in front is from the first hatch, I think.
RJ
RJ, that's the picture I missed taking due to wrong button press - many thanks for posting it.
17:49 Males back, 17:50, kicked out again.
How wonderful, I hope all the other eggs hatch too.
Looks like I've missed some great shots. I'll put Craig's shot of Mum wearing a new hat on the blog asap.
Although peregrines don't actively consume the entire shell, they do spend quite some time nibbling away at it. If you're interested, I think we put a video clip on the blog this time last year - check out the archived posts with the links on the left hand side.
Thanks for your feedback folks - it's a pleasure to do it, knowing the enjoyment it brings everyone.
Is that a second shell on the side of the scrape now/ I've been out for two hours and missed some of the action!
@Carole, I thought it was, but no just one chick I think
Here we go again, folks!
Oh we saw the chick in full view for a sec
Chick's beak wide open, Mum left it briefly, came back, left again.
First view of the chicks there are two hatched, dad brought food to the rhs of the scrape and mum went across to get it, leaving the chicks and eggs uncovered - I have shots of it but have to go out soon and no time to put on flickr, maybe Craig has got them too.
Grinning from ear to ear this is amazing! Thank you team!
How amazing was that shot of the chick when Mum left? Little mouth wide open? Was it just one chick - or was there two? Still hoping!
Lots of pics on Flickr
I have been watching since 2006 and it never grows old, thanks again to the project team.
Added pics to flickr.
Craig I didn't check I thought I would just get them on flickr - looks like you got them on and we duplicated them. :D
Doesn't matter, they're good pictures. Well worth a slight duplication.
@Craig, love the shot of mum wearing the shell:)
Terrific shots, Craig and Phoebe, thank you both so much! It's been an amazing experience, today.
Just noticed the time and can't believe i've been watching the birds for 9 hours straight. Time for a break.
BTW, Mr. & Mrs. Peregrine, forgot to mention congrats.
@Craig.......I know what you mean -it pulls you right in and you forget to do anything else!! and I agree with the Project Member...great shot of Mum's crash helmet!!
Beats Big Brother anytime doesn't it? I have loved today and will be avidly watching future developments. Thanks to all involved - and welcome to the world Peregrine Jr's!!
My heart sings with joy. New life to welcome on Mayday. How great it's also on what would have been Froona's birthday. If I could have had my wishes today, I'd have been in beloved Padstow. I hope I am forgiven for quoting their special Mayday song, because it's how I'm feeling
"Unite and unite and let us all unite, for summer is a-comin' today, and whither we are going, we will all unite, in the merry morning of May"
Peace and love everyone this Mayday, especially the wonderful Derby peregrine family. xx
Went to watch my grandchildren in a show and missed the 2nd hatching. Super pictures to those who have posted them. I can't see much being done over the next few weeks as in previous years this will take over.
Dad up close on the tower cam
So, did anyone actually see any food being given to a chick yet?
I expect the first feed might be later tomorrow.
Just to say that the credit for the whole webcam/blog/internet access side of this project is entirely due to Nick Moyes at Derby Museum. He's the technical whizzkid who set the who set the whole thing up and who maintains it hour by hour, day and night and has done so since 2007.
Some of this he does in his work time but much/most is done voluntarily out of hours. It is hard work but as he said himself earlier, it is also very rewarding to be able to bring such a insight into the world of natural history into the homes of so many people around the world.
We have been amazed at just how addicted folk become to these birds and we are all pleased to have linked so many people to the natural world about them.
Now, if you've not made a donation yet, please consider doing so. We have had about £100 donated so far but we do need a lot more before the end of the summer to keep the web cams running, buying a replacement tripod for one of the telescopes used at the watch points, printing promotional leaflets, buying new servers, monitors etc. as required.
Bear in mind though that the DWT office (01773 881188) is now closed until 9am on Tuesday morning.
Thank you.
Nick B (DWT)
Ps And a big thank you to all the donors who have taken the trouble to donate both last week and historically. Without you the project would not exist!
It's cold, breezy and a bit wet here in Derby today. Sit tight mum and keep those chicks warm.
Good luck tomorrow with the Watch Point everyone. Hopefully I will be at the next one to give a hand.
All seems calm at the scrape this morning, mum just lifted slightly and gave a part-view of a chick and an egg, not enough to see if it had cracked. No sign of dad. More hatchlings today hopefully.
Mum just left the nest, I can see three chicks and one egg. Dad has arrived too. Pics going on flickr soon!
I'm sure I'm not the first to say this but have just seen the third chick! One to go .....
12.10pm Changeover. I'm sure we now have three beautiful chicks!
Just come back to see Mum hanging over the chicks and Dad nearby, she didn't just feed them did see?
We are still looking for their first feed aren't we?
Have just definately seen THREE chicks when mum moved for a second - they're coming thick and fast now !!!
I just thought I would say hi, not posted before, but thought it was about time I did....my hubby and I sat up till 1.20 this morning watching on the TV (we watch via the Wii so we get a fab pic on our 42")
I was posting to say we have just seen 3 chicks 12.15
hugs shell xx
'Addicted' is the exact word to describe it in our house, Nick! I have looked in every day since I found the cam during egg-laying last year, but between hatching and fledging it has been virtually all day. It's hard to turn your back on the little darlings, even if they do try to give us heart attacks at times!
