Radisson - 2015 / Smiley & Princess

[The Peregrine Chick]

I did not realize we were so close to hatch here 

Over the years and over all the pairs we have had, the Victoria Day weekend is about the time when our first hatches generally occur.

[bev.]

a quick exchange and then Princess right back. tried to get a good look at eggs. will look at my recording later

[bev.]

My fingers are crossed. man, my daughter and her family should be in Winnipeg today and I was hoping for some decent weather for them. But we are all hardy Canadians LOL

I did not realize we were so close to hatch here

[The Peregrine Chick]

Usually Princess' eggs take more than 30 days to hatch after incubation has begun - usually 32 to 34 based on her recent record.  Incubation typically starts with penultimate egg, so for us/them that was about April 18th.  That should mean the first chick should hatch after this weekend's nasty weather has passed through.  But, it was cold when they started laying their eggs and all our birds were keeping them warm during laying, which isn't the same as incubation but I can't say for sure it won't shorten the count a bit.  We will just have to see. 

Lots of rain and snow is forecast.  The snow isn't an issue and neither will the rain be if it is spread out over time - what we don't need is a deluge all at once.  Light and constant is annoying but would be better for the birds.  Winds are from the north are cold but the building should help protect the nestledge - and the wind should blow the rain which might help reduce the amount that hits the ledge as well.  As with the incubation count, we will just have to wait and see I'm afraid.

Enjoy the day today folks, Princess and Smiley will be doing the same before they batten down the hatches until Monday/Tuesday.

[The Peregrine Chick]

WEATHER FOR THE VICTORIA WEEKEND

Today (Sat, May 16) - Increasing cloudiness. High 22. UV index 5 or moderate.  Tonight  - Cloudy. Rain beginning this evening. Risk of a thunderstorm late this evening and overnight. Amount 15 to 25 mm. Wind becoming east 30 km/h late this evening. Low 10.

Sun, May 17 - Rain. Risk of a thunderstorm in the morning. Amount 20 to 30 mm. Wind north 20 km/h becoming northeast 60 gusting to 80 early in the afternoon. Temperature falling to plus 5 in the afternoon.  Night - Rain or snow. Windy. Low minus 1.

Mon, May 18  - Flurries. Windy. High plus 3.  Night - Clear. Low minus 2.

Tue, May 19 - Sunny. High 9. Night - Clear. Low plus 2.


Environment Canada Weather Warning for Southern Manitoba

[burdi]

I feel so sorry for Princess while she tries to keep the eggs dry. Maybe if it had rained like this just before her first egg arrived, perhaps she might have been more inclined to choose the box.

If only Burdi, if only.  Like the West Winnipeg birds, Smiley and Princess started keeping the empty scrape warm/dry even before the eggs came ... not as in incubating eggs velcroed to the scrape warm/dry, rather, when it was cold or wet, they would lie down in the scrape.  Smiley did it in the nestbox too this year.  And Princess napped in the nestbox this year when the weather was less than hospitable - didn't seem to endear the box to her.  Don't know why she went for the ledge this year but there you go.  As I said, Ty and Beatrix did the same thing (keeping an empty scrape warm) in their nestbox too.  Not something I've seen our peregrines do here - interestingly it was Smiley and Ty who started it and those two are so distantly related they didn't learn it from a relative in common.  Always something new, often surprising with these birds.

Thank you TPC. Very interesting to read about the behaviour of Ty and Smiley.

[burdi]

All the eggs look fine on-camera and neither Princess nor Smiley seem to have any concerns about them. 


Saturday looking a bit better - only a 50% chance of rain in the afternoon, but rain almost guaranteed for the overnight.
Sunday looks much worse - 100% chance of rain (not news I know) but the temps are dropping enough that there may be rain/snow overnight.  Yikes!
Monday is cooler (single digits) but dry and then Tuesday 10C, Wednesday 18C and Thursday 21C and Friday 23C.  Much better for hatching

Thankfully the weather today is nice and sunny.

I don’t like the sound of this forecast, but good to read it may improve before hatching. It’s also expected to be windy on Sunday … brrr! … cold for our birdies on eggs. Hope they're wrong about the weekend.

[The Peregrine Chick]

All the eggs look fine on-camera and neither Princess nor Smiley seem to have any concerns about them. 


Saturday looking a bit better - only a 50% chance of rain in the afternoon, but rain almost guaranteed for the overnight.
Sunday looks much worse - 100% chance of rain (not news I know) but the temps are dropping enough that there may be rain/snow overnight.  Yikes!
Monday is cooler (single digits) but dry and then Tuesday 10C, Wednesday 18C and Thursday 21C and Friday 23C.  Much better for hatching

[The Peregrine Chick]

I feel so sorry for Princess while she tries to keep the eggs dry. Maybe if it had rained like this just before her first egg arrived, perhaps she might have been more inclined to choose the box.

If only Burdi, if only.  Like the West Winnipeg birds, Smiley and Princess started keeping the empty scrape warm/dry even before the eggs came ... not as in incubating eggs velcroed to the scrape warm/dry, rather, when it was cold or wet, they would lie down in the scrape.  Smiley did it in the nestbox too this year.  And Princess napped in the nestbox this year when the weather was less than hospitable - didn't seem to endear the box to her.  Don't know why she went for the ledge this year but there you go.  As I said, Ty and Beatrix did the same thing (keeping an empty scrape warm) in their nestbox too.  Not something I've seen our peregrines do here - interestingly it was Smiley and Ty who started it and those two are so distantly related they didn't learn it from a relative in common.  Always something new, often surprising with these birds.

In any case, tomorrow looks to be rain free so everyone will dry out as well the nestledge.  Then apparently a high probability of rain on Saturday afternoon, not so high probability on Sunday during the day and still Monday is the start of sunny, rain-free weather.  (Environment Canada's forecast has a bit less rain forecast).  In any case, keep your fingers crossed that this weather system doesn't stall over us!

[burdi]

...and while you're at it, please translate for me the following message I received from Princess a few minutes ago." @%&*#?$&?@". Thank you! 

Ha ha ha well gemcitygemini, since Princess sent that message to you, she’s likely saying she should have listened to your advice.

Certainly TPC is the expert interpreter, but with my guess there could possibly be some cursing here, along with - what?, why is there not a roof above my head?, and furthermore - why did I forget to check for a roof? Then … through her tears ... she may be thinking of that lovely scrape Smiley had prepared inside the box.

I feel so sorry for Princess while she tries to keep the eggs dry. Maybe if it had rained like this just before her first egg arrived, perhaps she might have been more inclined to choose the box.

[newchick]

Poor Soggy Princess



(not even going to mention her choice in nest sites this year)

Princess Sweetie, if you only choose the nice, dry, covered nest box.  

[moka]

LOL, love it

[GCG]

...and while you're at it, please translate for me the following message I received from Princess a few minutes ago." @%&*#?$&?@". Thank you! 

[The Peregrine Chick]

I'll see if I can't put together a slide show of her parked on these eggs since light this morning ... won't be until later however, work and all that 

[moka]

Poor Soggy Princess



(not even going to mention her choice in nest sites this year)

That is one ferocious, stubborn mama. She does live with her soggy choices and protects her eggs above all else.