Last year Ian Layton, our HLF-funded People and Peregrines Engagement Officer, with the help of a small group of dedicated teachers, prepared a number of
Peregrine Resource Boxes for use by schools in the county and city.
These boxes contain a whole host of things to help you use these magnificent birds, the web cams and the blog in your curricular work.
And they are entirely FREE to loan!
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| Contents of a resources box displayed |
If your school is one run by Derbyshire County Council, then Georgina Greaves at the council is the person to contact if you want to loan a box. Boxes are delivered to your school via the normal channels. Georgina can be contacted by email at environmentalstudies@derbyshire.gov.uk or on 01629 533439.
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| An imaginative menu for a peregrine! |
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| Four red eggs drawn by a child at an infant school..... |
If your school is in Derby City, please contact peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk and we will arrange for you to have the single box that serves the city.
Nick B (DWT)
Ps. Ian will be starting work with us again within the next few weeks. Hurrah!! We also plan to put some of these school resources online, too, for anyone to use.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN THE BLOG TO SEE A RECENT VIDEO CLIP OF OUR BIRDS COURTING......
103 comments:
More courtship, two high speed flyby's from Mr D and some scrape digging by Mrs D 16:12 to 16:14 (21/02/15)
I think the Derby pair might have mated at 17:00. the one on the box dropped off towards the ledge below and there was lots of chupping/screeching from just below the box!
Both are visible tonight, the tiercel on the scrape ledge and the falcon on the tower above.
After spending a couple of hours on the nestbox ledge, the falcon got in and did a bit of tidying and scraping (16.40-42), then returned to the ledge. She's giving the impression that she's waiting for the tiercel, being quite fidgety.
Now she's disappeared.
Very late dinner at 1:15 am.
Olga. Watched from Canada.
Some very interesting behaviour from 13.20 today for about 5 minutes or so.
Falcon on scrape..... lots of chirping from fslcon as tiercel lands then lots of interest in the hole she has scraped
Terrible news in the local Derby Telegraph online news paper this evening. News has come in that a male Falcon has been found dead near its nest site elsewhere in Derbyshire and had apparently been shot. Disgraceful and so sad, lets just hope the police find the scum that did it!
Hello everyone, wonderful to come back this morning and find the falcon on the scrape at about 9.45 and to then hear much calling before the tiercel turned up for a few minutes just after the clock struck 10.00! Their ongoing presence is something to be thankful for especially when one reads the shocking news of the shooting locally. Happy 'new season' to you.
Here is the link on the dreadful news.
https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/shot-peregrine-found-dead-at-derbyshire-wildlife-trust-hq/
Am sure Nick's will comment, when they have anything to say.
Kate
Here is the Derby Wildlife Trust comment
http://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/news/2015/03/02/shot-peregrine-found-dead-derbyshire-wildlife-trust-headquarters
I fully understand if Nick feels the need to delete these links
Kate
At last, a few moments to check on the best peregrine project in the world :) And I'm thrilled to hear Ian will be back on the project for the summer (wish it was permanent) But my joy was dampened when I saw the dreadful news that an individual of the species homo horribilus has shot dead one of the peregrines on DWTs headquarters at Belper :(. The wildlife crime police have been informed and are on the case and I see that the RSPB are offereing a big cash reward for information. I hope they catch the homo horribilus very soon.
Just walking iin2 twn and saw 2 peregrines on jurys inn and 2 flying round! The One On jurys was e chuping! Do u think that the 2 flying round were last years juveniles? From christine.
Peregrine falcon in scrape 13.09 - 13.11, scraping.
Scrape is empty. No sound from anywhere but the bells about 5 minutes ago.
I think it is the falcon on the edge of the scrape right now. Unless they are together I can't tell them apart. It is just after midnight here in Canada. a
I think you're right Abby- Lynn, it looks like her. Beautiful but cold morning here in Derby. Hope we see eggs in the scrape soon. Sleep well Abby.
They're on view again at tune in just now, with female on scrape and tierce on corbel below. She has also started sleeping over on the tower when weather permits.
