MN / Elk River - 2008-22

[The Peregrine Chick]

Morning Gang, I'm afraid the last egg in this nest isn't going to hatch at this point (or at least it would be one for the books if it did), its almost a week since the other chicks hatched and that is, in almost all cases, too long a period between the majority of the eggs hatching and the last one.  We had 4 eggs this spring as well and Trey & Princess abandonned and removed it quite early, so it isn't uncommon.  It may not even have been fertile and there was not chick to lose.  We have also had a number of cases at other locations where the last chick to hatch has died within a day or two of hatching, so it may be quite a common occurrence this year.  Will see if I can find out a bit more on how many were lost/never hatched this year.  You are quite right though, the other three chicks appear to be doing very well!  Should make for a great show come fledging!  Haven't heard yet from my Elk River contact on a banding date and if they will be showing it online.  When I do, will post a note.

[deedream]

Good Morning y'all.  I too watched this cam last night and agree with you both.  Thank goodness that is all over.  Did not see the egg at all, assumed it must be under the chicks, but now I don't think there was enough room for it to be, they did an awful lot of tumpling about and with all those feedings and the parent leaving them alone too to go fly off and bring back a snack, there  was lots of opportunity to observe.  Looked like something way over in the corner to the left, like broken  egg shells.  I can't recall if they cleaned up the shells of the ones that hatched or not.  In fact we certainly don't see near the housecleaning here that Trey does.  He is one in a million.  Well one in 500 maybe,    not sure how many perergrines are known to exist now.  Raining here in NB for the weekend   

[Liz]

Not sure about that, but I've definitely seen P&T close their eyes.  Tonight P had her head tucked into her wing, before it got dark.  So I'm thinking that light here is keeping this mum awake when she should be resting.

[Enraptured]

Yes, I feel sorry for her, too.  I keep wondering if she keeps her eyes open because of the light or if the parent stays awake for safety, anyway.  Without being able to see Princess or Trey, it's hard to tell.

[Liz]

Totally agree..  they all seemed to be evenly fed.  And fed three times, actually!  But now it's 11:55 and I can hear the train again... but more than that, the light is still glaring on them.  Again, it's nice to be able to see them.  But it's such a huge difference from Winnipeg, and seeing Princess settle down for the night with her brood. I feel sorry for the mum here and that flippin' floodlight!

[Enraptured]

I agree with you, Liz. Today I've been really looking to see if it could have been the beak or bad light, or whatever, but I agree. There was definately something on the end of her beak the other night and extended in front of her. I'm very glad to see it's gone too, and now that I now gross (even in the beauty of nature...) things like feet can stay sticking out of beaks, I'll be more calm and collected when I see something similar again (if, I do, that is!)

The chicks look so cute and big!  I saw a feeding earlier today and  was so impressed with how thorough and fairly distributed it all was.... no more concerns in that area now either! Phew!

Looks like they're settled in for the night.

[Liz]

Now that the rain has stopped and I have a new clear pic of what the beak looks like, there is still no doubt we were seeing something else the other night.  Prob it was just leftover food stuck in her and perhaps dead feet curled, as TPC suggested.  SO glad to see it's gone.  

[Liz]

I don't see the egg anymore.

[deedream]

yes I was looking for the egg.  Oh, I just seen something squirt across the screen..  did you see it?  Came from the chicks and was white and flew thru the air real fast.  The mom looked too.  Someone pooped or maybe the egg is hatching and something squirted out of it?  lol 

[Pchemist]

Yep - very noisy and all getting their share!  I am beginning to wonder about that egg though.  It seems like it's been awfully long.  But they are still incubating it, so who are we to ask?   

[deedream]

are you watching the feeding just now?  Noisy and my goodness they have grown.  Wow!

[Liz]

Boy, she sure is noisy tonight!

[The Peregrine Chick]

Glad to hear the Elk River female is in better shape, from the photo I was sent, I couldn't tell where the bird ended and the last of the light in the box began.  You should know that these birds have a crop which on a human would be right about your collarbone.  All the food they eat begins the digestive process there.  I have seen birds with legs in their crop with the foot sticking out their mouth and it sounds something like your descriptions.  On most dead birds, you will see their feet curled into an "o" shape, so it could have gone around her beak.  It is unlikely to have been something like a beer tab because its just not something the birds would bring in, something they would eat or something that would be in the box.  I suspect it was something more organic - bones probably.

A note about calling the Elk River Station - if they could easily access the box (and I don't believe they can), the female would bolt from the nestbox, the chicks would be left alone, possibly scattered due to her hasty departure and unable to keep each other warm.  Remember they can't thermoregulate and can't be left uncovered long at this stage.  Meanwhile the Mother and perhaps Father depending on whether he is close by or off hunting would be trying to defend the nestbox and their young.  No way to catch her to remove whatever might be caught and it could perhaps be impeding her ability to fly or breath while flying.  So while it is fine to contact them, assume that they are getting lots of the same messages.  Leave the time and a description and if you want your name and number for identification purposes, but don't expect a return call unless they need more details or if they have time, and from experience, that is a commodity in short supply on these kinds of projects.

I will tell Brenda how dedicated you all are to the Elk River birds and ask her if she knows what it was.  I'll also ask when they will be banding and if they plan to name the chicks.  I'll post whatever I hear!

[Pchemist]

Feeding time (noon CDT) - still see one egg.  But, they are still incubating it so there is still hope!

[Enraptured]

Hi all,
Just got back from a long day away and I'm so glad to read all the posts about how well the mum is looking and that feedings are going well (lots of flying feathers, it seems! Must have been rather graphic!) and that the final egg may be on its way to hatching.  I hope at this late hour that I may get to have a peek yet. Compared to yesterday and last night with both cams, today was completely Peregrine free and it was hard to be away! 

Well Liz and Deedream, all's well that ends well, thank goodness! And thanks again for all your support last night and today!  I do wish the photo I'd taken showed things a little better, because to me it really did look like the beak was through something and then the 'something' continued out in front much further past the end of her beak. Gladly, it doesn't matter anymore! Yahoo!

Have a nice quiet night tonight, and hopefully both our peregrine families will too.  There seems to be some lightening going on in Minnesota. The sound doesn't seem to be working, so I won't get to experience a virtual-thunder storm! The adult on the chicks doesn't seem bothered at any rate, except that s/he looks soaking wet.

Thanks, Peregrine Chick, too for responding to the photo and worries in the posts.  I think last night's worries were also fueled by the huge helplessness we felt and I know my lack of experience also added to my own concerns.

I've just seen the egg, still tucked under, right beside a chick. I sure hope the egg hatches and the chick survives. I think today is the third day since the first hatchings, isn't it?  More crossed fingers, I guess!