So far we've not captured a good screen shot, but no doubt we will soon. This image was captured by the Project Team this morning during a short change in incubation. The male later brought in some food, but flew off with it shortly afterwards because the incubating falcon showed little interest in it at that time.
 |
| Screen grab by Liz1155 |
Comments and Tweets.
We frequently moderate blog comments before they are published, so there may be a short delay before they appear. You can check out the most recently posted comments, as well as recent 'Tweets' sent from our Twitter account (@derbyperegrines) by looking at the right hand side bar of this Blog's homepage. To leave a comment, simply click on the word 'comments' at the bottom of the most recently published post. Comments left by school teachers or school children are currently being inserted below the most recent post, as we think everyone will find it interesting to see how schools are using Derby's Peregrines as a fantastic learning resource.
You might ask why bother with Twitter and Facebook when we have such a successful blog? The answer is that people are increasingly getting their information on the move and in various forms. Whilst we can't be present on every social media platform, we do think that Facebook and Twitter are worthwhile and effective ways of reaching more people, too.
Luckily we managed to spot a comment left on an earlier posting from Alistair Henderson who said:
"While watching yesterday evening [13th May] I saw a small rodent being brought to and fed to the brood. Is it expected that rodents feature in the 'usual' diet of nestling peregrines or are times tough for the male while hunting? "
The answer is that mammals are only ever rarely caught. Aylesbury peregrines had a pipistrelle bat as a prey item, and in 2007 we captured a video of our chicks being fed a rat. We don't think this means it's a tough time for peregrines - more a sign that they are opportunistic hunters, and may take whatever food they can.
UPDATE: Sunday 19th May, 10.30 am to 4 pm. DWT is running an 'In Flight' adult education photography course at Carsington Water in mid-Derbyshire, with a falconer present who will fly his birds. The cost is £50 and the tutor is Paul Shaw. Booking essential - phone the DWT office on 01773 881188 in office hours before 4.30 tomorrow (Friday). Note that it is not possible to book possible by ringing Carsington itself.
39 comments:
The fourth chick hatched at 11pm last night. It could clearly be seen wriggling out of the shell when the female got up to greet the male bird who had arrived with food. The shell was completely removed by the female soon afterwards. Wonderful to watch.
Great news. Lots of watching now.
The new cameras showing the view across the nest to Derby beyond really are a joy this year. Hard to believe that the nest platform was full of fluffy white snow just a few weeks ago and now it is full of fluffy white chicks! Also, hard to believe that in just a few weeks these chicks will be testing their new wings constantly and getting ready to fly...
9.38 AM Just watched a feed. New chick very floppy but tried hard a couple of times to get food without luck. I'm sure it will "catch up" soon though as Chick 3 was just as floppy and new yesterday and now you can't telling it apart from its brothers and sisters because it is begging for food just as strongly.
Such great news about the fourth chick. looking forward to seeing them grow and thrive. They have such amazing parents.
Mary T (Belper)
Wonderful to hear that all four chicks have arrived fingers crossed the heavy rain forecast will not prove too much for them to survive it would be lovely to see all four fledge.
11.09 am feeding time. All four chicks were fed.
Liz as lovely to see and then how they all flopped as if to say" we have had enough Mum" so she flew off with the remans and they looked like one lovely ball of fluff, before she was back in a flash...
Kate
Hi Kate, yes it was lovely. Can't quite capture these moments on print screen as well as it would be captured on video. I have had a few days to devote time to watching and getting photo's. Also thought the children in school might like to see lots of pics.. I have enjoyed the privilege of doing this, all THANKS to the Peregrine Project.....
Thanks for the excellent screen shots, Liz. I think the quality is very good. Also thanks to HelenSara who regularly does the night shift and gets some superb shots too.
Chicks fed 13:55
May 14th 2013
14th May 2013 Tea time. The two younger chicks look a lot stronger now as they join the two older chicks for tea.
17:37
Exciting news I see, lovely to see the new chicks safe and sound. Hope everything will go ok again this year. I will be arriving in Derby 2 weeks tomorrow and can't wait to see them flying in and out feeding. Do hope the weather warms up for them.
Feed time began 20:22......
Look forward to seeing you Ann! Bring some decent weather with you please - it's wet and cold in Derby tonight!
Nick B (DWT)
Thank you AnnieF for your generous comments to me on here.......
You can see the leg of the bird that was caught for the meal on picture d2. On picture d3 the claw can also be seen. Pics on Flickr
Meal time.
Wednesday 15th May 11:37 am
May 15 ... 14:46
Dad arrives with a tasty morsel for the babies and Mum wolfed it down herself. Dad looked at her as if to say "Okay then" LOL
Saw the Peregrine Falcon eat a meaty thigh of the small bird caught for feeding, right down to swallowing the clawed foot. I hesitated in screen printing it, as I looked on feeling mmm... not nice. I wasn't sure about taking that pic. So I missed the moment, no pic to show.