It seems a determined courtship is now under way folks! Wouldn't be surprised if an actual mating is spotted on cam very soon now.
There may be some odd bits and pieces in the scrape that catch the interest of Nick M's eye - (you know, like the jawbone of a duckbill platypus or something!)when he carries out his inspection. I bet Mrs.P looks forward to his "visit" as much as we do!
There is greenery growing in the scrape now too! Are the P's growing a garden? LOL. The nest area looks a lot deeper this am, looks like so work has been done on it. Does this mean eggs soon?
I can see a pair of boots, legs attached to the knee. Looks like scrape-cleaning's begun!
I do believe that's our very own Nick M. at the coal-face, ready with his spray-gun.
No, I was wrong, it's a green glove. Nick M. seems to be safely clipped & ready to get going.
He's still hard at work, the scrape is full of his gear & he's a picture of concentration!
I see backpack and red shopping bag. Someone going camping :)
Thanks for cleaning Nick M!
Olga. Toronto.
Finished!
Many thanks to Nick and Ian for their work in tidying up the nest platform ready for the new season. Another great job! Nice commentary(and singing)from Nick whilst dangling off the end of the rope! (Nick, you weren't talking to yourself after all! Phew!) Looking forward to seeing some eggs at the end of the month, with a bit of luck.
One of the peregrines is back on the scrape ledge, looking up very suspiciously. Must have been watching Nick M.'s ropes while he worked!
Everything spick and span there now thanks to you Nick M., the pair should be very happy with the spring clean.
It's the falcon & she's in the scrape, still very suspicious but defiantly moving stones that were not left where she wanted them.
Back on the ledge now, looking around, maybe waiting for the tierce.
WHAT.....what's this I hear? the scrapes been cleaned and moi missed it??? Can't believe it, I'm gutted. As for you lucky imps that caught the action, what a treat! Typical of me to pick today to go and unblock mothers kitchen sink, but at least had a bowl of home made soup. Do hope it's all on tape with a chance to view after the event.
MrP just brought some food to the falcon!......she ate a bit and has now just flown off with it.
Sorry about the singing, guys. Nervous habit.
Whilst the Gas man was busy demolishing my boiler I was able to spend some delightful time watching 'the main man' doing some housework, got a few snapshots but unfortunately missed out on the singing as sound card on PC defunct, lovely clear lens ('til chicks are big enough to get good aim!!)
Mrs P on the edge of the scrape just looking around. Must be windy up there as her feathers are ruffling.a
She just took off and came right back now chupping and looking upwards.
Nottingham falcons have an egg this morning
Just checked the Nottingham University falcons and there is an egg!
The Nottingham pair are always a couple of weeks ahead of ours. Their falcon sat on her clutch head-deep in snow a few years ago!
@16.36 hrs. One peregrine each side of the nestbox ee-chupping with bowed heads. The one in the scrape then flew off leaving the other looking a bit surprised. Couldn't tell which was which, sorry!
I have been checking on and off since 1 am UK time and haven't seen the falcon or tiercel and it is now 5:32 UK time. I am in Canada and it is now 10:32 PM. I usually see them around midnight. So glad the scrape is nice and clean.
Nottingham - two eggs!
I do believe its mama sitting on the edge of the scrape. Haven't seen either of them all day. I did check quite often.
She hasn't moved in an hour. Just looking around.
Oops now they are both in the scrape
They were both there for a short time then one took off, came back within minute, then the other took off and one has been alone for about 1/2 an hour. No munchies either.
17.15 - 17.16 hrs lots of ee-chupping with heads bowed, falcon in scrape, tiercel rhs. Then falcon flew off leaving tiercel looking a bit surprised again.
The falcon is now in front of the pudding cam tucking in to a prey bird that was left there. Tiercel standing guard on the scrape ledge.
Both birds in the scrape e-chupping.
They were each on their own side of the scrape and I think she was making the most noise. Then she took off. She came back, he left and she moved some stone around.