I just checked in on the Brighton nest, and poor mum there is being rained on and windswept.
http://www.regencybrighton.com/birds/webcam/live/
Mum just feeding 3 chicks! All seem hungry!
Feeding at 14.28 but I have only just logged in so I do not know if it started earlier.
Lovely veiw of mum feeding three chicks :) 1428 brill :)
Just watching the 3 chicks being fed but can't see the 4th egg. This is fantatic
Feeding Time!! 14.28 today.
Andy & Chris M
As Mum feeds the chicks she is being very wary. I find all this so touching. How fast they grow.Their little beaks open. Now we will see the dramatic differences daily. I love to watch even tho it takes up a lot of time. She has now taken the prey and flown away leaving the chicks on their own
2.27pm meal time for three beautiful chicks.
Congrats from here to Derby and your darling pair!!! :)))
Thanks all for the very beautiful photos.
She's now come back to keep them warm. What has happened to the 4th egg. I couldn't see it even when she left the chicks on their own. Perhaps she's only going to have to look after 3 this year - I hope not really because she has been so good in the past.
am wondering now if I mistook the red/pink of the other egg as prey/food. Hopefully someone in the know and with rewind can check :) Lol I am known for jumping in with both feet first :s (this was at 14.28)
Absolutely incredible, it's 14.26 and the parent [Mum I think] returns to the nest and feeds three chicks with something which I could not identify. Wonderful and all three so feisty. Sorry don't know how to sign in but hope this observation is uploaded
14:28 Just seen the mother fly back and begin feeding her three chicks, no sign of the fourth yet!
Got a quick screencap.
http://tinypic.com/r/s67h4j/5
Falcon feeding chicks 2.30pm, don't know if this is the first feed?
Just seen the three chicks being fed at 2.30pm.
Saw bthree chicks a few moments ago being fed (first mea?) Really great
Posting to say thank you to the recent flickr pics showing the first feed! I missed it :(
Saw three chicks being fed at 14.31
Did anyone else see them being fed?
See Flickr for photos of feeding.
I did see the 4th egg during the feeding so it is still there - think hatching can take place over a few days - or maybe No.4 is just waiting until it is warmer again!
Looks as though first feeding was around mid-day.
The terciel flew in at 12.09 pm and the falcon looked to be feeding the chicks. (photo on flickr under strettonhandley)
@Nick would you remind me of the office hrs. to make a donation so I can figure out how early I have to get up to phone in my donation,thanks
Feeding time for the triplets - nice fresh meat.
Saw three chicks being fed at 19.27, can still see the fourth egg
Fantastic close up shots of the chicks looking very satisfied. What a wonderful way to spend a Bank Holiday Sunday evening.
Here are some pictures I got during a feeding:
http://img217.imageshack.us/i/feeding1.jpg/
http://img687.imageshack.us/i/feeding2.jpg/
http://img132.imageshack.us/i/feeding3.jpg/
http://img156.imageshack.us/i/feeding4.jpg/
http://img145.imageshack.us/i/feeding5.jpg/
http://img98.imageshack.us/i/feeding6.jpg/
@anonymous Thanks for the screengrab links.
I've just added one that we got at the same time to our blog. It's clear the fourth egg still has a way to go!
Just caught that feed! Great close-ups. I love the way they just flop down when they've had enough!
The fourth egg has a definite crack in it!
I thought I would share this lovely comment with you that was left on our school birdcam blog by one of the children;
"I can't believe it I have just watched 3 chicks being fed by the mother bird. I was excited to see one earlier,I couldn't believe seeing three. The mother stood up and there were three. Then she came back with some meat and fed it to the little white fluffy chicks, it was so cute. I feel so proud to see this and it was really great. Only one egg left now."
Delightful pictures, many thanks everyone!
2.48am I think the cams are frozen
sorry thats 2.44am
It's a beautiful bright and sunny morning here in Derbyshire. Let's hope the fourth egg hatches today whilst I'm off for the Bank Holiday!
Loved the comment on the school blog from one of the pupils. It's great that they get so involved with the project.
What a fantastic show 9.25... When is number 4 going to hatch ? ...
09.20 and three chicks waiting for breakfast/elevenses and then being fed at 98.21. The fourth egg is very obvious but looks intact to me - does this mean it may not hatvch?
Looks as though 4th chick is about to hatch. See Flickr photo.
11.46 am
I wonder if the 4th eyass is having a snooze and waiting for the sun to come out.
I would like to have to hatch in this weather!! lol
Just see half a shell next to the falcon, until it was blown away, has chick No 4 hatched? Fowl weather where having this afternoon in Derby.
I think number 4 must be out now at about 2.30pm - i just saw mum take the empty shell from under her and toss it away.
I hope no-one missed it!
2.34 Crushed shell seen. Chick 4 must have hatched.
Having been off-line all morning, I switched on just before 14.30 -
back on-line ---- just in time to see Mum toss away the shell of the fourth chick a few minutes later. Felt very lucky.......c
Hope someone managed to photograph it ... similar to Craig's "hat" picture!
J.L. Derby
just logged on,noticed on looking at the photo of the perigrine with new chick posted saturday that the aduld has got catcut(fishing line)cutting through one of her toes,this needs to be removed before it cuts straight through.
Im really looking into a cam-feed like this for my site. It is very well done. Great Screenshots!
15.15 Both chicks sitting on the ledge now and looking good! Anon
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