MN / Elk River - 2008-22

[Pam]

Their lungs are sure getting stronger!  They're starting to sound a lot more like mom & dad.  Is it just me, or is there less food coming in fromthe restaurant?

[JL]

Good point. 

Am I imagining things but do males have a different call than the females?  The high pitched screech being the female and the quick, more like duck quacks, male?  Or do they make both types of sounds?

[carly]

The feed the chicks alot during the first month so they will grow.  Now you will notice a cut down on food to slim them down and prepare them for flight. I did see that with our pair here and the mom is really slim and now that the chicks are juvies they have gotten much sleeker than they used to be.  I did ask the same thing about them falling out of the ledge and that was the reply I got - having said that I think you are right about the talons and grabbing them.  I have seen mom and dad here get under their wings when they first fledged to encourage them upwards though..which was pretty cool.

[Liz]

But they're not trying to save them -- they're trying to do damage!   

[JL]

I've seen pictures of falcons grabbing prey out of midair that are a fair size.  But that'll be really something to see though.

[Liz]

They weigh more than the parents??  How is that possible?  Chicks are fat and adults slim down?  (Another species worried about weight!)

[carly]

They weigh more than the parents do right now so no chance of mom or dad grabbing them if they fall     And I think dad is scared of them!

[Liz]

I wonder if one of them do fall out of the box and a parent is nearby, would it swoop and grab the chick?

Don't know about that.  Seems doubtful tho, since they don't have hands.  And I don't mean that in a snarky way!  All they could use is talons and that might do damage.  But TPC will tell us!  Good Q. 

Can you hear the parent now?  She sure is screaming like she's starving to death!  My air conditioning is running and the tv is turned up over it, so I can't hear those little things. 

[JL]

It's so cool to hear them talk to their parents.  They screech when they bring food and when they see them; then you hear the parent screech bach from further away. 

[JL]

I wonder if one of them do fall out of the box and a parent is nearby, would it swoop and grab the chick?

[Liz]

NO, you can't eat feathers, you stoopid bird -- stay away from the edge! 

[Liz]

I'm sure you're right about that, but I think it's hilarious when I say something to one of them and it turns and looks at me like s/he heard! 

[JL]

Little miss in front of the camera just showed off with an impressive preen job.  Followed by some stretches.  My theory on the chicks looking at the camera is probably because they can see their reflection off the glass.  I saw one pecking at the camera.  

[eagle63_1999]

None have fledged yet, they just still pile up in the corner where the webcam has a blind spot and makes you think there are only two when really they are all still there

[Liz]

Fre5ia: "I only saw 2 chicks at Great River/Elk River this morning ... but now when I just went back all 3 are there again.  ARGH!  Did one fly and come back? Is it too early for that?  There doesn't seem to be much room for one to hide from camera view now - in the 4 days that I missed seeing them they grew SO much.  Can anyone comment on my chick mystery this morning.  I swear I only saw 2 of them 15 minutes ago!"

When I first checked this evening I could only see two as well, and thought that one had finally gone over the edge.  (finally, as in, I worry about it; not as in "at last!")  It turned out the third one was at the far end and hidden by the one in the middle of the box.  So I will be more patient next time before I panic.     Just about took a few years off my life!