He finally came back with a little bit of food which she took and flew away with it. I just love watching them but time for bed here in Canada. Have a great day all.
Tiercel has been on scrape ledge for some time, and falcon has just arrived on the tower with prey.
Have been watching the pair since 07.00 this morning, he comes & goes with food but she has remained constantly in & out of scrape, I keep watching because am sure there is to be an egg sometime today judging by her actions
@Wendy, thanks for that, I can never tell which is which normally & I think I was misled by the size of the peregrine on the tower!
Anyway, whichever one is in the scrape is, as you say, quite fidgety. It could be a bit too early for an egg though, going by previous years' timings. It would be great if you're right - watching's getting more exciting by the hour!
She has just (17.20) had a scratch-&-dig in the scrape.
The falcon (I think it is her) is sitting on the edge of the scrape preening. No sign of the other one.
There is an object in the corner of the other side of the scrape from where she laid her eggs last year. It hasn't moved in a couple hours. At first i thought it was left over prey but I really can't tell what it is.
I just realized that she is sitting very close to the camera when you look at stream 2. That is right above the object I can see. Could it be an egg? It does look like it.
Just checked again and she is sitting on the edge of the scrape. The object I saw has been pushed even further into the corner. I have no idea what it is. Time for bed in Canada.
Just zoomed in- don't think it's anything just a stone. I've thought that before but she doesn't usually lay anywhere else.
I didn't think she would lay anywhere else but this is only the second year I have watched the peregrines. I love it. Thanks Linda for clearing that up. Have a great day!
Abby Lynn I thought exactly the same a couple of years ago. I saw Mr P I think on the Jury's Inn sign this pm as I stopped at the lights by it.
Think Nottingham now have 4 eggs!
Mrs P on the edge of the scrape and Mr P is on a ledge. All of Nottingham's eggs must have been laid as the falcon there is laying on the eggs.
When I am looking at steam 2, the top right hand corner is where on the Cathedral?
It's at the back of the spire, I was trying to get a picture for you, but cant find any. It over looks the yard of the Dolphin Pub at it's foot, that Silk Mill pub across the road. The old Silk Mill building itself in front to the left looking from the spire and then a lot of building work where they are transforming the old police station over and down to the River Gardens. See if this comes up. They have a fairly nice out look.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTtS675G9hZdgiD3QGRiSnX6LXButGhsE8L2vqo0pwDwhL8AoJCQg
15.20: 1 on tower, 1 in scrape. 15.22: tower bird lands in the other side of nest box, then much head-bowing and e-chupping by both. Scrape is scratched at & flattened a bit more, then the one in the scrape flies off. 15.27: the bird on the far side walks over to the scrape and does some more flattening, then hops onto the ledge.
The birds just held a prolonged face to face courtship display in the scrape - 18.27/40 to bell ringing at 18.30
Both birds in the nest side and very close together in bowed posture, and believe it or not, some actual kissing! Really, it was a ritualised "pretend" feeding from the female to the male. She then flew from the scrape, leaving the tierce within.
I am from Canada so have no idea where on the Cathedral the scrape is but wondered where in stream 2 camera is that picture taken. Is it above or below the scrape or next to it?
By the way Linda, thanks for the info. The link won't come up for me here in Canada.
Right now one of them in on the back of the spire as you called it right now.
Hi Abby think it is a mixture of pictures from above.
Right now in stream 2 I can see one of them sitting there in the upper right square and Jurys Inn in the background. Below that are 2 pictures of the scrape. It is the upper right picture that I wonder where it is.
@Abby-Lynn, I'm pretty sure the camera (top right pic)is higher up than the scrape and around a corner. It's called the "pudding" cam because apparently that's what it looks like, & it sits on a ledge up there. Hope this helps.
Thanks so much. Nice to know what I am looking at. Because she looks up sometimes quite often, I think she is looking at him. (Or the other way around.)
Just Mrs P (I think it is as this one is quite large) sitting on the edge of the scrape. Maybe waiting for something to eat. Well, not long before we will see eggs in the scrape.