15th May 2013 14:45
Pam, the chicks had already had their feed off that bird. Don't know where it went then dad brought it back again and mum like you say wolfed it down.
Oops! not a beak but a bill.
16:42 feeding.
Oops! not a beak but a bill refers to the bird caught for the food. It looked like a duckling. The bill was narrow and long. Pic on Flickr
Many thanks to the team for zooming in on the nest site... really lovely full view of the falcon dozing this eve with her chicks tucked under her. Amazing focus on detail of her eye, beak, chest feathers and those bundles of fluff. A view impossible a year ago. We are spoilt! I've enjoyed your screen-grabs too Liz.
I'm so relieved to see the mother having a well deserved cat-nap after last nights bad weather. Poor Mum got soaked but was still as tender as ever with her chicks and made sure they were all kept dry and warm. Does anyone know what sort of temperature is generated under her body and wings to ensure the chicks retain their body heat? Just a thought. The smallest chick is holding it's own now and getting the odd share of tasty morsels so I'm feeling less worried to know that Mum is fair in dishing it out to all of them. Loving all the pics and comments and so glad of this fab experience.
Hi Caroline, Thank you for your comments. It is lovely to be watching this live. So awesome and delightful. With more to come. I have a few pics that are my favorites. My latest is C16. I melt when I see the angelic gentleness and as if looking up to Heaven.
Liz
To all of you lovely people who have posted screen captures - thank you! They are great to see. I am in the middle of moving home so only get the odd glimpse of the cams. I will have no internet for a whole week soon. I am not able to watch live or post pics to flickr so once again thank you all!!
The whole family of peregrines look in tip top shape and healthy. The little cotton balls are not that little...lol
I hope to be more active in the next few weeks.
Phoebe
Chicks feed. Both parents feeding. They appeared to be very hungry. They are growing very quickly. Today looks like it will be a good day for hunting. sunny still morning. chris M
Morning all
Just as I connected at 06.20 a feed in progress, but I could only see three mouths!!!unless the smallest was smothering underneath the older siblings.
Then parent flew off, leaving the food, within seconds came back to continue feed, then the second Bird arrived and took the food away.
Both adults were away from the nest for a while.
Kate
Just watched the falcon preening. She was standing up over the chicks so terrific view of the fluff pile in front of her huge curled-back toes. She fussed the chicks a lot with her beak which made me wonder what she was doing as it almost looked like preening rather than trying to move them. Then she seemed to remove something black stuck to one of them before preening her left wing. Beautiful seeing that wing splayed. We can get such detailed view now. Good to see the sun on her back this morning.
Definitely four chicks at 10 am this morning though one is smaller than the others for sure. The female is very experienced of course and will certainly feed the small one at some point, even though its siblings are stronger and bigger.
Nick B (DWT)
Just watched feed. Chick 4 perked up right at the end and got out from under and got something but prey wasn't v big and so the feed was over. It was still asking and falcon kept looking. From what we've seen before, there's usually plenty of food to go round and so it will catch up. Certainly a determined little thing.
we have seen the feemaiul brooding
the chiks.we have seen the feemaiul feeding the chiks cairfuly. the chiks open there beeks verry wide. yesturday
the male was trying to brood
the chiks but the chiks are to big now. he was tring his best but he is just too smarll.
You have done well Green Class.
As you say, the male is about 15% smaller than the female and he does find it harder to cover the eggs and also the chicks properly against the weather.
Nick B (DWT)
Just watched a feed and unless I am imagining things Chick 4 has learnt the art of diving underneath its siblings and popping its head out in front! Thanks to whoever was adjusting the camera too.
We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw the baby peregrine falcon chicks all white and fluffy. As we watched, we saw one of the Peregrine falcons bring back a bird to feed the chicks- they looked like they were very hungry! We’ll keep our eyes peeled today for any more activity.
Class 1, Stretton Handley Primary School - May 15th
Hi Stretton Handley: your comment appeared on an older post so I didn't find it immediately!
Hope you are still watching our chicks grow up - somewhat quicker than humans aren't they?
Nick B (DWT)
Rebecca from Gorsefield School:
How old do the chicks need to be before they can fly?
Hi Rebecca: that's a good question!
As you can see they are growing very fast. The feathers are developing under all that white fluff and the chicks will soon become darker as the feathers push through and the fluff begins to fall off. In another two to three weeks they will start to look like 'proper' birds and we hope they will make their first flights (it's called 'fledging') about the third week in June...so in about three to four weeks time.
So the total time from hatching to fledging is five to six weeks.
Nick
Post a Comment