Manitoba Falcon Cam Forum
Other Peregrine Projects => USA Peregrines => Topic started by: Alison on March 27, 2009, 19:56
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2009 NESTING SEASON
I don't have a clue where to post this, but I'd like to ask TPC about some problems with a nest in Maine. The cam is a new one this year; the nest tray was installed last year by Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The nest has failed for the past two years. The tray provided has a very shallow area for gravel. A number of people have been contacting/e-mailing those responsible for this nest to request that they at least provide more gravel, but nothing has been done.
Now the female has laid four eggs, and is finding it impossible to keep them under her. I realize that at this stage there is probably very little that can be done, but would like to ask if there is any way at all to improve this situation. Perhaps their biologists might listen to another biologist.
The link to the site is: http://www.briloon.org/watching-wildlife/peregrine-cam.php
This is what the nest looks like:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/february%202009/mainemar201.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/february%202009/mainemar231.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/february%202009/mainemar232.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/february%202009/mainemar271a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/february%202009/mainemar272a.jpg)
Any help or advice on this would be much appreciated.
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Uggg..I saw this on your site earlier today Alison and my heart just went out to these poor falcons. All this work to lay 4 eggs and it will probably end in heartbreak for them. IF they can't do anything at this point, there may be a chance to fix it before a second clutch attempt maybe?
Kudos to you for asking TPC for help, she probably has connections somewhere there or knows someone that does. You are a true friend to the falcons :)
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Uggg..I saw this on your site earlier today Alison and my heart just went out to these poor falcons. All this work to lay 4 eggs and it will probably end in heartbreak for them. IF they can't do anything at this point, there may be a chance to fix it before a second clutch attempt maybe?
Kudos to you for asking TPC for help, she probably has connections somewhere there or knows someone that does. You are a true friend to the falcons :)
Thank you, Carly! TPC is so knowledgeable, I thought she might be able to come up with a way to help with this situation.
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let's all hope TPC has some great connections (I'm certain she does) to lend a helping hand....thanks to you!!!
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This looks very difficult for the incubating bird. I hope there is something that can be done to improve this site for future falcon parents and their young.
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Trays are a common "nestbox" in areas with overhangs for protection like this site. The sides just need to be deeper. I suspect that if they were going to do anything, they would have to build it, disturb the birds to install and fill with gravel and put the eggs in an artificially created (i.e., biologist digs small, shallow scrape with hand) and puts the eggs in. Best if done no later than mid-incubation as the birds are committed by that point and the eggs can tolerate being uncovered for periods of time (surprisingly long periods in the sun or if its warm). Depending on access to the site, difficulty to install, whole process could take between 10-20 minutes.
Question is, will/would they do it? I don't know the birds, don't know how tolerant they are of disturbance or how aggressive. But if I were comfortable that the birds wouldn't get driven off, I'd probably take the chance so long as I could remove the eggs and get them into an incubator if there was a problem. No later than mid-incubation might mean the birds would try again, so even if they abandonned the first clutch, they might try a second and the first ones could be hatched out and fostered in another wild nest somewhere. Its really a judgement call based on the adults. Our West Winnipeg birds in 2007 were in exactly the same boat as well as being totally rookies so I've run this scenario in my head already, but I knew those birds ...
I will see about contacting the Maine folks and see what might be happening ....
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Thank you so much for the reply, TPC. This sounds like a good solution and makes a whole lot of sense. I hope you will be able to contact the people responsible for the nest and that they will follow your suggestions. Fingers crossed for this falcon pair. It has been stated on the site that the reason the nest failed before is because of its northeast orientation, but many successful nest sites face in that direction. I do think fixing the nest tray problem could make all the difference. Meantime, the birds are really struggling to keep the eggs under them.
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I just thought I'd pop in for a few...so glad to see you guys talking about this nest...I, like the rest of you, have been so worried...its actually painful watching "little dad" try and cover the 4 eggs...not much easier for mom...I wish I could remember where I read this, but I believe this nest has failed the past 2 years. If the scrape was just deeper, then maybe that could help to prevent the egg roll situation...is it too late to just "rush in there", pick up the eggs, add more gravel, replace the eggs and get outta there?! I know that's quite disruptive, but.......
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A lot of us have been wondering the same thing...TPC has emailed or contacted someone over there to see IF anything can be done.
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A lot of us have been wondering the same thing...TPC has emailed or contacted someone over there to see IF anything can be done.
That's really great to hear...I'm sure the Maine biologist are agonizing over the situation...it was very obvious from the second egg on that there were gonna be problems...I'm sure they probably know what the pair can tolerate...and I know I probably have a very simplistic approach...but I just wonder if its not worth the risk...
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I just checked in on this webcam and it looks like they have changed the nest tray! Am I seeing things?
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I just checked in on this webcam and it looks like they have changed the nest tray! Am I seeing things?
Thank you, birdcamfan! I've been trying to access the cam all day, with no luck! I was finally able to see the pic for a couple of seconds before it went black again, and it does look as if they have changed the nest tray! I wonder if TPC had something to do with this?
I can't tell how deep the new tray is, but I hope the birds now have 3-4 inches of gravel to work with.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/february%202009/mainemar311b.jpg)
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Such fantastic news...I just watched a changing of the egg guard, and no bare wood underneath. Just was privy to another report posted by Macintosh (from another forum) who was at a luncheon with some of the Maine Falcon people...Wing Goodale, from Maine, reported that the parents hung around, but didn't put up much of a fuss...the nestbox switch took approximately 5 minutes, with no problems...
Now these eggs have a chance...just so exciting!!!
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I just looked at the Maine site...working my way through all of the Falcon Cams I have in my favorites ::)
Gotta check em all!!!! :P
This is amazing news!!!! Oh I'm so happy...thank you TPC for your connections and making the suggestion to change this nest box. And....thank you Carly for your voice to make things happen after noticing these falcons needed a helping hand. I'm proud to be a human that cares for the wildlife....when we can help, we should!!!
I'm so happy about this that it's making my cry!!!
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This is amazing news!!!! Oh I'm so happy...thank you TPC for your connections and making the suggestion to change this nest box.
I suspect that I wasn't much, if any, help. The box was changed so soon after I contacted the project that I suspect that they already had it in the works. I appreciate your confidence in my abilities though! :-*
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I suspect that I wasn't much, if any, help. The box was changed so soon after I contacted the project that I suspect that they already had it in the works. I appreciate your confidence in my abilities though! :-* (We now have to see what happens in Edmonton)
Thank you so much for contacting the project about this, TPC, and for helping to make this situation much better! It's so great to be able to watch the falcons incubate their eggs normally now, instead of struggling to keep the eggs under them. I hope the eggs are still viable, after everything they have already been through. It was also really good to see that the birds readily accepted the new nest tray and did not abandon their eggs.
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Here's a pic from a few moments ago, the only one I could catch before it went black again:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/february%202009/maineapr21b.jpg)
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Has anyone seen a shift change??? I'm curious to know if the eggs are sitting in a scrape as the incubating falcon looks a lot more confortable..
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I thought the same thing, allikat -- "There are no sides!" I assume they know what they're doing tho, and it gives us a great view!
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I thought the same thing, allikat -- "There are no sides!" I assume they know what they're doing tho, and it gives us a great view!
I keep looking at this shot and it really looks like they didn't allow enough depth to this box...but as you wrote, "we assume they know what they're doing".
I think you can agree with me on this Alison....I think the falcons look quite a bit more comfortable with this new nestbox.
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They definitely do. It's a great improvement!
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Sides on the box/tray aren't a requirement, ledges in the wild do not have edges after all. Alot of the boxes with webcams are build up high and affixed to something so the edges are an added precaution to protect the chicks and to provide the adults and young with an edge to hang onto. Imagine the Elk River box, you are either in the box or on the bars/frame attached to the box. On the Radisson, though we have a ledge the chicks use as a runway, our box is narrower than many others so we have sides to protect them if they get too curious/adventurous. At the Maine site, the box is in a niche, so the chicks when they get big enough to want to wander off the gravel (> 3-4 weeks of age) they are still protected as the niche has walls on at least three sides - so think of the walls around the nest tray as really (really) high tray edges. A similar tray is in use at the Hamilton, Ontario nestsite if you want to check out the design in a differend environment.
The chicks and the adults will be fine. The gravel will help the adults to keep the eggs in place for incubation and the chicks won't be nearly mobile enough to go anywhere until after banding age (3+ weeks). After that, the chicks don't need the adults protection from the weather and it won't matter if they stay together on the gravel.
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Sides on the box/tray aren't a requirement, ledges in the wild do not have edges after all. Alot of the boxes with webcams are build up high and affixed to something so the edges are an added precaution to protect the chicks and to provide the adults and young with an edge to hang onto. Imagine the Elk River box, you are either in the box or on the bars/frame attached to the box. On the Radisson, though we have a ledge the chicks use as a runway, our box is narrower than many others so we have sides to protect them if they get too curious/adventurous. At the Maine site, the box is in a niche, so the chicks when they get big enough to want to wander off the gravel (> 3-4 weeks of age) they are still protected as the niche has walls on at least three sides - so think of the walls around the nest tray as really (really) high tray edges. A similar tray is in use at the Hamilton, Ontario nestsite if you want to check out the design in a differend environment.
The chicks and the adults will be fine. The gravel will help the adults to keep the eggs in place for incubation and the chicks won't be nearly mobile enough to go anywhere until after banding age (3+ weeks). After that, the chicks don't need the adults protection from the weather and it won't matter if they stay together on the gravel.
Great explanation TPC...thanks! You always know how to make us "novices" feel a lot better about things :D
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Glad they make sense :D sometimes (actually oftentimes) they are late night - that one was at 1am - activities which can sometimes make them, lets say, grammatically interesting ;)
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Glad they make sense :D sometimes (actually oftentimes) they are late night - that one was at 1am - activities which can sometimes make them, lets say, grammatically interesting ;)
I don't how you do it TPC....you are one busy lady!!! We thank you for everything!
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I hope someone else is watching...!!!
This falcon was upright for quite awhile..and I can't see what's going on! Argh! This falcon is a little restless right now!! Keeps moving and shifting around...not sure if it's the light that's bothering the falcon or if something underneath is wanting to introduce him/her self to the world!
I think we just might have a hatch here! There's a dim light that's shining on the nestbox right now that I have not seen before..so I'm not sure if someone else involved in the project is trying to get a glimpse?
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Well now I don't know :-[
I think I was just getting excited! I saw the incubating falcon upright for a bit and looking around and now it's back down again...so I don't know. Guess the morning light will tell us! Come on eggs...hatch! Come on....HATCH!
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I think I figured it out..something is in front of her nestbox blowing/flapping in the wind so it's disturbing/annoying/stressing the incubating falcon. Still sitting upright on the eggs..so we'll see in the morning!
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Hmm..she has gotten up 3 times already in the last hour and put her head right by the eggs as if to listen...not getting my hopes up but...and again just now..
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I just took a quick look and still nothing..all eggs! Come on...HATCH!!!
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Allikat they heard you, we have a hatch!!! 5:30 AM EST and I see part of a shell and I saw white fluff..waiting for her to stand up and see but oh my god!! She's doing the 'I have a hatch' shuffle!! ;D :D ;D :D
There might be two! Stand up mama!!
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It's one big chick, dad just came in with food and he is feeding it! You should have heard how excited they are..lol ;D ;D
Alison deserves a hug for alerting everyone to the condition of this box and doing everything she could to ensure they got help!
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Another feeding at 8:58 for our lone chick ;)
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I am thrilled for them. It was so cute to hear them chupping to each other excitedly this morning..hehe! ;D
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I am so happy to see a hatch here, after everything these falcons have been through! It is several days past what should have been the hatch date, but it was hard to tell when hard incubation began at this nest, since the birds had so many problems keeping the eggs under them. I can't get the live stream at the moment, but here is a glimpse of the baby, and of Dad coming in to take a look.