Mum's in the scrape digging and just finished eating altho I couldn't see the food I just the bogging of her head.
That should have read the bobbing of her head. I watched of and on today and not much going on. Mum is sleeping with her head tucked in right now. Hopefully we will see some eggs soon.
Falcon standing in middle of scrape looking pensive.
12.57 hrs. She's still there.
Right now she is sitting on the edge of the scrape preening.
I have checked many times since 8 am in Canada and it is now 2 pm and she has been sitting on the edge of the scrape every time I look. It is 9 pm UK time.
Back in the scrape again now Abby but she has been hanging around for days now, have watched a great deal (follow these birds all year round) & many times I have thought it was going to happen any second!! Maybe tonight??
I did think the same thing that she is staying close to the nest because it will be any time now. I've never seen her stay so long on the edge of the scrape. I did see a few minutes ago her just sitting in the scrape looking up. In stream 2 you can see both of them.
Can see them now Abby, he's in his night-time roost/lookout spot & she is still keeping us on edge of our seats at scrape!! lol
First we wait so long for the eggs, then we wait for the hatching and then the fun begins. I love it when they start to get chubby and can't walk. This will only be my second year but will do this forever.
There was a new post on the 23rd with the most recent comments on there. Just to let you know.
Here is the link to the most recent post:
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=517644049991406941&postID=3219231880903434585
Hi Phoebe & Wendy. I just checked out the new post and pictures. How lovely to know where they are exactly. Great pictures too.
Well she finally left the scrape. Got hungry I guess. She has been in or on the edge of the scrape most of today.
I'm off to bed now. I hope I wake in the morning and see the first egg.
I am not anonymous. I don't know how that happened.
0909 and she is hovering over the hollow in the scrape turning round. Looks like she's thinking about laying no 1.
She has been there for about an hour and a half doing the same thing Linda
Looks as if Mrs DP means business now .... watch this space please, I have to go out now ... grrrr!
No egg yet but she sure must be close because she leaves so seldom. Just sitting there now looking out over the scenery. Cam 4 isn't working for me just now. I am on my way and will check back later.
Eclipse of the Tower
When Earth began to dim it's light,
As Moon aligned to force the night,
A shadow moved within the scrape,
To cloak the falcon in it's drape.
And as the moment of Eclipse,
Sent shivers down her feather tips,
The forces born of rare alignment,
Blessed her imminent confinement...
Now adorned in Natures power,
The falcon glanced around her tower,
And when the Spheres released the light,
She saw the tiercel in her sight.
He'd helped her hollow out their nest,
To aid her comfort when at rest,
And soon she'll feel the time is right,
To step within and stay all night...
It is 10:29 in Derby and there is a bunch of little white things blowing around. From the trees maybe? It looked like snow at first.
No egg yet.
Mrs DP is back again teasing us ... will she/won't she??
Here she is ( 22.56pm )just flown back to the scrape - (tiercel below on the far end of corbel)- a little bit of chatter between them as she flew in. She's now entered the hollow - this time remaining and taking up a crouching position over the nest. Looks promising.
TIME ON CAM 4 now reading 23.20.35
Is it possible to move all these posts from 24th onto the most recent blog called 'what is where' dated 23 march? Its getting confusing having recent comments on this older blog along with others on the latest blog.
She looks like this is it. I am excited.
She is falling asleep on the job! Hope to see an egg when I log on in morning ... goodnight all!
Though the falcon flew up to the tower after the tiercel flew into the scrape, there may be a chance she'll return during the early hours. She's presently taking a nap though, so who knows! Think I'm off to do the same now and will wait to see what morning brings.
I will be on watch for the next 6 hours till midnight my time. One is up top and the other on the edge of the scrape, both alert and looking around. If she lays the egg before I hit the bed I will post the time. Sleep well.
As of 6:01 nothing! She is making us wait. They stayed up top and on the scrape edge the whole time. she just flew off, maybe for food.
At 7:56 she was on the nest spreading it out a bit more. Then back on the edge of the scrape. Now time for me to hit the bed. Keep me posted.
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