Sunday 17 June 2012

It's time to help us benefit from a wonderful offer.....


(Please see the end of this blog post for the latest updates and a link to a great video by Jon Salloway)



Peregrine watchers in Derby city centre
Each year we invite donations from people keen to support the Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project and who want to see it flourish. These donations, from all over the world, help to keep our webcams running. This year is no exception, and anyone wishing to contribute is invited to follow one of the methods outlined below.

But this year, 2012, is also very different.
You may have read of the Heritage Lottery grant we recently won. This will enable us to employ an outreach person for three months in each of the next three summers, use a 'technical consultant to fix the IT side of things and to purchase some new essential equipment as well. The money can only be used for the specific purposes identified in our bid document. And we will tell you more about this once the chicks have fledged. 

Funding all other developments still has to be done using our own resources. This  includes visiting schools (the lottery expressly excluded that) and further outreach work.
So please rest assured that your donations to Derby's peregrines will still have a very important impact, no matter how large or small.


Nick B with a fallen juvenile female peregrine, back in 2006
But now, thanks to a very generous anonymous donor,  there's a way for your money to have much more impact. This donor has agreed that whatever you give by way of a donation, they will match it threefold, up to a pre-agreed, four figure total.
So if you give £1, they will add £3 making a donation of £4.
If you give £25 they will add £75 making £100......and so on. 
This is an unbelievable opportunity which we will not get again, so please do consider donating something as a contribution to our work if you have enjoyed this season.
Each donor will be individually thanked by one of the project team. To help you understand our anonymous donor's reasoning, this is what they have written:

"Last year, I lost somebody who I loved very much.  He delighted in urban peregrines and although he didn't live in Derby, this project held a very special place in his heart and he visited the city often. It was simple for me to know what would be the right thing to do to mark his passing – to help the project with a moderate windfall legacy.  It gives me some comfort to know he will be continuing to help the birds he loved so much.  I'm sure he knows and approves about this and that he rests in peace. The Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project has so many hopes and plans for extending its brilliant work, getting more children involved and more people who would otherwise not come into contact with the birds. The new HLF grant is a massive help and this new legacy will help too.  However, more money is really needed and I am very conscious of the risk that you fellow project enthusiasts may perhaps think  you can all sit back now and feel happy the project is provided for, rather than make the donation you might otherwise have made. This is incorrect, more is always needed!  The project depends on all of you Friends out there.  Please, if you have taken any delight, amazement, knowledge or pleasure from DERBY'S PEREGRINES, please make a donation to help the project reach more people like you and develop its technical quality too. Please give whatever you can afford to keep this lovely project in the air and on the air!"

We are extremely grateful for this heartfelt offer and invite you to contribute whatever sum you feel is appropriate. Thanks to this donor's amazing generosity, your money will have an amazing three-fold effect! So here's how to donate:

The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (the lead project partner) is a registered charity and a 'not for profit' organisation. It is the only recipient of project funds. Rest assured that any money given to the Wildlife Trust will be used only to support this project provided you clearly state that it is for the Peregrine Project. All donations, however small or large, are acknowledged either by email or letter. Note that UK donors can increase the value of their donation by Gift Aid by 20%. (If you have donated and gift aided before we should still have your form so there's no need to ask for another).

We will publish a list of donors (but not the amount they donated) here on the blog later on. You can choose whether to be anonymous, to have your full name used, or some semi-anonymous abbreviation (eg Mrs S from Matlock or Stan H from Toton). Let us know your preference.

You can donate in one of the following ways:

UK donors:
  • Post a cheque made payable to DWT to the Trust at East Mill, Belper, DE56 1XH including a covering note stating that your donation is only for the peregrine project (include your address so we can acknowledge receipt).
  • Ring the Trust during office hours (01773 881188) to make a payment over the phone by debit/credit card (office hours are 9am to 5pm, weekdays, to 4.30pm on Fridays).
  • You can also use the donation mechanism on the Trust's website at www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk  Go  to 'support us/make a donation'. We use Virgin Moneygiving and find it works very well.

To UK Taxpayers only -  you can greatly increase your donation by filling out a Gift Aid form whereby the tax people give the Trust a further 20% of the value of your donation. The form can be sent by email or through the post…just ask.