Many thanks again to TPC for contacting the people in Maine about this nest.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay12a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay11a.jpg)
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Oh my god, this falcon has gone crazy...lol! She's channelling Trey!! She is going nuts right now moving pebbles and digging under them. A few minutes ago she was pulling at the corners of the box at something, she got so carried away she pulled herself right off the eggs and the chick to get into those corners! It's hilarious and scary in a strange kind of way. Peregrine post partum!!
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That's funny, Carly! She has seemed very restless for the last hour or so - perhaps there is a pip in a second egg?
So far, still one chick. Hope you don't mind more pics of the little one:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay121a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay127a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay129a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay133a.jpg)
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That's so funny Carly..I was watching at the same time and laughing as she was trying to get to those pebbles at the farthest corners of the box. ::)
I still really haven't been able to get a great view of the chick as the cam does freeze up sometimes for me but I know I'll see he/she soon. And with hopes, we will have some more eggies hatch!
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I swear I saw a second one trying to hatch but now having seen that - I think she may have stretched the chick across an egg so it looked like 2 ...lol.
I'm hoping for at least one more too Alison :D
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I'm glued to this site, I don't want to miss anything!
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I am so happy to see a hatch here. I started watching this on the Maine forum and then lost track. I remeber on Maine how concerned we all were about the nest box. I remember we could not figure out for a bit why one was never covered and then it dawned don us that there was enough gravel and depth.So glad they changed it and a lesson learned. this is why forums are so important.
Another would be great :) :) :)
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6:39 am and just caught a shift change a few minutes ago and still only one big baby :D. I hope at least one more will hatch.
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3:51 pm EST and feeding of the lone chick taking place; he/she is going to be a big one ;D ;D
I wonder if any of the others could hatch at this point? I don't see any pips but it's not easy to see either as it's a bit dim so not ruling anything out.
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Lol..crazy mama is at it again. She was so intent on something in the corner she dragged herself right off her chick again and the poor little chick was like 'hello??? mama??? She is so entertaining!
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Well one is better than none. and now that the box is better they can have better year next year.
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8:35 am feeding of #1 ongoing at the moment. One of the eggs has looked like it had a pip for 2 days now but suspect it's more damage from all the rolling around in the early days. Even if they only have the one and raise it to fledge then they will deem the nest successful I believe.
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Absolutely Carly and Bev.
This one chick, if it's only going to be one, will just get all the food and be strong. Let's hope for a successful fledge ;D
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Let's hope for a second chick, lone chicks get lonely and have this tendency (not always but often) to want to do things too fast.
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We are hoping TPC but it's been about 40 days now and nothing since this one hatched early Friday morning so not sure what chances are now of another hatch. One does look like it has a pip in it but not sure if it's a real pip.
What do you think, how long can it reasonably go until we can say this is it?
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I think by Monday that will pretty much be it, there usually isn't more than a 48 hour span between all eggs hatching but since it has been a long incubation it probably wouldn't hurt to give them on more day.
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Parent just came in with food if anyone wants to catch a feeding ;D
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what the heck is all the noise on this web cam? are they having a thunderstorm there? or is it water? or wind? it sounds like a nasty thunderstorm.
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The noise is the waves crashing onto the shoreline. Loud isn't it!?!
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I think there is still just one chick, but didn't have a chance to check until late today. I'm still hoping for a second hatch, but not counting on it.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay31a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay38a.jpg)
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Still 1 chick and 3 eggs this morning. Cute little chick :-* :-*
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Trey, errr I mean mom was just on another of her cleaning frenzy's. She dragged herself right off the eggs again and poor little chick got mom's behind in her face, then as she continued to chase the elusive dust bunny her feathers poked the wee one in the face! I'm really liking this pair, entertaining mom, devoted dad...it's all good :D
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I did see the little one get Mom's tail feathers in his/her face quite a few times while Mom was digging around in the corner! Still one baby and three eggs:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay424b-1.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay48a-1.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay424a-1.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay431a-1.jpg)
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I thought I saw a pip again...but I'm sure it's just wishful thinking! Too bad..would like this little cutie to have company!
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Yes I was hoping for company for the little guy/gal too. I am hopeful that the parents will just dote on the little one given they've had 2 years of failed nests so perhaps he won't get too lonely.
Love that last shot Alison, that little head and those eyes peeking over the eggs...just adorable :-*
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Poor mom, she's still incubating those other 3 eggs quite intensley. I've not had a peek at junior at all today :(
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Yay..finally she's up and off and I can see the little one. :-* Dinner time for junior, they seem in awe of the little one..it's so cute :-* :-*
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He/she is very cute...I'm very happy that this pair finally had a hatchling. Just too bad it was the one! It just means he/she will get all the attention!
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I suspect that Mom will stop incubating the other two eggs shortly, there is now 5 days (am I remembering that correctly) since the chick hatched - five days is a huge age difference at this stage of development. If I've got the hatch age right, this chick is halfway to being able to thermoregulate and at this stage has doubled is size since hatching.
As I understand it, this is the first chick this pair has managed to hatch (am I right?) in which case, be happy they have finally hatched one as that will help to cement their pair bond - pairs will break apart if their biological imperative to reproduce is unsuccessful.
Its going to interesting to see what happens over the next week.
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I'm excited that this pair finally have a hatchling. As you wrote TPC, these next couple of weeks will be very interesting! Come on little one!
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Wow...finally mom gets up off the little one and the eggs to give it some air! The chick is so big now and very cute and wobbly. He/she is still clustered together with the eggs but perhaps now mom will consider pushing the eggs aside as the chick is 1 week old now.
Oh... and here is his/her breakfast :-* Full crop now and mama is back to tuck him/her in and the eggs under her.
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I am happy with one. We only had one for 2 years at Edmonton due to circumstances beyond control but look how Cassie turned out last year. and then came Hope. Just like the year be fore they fostered in 2 fledglings.
this is a start fo good things to come. They will have the fall and winter to look into their nest box situation if they feel it is still not good enough.
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I suspect that Mom will stop incubating the other two eggs shortly, there is now 5 days (am I remembering that correctly) since the chick hatched - five days is a huge age difference at this stage of development.
As I understand it, this is the first chick this pair has managed to hatch (am I right?) in which case, be happy they have finally hatched one as that will help to cement their pair bond - pairs will break apart if their biological imperative to reproduce is unsuccessful.
The lone chick hatched on May 1. The parents are still incubating the other three eggs full time. According to the information I have, this pair first nested here two years ago, when they laid their eggs on the bare concrete. It was said that the nest failed due to a storm.
Last year the unsuitable nest tray was installed, and the nest failed again, so this would be the first successful hatch for this pair. I am very happy that one chick did hatch. The chick is starting to move around a little more, despite Mom's attempts to keep the little one under her.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay813a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay820b.jpg)
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Checked on our chick this morning and mom still incubating those 3 eggs it seems. The poor chick is so big now but she keeps scrunching him/her under her with the eggs. They must be a young pair - probably don't realize it's time to push the eggs aside and focus on the wee one solely....She keeps readjusting and you can see the little one is kind of going 'hey mom' I want to see the world and you are squishing me :-X
The chick is huge now and as of today should be able to regulate it's own temperature...wonder what will happen tomorrow..
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I think they're going to have to go in and remove those eggs, she still won't stop incubating them..what's worse she tried to grab her huge chick by the neck now to drag it under her! Poor thing had a bulging crop and there is mama grabbing at it's neck trying to drag it under her with the eggs. The little one definitely won't starve as both parents just fed it but they might suffocate it :-X :-X
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I'm really surprised that instinct hasn't come in yet to just push the eggs away. Only TPC can answer the question of whether it's their instinct to still incubate or to push away?
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Most adults will ditch the eggs if they aren't fertile - Trey & Princess did in the first week of incubating last year - or when they realize egg/eggs aren't going to hatch. But not always. Depends on the experience of the pair and sometimes the pair themselves. Occurs to me that the Elk River female hung on to one of her eggs for quite a long time after hatching ... might be worth going back to check the Elk River MN thread from last years. Since this is their first successful hatch, next year they may be more adept.
And yes, if the eggs were still there when I went by to band, I'd pull them so I imagine the Maine Project will too ...
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Our lone chick is looking beautiful today, she's laying across the box right in front of her mama...kind of tucked a bit under her but not squashed anymore..she's too big..lol! One egg is outside mom's wing and one other under the other wing...so I suspect the little one will just by virtue of it's size convince them it's time to move on ;)
On the plus side, at least the little one won't be so lonely if mum continues to hang out with her :-*
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This lone chick is so cute! I'm so happy for this pair, even though only one hatched, as TPC wrote about a pair bonding earlier, this pair has produced a chick and that will make their bond stronger.
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I concur :D!! I love the way they look at the little one as if he/she is priceless :-*
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And they are right...he/she is absolutely priceless. Who can resist a little white fluff-ball? NOT ME :P
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Mom has finally given up incubating those other 3 eggs, they are scattered in the box this morning and she's snuggled up with her chick !
It almost looks like she has 2 chicks under her...one big beauty for sure :-*
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Loved the slideshow, Bev! This lone chick is so cute!
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay147a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay143a.jpg)
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very cute .... love how the chick is facing the parent and snuggling in
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Checking in on our little 'big' chick and he/she's all alone at the moment...what a beautiful baby :-*
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This chick is just too darn cute! :-*
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Lol..mom just tried to tuck the chick under her again..and almost had it but then chick sprung up and mom almost fell over backwards. He/She's almost half the size of you mum...not going to happen!!
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I think she's in denial... ;)
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The chick is now attempting to walk around in the nest box. He/she is somewhat unstable at the moment, but extremely cute.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay154a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay157a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay158a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay1534a.jpg)
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AWE!!! Look at that face :-*
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The parent was sitting on the eggs and there was no sign of the chick. Then the parent jumped off the eggs and went behing the box with the stones and eggs and he/she was pushing the little chick from in behind and along the side. The chick is so cute. Now the chick has gone in the space of the step that goes up to the box. I sure hope he/she does not get stuck in there. If she did would there be someone who could help get he/her out. The parent is bac sitting on those eggs that I am sure are never going to hatch. Chick is out now and between the wall and the nest box. I love watching all these chicks but it just stresses me out.
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Oh no! I see the chick on the side out of the box and kdjfkdj I thought she was over the eggs already :-X :-X
The chick is too small to get back in on his own and she should be focusing on him/her not those eggs...*sigh*...peregrines... :-\
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How on earth did he/she get down there :o
Come on Momma or Papa..leave the eggs alone...so now what? I guess they will tend to the chick on the ground ::)
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Oh no it's the parent that pushed the chick out of the box!! She attacked the chick and tried to get her under her ...video here from BCAW site..oh my god, they need to get those eggs out..that mother is nuts!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3Z8NgYIYI8
She thinks the chick is a baby and keeps trying to shove it under her, doesn't she realize the chick is half the size of her now and needs air!!
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Why did I watch that video :o
It almost looked like she was attacking her own chick too...I could be wrong but we can't see what was happening behind/beside the nestbox. I hope that chick is okay and not injured...that was probably I mighty tumble he/she took. :'(
I hope the biologists get in there and remove those eggs and get that chick back into that nestbox.
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This is going to stress out the adult bird and the chick...seems to me that the adult has no idea what to do now. I really hope that someone can get down there to help.
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I watched the video and wow, poor baby and poor mom. She seems very confused. I just looked at the cam and mom had food in the box chick was up and looking vigorous, mom took the food below, reconsidered, went back into the box and then took off :o I don't think she knows what to do. I hope that someone can remove the eggs.
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A parent just came in with food. They did not feed the chick. They did not really eat any either. He or she did jump down the side with the food for a few seconds but did not feed the chick. Then the parent flew out with the food and another came back. Looked at the chick down on the side and then settled down on the eggs. Now both adults are in the nest. One flew off ant the one left is sitting on the eggs again. They just seem to leave the chick alone down on the side. I wish someone could do something. Maybe I am over stressing but I am worried about that poor little chick. I have not watched the video yet. I don't know if I want to. This already upsets me enough.
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I don't know what to think now..poor little thing :(
It looks like he's calling out to mom, but she thinks it's the eggs or something?
