Radisson - 2012 / Ivy & Princess

[RaptorGal]

Thank you TPC for bringing us back into reality with these wild creatures.  I know that sometimes I get carried away with the cuteness of the chicks and forget about the survival of the fittest that is necessary to ensure strong species' bloodlines. 

[The Peregrine Chick]

The chicks are lined up like sunbathers at the beach!  Only their rear ends are in the sun though, so they will have odd tan lines.

At this stage they are starting to outgrow the downy feathers they hatched with, so if you look closely (and the light it right) you will probably be able to tell that their butts are the first area to outgrow their first down coats ....

[The Peregrine Chick]

As endearing as they are, let's try not to anthropomorphize the peregrines or treat the chicks like cute stuffed toys.  Yes, I know, I'm a party-pooper    and that I say this same thing every year but .... but unfortunately it is all too easy to forget that Nature frequently isn't kind as we watch the peregrines on the Falcon Cams and we do the chicks and their parents a disservice if we don't acknowledge the fact that the lives we are are watching so intently is a one-day-at-a-time thing for the first year of the chicks' lives. These are wild peregrines and as such are vulnerable to a variety of threats (heat, rain, cold, diseases, injuries, predation, etc) and the survival of the chicks is dependent upon the skill and dedication of their parents.  The reality is that 5 to 7 out of every 10 chicks hatched this year will not survive to this time next year.  And no, I'm not seeing any causes for alarm, all the chicks look fine and Princess and Ivy are doing their usual great job so I'm not anticipating any problems this year, it's just important to respect the wild.

[Baffled]

Its a somebutt lineup!!!     Nice to see them getting stronger and able to pull themselves along!  They will soon be experts at getting around that nestbox.  One made it all the way to the back wall!  touch-down!!  you go little fluffling!!

Yes, I was cheering that chick along like it was the Stanley Cup finals! Go Chick! Let's go Chick! Yay! Made it!

[RaptorGal]

The chicks are lined up like sunbathers at the beach!  Only their rear ends are in the sun though, so they will have odd tan lines.

Its a somebutt lineup!!!    Nice to see them getting stronger and able to pull themselves along!  They will soon be experts at getting around that nestbox.  One made it all the way to the back wall!  touch-down!!  you go little fluffling!!

[bcbird]

The chicks are lined up like sunbathers at the beach!  Only their rear ends are in the sun though, so they will have odd tan lines.

[Baffled]

Mumbrella is gone, so the little ones are slowly edging/flopping themselves into the shade as the nest heats up . . .

Their floppiness reminds me of those cartoons of people crawling exhausted through the desert lol

[RaptorGal]

"I made it!!  I am safe under the mumbrella where I want to be," said little fluffling!!

[moka]

One little chick sought cover under the parent, parent moved and the chick started back to the chick pile, parent moved in and the little adventurer went back into the adult's shade.

Quite a lot of activity for such a hot day! Poor dark feathered parent, sure looks hot

[RaptorGal]

Well, two chicks pulled themselves into the shade.  One persistant fluffling wants to be under the parental breast and is most adament about it too.  Does not seem that the parent wants a chick right now.  Must be too hot and he is panting.

[RaptorGal]

Oh now he has turned around and opened his wings a bit.  I think he is finding it a tad warm!
The chick pile is mostly still in the nest box shade anyway.

no, no, no, you do not step on little heads while backing up to mombrella them!!!!  Hear how they squawk their protests?  I chup chup you!!  Poor fluffling chick pile!!

[MayShowers]

Is that Ivy trying to be a Mombrella?  He has decided only tail feather shade is needed, and is standing full towards the sun.  

And it looked like one of the chicks was trying to eat his tail feathers!

[bcbird]

Oh now he has turned around and opened his wings a bit.  I think he is finding it a tad warm!
The chick pile is mostly still in the nest box shade anyway.

[bcbird]

Is that Ivy trying to be a Mombrella?  He has decided only tail feather shade is needed, and is standing full towards the sun.  

[RaptorGal]

Time for some phanatic phanta phood called pigeon!!!  Princess took it from Ivy who dropped it off and now the pigeon is being de-feathered!!  yum yums

Since the pigeon is very accessible to the falcons we have been calling it "Flying KD". 

Flying KD, haha, a nestbox pigeon take-out meal.  I love it!!!