Overseas donors:
  • 1) Please email enquiries@derbyshirewt.co.uk asking for the codes you need so your bank can transfer money to the DWT account. (Unfortunately Gift Aid does not apply unless you are a tax payer in the UK.) Note that banks may charge for this service.
  • 2) Donors from most overseas countries can also ring the Trust (weekdays on 0044 1773 881188) to pay by credit card......as long as you can work out when the office is open of course (check the webcam's local timestamp!)
  • Use our online donation mechanism via our website - see above.
Payments should only be made to 'Derbyshire Wildlife Trust', the lead partner for the project. No other organisation or website is authorised to collect funds on our behalf.

Please clearly mark on your payment that it is for the 'Peregrine Project' for use in the current financial year or, better still 'in this and next financial year' (this allows us to carry your money over from year to year should we need to).

Thank you in advance,


Nick M, Tony G and Nick B, the project team
Update Thursday 21st - WATCH POINT TODAY IS CANCELLED.
Update Wednesday: good weather for the Watch Point and a big thanks to Joyce S, Jim M and Will M for their help. At least two and sometimes three juvs on Jurys with one on the cathedral. All seem confident fliers.

Update Tuesday 4pm: Christine reports seeing all four juvenile birds on the cathedral ('flying well') and the parents too - great news! Thanks Christine.
Update Tuesday 19th 8.30 am: just back from the cathedral. No sign of the fledged female, two males above the nest and both parents present, the male finally on the platform. A search of local roofs and car parks revealed nothing and there was nothing on the nave roof when I went up and had a look out over it. All seemed calm so I'm sure she will turn up. Nick B.
Update Monday 18th 6pm: the last juv has still not fledged....but may do anytime, of course. The three males have been on or around the tower all day,

Update Monday 18th 7am: 
the female is clearly ready to leave the nest now. With her three brothers gone, she's flapping from one side of the platform to the other. So we expect this final youngster to fly either today or maybe tomorrow.

Females, being heavier than males, are the ones that have most difficulty on their maiden flights. So it is possible this one may end up on the streets below the tower. The project team is poised to deal with this eventuality.
Watch Points continue until the very end of June (Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 11 - 1.30) so do come down and see the youngsters flying about if you possibly can. With luck they will stay on and around the cathedral for a further month at least as they learn the art of fending for themselves.
Live Video with Sound: This is working  again - just follow 'Key Links' at the top of this blog, or go here


The video below of our Derby birds was taken by Jon Salloway on Sunday 17th from the ground. (Duration: 15 minutes)


This video was captured on 14th June, a day or two before the first fledging occurred.

75 comments:

Joy said...

Fantastic offer

Joy said...

Fantastic offer

Joy said...

Can only see one Peregrin now has another flown the nest?

Anonymous said...

Yes just female 2 go now! From Christine

Jean Burton said...

Every time today when I have looked in, the last Peregrin has been very still. Is it OK? For ages it lay at the corner of the scrap and now is standing, but looking unhappy. Maybe it is hungry or missing its nest mates.

christine said...

All juveniles present and correct on cathedral! Female juvenile still in scrape! Mr p on cathedral aswell. Mrs p nt around at present!

Rej (AT) said...

Respect! What a fitting and generous tribute to his memory; to aid a favoured cause, and to encourage others to support it also. Your man sees you and smiles!
My cheque is in the post.

Rej (AT) said...

There is a peregrine perched on the corbel below the scrape, not sure which one. Ms P looks too well fed and comfortable to move tonight. She still has a meaty snack nearby if she feels peckish. (Well until Mr P spots it).

Phoebe said...

Well if that's not encouragement I don't know what is. A lovely letter from anonymous. My cheque in the post this week.

Anonymous said...

It looks like the nest/scrape is empty at 10.48 but since it is dark it is difficult to be certain. The live video feed seems to be frozen.

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

Just back from a bit of late-night glow worm hunting around Derby, and I see that the nest scrape still has one bird in it, albeit she's very hard to see in the bright IR light.