I hope this little one gets some help...hmmm, perhaps the raised nestbox isn't such a great idea after all. Never thought of the parent pushing (I think it was accidental) the chick off the nest.
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Great now mom is trying to pull the chick up..the chick is too big mom..!!! Grrr..she's obsessed with those eggs!!
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All I can see is that the chick is obviously calling out to mom...he/she is probably quite hungry and she won't leave those darn eggs! I feel so sorry for this one!
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I broke down and watched the video. I don't think she was attacking the chick. I think or at least hope she was trying to tuck her under her and the chick did not want that and got to the edge and fell out. Mom then I hope went down to try and be a mother but there is not much room there for a full grown falcon and she is so obessessed with those eggs. Poor liittle chick is now lying down. I don't know when the last time was that she was fed.
Wow it sure looks windy there.
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Chick has gone for a nap on the side...let's hope that mom and dad don't forget that they have a little one down thee and need to feed he/she.
Oh Alison, where are you?
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Ok I've calmed down now, i dont' think mom meant to attack baby..she was just trying to force her under her. Either way that chick is going to be cold tonight and if she leaves it down there and focuses on those darn eggs...and if they don't feed chick...
I'm a member of their message board, forgot about that, never posted there but I just went over and people there are concerned too. Someone is trying to contact a person on the project team...will keep you posted if they put up anything.
Can we ever have a week...when something doesn't happen in bird land??
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I think you're right Moonstar...I think Mom was trying to help out but she can't fit along the sides.. I shouldn't of written attacked.. (it just looked like it, but I'm sure it was because she was stressed that her baby was down there and that she can't fit). So, this was all accidental but still, not sure what's going to happen here now. The chick, I don't think will be able to get back up there.
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According to the website, the chick hasn't been fed since 5:30 am...not sure what time zone the person that posted that is in but they have been watching since before the 'incident'. Going down to 50 degrees, windy and rain tonight there. They've not fed the chick since it fell out of the box.
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Oh the plot thickens..there was an intruder..that's why mom panicked!! Can't post the link as you have to be registered but someone got photos and here was commentary:
In the last pic is the parent is sitting on pipe, in the next picture is an intruder, a immature Falcon note no black feather patern on chest, smaller, no leg feathers, it is also on the edge of scrape box,
Kit says parent returned to find intruder and may have battled it as in pic later of parent on nest feathers indicate a battle, she thinks the mother was desprate to get chick and eggs protected and chick was unwilling, she was tryiing to protect the chick and ended up over edge of scrap
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They still need to come and remove those eggs, she's so intent on incubating them she doesn't realize the chick is cold and scared in the corner there and chick needs to be fed as well. Hopefully they can contact someone.
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Well that makes sense why there are all these dark feathers around.
When I watch this cam, you can see the chick calling to the parent and the parent responds and goes to the chick but immediately returns to the eggs. This little one must be extremely hungry and that's why it keeps calling out. I hope someone gets down there to remove those eggs and do something to help this family out. This is only causing more stress for the birds especially after an intruder was, from the sounds of it, way too close for comfort.
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It's 3:21 pm over there right now. That's an awefully long time for a chick to go without food. :(
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I think you're right Moonstar...I think Mom was trying to help out but she can't fit along the sides.. I shouldn't of written attacked.. (it just looked like it, but I'm sure it was because she was stressed that her baby was down there and that she can't fit). So, this was all accidental but still, not sure what's going to happen here now. The chick, I don't think will be able to get back up there.
I was hoping that is what had happened because I just can't believe that the Mom or Dad would deliberatly do that to their chick because they have the maternal instinct to protect and provide for their chicks.
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The person who posted may be on Pacific time which is about 5 hours behind I think? The posts there don't time stamp, instead they say, posted 15 minutes ago, posted 56 minutes ago...etc...
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Wing the Deputy Biologist posted awhile ago asking people to keep an eye on whether the chick gets fed or not so we know he's watching at least. Someone just posted there that no way they will let anything happen to our chick and they will intervene if it comes to it.
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PHEW!!! Thanks for that update Carly!
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OMG...feed the chick will ya!! She's got the food, there we go...reach ..get outside the box!!
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YES YES YES....we have a feeding. WOO HOO!!!
Now all they need to do is figure out how to get the chick back in the box so mom/dad can keep he/her warm at night.
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Mom finally figured it out...jumped to the side at one point she did and she went and got more food..thank god that chick was starving!! Good job ;D
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Too bad the chick couldn't figure out how to go to the front of the box so mom could protect him/her.
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It's so hard to watch..yet I still watch. You just feel helpless. I'm very happy that the chick finally got some food. I still think someone should come in and take those eggs away.
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I'm with you on that allikat! I wonder though if they are hesitant because the falcons may think it's the humans fault for stealing the eggs that they didn't hatch ...you know what i mean? Then they may not come back next year or worse they may rush and fledge the chick before it's ready just to get out of there. I expect in 2 weeks or less they will go in to band the chick and then remove them then. Let's hope the storm tonight is not a bad one and little one can keep dry back there.
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Good point Carly!
Plus, I'm sure they are still on edge due to the intruder. Why cause more stress...Maybe the chick will find a way to get to the front so the mom/dad can protect he/her there.
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Did you see that??? She went down behind the box and pulled the chick out to the side..lol...she's trying to get it up to her but cant' figure out how to do it.
Get off those eggs and go to the front and show her the stairs!!
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I was yellin the same thing...get your baby over to the front...
Carly..check out the link in Birds in the news that Loriann posted
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I can't help it...I keep this cam open on my screen. I just want to go and get this little one.
The Mom keeps going over there to touch beaks with her baby and went down to see him/her and struggled to get back up into the box. I hope this baby can keep warm overnight.
Come on little guy/girl, you can do it, keep warm...mommy keeps going over to the chick, poor little one :'(
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I have her up too...mom won't relax until the chick is safely snug with her.
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I thought maybe mom had a good grip on the chick at one point as I saw the chick being lifted. Come on little one, just move to the front and then hopefully mom will realize that she has to cover you, not the eggs.
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It's more that mom refuses to stop incubating the eggs Bev. There is no need for this, mom can go down there and cuddle with her. The poor chick is scared and lonely. Look at her snuggling the side fo the box. There is also a storm going to hit there tonight which is why people are concerned. Rain, winds and cold so no doubt chick will be scared.
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If this storm hits...I'm hoping that the chick will go to the back area tucked away. The mom just can't fit down there, she's too big as she's tried. They are both stressed and I'm sure she can hear it in her chick's calls up to her. Come on little one...you can hold on until you and mom figure things out.
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Yes, I can see she is still on the eggs . I think without the chick there her other instinct has kicked back in????
but I think this area looks very well protected and maybe the biologists will help out tomorrow.I do not hear any sound????
I think today would have not been good because they are both stressed.
I really think everything will be O.K.
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OH MY GOD..SHE PULLED THE CHICK UP ..HOLY CRAP!!
And see, she is trying to brood the chick and chick keeps resisting her...gah she's going to go over again!
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i know .. i almost crap ... she just dragged the fat little thing up .. cool
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Are you kidding me? I just walked away for a minute and I missed that? OMG!!!
I assume all is good & okay?
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ya .... she sruggled .. but got the baby under her .....
all is well
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I can't believe I missed that. What dedication. Okay Mom and chick, now you can relax. Snuggle up to each other but let you chick breathe. You can't cover all of your baby. ;)
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I've never seen anything in my life like that...seriously, a small baby yes, our mom picked them up and moved them all the time but at this size from the bottom and all the way up like that at her size ..no way..wow...no wonder they wear helmets and bring shields when they go band. Fierce!!!
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how did she do it?
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she just grabbed and pulled the baby up .... it happened very fast .... i couldn't believe it. i'm pretty sure the baby would have almost crapped it's self.
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I saw her try a few times in a row as I'm sure the chick was crying out to her. She tried to grab the chick's beak to pull it up...so I'm guessing, that how it happened? WOW...either way..amazing! I feel so much better knowing that the chick can snuggle up to mom. Just snuggle though :P
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I wonder if someone got a video of mommy picking up her chick?
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Yes they did and oh crap he thinks she hurt the chick..under the eye..hold on going back to their board...
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Well the photo looks blury to me so I can't tell, another is saying it looks like a little nip on the skin under the eye. I'll see if he posts the video. I'm sure if the chick was hurt she'd be comforting it and both look content now. She might have nicked it a bit, she's got a wicked beak.
Edit: Ok I think I see what they mean now, everyone but me saw it..go figure. There is what looks like a yellow blib on the side of the head..no blood or anything, nothing open like a cut. Not much we can do now as it's too dark to see anything :'(
Waiting to see if he posts the recording.
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Hope the chick is okay...I'm sure it's quite content being with mom right now. Who knows though when this little nip happened. Could of happened when the chick fell out, when the mom went down to comfort the chick several times, or maybe its just stuff from whatever is on the sides of the nestbox. I guess I'm just trying to remain positive. Let's hope all is okay with the little one and they both feel less stressed now that they are together again.
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Ok well Patti over at BCAW posted the pic and lightened it and they don't think it's anything serious. I'm off to bed, it's been quite a day. And I have to get up early to see Rebecca and how she's doing, this chick and our GRE mom might have a chick or two for us to 'awww' over ;)
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I just got home and went straight to the Maine site. Saw that it looked like the chick was with Mom. So happy. Then I came here to read the posts. Hopefully the chick is okay. I am sure the chick feels much better to be with Mom again.
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Mom and chick doing well this morning. Chick is under mom but she's figured out she needs to stand now...can't squash the baby!! I saw some screen shots a girl posted on the bril site earlier this morning and she/he got a feeding and looks good this morning. It's funny in one series, when dad comes in with food..he is clearly puzzled and drops the food and goes over to the side of the box..looks down, looks at the chick..like he can't figure out how it got up. He even went to the back of the box and looked down...lol...!
Let's hope mom stays focused on the chick today and doesn't get sucked back into the 'egg' void again..those tussles were scary yesterday.
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Feeding time :D. Huge sized crop now ;D
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Hi Carly, I caught the feeding, thanks. You could literally see the crop getting bigger before your very eyes. :o. And did you notice the Trey headshake?
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Lol...noo I didn't catch that!!
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Yea, cute as heck.
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if you go into this link on Maine forum you will get to link of the video of mom pulling chick up and then trying to get her under her.
Mom is not hurting her, she just wants to take care of her. Much like S2 in 2007 when she finally decided to feed Faith and Hope. and those chicks were huge and we jsut howled as she tried to sit on the 2 of them.
I was not sure if I was allowed to post video here so I jsut posted link to Maine forum. It will play, you just have to click on start button a few times. Be patient :) :)
the video is part way down the page on the Maine Forum. It was posted by Sherri
http://www.hostingphpbb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=290&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=435&mforum=tdbc
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9:55 am EST and another feeding incoming :-*
Ok..maybe not...
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Thanks Bev, now that we know the outcome, it wasn't so hard to watch There was a video of it being knocked out also.
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I just watched the video of Mom pulling her chick up...WOW!!!
And no, I don't think Mom injured her chick at all. The yellow spots is most likely from all the poop when the chick was on the floor next to the box.
Perhaps a nestbox of that height isn't a great idea.
I wonder if Alison or Carly or TPC could suggest something different for next year. I realize that the Mom shouldn't be trying to get the chick of that size under her, but we learn new things every day and learn different behavior from each peregrine.
I'm releaved that all is calm in Maine and chick is back with Mom.
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So happy everything turned out well here. The chick looks quite happy snuggling up to Mom or Dad.
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As for the nestbox..I honestly can't comment on that because I have no expertise in that area and outside of what I see on the cam, I have no clue what the area that surrounds them looks like so there may be a perfectly good reason for the height and position of that box that we dont' understand. I know that Alison and TPC have experience in this are so perhaps they can give us some good perspective.
