MI / Lansing - 2009-12

[carly]

Great to see Stelco is still there  .  Thanks Alison!

[Alison]

Stelco (from Hamilton) at the nest this afternoon:

 

[Alison]

A peregrine on the perch in the early evening (the time on the photo is not correct). It's hard to tell, but I wonder if this might be a juvie - seems really dark in front.

[Alison]

Stelco relaxing at the nest box today:

 

[Alison]

Beautiful Stelco at the nest box today:

[allikat]

Strike a pose....there's nothing to it "VOGUE"   

[Pchemist]

that looks like a pose my cat does on a regular basis! 

[The Peregrine Chick]

A little softshoe for his (by the size) adoring fans ...

[kittenface]

ljames at BCAW got this one
I voted for it to be the craziest pose ever, What do you think

[Alison]

Rose and Veronica are getting close to fledging. They have both ventured out onto the perch.

 

 

[Alison]

Rose and Veronica today, growing up fast:

 

[Alison]

 
Trying out the wings                                                         Suddenly the chicks are beginning to change fast

[Alison]

The chicks were the right age for banding - big enough to band and not so big as they think they can fly.  And accidents do happen, usually its not really a jump but rather they are close to the corner or an edge and get spooked and they try to get out of the way ... not an intentional jump thinking they can fly but it is intentional movement away from the banders ....

Thank you for the response, TPC. I didn't for a moment think that the chick jumped intentionally. I did, however, wonder about inexperienced banders, perhaps unused to handling peregrines or other birds. Since birds do not have diaphragms, they have to be handled very carefully so that they can breathe . . .

The two survivors being fed today:

 

[carly]

Yes you did TPC, thank you.  It breaks my heart to think of that poor chick falling to it's death like that. 

Trampolines for peregrines, going on the list ... right under the umbrellas for the nest box.

[The Peregrine Chick]

The chicks were the right age for banding - big enough to band and not so big as they think they can fly.  And accidents do happen, usually its not really a jump but rather they are close to the corner or an edge and get spooked and they try to get out of the way ... not an intentional jump thinking they can fly but it is intentional movement away from the banders .... the chicks are hardwired not to jump until first flights - if they weren't hardwired this way, it would be a major evolutionary flaw ...

... did I make the shades of grey clear enough ??