McKenzie Seeds - 2011 / Brooklyn & Hurricane

[bcbird]

This is very sad, to get caught up and hear of the loss of another chick.  I'm so very sorry.
Thank you for all the information TPC.

[allikat]

Sorry for the very late reply...  Very very sad news about the loss of the chick.  So hard to watch and witness, but, it just wasn't meant to be for that little wee one.  
Very sorry to the dedicated Brandon crew.  
We will now watch Brooklyn and Hurricane take care of their two chicks with joy! 

[susha]

Left work early today, just in time to catch your interview, TPC.  Very well done.  I always enjoy hearing you talk about the birds.  Was so sad, of course about the chick.  Without the webcams, we wouldn't get so attached and wouldn't be so devastated when these little ones succumb to nature.  So, that, I would say, is the one and only drawback to watching these wonderful families.  Happily, we still have two healthy chicks to watch as they grow and thrive.

[Doreen]

Thank you Tracy.

[Jo]

Just finished a meal - now it's time for a snooze.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Tracy do they know the chick has passed?

I watched them "talking" to the chick today so I think they are coming to the realization that something has happened.  With the first chick, they were much quicker which would seem to confirm that that chick didn't live long enough for Hurricane or Brooklyn to realize that they were missing one.

How long before they get rid of the chick?

Hard to say I'm afraid, but the first chick didn't remain the nestbox for long.  This is the first year that this pair has had to deal with the death of chicks in the nestbox so there is a learning curve going on her.

Would they eat their own chick?

There has been at least one personal communication from one of the biggest names in peregrine research that there have been observations of adults feeding dead young to their surviving chicks but it seems to be related to nests that are having problems acquiring food for their young.  From what I have researched, it doesn't seem to be the standard response however.

[Doreen]

Tracy do they know the chick has passed?
How long before they get rid of the chick?
Would they eat their own chick?

[Jo]

...Great interview on Up to Speed this afternoon aprox 4:40pm (TPC / Larry Updike) about the chick. A difficult topic that was very well done...

Can you post a link to the interview, TPC, so that those of us who didn't catch it can listen to it?

I was afraid someone would ask  

I couldn't seem to find either Podcasts or archives for Up to Speed. . . .  but I found this article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/06/08/mb-falcon-chicks-die-brandon-manitoba.html

[Doreen]

It is sure nice to see sun shining on this nestbox after the conditions that caused the sad loss of the wee chick.      Poor Brooklyn and Hurricane......

Very nice to see a dry bird. Very sad about the chick.
Nice to see no flies bugging the birds.

[The Peregrine Chick]

well I can only count from the picture.

When was the last time the gravel was replaced?

Couldn't say for sure but we typically replace gravel every 4-5 years.  We may find the thought of bones and bits distateful, but the birds appear to prefer some evidence of their past residency, knick-knacks if you like.  I tend to clean out the big bits of remains, pigeon eggs, pellets and sandwich wrappers in the spring, but they have been nesting on cliff ledges for centuries and I'm pretty sure Molly Maid has never made that kind of housecall! 

[bccs]

well I can only count from the picture.

When was the last time the gravel was replaced?

[bccs]

still a rookie at this picture stuff, but I can count 14 drainage holes in the Brandon nest box.
Considering that this box has been there for years, I'm kind of thinking that the gravel and what is under it is akin to clay.
I'm likely, wrong, but just what I'm thinking.

You have a better count on the drainage holes than I do Bccs, but as for the "clay", fraid not.  The substrate we use is pea gravel and is not a mixed fill so there is not sand or clay or fine particles, well except for the bits of bones that remain from meals past. 

[Kinderchick]

...Great interview on Up to Speed this afternoon aprox 4:40pm (TPC / Larry Updike) about the chick. A difficult topic that was very well done...

Can you post a link to the interview, TPC, so that those of us who didn't catch it can listen to it?

[Jo]

I'm so sorry to hear about the chick.

Great interview on Up to Speed this afternoon aprox 4:40pm (TPC / Larry Updike) about the chick. A difficult topic that was very well done.

Nice to see that the rain has stopped and good to hear that the two chicks have healthy appetites.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Did a little snooping because it seems to me that Brandon has had biblically torrential rain over the last month ... this is what I found ...

month	average	actual
April	31.0 mm	45.0 mm
May	52.7 mm	99.6 mm
June	74.0 mm	57.4 mm*

* June 2011 total of 57.4 = 28.2 mm (June 2nd) + 29.2 mm (June 7th)