I know people have commented to me about ours and asked why we don't make the sides higher or why we didn't tuck it in right next to the wall (it's to prevent them from being cornered in case of predators and gives them a better all round view of the area) so they couldn't climb out both sides, etc.. No no one has ever died falling out of the nest and they have tumbled out a few times just to the side-mainly of over curiousity. It's high enough that they are safe from falling out during storms and strong winds..with mama's help of course, if they were on a cliff ... they probably wouldn't survive something like that. And it's open enough for them to go exploring.
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General nestbox design - there are a few favoured ones, not really sure why but there are and they work at lots of locations. Some locations are chosen because the boxes will work there, not because its the best location for the birds. We have different designs for different locations. The Maine box may be high because it has to sit above something in that niche ...
High sides - peregrines won't nest where they can't see when they are incubating/brooding - they can't see what's coming - prey species are happy to hide out of site, peregrines are predators and need to see what's out there at all times.
Brooding - peregrines learn just like everyone/everything else, she's just inexperienced and this is her only chick. The site is protected on three sides so there really isn't a great danger from the elements or from predation. If she had more, I'm pretty sure she would be happy to leave them alone at this stage of the game.
Aggressive - think of the early battles in the nestboxes this year. That's aggressive. Its all feet and fury. This was determined, inexperience female to my eyes. Hopefully she will grow out of it as it will make her life alot easier. She's done a good job this year, next year should be more relaxed but perhaps busier if they manage to hatch out more chicks ...
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Thanks TPC... ;D
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Thanks TPC and I think mom has learned from yesterday. Checkin in now and she's not there..yay! perhaps finally out hunting and sharing duties with dad?/!! Chick is all sprawled out napping and eggs are strewn around him...all is as it should be at this stage :D
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Mom just flew in with food for the chick. My god, that chick is getting so big, even since yesterday...he/she is a beauty! A few more days and mom wouldn't be able to tussle with it anyway..lol...chick would probably be like a mini sumo peregrine :P
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Dinner time for little sumo :D
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I can't believe how big he/she since yesterday...
That was cute as he was watching mom leave..with the little head tilts and all...kinda saying. Well wait a minute, but I'm not full yet, hey, wait, where are you going. I'm still hungry over here...uh..hello?
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Chick is having fun exploring now that parent is leaving him/her on his own. Let's hope he remembers yesterday's lesson about going too far... :P Look at the size of that crop!!
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Carly...I think this little one should just be named Sumo. He/she is so cute..love the little black belly button he/she's got going on. :-*
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Hehe...I like that name too..seems fitting..he's just cutest thing ever! Or she...little sumo ;D
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Sumo just collapsed belly first for a nap me thinks...
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I can see a parent perched out in the distance, far enough to give the chick space but close enough so he/she won't get too lonely or fearful.
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Me too!
A bit of a relief knowing that Mom finally realizes that she doesn't have to brood anymore. :D
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Lol...more food for little sumo! This has to be the best fed chick in the world ;D ;D
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Oh poor little sumo, think that was dad. He wanted to tuck under him and dad looked at him like..dude you're too big and he kept trying to move away and flew off...so forlorn but in comes mom and she's happy to have sumo cuddle next to her :-*
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I saw that too Carly...I just chuckled and spoke to the screen. Dad was saying" Sorry kid, love ya and all but you're just too big so go ask your mother ;D
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One of the risks you run with a webcam is that there will always be people who think they know what should be done and they are rarely hesitant to let other people know. They may in fact have the right idea but they rarely try to ask what is happening directly (i.e., not via the Forum) but rather post to the world. I'm afraid, when I'm puzzling out a problem, I don't ask the Forum for suggestions, I ask my colleagues, frequently with a possible scenario already thought out because while their advice is invaluable, they aren't on-site and they don't know the history of the birds/site/weather/etc.
Frequently the webcam's value as a monitoring tool for a biologist is greater than the expected complications of having a live webcam. Sometimes the complications are greater than expected (June 6th as an example), but hopefully that isn't often.
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Adult and chick are both having a wonderful snooze.
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8:55 am and breakfast time for little Sumo ;)
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Don't know if anyone is watching right now, but parent and chick are exchanging words. Parent wants chick to get under parent and chick is flatly refusing. Pretty funny, but we all know what happened a day or two ago.
But the chick is stronger and not taking any guff.
Kind of like the first time a teenager faces down a parent.
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Now the parent is doing a Trey nest clean/adjustment and has one of the unhatched egges under its' wing.Sumo is giving it the evil eye. ;D
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This just keeps getting better, now Parent has one egg under it and in the mean time Sumo is biting parents tailfeathers.
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I can't wait for Sumo to get banded so they can take away those eggs...Mom still wants to brood Sumo, but when he/she rejects, mom goes directly to the eggs and gathers them and starts to incubate.
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Sumo is wide awake, alone in the nest box and starting to flap his wing like a grown-up peregrine He/She is also getting around and starting to pick up stuff from the floor of the box. Looking for food or pulling a Trey? ;D
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He/she is so cute stretching out his/her wings...flapping away and wandering. Okay now Sumo..see the edge of that box...that is your boundary for now until you can flap in and out!
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Feeding time!!!!!
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Gotta love those poop shots ::)
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Crop getting bigger, oops, just ate a feather, ah, a big poop and under the adult I go, well how about a tuck-up beside, too big to anything else. Okay if I lie down I can just get my head under the breast. Ahhhh splayed and my head is safe ;D ;D ;D
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The biologist/project leader posted something interesting today with regards to the failed eggs here from the past 2 years. They did indeed have the eggs tested - $1,000 an egg to test!!- and they were found to be high in contaminants! No comment as to whether or not this is the same pair from the past 2 years was included with the post.
And I learned something from my nest site today that relates to the events of the past few days here. When the intruder alert happened today at the site, not only did dad put the chicks behind him but suddenly he decided to move the egg closer to himself. I found that interesting because the egg has been kicked around, slept on, pecked at and basically ignored and suddenly an intruder comes in and he's protecting the egg.
Would I be correct to assume TPC - that in the event of a possible predator the egg is regarded as 'ours' and must not fall into enemy hands? Maybe that's what the parent at this site was doing, trying to gather the eggs to protect them from predatation?
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The biologist/project leader posted something interesting today with regards to the failed eggs here from the past 2 years. They did indeed have the eggs tested - $1,000 an egg to test!!- and they were found to be high in contaminants! No comment as to whether or not this is the same pair from the past 2 years was included with the post.
Just a bit of a clarification, all wild peregrines in North America are sure to have some contaminants in their system - the spend their winters in Central/South America where pesticides/herbicides including DDT and DDE are regularly used on crops. Eggs are produced from the reserves of the female, so if the female has contaminants store in those reserves, they are passed along to the eggshell. Question is, and I can't tell from your post Carly, is if the contaminants in the eggshell samples have been shown to be related to eggshell thinning or with reduced viability of the eggs or whether they are present and unrelated to the eggs' viability.
If you find out more, let us know ...
Would I be correct to assume TPC - that in the event of a possible predator the egg is regarded as 'ours' and must not fall into enemy hands? Maybe that's what the parent at this site was doing, trying to gather the eggs to protect them from predatation?
They are hardwired to protect their young, regardless of age/stage. Intruder arrives, all young must be undercover. That simple.
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Oh how I wish we could stop using DDT & DDE...
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I can do one better, here the link to the report:
http://www.briloon.org/pub/doc/2008Contaminant.pdf
I can't open it at home...well unless I download reader but it's probably over my head anyway ::)
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Thank Carly...I saved that document.
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Oh how I wish we could stop using DDT & DDE...
Both are totally banned in lots of countries - some have partial bans. This is a partial list, pretty sure I have the right dates. These are total ban dates, some had partial bans in advance of total bans I believe.
1968 - Hungary (first county to ban)
1970 - Cuba, Norway, Sweden
1972 - United States
1976 - Poland
1984 - Singapore, United Kingdom
1985 - Canada, Chile
1986 - Liechtenstein, Korea, Switzerland
Wikipedia has a decent synopsis of DDT, its history etc - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT) - including the argument for allowing its use to combat malaria in developing nations where malaria is endemic and a major cause of mortality.
article: UN seeks ban DDT pesticide, and fight malaria (http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL6113514)
article: WHO backs DDT for malaria control (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5350068.stm)
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I can do one better, here the link to the report:
http://www.briloon.org/pub/doc/2008Contaminant.pdf
I can't open it at home...well unless I download reader but it's probably over my head anyway ::)
The report reports on contaminant levels in a variety of bird species and looks at an number of the current contaminants in question - PCBs, fire retardant, etc. I made a quick breeze through and they don't seem to make conclusion re: reproductive success, just looked at the trends - expected and observed - in the contaminant levels. Hopefully I will get a chance to look at in more depth soon - if I find anything else I think might be of interest I will post it here.
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Wow, I wasn't online for two days, and I missed so much! I watched the cam a little earlier and everything looked fine, so I was really surprised when I started reading all the posts here and found out what had happened! Sorry I wasn't around, but since my own computer is down I have been posting from an Internet cafe on the weekends; their server was down all weekend, so the place was closed until tonight.
I'm glad the chick and the parents are all fine. Mom and chick looked so stressed in the first two videos (still have one to watch). I wonder who the intruder was.
Will post pics if I can. Only one terminal here has Photoshop, and someone else has the nerve to be using it! :)
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The big chick this evening. He/she was fed, then tried to fit under Mom.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay182a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay183a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay183b.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay1810a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay1821a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay1822a.jpg)
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well, that is just hilarious! ;D ::)
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6:12 am EST and little sumo is getting his breakfast. He was dozing a few minutes ago and then mom hopped off to go get the food which immmediately woke up sumo and he/she looked adorable standing in the sunshine. I love how the second mom leaves, he wakes up! She went off and got his breakfast and now it's feeding time!
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Awww..now mom is on her perch in the distance and I think the little one is lonely...he/she keeps looking at her and then flaps it's wings and makes me think she wants to go over there!!
Not sure what breakfast was but it was huge and he's got a good sized crop and there is still tons leftover.
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Now you are seeing the downside of being an only chick - the chicks want to follow the adults and frequently fledge too soon - that is if they haven't already gotten into trouble long before fledging! Hopefully Mum/Dad will stay close enough to keep the chick in the nest until its time ...
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Little sumo is getting into some serious wing action..very close to the edge of the box. He sees mum out there and wants to get to her I think! He/she keeps eyeballing that step.. :o
Ok whew...lunch time...best way to calm them down and put them down for a nap!
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Funny..sumo wouldn't lay down until mom cam in to cuddle with him/her. Guess it works out that she's a bit overprotective given it's a lone chick. I love how she stands over him as he naps. :-*
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The basic head tilt and wait for it.....AWE!!! :-*
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Y'all are such sentimental mother hens ::) :D
(sorry Mother Hen!)
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Little sumo all tucked in under mama for the night..sleep well little one :-*
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I love how Sumo tucks under Mom...so sweet! :-*
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Sumo has been eating well today - take a look at the crop in these pics! Mom is still trying to brood him/her, which is becoming more difficult every day.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay191a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay193a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay196a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay1911a.jpg)
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"I'm not fat, I'm fluffy", said Sumo to the Phanatics ... :D
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Our little? Sumo is now starting to walk around on his feet rather than his legs, however he's better backwards that forwards. ;D ;D. Just had a lovely poop shot, almost got the camera. :o Feathers seem to be coming quite nicely too.
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Little sumo is laying down on his belly, he's not sleeping though. No parent in site so he never seems to relax when one isn't within sight of him. He gets the award for cutest chick of the year ;)
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Yes he is the cutest chick. He just looked so adorable lying there.
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Sumo is absolutely adorable :-*
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Little sumo is napping in the box and mama is sitting down right beside him..first time I've seen her sit/lay down in the box..usually she's standing. Very sweet these two are :-*
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Red alert, little Sumo has just left the nest box..he's on the first step :-*
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Got to ask, have they really named the chick Sumo, or is that what the Forum community (here and elsewhere) have name it?
S/he is a cute little darling though ...
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No they haven't named him little sumo...we jsut thought it was a cute name cause she/he looked like a little sumo wrestler last week :-*
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Its actually a great name for the chick, I love it!