I've emailed my contacts at SERCO to ask them to reset the video feed. I would like to re-iterate what Nick B said about SERCO - they are immensely supportive of our project, and are doing this all 'gratis'. Unlike us, they're not working to support the Peregrine Project 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. They have lives to live outside of peregrines, whereas your project team are perhaps a litle too committed in that respect. It's not in their contract with Derby City Council to set up this live feed, and they're not sure themselves why the feed keeps freezing. It's possible that the wireless link from the cathedral tower itself is a little unreliable, and that the odd break in transmission causes these lock-ups. I do agree, it's very frustrating. But we will be doing our best to work on ways to make the video feed more robust in the months ahead.
Nick M.

Rej (AT) said...

She is very restless, and just vanished for 5 minutes to her off-camera perch. Back in the scrape now and looking all around.

Nick B (DWT) said...

A big 'thank you' to Christine and her fellows watchers Cliff, Ian, and Jon, among others, who are the people most regularly down at the cathedral keeping an eye on our fledging youngsters. Christine's report that all the four young were present last night is extremely useful and saves the project team dashing down to town every time one is out of sight in case it has come to ground.
Nick B (DWT)

Anonymous said...

Yes, Phoebe and Rej, this is a fantastic project and this incredibly generous offer really can’t be missed. I’ll certainly be ringing the DWT’s office first thing this morning to make my contribution, and adding on a bit to my normal donation as well.

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

The live stream is back working again first think Monday morning - huge thanks to Adam from SERCO.

Phoebe said...

That's good news, Nick M. Thank you Adam!

Anonymous said...

Hello Derby Friends
Is it also possible to donate by coming to a Watchpoint? I'm running out of opportunities to come and see you but I'm going to try to make it on Saturday. Can you confirm you'll a) have a collecting tin out and b) that you have ordered a nice sunny day?
:)

Phoebe said...

It's possible some of us are wondering why the last youngster has't fledged yet. My opinion is that she could be that last egg to hatch, if so she will be 41 days old today so due to fledge at the latest tomorrow according to details I found on the internet. Up to 42 days to fledge.

Penny said...

I think she just fledged! I have been watching her running between the two sides of the nest box like mad and had to abandon the live feed because of the blind spot. I was frantically flitting between the two time lapse views and finally, about four minutes ago, she disappeared! She will probaby make a fool of me and have reappeared by the time I have posted this - going back to see what is happening .....

Penny said...

Sure enough, there she is, calmly back in the box! I give up, lol. If we were to give these birds names I would definitely call this one Mischief!

Caroline said...

I've had a crazy fortnight so thank you to people posting here/Flickr for keeping me in touch. How amazing about the wonderful legacy! Like REJ, my cheque is in the post. It was a particular pleasure to read about her late husband's love for the peregrines having returned from watching them myself with the great bunch of people at the cathedral yesterday. It was only my second visit and I loved the juvies' antics, though I hear the best is yet to come :) Loads of interesting things happened for a newbie like me, but my 2 fav were: 1) when a microlite plane came over and all the juvies started squawking! The parents weren't fooled by this "super hawk" though. 2) when the falcon stooped. She missed whatever she was aiming for but rolled up later on the scrape with food. I've seen stoops on video but suddenly there was that wing-folded shape belting down behind us. I couldn't believe my eyes - thank you everyone!

Green class, aged 6 and 7 said...

We have just seen the big female peregrine just the female peregrine
she is standing up on the platform. We are very plesed and excited that the others have finly flejed. The female takes more time to flej because she is bigger and hevyer she will fly soon with the males. the males are flying.

Jon Salloway said...

I have put a video on YouTube showing some of yesterday's activity.

Just search for "jonsallow"

Make sure your settled with a cup of tea as it's nearly 15 mins long.

I hope you enjoy it.

Jon S

Phoebe said...

Jon - thank you for letting us know about your latest video, I have just watched it. It's fabulous, really gives the feel of actually being there!

A lovely section about 12 mins in!
Thanks for sharing! I will definitely watch it again!

Rej (AT) said...

Hey Jon, that video was so good my tea got cold.

Very nice to see the action, and to hear the bystanders comments. Including the joke about peregrine damage to the camera cables.

I especially liked the ending, I really thought that the squaking youingster was not going to get any feeding!

Joy said...

Thanks Jon excellent video

Ash class, Holmesdale Infants 7 yrs said...

Did we see the female fledge at about 3pm????

How long will it be until the chicks leave the nest completely?

Phoebe said...