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Sumo did well, he/she went up and down to the step 3 times without wiping out ;D ;D Sumo will be 3 weeks old tomorrow so no doubt time to start exploring his space ;D
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If Sumo is 3 weeks old, and given the amount of flight feathers showing in the images I saw today, I believe it is a he. Almost time for him to be banded so will be interesting to see if I'm right.
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Oh good TPC, cause I keep accidently calling him he ;D They said last week that banding would sometime next week and they will also remove the eggs at that point. I expect at some point he will move out of range from us..not sure what is in front there where mum sits... but beyond is water yes?
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Looks like water to me. But Sumo (in absence of another name) won't really wander out of camera range until he actually flies at which point he might return to the nestsite but only for a little while or he might fledge and be gone for good. Some of them just can't seem to wait to shake the gravel off their feet!
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Little sumo sitting in the sun this morning and mom is out on her perch in the distance. He seems to be vocalizing to her, first time I've seen him chat - so to speak, no doubt something to the effect of 'hey, where's my breakfast'... :D
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I hadn't looked in on "little" Sumo for a while. i can see where the name comes from. S(he) is sleeping tucked in beside parent and is almost the same size as the parent!! Amazing how fast they change!
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Sumo is so cute this morning. When I checked in he/she was resting his head on the parent. Just sooooo cute.
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Sumo is standing next to mom's breats cuddling into to her...this little guy is just too cute for words.. ;D
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Lots of wing action this morning, our little sumo is growing up :'( Mom brought in some food and he fed a bit, then he grabbed a little piece on his own and went into the corner and self fed a bit while mom looked on kind of shocked. Now he's flapping and staring at her...I don't think mom knows what to make of this change ;D
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They grow so fast...Little Sumo isn't so little anymore :'( Oh, but he is still sooooo cute :-*
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Sumo is on the step in front of the nestledge and has been there for about an hour. Mum tried to tease him up with some food, but that didn't work. Now he's asleep on the step.
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Just went back to the cam, he was wide awake trying to figure out how to get up. Kept yelling for mum, gave up and figured it out. Kinda half jump, half wing work. ;D ;D
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Little Sumo is out on the step again this morning. I notice mom is leaving him alone more and he doesn't like it, he seems quite lonely and restless when she's gone. I hope that doesn't mean he's going to try and fledge too early. He will be 1 month old this coming Friday :-*
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He looked so cute sleeping on the step this morning. :)
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I know there is always a risk of fledging early but both times at Edmonton when there was 1 chick, they did not fledge early. They seemed quite cautious. and were ready by the time they decided to go.
I was always afraid of them just following the adult, but CAssie really had to be coaxed last year.
I may be wrong but I would think they would tend to want to follow the other siblings before they were ready.(if there were more chicks)
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We've had a number of single chicks and they all wanted out sooner rather than later. Only had one female which was good, she REALLY wanted out of the nestbox and she was way too young to fly. One chick got his name because he wanted to follow his parents almost from hatching. His name was Sherpa because he kept climbing out of the nestbox - the first time a week before banding, so way (waaaaaaay) too young, even for a male.
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Well little Sumo is trying to self feed again..lol..he keeps grabbing the food from mom and trying to run off with it..hehe! Then she grabs it back and feeds him..too funny! They won't have any problems teaching him to tear up his own dinner :P
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Oh my little Sumo is alone in his nestbox again... :-*
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i believe so but he didn't give an exact date I could see. Not sure it will be a big deal down there or just go in, band and get out. I guess we'll find out :P
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Wow..just checked the bri site and saw pictures of little sumo today - he went all the way to the end of the ledge where you see that kind of rock in the distance!!! He laid down in the sun :-*
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Sumo is changing so fast now - so many dark feathers coming in.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay263a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay264a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay265a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay267a.jpg)
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Mama just came in for the night and sumo is happy again, he's getting ready to lay down and she will watch over him all night...:-*
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Sumo settled down for the night:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/may%202009/mainemay2612a.jpg)
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Oh I'm so glad you got that shot Alison..is he not the most adorable ! He got up again cause mom didn't get close enough and now he is laying right by her feet. So sad he has no siblings to cuddle with but at least mom seems to like to be close to him at nighttime otherwise I don't think he'd sleep much ;)
The lone chicks are always so hard to watch, they are so lonely and you wish you could do something to help..like throw in a stuffie or something. :-\
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Sumo is changing so fast...I just love how he can't get settled unless Mom is there right beside him. :-*
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6:00 am est and little sumo is already out exploring! He's way out in the distance! :D
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You go Sumo!!
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1234 hrs (Winnipeg) - Sumo the crazy little chicklet has wandered around the back of the box/nest-tray. If you can't see him, look for the white thing in the bottom left of the top (nest) cam image. Trying to get out of the heat/sun maybe - the metal may be cooler and it does look like he's lying on his belly ...
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yep, Sumo sure is playing "hide the chick" with us. :D
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Lol..not sure what Sumo is doing but he's trying to chew on mom's tail..and mom isn't too thrilled. She keeps moving it and he keeps following it and trying to munch on it...not sure if he's trying to preen her or maybe she has some food stuck on it :P
Awww she just gave him a kiss..hehe :-* And now back to the mama's tail feathers :P
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Mum just came back to where Sumo is, shook her head and feathers and Sumo was looking at here sideways and up and down. Now Sumo has gone behind mum.
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Sumo looks as big as mom :o
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Sumo looks as big as mom :o
I was thinking that earlier, might have to rename Sumo to Suma ;) And finally Sumo is settled in for the night, snuggled up in front of mama face down in the box. :-*
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Wow the little sumo is quite beautiful this morning. Getting darker and seems very noisy and hungry at the moment. He yelled and yelled for mom and she flew in and stared at him while he told her in no uncertain terms that he wants his breakfast... :P
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Ack!! They banded Sumo! He's gone and eggs are gone from box. Mom standing on pipe looking...darn I went away for a meeting and came back and must have missed it...
Edit: Just checked BCAW and they turned off the cam to band him and he's hiding in a corner now apparently :-*
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Do we know a) what gender Sumo is? b) what his/her band number is c) if they plan to name him/her?
(has anyone mentionned the name "Sumo" to the BRI folks?)
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No word yet on if it's a boy or a girl TPC...they killed the cam for the banding so we will have to wait until they post something.
Finally after over an hour little Sumo has emerged from his hiding place..even mom sitting on the box waiting for him couldn't get him out but now he's moved out and into cam view. Awww and now he's made his way to mum and in for a cuddle.
They took the flipped over carpet out too. So looks like a wee plaform there for him to slide around on and steps to the side maybe. Interesting place for a nest, wish we could see the front area. Looks like he has lots of railings to land on when he learns to fly.
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How cute, in his quest to be velcroed to mom now..little sumo is standing on a rock right behind her pipe perch :-*
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Interesting they are saying Sumo is female even though she only weighs 605 grams - might be a typo? They're saying it's based on leg size. From their web site:
Very happy to report that the falcon chick is banded! I was happy to be on hand with Judy Camuso from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to assist in the banding process. The chick is a female based on its leg size and was looking healthy and strong when we banded it this morning. It weighed 605g. the banding process required less than twenty minutes and the bird was immediately replaced at the nest box whereupon the female returned within moments.
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Sumo cuddled up to mom trying to nap now..s/he's had an exciting day.
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650 grams is very light for a female chick, especially at this age, but she could be small like Mistral was in Winnipeg in 2007. And yes, sexing is based on leg size - female legs bigger than males even when chick is small. Only very very occasionally is a male leg band able to fit on a female, the size difference is that great.
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i gotta read slower .. i read sexy is based on leg size .. not sexing.
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Little Sumo is up on the big rock, almost looks like he's sitting on the pipe his mom sits on. Poor girl has been alone for hours. At least she can look out though, maybe the parents are up there somewhere she can them.
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Getting dark now and still little sumo is alone on that rock..mom is usually at the box by now tucking her in....
Finally mom just flew in!
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I don't know what it is about Sumo and Mom but I just love these two...funny though, you rarely see Dad at all ???
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8:30 am ESt and mom and little sumo sitting side by side out on the perch in the distance :-*
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1142 hrs (CDT) - looks like Sumo, or a corner of Sumo, in the extreme bottom left corner of the nestbox cam image. Can't see anything however (well, except on of the adults on the perch out front) on the wide-wide-world image ...
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Little sumo on her own tonight, no mom for the first time to sleep next too. She's out by the platform in the dark all alone :-\
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And mom shows up even later tonight, better late than never :P
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1127 hrs (CDT) - can't see Mom on either image but lower image is so dark she could be there and I wouldn't be able to tell. Little Sumo is asleep back on the nest-tray - front right corner.
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Glad little sumo made it back into the box, when I went to bed it was just mom there in the dark!
This morning sumo is on the big rock looking around, saw a ship I think earlier in the distance! She looks darker this morning, she's growing up!
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OMG! Sumo is beautiful!! She's finally on the step and we can see her close up right now...wow..she is just gorgeous!! Brown, black and tufts of down on her... :-* :-*
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What a little sweetie lying on her belly on the step. She's just too cute.
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Oh I know...isn't she a beauty!!!
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Well I went out for an hour to check on my crew and came back to learn that little sumo jumped off the side earlier. She went down the stairs to the side apparently as was seen by several observers. Hopefully she's okay down there!
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Now she is totally out of site...That Sumo (insert pumping my fist at her)
Hope she's okay..If I were her I would be happier up by the box to look out into the world, but hey, what do I know ???
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On another site they seem to think she's going to drown by falling into the water so not sure if they know something we don't. I expect if she were in danger though that mom or dad would have flown in to the rescue by now...I"ll keep monitoring the sites. The biologists apparently have been notified that she went over the side.
Edit: Hah...there she is, must be a set of stair, she just popped up!!
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I see a falcon!!! I think she found her way back up and Mom on watch duty!
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Lol..she's back up the stairs now and mom is home. Go little Sumo go! :-*
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Whew!!! Sumo seems to like giving all of us minor heart attacks!
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and it's just the beginning ... more heart attacks to follow!
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Dinner time for little sumo too ;D
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Lol...either mom or dad on the nestbox and little sumo ran right over to greet them and now they are playing chase me around the nestbox...!!
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....and there she is, perched out on a rock looking out into the unknown.....for now :-\
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1832 hrs (CDT) - and then there were none (visible) ...
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Yeah, she went down the stairs to the side again. You can see her head bobbing up and down once in awhile. When mom comes in with food though she runs right back up the stairs...lol..she's got the stairs mastered now (pardon the pun!)
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That's our little Sumo...keeping us watchers guessing! :-*
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Little Sumo is not so little today, she was on the rock flapping her wings like crazy a few minutes ago ...nice wing span!! :-*
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that is Sumo on the rock? Omg she looks like an adult!
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Yes, that was her eagle. She's on her rock this morning too looking out over the harbour ... she's grown into quite the beauty hasn't she :D
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Little sumo dozing on the step of the nest box. YOu can see she has a bit of white fuzz left on her but she's coming along beautifully :-*
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Thanks for the heads up, Carly. She is a beauty isn't she.
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She's adorable :-*
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Geeeesshhh when did she lose her down and become a teenage Peregrine?
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Little Sumo is self feeding!!
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AWE!!! Our Sumo is becoming a Lady :D
(well, except for the projectile poops ) ::)
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WOW!! Just went to the cam..not sure why as it is dark there now but thought just maybe I would catch a glimpse of Sumo...WHEN did that light arrive? I feel sorry for the falcons!! :o
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Had a check-in with Sumo. She's hopping/flying from rock to rock to stairs to nest box to rock - y'all get the idea. There was on really good still shot that showed that there is still a fair amount of downey stuff under the feathers, but it won't be long now before she's gone ;D ;D and :'( at the same time
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On a much brighter note, little sumo apparently flew onto to the pipe today!! I can't see it at work but she's on her rock at the moment looking beautiful :-*
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Sumo and mom on the porch together, i love that the mom comes to tuck her in at night still.. :-*
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I know this pair is young..but I feel the same way Carly. I just love how Mom comes to tuck Sumo in for the night! :-*
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Sunrise and Sumo is flapping up a storm and watching the sun come up :-*
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Caught mom and sumo having breakfast together this morning. It's 5:59 am and sumo is on the pipe now flapping and looking like a Juvie! She's 5 weeks old today! She's doing well perched on the pipe practicing her balance!!
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Caught mom and sumo having breakfast together this morning. It's 5:59 am and sumo is on the pipe now flapping and looking like a Juvie! She's 5 weeks old today! She's doing well perched on the pipe practicing her balance!!
Five weeks, so 35 days old ... she should be around for another 10-15 days then (as an estimate) ...
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Sumo apparently fledged today! Can you believe it!! I come home and first thing I do is check on her and she's gone!! I went to BRI and they caught some good shots of flying out! There is talk of a video - I will see if I can find it! I wonder now if she's not a 'he', mind you she's day 36 I think so not beyond the pale that she might go and she's very light weight too!
My three are still on the ledge and won't go and this little beauty just soared! Good luck little girl :-*
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I was wondering what happened with Sumo. Everytime I checked today...nothing. I hope she does well. Would be nice if she came back for one final sleep and visit. Seems like a tricky place to fly in and out of and with her not being an experienced flyer, she may not be able to fly back in there. She was one cute little one to watch tho.
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It's true. There is a video of Sumo on the BRI site. Below the cam images is a link to Online Cam Community, and scrolling down that site, is the link to "Little Fiesty FLYS."
I'm not sure about putting a link here, so have just described how I got there.
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yeah, that was wonderful - thanks for the directions, bcbird! I had to let them know her better name, though. ;)
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I'm so glad little Sumo/Suma fledged successfully! There is a video on the site of her returning to the nest box after fledging. I had to break down and join in order to be able to see the videos.
I caught a falcon that I think is Sumo back again this afternoon:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/mainejune82a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/mainejune83a.jpg)
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Sumo visited for a moment this afternoon, then was gone again:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/mainejune91a-1.jpg)
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Thanks for the picture of Sumo, good to see the little one all grown up and doing well!
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Yes thanks so much for the picture of Sumo. I check in there quite a few times a day hoping she would come back. I was looking for a place to maybe contact them and ask if they knew how she was but I couldn't find anything. So I am so happy you were able to post the pictures.
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A video of Sumo from June 13 has been added to the site. This afternoon I caught her back at the nest box, and she stayed for quite a while.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/mainejune161613a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/mainejune166a.jpg)
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Wow...that is so cool. I often think about her and how she is doing. One day when I went to that site I thought I saw a couple of birds in the distance but I wastn't sure.
Alison, thanks for the photos.
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Kinda weird that this was posted today as I was thinking about her....Thanks for the updates. She looks wonderful! ;D
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I've seen one of the parents visit the nest from time to time. Since the cam is not clear, it can be difficult to tell who is visiting. I've noticed the parents each have a broader head than Sumo. Here is today's visitor - I wonder if it might be Sumo, so I thought I'd post a few of the fuzzy pics and see what everyone thinks. I don't see a distinct black and white on this bird.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly131a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly137a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly148a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly1314a.jpg)
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Thanks Alison, I too check the site to make sure she is okay. She really was a special little one :)
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Yes she was a special falcon. Loved the bond between her and her parents...or the parent that spent all the nights with her. It was so cute. Thanks Alison for the photos. I think it is her in them.
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I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that was Sumo visiting! Today she was back at the nest, with a parent (I think probably Mom), who fed her in the nest box. Mom left fairly soon, and Sumo stayed for a while. When she took off from the perch to leave, she flew very strongly out of camera view to the right. Sorry the pics are so fuzzy.
Parent on the left, Sumo on the right:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly175a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly179a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly1736a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly1730a.jpg)
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Thank you very much for those photos Alison.....I miss our little Sumo!
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Sumo spent quite some time at the nest this afternoon. She preened and looked very relaxed:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly271512bb.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly271523aa.jpg)
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Wow...mom feeding little sumo on the nest... ;D :-*
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I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks little Sumo is a special juvie! She really isn't "Sumo" any more - she is so sleek and elegant!
She was back today:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly281332aa.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly281432a.jpg)
She left, and a parent came in for a short visit:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly281347aa.jpg)
The parent left, and came back again a little later:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly281525a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly281548aa.jpg)
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Oh...she's a beauty! I'm so happy that she's doing very well! Even though she's sleek and beautiful, she will always be our little Sumo! :D
Good luck to our girl!!! I wish only the best for her!
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Didn't see Sumo today, but this evening one of the parents arrived, and was still there as it became dark. Everything looked so peaceful there.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly301823a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/mainejuly301834a.jpg)
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The Maine cam has been down, but it's back now. Didn't see Sumo, but one of the parents visited the nest tray.
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/maineaug251b.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/maineaug252.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/maineaug253a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/maineaug255a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/maineaug256a.jpg)
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Several visits to the nest this afternoon. The first few were by a parent:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/mainesept35a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/mainesept312a.jpg)
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/mainesept313a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/mainesept314a.jpg)
I like the golden light here at a certain time of day. I wonder if this might be Sumo - she has a narrower head than the parents, whose heads have that slightly squared off look sometimes:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/mainesept322a.jpg) (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/mainesept324a.jpg)
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2010 NESTING SEASON
I've been checking, but haven't seen the falcons at the nest so far this year. However, according to the blog, they have both been visiting. These pics are from the blog; it's good to see the peregrines at the nest.
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainejan20101.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainejan20102.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainejan20103.jpg)
I wonder where Sumo is now . . .
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Lol..too funny I went over there to check today too and saw these! I hope Sumo turns up someday too :-* It will be interesting to see how successful this nest is with this new nest box in place this year! I'd love to see a full house for them ;)
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Both mum and dad are being sighted here quite frequently now....I can't wait to see how they do this year with the new nest box! I'm going to be watching as I hope they have a full house this year, :-*
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Mom has been standing in the nestbox for an hour now in the same spot..looking like she might lay an egg maybe???!! Or she's waiting for lunch..lol! ;) First egg last year was laid on March 20th for this pair.
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Having computer and Photobucket problems . . . the female has been in the nest for many hours now, and looks as if she is just about ready to lay her first egg.
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemar171a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemar173a.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemar175a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemar176a.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemar179.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemar1712a.jpg)
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Mom is still in the nestbox this morning. She hasnt' gotten up though so can't see if there is an egg yet! She spent the entire night though obviously so that's a good sign!
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Just got to work and checked - First Egg at Maine!!! Woot!! ;D
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I saw the first egg too, before I left for work. No parent was on it tho. One was sitting out on a perch or whatever.
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Egg #2 arrived sometime during the night!! :-*
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Egg #4 arrived today! :-* :-* :-* :-*
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this is fantastic!!! Here's hoping that this new nest will make it easier for them to incubate 4 eggs and we have multiple hatches... ;D
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It's so good to see four eggs in the nest. Hoping for a very good year for this pair.
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemar246a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemar2420a.jpg)
Taking a short break:
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemar2422a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemar2423a.jpg)
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Patrick from BRI has posted some info on Feisty's (little Sumo to us :D ) dad as they finally got info back on his band numbers!
Four eggs! and update about banded male.
The falcons are now incubating four eggs. Eggs were laid on March 18, 20, 22, and 24. Egg #5 could appear today! Last year these falcons laid only four eggs but it is not out of the question for falcons to lay up to six eggs!
Also, I am excited to pass on some additional information about the banded male of this pair. As you know the male at this nest has a black over green band (with codes B/S) on its left leg and a silver Fish and Wildlife band on its right leg. Chris Martin of NH Audubon has provided an update about the history of this bird--he hails from New Hampshire and is in his sixth year!
From Chris Martin, Senior Biologist, New Hampshire Audubon:
Black/green B/S was 1 of 4 chicks fledged from the Brady-Sullivan Tower in downtown Manchester, NH in Spring 2005. His mother was raised at the Throgs Neck Bridge in New York City and his father comes from Cathedral Ledge near Conway, NH. Black/green B/S has been confirmed to be associated with this (webcam site) breeding territory since 2007.
In 2007 the falcons at this eyrie fledged one chick. Breeding efforts failed in 2008 but last year, 2009, these falcons again raised one chick...the only chick to hatch of four eggs. This is the second season that we have monitored this nest with BRI Peregirnecam.
Detailed information about individually marked birds is uncommon and difficult to acquire. Although such information is limited, it can be critical for addressing certain questions that relate to the behavior individuals such as dispersal distance, site fidelity, territory size. Can you think of other questions that might be answered by marking individual birds?
Because we banded last year's chick we may have a chance at tracking multiple generations of falcons...we just have to hope for the stars to align so that last years fledgling might be observed again somewhere. So, be on the lookout for falcons!
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Okay, male is band number B over S, sorry, can't call him B/S and neither BRI and New Hampshire haven't provided a name, I'm will to go with Big Sumo for the male and Bree (a play on BRI) for the female - at least for the purposes of talking about these birds here ....
... what do you all think?
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Okay, male is band number B over S, sorry, can't call him B/S and neither BRI and New Hampshire haven't provided a name, I'm will to go with Big Sumo for the male and Bree (a play on BRI) for the female - at least for the purposes of talking about these birds here ....
... what do you all think?
I like it ;D
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Today is Day 28 of incubation as Patrick from the site has reminded us! Can't wait to see how they do this year with the new nestbox...more little Sumo's!
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. . .neither BRI and New Hampshire haven't provided a name, I'm will to go with Big Sumo for the male and Bree (a play on BRI) for the female - at least for the purposes of talking about these birds here ....
... what do you all think?
Sumo is a special juvie, since she is the first and only chick so far for these parents. Her parents are pretty special too, since they tried so hard for so long to breed. I like Big Sumo for Dad, and I like Bree for Mom - I think it really suits her.
Waiting hopefully for a hatch in the next few days.
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Since this site is so popular with our gang, it just seemed right to give them names ... even if they are only names here! If anyone ever does find out they have names of their own, please do let us know!!!
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I love it when they have names, it seems easier to keep track of them (except for S2 because she's been called that for so long already)
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OMG hatch, hatch!! Egg shell!! Might be two, apparently one happened late last night...what you miss when you're sleeping!
Woohooo!
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8:28 she just pulled out another half egg shell and she's eating it now! She's off the eggs, shift change, looks like 2 for sure!!
Live stream here for larger view: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mercury-education
Mom is back with food, breakfast for the two cuties :-* :-*
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Dad is so excited, he came in again with even more food..lol! She just sent him off with the food!
Alison: You will be so thrilled I know. All your efforts to have the nestbox here replaced to give these two a chance and now we see the fruits of your labour and others who helped to make this happen. I'm so happy for them, I can't tell you!
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What a success. I remember the problems with the box ,last year.
Great news. I cannot follow them all but :-* :-*
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Another feeding and I see a pip in one of the other eggs!!
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Very exciting news, with the recent hatches! ;D Hopefully, I will get to see the next hatch! ;)
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I did catch a glimpse of two little fluff balls and at least one egg. Couldn't see whether or not there is a third hatch.
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6:39 am EST and BRI live stream chat is saying there are three this morning. Still waiting for mom to give me a peek so see :-* :-* :-*
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Think I just saw 3 little bottoms and 1 egg when mom readjusted!
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Feeding time and three beaks are coming up for food.. :-* :-* :-* Woohoo!!!
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I am so happy for this pair of falcons.
Three little white fluffy cuties.....it's gonna be fun watching them this year!
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Full house for Big Sumo and Bree!! Mac is reporting the fourth egg has hatched, I missed it while food shopping, still waiting for a peek of the newbie! :-* :-* :-*
Oh mom heard me, she's up off the eggs...big white chick pile ;D ;D Mom is back with dinner, feeding time!!
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EXCELLENT!!!!!!
I'm so happy!!!!! What a difference from last year! Four little ones! AWESOME!! :-*
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Wonderful news! I'm so happy for Big Sumo and Bree. They are great parents.