The young female in the scrape jumps up to the back and out of sight. Sometimes you can see her shadow on the left side. It looks like she has left but she hasnt'.

Anonymous said...

Jon's video is excellent, as has been said it makes you feel you are there. I like hearing people chatting as they watch.
The link is here, which might make it easier for some people to get to it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bl6OUJpnB4&feature=plcp

Penny said...

Some great footage Jon - thank you from me also, I really enjoyed watching it!

Caroline said...

Jon, the video is full of lovely detail and the resolution is amazing even on full screen. Unbelievable really when I think how high up the birds are by the grotesques or on the pinnacles. I meant to say earlier how much I enjoyed Ian's second slideshow too. Interesting how the buzzard was escorted away! I see that the female juvie is still on the platform this evening.

Anonymous said...

Not sure if she is playing "Now you see me, now you don't" but the last youngster is not on the scrape. Perhaps she is attacking the webcam cables again! Time will tell.

christine said...

Am nt sure but I think That the female juvenile might Have fledged!

Phoebe said...

She definitley fledged at 04:36am then at 05:28 the tiercel came and took away the food in the scrape.

peter grindon said...

This has been a wonderful experience, to watch this family develope and eventually fly away into the "Blue".
My thanks to everyone concerned in making this possible. I will look forward to next year's "show".
Will we be able to be kept updated on the birds progress as they disperse around and about Derby?
Peter G

Phoebe said...

I have looked through my screen grabs and just after she left the scrape I can see what looks like a bird in the tree and moving about on the left view. It was there until 04:43 when it disappeared and a bird was visible on top of the wall alongside the cathedral then that went and one in the tree again. I think it is still in the tree now.

I could be completely wrong but hope not.

Phoebe said...

Looks like the tiercel is in the scrape now, cleaning up any food
scraps.

Phoebe said...

The tiercel is sat on the left side ledge looking out. No sign of the youngster.

Phoebe said...

The tiercel in the scrape appeared to be - scraping a hollow a few moments ago.

Nick B (DWT) said...

Yes, all four have gone for sure - see update Tuesday morning at top of post.
Nick B (DWT)

Michael from South-Derbyshire said...

I was in Derby last week as my daughter wanted to be taken to the shops so I dropped her off I made my way down to the cathedral, walking in the poring rain and was pleased to see two of the youngsters standing on the edge of the scrappy from my viewing point in Amen Alley.
Standing in the Alley I spoke to maybe 20 people passing by, about 16 of them had no idea that the birds are there and was pleased that I told them.
You need to put a display board in the Alley to tell people about the birds, so that's some more of your money gone ! :).

Anonymous said...

Nick(s) – Now that that all four have fledged (brilliant!) can the right hand camera be put back to multi-view, so we can see what’s going on up top?

Thanks
RJ

Phoebe said...

Nick B - Thank you for going out and looking for the young female. I'm sure she will show up sooner or later.

Caroline said...

Thanks for sharing the screen grabs of the last juvie revving her engines, Phoebe. Jon, I watched your video again last night :) Great to see it had already clocked up 70 views by then. Simon's pics on Flickr are also superb, especially that shot of the juvie in flight. Really inspiring as that is what we're all here hoping for (tho I'm going to miss them too). Thanks again to everyone who has made this project possible. Hope the £5, £10 & £20 notes start flying in as well as the peregrines!

Phoebe said...

Thanks for the multi-view!

Phoebe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Phoebe said...

could be two juvies actually!

Phoebe said...

I think it is, it's two juvies on tower view!

Rej (AT) said...

One youngster is back at the nest, any bets which one?

Phoebe said...

Just been in the garden and come back to see, is it the young female? in the scrape there is also one actually sitting on the tower cam and keeps covering the view of another juvie sat on the top. haha

christine said...

All four juveniles are accounted for on cathedral and both Mr&Mrs p aswell ! All flying well ! From christine

Nick B (DWT) said...

Thanks Christine - that's really great news!
Nick B (DWT)

Jane (Belper) said...

Christine, thank you so much for letting us all know that "you've counted them out, and counted them back in again"!! It's great to know that they're all ok.
Cheers, Jane

Phoebe said...

Christine - Thank you for counting them out. I think I saw all four juvies on the tower earlier. One in the scrape right now and one close-up on the tower cam and another down behind the water spout.