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Great news! 4 fluffy chicks! :-* :-* :-* :-*
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This family has been an absolute delight to watch, dad is trying to get all 4 under him to brood and the look on his face as they are squirming around and he can barely cover them now is priceless... :-* :-*
They are really good parents, crops are always full and food is coming in steady! We're going to have 4 little sumo's in no time :P
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Mom just standing by the chicks now as they are all sprawled out in front of her, quite a big pile now and 2 of them are quite inquisitive with their little heads up and looking around peridically :-* :-*
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Thanks for posting this Carly. I just went and had a look. Chickpile :-* :-* oh yea!!
Very soon for you, a bit longer for us. Who cares, we have babies ;D ;D
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Mom looks so proud of her chicks:
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/image002-77-1.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/image002-79-1.jpg)
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These four have to be the most well-fed, most cared for chicks I've ever seen. Such a devoted mom and dad! :-*
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Four Little Sumos huddled together. It looks breezy there.
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/image002-171-1.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/image002-172-1.jpg)
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Aren't they just adorable...they are up on my desktop all day at work, watching them makes me smile :-* :-* :-* :-*
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Even now as big as the mini sumo's are getting, mom still stands over them in the nest box especially at night. They are huddled together against her chest, such a great family :-* :-*
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OMG This is soooo cute. ;D ;D
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I'm so happy for this pair. 4 little sumo's to look after! They are so cute and I love how Mama protects them.
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The four chicks and a parent today. Bree and Big Sumo did a wonderful job of raising Sumo last year, and they are doing an equally great job of raising their four chicks this year.
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemay171a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemay172a.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemay173a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemay175a.jpg)
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Are they ever getting big! :o
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They are getting banded right now ;D
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I see their new jewelry now, one little one is really dark now...I bet he's a boy! He's brown and black and white! :-* Anxious to hear what they have!
Edit to add: Just went to check and mac has posted that there are 3 males and 1 female!!
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Banding report with some photos :-* :-* :-* :-*
http://peregrinecam.blogspot.com/
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Even now as big as the mini sumo's are getting, mom still stands over them in the nest box especially at night. They are huddled together against her chest, such a great family :-* :-*
Last year one of the parents always spent the night in there with little Sumo. Sumo would snuggle up to the parent. It was so cute.
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Hilarity ensues here today! The chicks are in and out of the box now and big sister and I mean BIG sister is watching it all from the box. She's sitll pretty white but the boys are turning brown fast - especially one of them, he's looking like the first born I'm thinking. They are at head bobbing stage and it's adorable to watch them get so excited exploring and seeing their little bobbing heads :-* :-*
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I LOVE the head bobbing stage!!!! ;D
I'm so happy that all four chicks are doing so well! Way to go Big Sumo and Bree!
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I have not checked this site in a few days. Today I was shocked. No chicks in the box and I can't see where they are in the refreshed part. Anyone know how things are here. Do they come back to the nest box after they wander around?
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Not to worry Moonstar...I just checked and they are out on the ledge that's in front of the nestbox area.
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Moonstar, the chicks are wandering around in front of the nest box.
Here are pics of one of the chicks for you. He/she was busy eating something just below the nest box, and kept disappearing.
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemay231a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/mainemay233a.jpg)
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Mom has them all in the nest box for the night and she is there standing guard over them as always and they are snuggled up under her.
I love this mom, she is so devoted to them! :-*
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they sure are fast this year ... makes Little Sumo last year seem like he was there for ages!
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they sure are fast this year ... makes Little Sumo last year seem like he was there for ages!
They really are changing fast. They are so much darker than they were two days ago.
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay251a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay254a.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay255a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay256a.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay257a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay258a.jpg)
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It is really amazing how fast they grow and change! :o
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They are doing a lot of wandering around: looks like a little male in the box.
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay2612a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay2618a.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay2619a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay2620a.jpg)
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I was concerned because I didn't see more than three juvies at any one time, even when a parent came in with food, but I did actually see all four for a few milliseconds. The fourth juvie was zipping around behind the box, and occasionally I could see the top of a fast-moving back for a moment.
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay2622a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay2625a.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay2630a.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/May%202010/mainemay2632a.jpg)
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Maine falcon news: Posted by Mac over at BCAW
I do want to pass along some bad news. The Bird Banding Lab sent a note that one of the male falcon chicks banded on May 18th was found dead on June 3rd. Notably this coincides with comments by community members that a max of only three chicks were seen for a few days around that period. I will send any details when or if I get them. This is not uncommon. Birds do die and for falcons this post-fledging period of time is particularly difficult to survive through. I have read that survival estimates for falcon chicks through fledging to dispersal are typically very low, 15 to 40 percent.
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Very sad. :'( Why is it so difficult for falcon chicks to survive the post-fledging period, carly? ???
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Glass buildings, concrete buildings, water..in this case they are under a bridge, major traffic above, predators, electrical wiring, bad storms... It's a hard world for them and it's experience that teaches them how to survive.
At our site it's the glass buildings that kill them. In central Ontario we've pretty much destroyed any habitat they used to nest in, all the cliffs are either gone or eroded so now they nest in the cities and there are many things here that are not part of their natural world.
The Maine chick died after he fledged, he was found on the side of the highway bridge I believe so I expect he was killed in traffic but that's just a guess. They are under a bridge and that bridge actually lifts up to allow ships to sail through - they close traffic on both sides and the bridge raises up in the middle and the ship goes through and then it goes back down to being a road again.
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2011 NESTING SEASON
Remember little Sumo, otherwise known as 'feisty'. Well Macintosh posted this news on BCAW and I wanted to share with you all. First, turns out 'she' is a 'he' and he's been found injured and may not fly again. I'll just copy and past what mac pulled over from their boards that has been reported by the PM for that site - Patrick.
The photos are located here: http://briloon.ning.com/group/peregrinecam/forum/topics/2009-year-of-the-feisty (http://briloon.ning.com/group/peregrinecam/forum/topics/2009-year-of-the-feisty)
I have some interesting but saddening news. Most everyone will remember the falcon chick from 2009. It was the only chick to hatch out of four eggs. The bird was fondly called Feisty. On May 28, 2009 Judy Camuso and I banded this chick with a colored (green and black) band that was coded with a 40/U.
The good news is that this bird is alive. The bad news is that this bird was injured and unable to fly and is now located at Avian Haven, a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Freedom, ME. Apparently the falcon which is now in its third year flew into a building on Jan. 27th and after not moving for an entire day a local certified wildlife rehabilitator brought the bird to Avian Haven. "Fiesty" is alert and appears healthy but is not flying due to a severely damaged wing. I will keep all informed here when I get additional updates. Have a great day everyone.
Comment by Benson Gray on February 9, 2011 at 5:13pm I found Feisty after his injury but didn't actually see his impact so can't provide an true eyewitness account. He showed up outside our corner conference room on the first floor of 50 Sewall Street in Portland, Maine during the morning of Thursday, January 27th as shown in the image below.
There was a small spot of blood on the window but it is not clear if that was the original impact point or if he had simply fallen there after hitting something else. There are several fences and trees in the area. The image at our corporate web site shows the overhang on the roof above and and this Google maps location shows the surrounding area. He rested there for about an hour then walked through the snow about thirty feet and climbed up a wire fence. I saw him spread his wings at one point and noticed the wound under his left one. The next image shows him on the fence late Friday morning.
We checked with a few local rescue services but didn’t find anyone who was interested although we didn't know what type of raptor it was at that point. I called David Sparks because he had rescued an owl from our chimney a few years ago. He suggested waiting to see if the bird would recover and confirmed that his usual fee would be charged to come and get it. The next image shows that Feisty had moved to a different part of the fence by Friday morning so the managing director of our organization agreed to pay David to come and get him.
David confirmed that it was a rare peregine falcon with a band and an unusual puncture on the bottom of the left wing. Diane Winn at Avian Haven has said "The peregrine is still with us and doing as well as could be expected given the severity of the wound (which was likely compromised by frost bite given how long he was out there before David retrieved him). There has been a significant die-back of tissue, to a point where it seems unlikely that the bird can recover the perfection of flight a peregrine needs to survive in the wild. We are working now on wound management, and have a very high-quality placement opportunity lined up in the likely event that he can’t be released. The peregrine was the star of a nestcam operated by BioDiversity Research Institute" which is how I found this blog. Now I only wish that we had acted sooner and hope that he pulls through.
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Comment by Annie on February 6, 2011 at 9:01pm
It's been a while since I've posted on here but I do follow what's happening. It was such a sad thing to here about our Feisty. I as probably many of you wrote a note to Avian Haven so I could find out how to send some cash to help in their care for Feisty. I am going to try to include their address and a copy of their note to me in case some of you want to follow suit. They are a grand organization, I've only heard good about their facility so no matter how the money is used I'm sure it will be used for the good of all our avian friends in need.
Comment by Patrick C. Keenan on February 8, 2011 at 11:22am
Thanks for all the positive thoughts about Fiesty. Kit, yes it was a large bird at 28 days old and appeared to be a female. I did speak to Avian Haven again yesterday. I gather that many others have as well. Diane did request that I act as an interface between her and many of you. I think she was a a little overwhelmed. She has agreed to keep me updated. So far Fiesty has had surgery, appears to have some tissue damage on his underwing. Sadly Marc and Diane suspect that the bird will not be released back to the wild. They are beginning to search for possibilities for housing this bird. I will keep you posted.
Comment by Patrick C. Keenan on February 10, 2011 at 9:22pm
This hopeful message from Diane at Avian Haven today, "Patrick, we are pleased to report good news on the wing wound. Yesterday for the first time, the wound looked BETTER than it had in the previous exam." Benson, many thanks for sharing your photos and account of the event! What an amazing way to connect the dots and bring people together.I will keep you updated with word from Avian Haven.
Comment by Patrick C. Keenan on February 23, 2011 at 2:18pm
Feisty Fans: We apologize for having let so much time pass without an update – but there has been little to report other than slow but sure progress toward healing. The wound has closed to about 2/3 of its former size, with all the tissue now pink and healthy-looking. There has been no further sign of the necrosis we saw early on in the process. Every 2-3 days, our clinic manager, Shelley, puts the bird under anesthesia to clean and dress the wound. The first of the two attached photos shows Feisty cradled on Shelley’s arm, not quite awake after today’s procedure. The second, taken a few minutes later, shows the wound area covered with a hydrocolloid dressing. Feathers had been plucked away from the wound site to keep the area sterile – but don’t worry, they’ll grow back! We expect to send the next update around the first of March.
Patrick and Feisty Fans -- we are happy to report that the wing wound has healed to a point of no longer needing to be bandaged. Overall, he continues to do very well, and now that the bandages are off, he’s able to engage in some new activities -- he took a very exuberant bath over the weekend! We’ve started the paperwork needed to secure his new home, and will keep you posted as that develops.
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First egg this morning caught by SGB :-*
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I am so glad Sumo as we called him is doing better. Thanks Carly for posting the story.
I still remember when he fell out of the nest box to the side and he could not get up and finally Mom pulled him up. He was the cutest chick to watch. I also liked how one of the adults would always spend the night with him.
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My God I'm daft. I was reading the note above and thinking "Why are they calling him Feisty? That was Sumo!" I forgot that was just our special name for him. I'm glad he's doing okay. Thanks for the update.
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Egg #2 just laid :-* :-*
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A friend at work passed this along ....
Peregrine falcon lays first egg of season
GORHAM — The BioDiversity Research Institute announced that its webcam captured a peregrine falcon laying its first egg of the season at about 8:45 a.m. today.
“We have been keeping a diligent watch as the female, who joined the male at the nest a few days ago, began settling in,” said Patrick Keenan, the institute's outreach director and coordinator, in a statement. “We can expect the egg to hatch in about 34 days; this is the third successful nesting of peregrine falcons at this site that we’ve been able to capture on live streaming video.”
Visitors to the institute's website can watch the daily nesting activities of the falcons.
Two cameras, positioned nearly 100 feet off the ground and equipped with low light color vision, provide two perspectives of the nest – called a scrape because the falcon does not actually build a nest, but digs a depression in the gravel found on a high ledge, usually a cliff.
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Egg #3 :-* :-* :-*
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Big Sumo & Bree now have 4 eggs to look after. Latest reports on "Little Sumo" is that he is now flying and progressing everyday.
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...Latest reports on "Little Sumo" is that he is now flying and progressing everyday.
That's good news! :D
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Little Sumo has been released and is flying free!!
From the BRI site:
After the updates of the last week, it will come as no surprise that Feisty is to be released! Marc and I talked at length this afternoon with Charlie Todd (Maine’s endangered species and eagle biologist) about possible locations. He was emphatic about the bird NOT going back to the Portland area, where he would most likely be attacked by a resident pair. In fact, “nowhere near an active nest” was Charlie’s primary criterion for a release site, and after discussing several possibilities, the Belfast area seemed a good choice, as no peregrines have been reported there, it is about halfway between two active peregrine nests (Camden and Bucksport), has a bridge that could potentially host a new nest, plus offers a large population of pigeons. The other advantage to Belfast is that it is relatively close to us, so this now extremely restless and active bird would have to be confined for transport for only about a half hour. The disadvantage from your points of view is that it is not so close by. But nevertheless, I’m sure you would all agree that what’s best for the bird is most important. As Charlie said, this bird is coming into his prime; and though it is late in the season for starting a family, it’s a good time for him to be claiming his own turf. We are looking more specifically at Moose Point State Park, which is just north of Belfast. Sometime in the next week is our time frame.
He was released yesterday at 12:30
Patrick et al – we were hoping we could wait a few more days in order to plan for something that others could attend. But yesterday and this morning, the bird is literally flinging himself against the flyway walls, and we are afraid that a delay of even another day could compromise all he has achieved so far. He needs to get out now, before he starts breaking flight feathers, and fortunately, the weather is on our side (for a change!). So with our most sincere apologies to all who might have wanted to be there, we are aiming for Moose Point State Park
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I got this link to Feisty's story or Little Sumo from BCAW forum. :-* :)
http://avianhaven.org/ahs2011_feistys_story.pdf
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WOW...what a nice report, it was done so well with pictures and all. Just loved it :)
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What a wonderfully written and illustrated report! The pictures were terrific. Feisty sure is one strong willed and self reliant peregrine!
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What a wonderful story of Feisty's life, both before her injury and after her recovery & release. :D Brought tears to my eyes. And the photos were fabulous! Thanks for posting the link, rcf. :-*
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We have a hatch!!! One so far from what I can make out!! :-*
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Morning check and I see two little heads coming up for food as mom arrives with breakfast :-* :-*
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Egg 3 hatched today :-* :-* :-*
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News on the 3 chicks from May 17:
Things went very smoothly. Based on leg size it appears that we have a female and two males...notably one of the birds...deemed a male was intermediate in size.
Checked in on the live streaming and there was one preening in the box. Mostly dark feathers now and very little white showing. The other two weren't in camera view at the time.
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2012 NESTING SEASON
Just went to the Bio-Diversity web cam in Maine and there is a bird sitting there. Do not know who it is tho.
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This update arrived today ...
Biodiversity Research Institute's Live Webcam Captures
Peregrine Falcons Laying Eggs
Gorham, ME - Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) announced today that its webcam has captured a Peregrine Falcon laying its first egg of the season; the egg was dropped in the early morning on Friday, March 16.
Visitors to BRI's website, http://www.briloon.org/oae/webcams/peregrinecam, can watch the daily nesting activities of this pair of falcons in a 24-hour live feed that is offered to the public free of charge in partnership with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), the Maine Department of Transportation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"Members of BRI's online community (http://www.briloon.ning.com) have been eagerly awaiting this first egg and were the first to document it," says Patrick Keenan, BRI's outreach director and coordinator of the webcam program. "We can expect additional eggs over the coming days and then expect eggs to hatch in about 34 days." This is the fourth year of Peregrine Falcons nesting with nesting activities documented by BRI's webcam.
Two cameras, remotely deployed and equipped with low light color vision, provide two different perspectives of the nest-called a scrape because the falcon does not actually build a nest, but rather digs a depression in the gravel found on a high ledge, usually a cliff. These birds have adapted to human development by taking advantage of tall man-made structures such as skyscrapers, water towers, or bridges for nesting spots.
"The peregrine falcon is the poster child for raptor conservation," says wildlife research biologist Christopher DeSorbo, director of BRI's raptor program. "Peregrine populations nationwide plummeted due to environmental contaminants like DDT. Through the banning of DDT and reintroduction efforts, these birds are again breeding throughout the New England region. Peregrines helped us detect a crisis that had serious implications on both wildlife and human health. This is one of the reasons it is important to monitor raptor populations. Because they sit at the top of the food web, raptors serve as key indicators that can be used to detect environmental and ecological imbalance."
The federal government removed the Peregrine Falcon from its endangered species list in 1999. Although this species has successfully responded to national conservation efforts, peregrine falcons remain on Maine's endangered species list; there are only 24 known pairs of peregrine falcons in the state, according to the MDIFW.
Peregrine Falcons, known for their aerial acrobatics, are the fastest flying birds in the world; they can dive and catch prey in midair at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. The male, who prepares the nest for roosting, also courts its mate with elaborate aerial displays around the nesting site. These falcons breed in the same territory each year. An average clutch of four eggs is laid in early spring, hatching about a month later. Peregrines have been known to live up to 20 years.
BRI's webcam program began in 2003 as a research tool to monitor the nest of the Common Loon, which at the time was one of the primary bird species being studied at the Institute. Since then, BRI has installed additional webcams to monitor the nesting activities of ospreys, eagles, and falcons.
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3 eggs ;D ;D Mum looking quite relaxed with the whole thing.
A far cry from two years ago with our little Sumo
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Thanks for the update on how many eggs. Everytime I go there it is just one of them incubating the eggs.
Little Sumo was so cute. I loved how Mom/Dad would always come back at night to sleep with Sumo.
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I love this cam, one of my first introductions to peregrines on line.
It's so nice to see that 3 years later, nature is still filling us with awe.
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As of March 23rd there have been four eggs laid. :)
(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/US%20Falcons/BRI.jpg)
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Wow...so good to have 4 eggs. Three years ago there were 2 eggs and only one hatched. So it is good to see this site doing well.
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Do we know yet if the adults here are the same resident pair from last year?
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Do we know yet if the adults here are the same resident pair from last year?
From what I understand these are the same falcons from last year, they stick around all year and don't migrate. If I find anything more I will post it here. :) But I do know something definite about date the eggs were laid.
March 16.....first egg laid
March 18.....second egg laid
March 20.....third egg laid
March 23.....fourth egg laid
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(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/US%20Falcons/mai.jpg)
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Do we know yet if the adults here are the same resident pair from last year?
This is the info I received on the male, but nothing on the female. :)
The male of the pair is colorbanded black and green U-40 and hails from Manchester, NH where it was banded as a chick in 2004. Arrived at our location to nest in 2007. We have colorbanbed chicks in each year in coordination with USF&W and ME Inland department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Thanks for your questions and interest hope this is a start.
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(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/US%20Falcons/mai.jpg)
That's about as nice a scrape of eggs as one is ever going to see :)
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I agree, TPC! Great photo, rcf! :)
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I think there has been a hatch at Maine. I just checked there and I am sure there is a white fluffy chick under the parent. :)
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You're right about that, Moonstar. According to the BRI chat board, there is one fluffy little white chick! :D I couldn't see it myself, as it's too dark at the moment.
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Feeding going on right now. There are 3 chicks. Two white ones and one a little more pink, not as much fluff.
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Feeding going on right now. There are 3 chicks. Two white ones and one a little more pink, not as much fluff.
Pink chick is a wet/damp chick so newly hatched ...
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2013 NESTING SEASON
Biodiversity Research Institute's Live Webcam Captures
Peregrine Falcons Laying Eggs
Gorham, ME - Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) confirmed today that the Peregrine Falcons monitored by its webcam are incubating two eggs. Confirmation was made on the morning of Saturday, March 16 and additional eggs are expected in the coming days.
Visitors to BRI's website, www.briloon.org/oae/webcams/peregrinecam, can watch the daily nesting activities of this pair of falcons in a 24-hour live feed that is offered to the public free of charge in partnership with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), the Maine Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"The chance to watch the nesting activities of Peregrine Falcons is a great opportunity to learn about the behavior of this species," says Patrick Keenan, BRI's outreach director and coordinator of the webcam program. "We can expect additional eggs over the coming days and then expect eggs to hatch in about 34 days." This is the fifth consecutive year of Peregrine Falcons nesting at this site with nesting activities documented by BRI's webcam. BRI created and manages an online community (www.briloon.ning.com) where members can discuss observations, ask questions, and post photographs.
The camera (image only, no audio) provides a close-up perspective of the scrape. The falcon does not actually build a nest, but rather digs a depression in the gravel found on a high ledge, usually a cliff. These birds have adapted to human development by taking advantage of tall man-made structures such as skyscrapers, water towers, or bridges for nesting spots.
"The Peregrine Falcon is the poster child for raptor conservation," says wildlife research biologist Christopher DeSorbo, director of BRI's raptor program. Peregrine populations nationwide plummeted due to environmental contaminants like DDT. Through the banning of DDT and reintroduction efforts, these birds are again breeding throughout the New England region. "Peregrines helped us detect a crisis that had serious implications on both wildlife and human health. This is one of the reasons it is important to monitor raptor populations. Because they sit at the top of the food web, raptors serve as key indicators that can be used to detect environmental and ecological imbalance," says DeSorbo.
The federal government removed the Peregrine Falcon from its endangered species list in 1999. Although this species has successfully responded to national conservation efforts, Peregrine Falcons remain on Maine's endangered species list; there are only 24 known pairs of Peregrine Falcons in the state, according to the MDIFW.
Peregrine Falcons, known for their aerial acrobatics, are the fastest flying birds in the world; they can dive and catch prey in midair at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. The male, who prepares the nest for roosting, also courts its mate with elaborate aerial displays around the nesting site. These falcons breed in the same territory each year. An average clutch of four eggs is laid in early spring, hatching about a month later. Peregrines have been known to live up to 20 years.
BRI's webcam program began in 2003 as a research tool to monitor the nest of the Common Loon, which at the time was one of the primary bird species being studied at the Institute. Since then, BRI has installed additional webcams to monitor the nesting activities of ospreys, eagles, and falcons.
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2016 NESTING SEASON
For those that remember 'Feisty' from the BRI nest site back in 2009 and his rehab stint in 2011. He has been photographed alive and well just 2 days ago!!!
This popped up on my Facebook this morning: https://www.facebook.com/Avian-Haven-381894018553252/ (https://www.facebook.com/Avian-Haven-381894018553252/)
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Nice classic colouration on Fiesty - pretty bird. Would be nice to think he's been passing those pretty genes on to another generation ... anyone know if he's nesting anywhere?
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Nice classic colouration on Fiesty - pretty bird. Would be nice to think he's been passing those pretty genes on to another generation ... anyone know if he's nesting anywhere?
Since Feisty has not been seen since 2012, I don't think anyone knows whether or not he has a nest somewhere. He is now seven years old, and has remained in his home state of Maine.
Feisty was the only chick to hatch in 2009. Four eggs were laid, but there was a problem with the nest tray. It resembled a nest tray installed upside down, with a very small amount of gravel on top. This made incubation very difficult. Many people had asked for the nest to be fixed, but this had not been done. I contacted Bob Anderson through Raptor Resource, and he contacted the person in charge in Maine. It turned out they knew each other, and very quickly the nest tray was replaced with one which was much more suitable. As a result, Feisty was able to hatch. The credit for this belongs to Bob Anderson; I think he would have been pleased to know that Feisty is still around.
Here is a blog entry from Josh Fecteau, who took the photos of Feisty on the beach:
http://joshfecteau.com/a-falcon-named-feisty/#comments (http://joshfecteau.com/a-falcon-named-feisty/#comments)