They are certainly having fun!

Phoebe said...

Three youngsters are on view!

Penny said...

Wow - it's amazing how the fledged juvies keep coming back to the scrape! We are really lucky to be able to keep viewing them like this and for them not to have flown out of sight. I wonder how long they will continue to do this?

Ian ( superbrad ) said...

Cliff,Jon,Christine,and myself met up at the Cathedral this afternoon, It was a little quiet at first but We were rewarded by seeing all the Peregrine family on the tower in one view. I can assure you that all the juveniles are flying strongly and managing to land rather well. The juvenile female surprised me when she came back to the scrape and managed to land with ease it was a great landing and a pleasure to watch. Rather surprising as she took her first flight early this morning. No microlite aircraft today but we had the pleasure of an Egret flying east to west over the cathedral. Feeding flying and a bit of aerial squabbling thrown into the mix making a wonderful afternoon down at the Cathedral Green.

Caroline said...

Been offline all day so it was amazing to come back and see juvies popping up all over the cathedral on the webcams and find all the news, particularly the on-the-spot reports from Christine and Ian - thank you webcam team and eye witnesses! As everyone says, we are SO lucky to continue seeing the birds.

Joy said...

One on the nest scrape and two on the high cam with a beautiful sun setting

Rej (AT) said...

21:50 the falcon is giving one of the juvies a lesson on plucking, another juvie is perched nearby . Shame it is bit too dark for a screenshot

Phoebe said...

I have put a couple of screen grabs on flickr, one showing the feeding on the tower. I managed to alter the lighting to get a better picture.

It it such a treat for us all to be able to see them all, and they are giving us extended pleasure from their antics.

Nick B (DWT) said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Joy said...

Looks as though the camera may have frozen.

Phoebe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nick B (DWT) said...

Donations are coming in now and so here's an initial 'thank you' to those people who have sent money but also a plea to those who have enjoyed the birds this season but haven't yet donated, to do so.
We do not make further attempts to get you to donate so a one-off donation is just that - there's no hassle from us.
Even a tenner will help since it will be multiplied three times and we will end up with £40! Just phone 01773 881188 in office hours and our lovely admin staff will be happy to speak to you. Alternatively send a cheque to DWT at East Mill, Belper DE56 1XH. It really is that simple.
Thanks,
Nick
Ps sorry about wrong phone number earlier.

Phoebe said...

Good to see some of the youngsters sunning themselves on the tower this morning.

Nick B (DWT) said...

10.20 am Wednesday - all the cameras seem to be fine now.
nick B

Phoebe said...

Yes all the cameras are working on my pc.

Nick B (DWT) said...

A very wet morning in Derby. The Watch Point may not go ahead today if the rain continues......so if you were thinking of coming from any distance (as several people did yesterday) it may be worth reconsidering your trip.
A decision will be made about 10am.
Nick B (DWT)

Caroline said...

I gather that the fictional peregrines in the Radio 4 soap "The Archers" got a mention last night. I checked on iplayer and at the top of the programme the character Linda Snell sees them flying with "their fledgings". She goes on to say that they're going "back to their scrape" on St Stephen's (the village church).

jan t said...

would just like to thank every one what a good job you have all done and to all the bloggers love reading your boggs have just phoned with my donation and a thank you to mr and mrs p with out you we would all be lost

Helen said...

Great to see three juveniles on the tower cam this evening.

Phoebe said...

Helen - you have taken the words from my mouth. Three are still on the tower now, one of them lying down. This is great to see!

Nick B (DWT) said...

Mid afternoon a call from Radio Derby said they#d been told a peregrine was on the ground in the main bus station. When I got there the bird had gone but a photo of it was shown to me - it was a mistle thrush! Back at the cathedral I was handed a brown envelope with a £50 note inside - a donation to our project. If the donor is reading this - then many thanks for your generous contribution.
Donations this week total over £500 now...so keep them coming. Getting up to a £1000 would be great!
Nick B (DWT)

Georgia from America said...

I have really enjoyed this site along with the eagles I have been watching in America. I am a real "birder". The only site left to me, sadly, are the ospreys in New Jersey and my birds in my yard. But there is next year which I look forward to. Thanks to all for your hard work!