McKenzie Seeds - 2013 / Brooklyn & Hurricane

[The Peregrine Chick]

One of the chicks is in the middle of finishing off an early breakfast while the other two watch on ... getting harder to spot the chicks against the light coloured roofing.  Soon it will be hard to see them against the walls and vegetation!!

[The Peregrine Chick]

Forecast for the day ...

Day - Partly cloudy. High of 26C. Winds from the West at 10 to 15 km/h.
Night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then clear. Low of 14C. Winds from the SSW at 10 to 15 km/h.

[The Peregrine Chick]

At least two of the chicks are still hanging out at the nestbox.  Amazing how much and how fast three little chicks can make a mess in a smallish area! 

[bcbird]

Very cute!

I like the way he takes a few steps after composing himself, then turns as if to ask his sib, "Did you see me?"

[RCF]

Yup! ......and here's the video of him doing just that!

http://youtu.be/I6beWLZMExc

[The Peregrine Chick]

0902h
Little male decided he didn't need the ramp and jumped for the top of the riser.  Fell back the first time but that didn't deter him from trying again and with a bit more wing action and a little grab and pull with his feet he was up.  Looked very pleased with himself.  Now he's inside with I think big male but can't be sure.

[The Peregrine Chick]

This morning ...

The chicks have been wandering about since 0440h - they all appear to have slept out of the box but right outside the box ... at least two of the chicks have been in and out of the nestbox already, perhaps all three ... at the moment, two are outside the box (one visible, one not) and one is inside the box ...


Weather for today ...

Day - Overcast with a chance of rain. High of 23C. Winds from the NNW at 5 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 30%.
Night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then clear. Low of 11C. Winds from the WNW at 10 to 15 km/h.

[photosbydennis]

Few more photos from banding day in Brandon have been added  http://www.pbase.com/photosbydennis/brandon_2013  more photos will be added in the days to come.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Maybe you forgot the nest box is sitting on 2x4’s which makes it higher off the ground. There is also pea gravel lining the bottom of the box, which makes it less of a jump from the inside and easier for the chicks to jump up on the ledge.  From what I have observed it is easier for the chicks to jump up from inside the box than it is to try and jump in from the outside. There must be at least 2 to 3 inches difference in height.  In any case the chicks will learn to jump back in with or without the ramp or they may not go back in it at all. 

You are right RCF there is a bit of a difference but not more than 2 inches which granted is a fair distance for the peregrines at this age and stage.  The 2x4's are actually about an inch or less - they are part of the old nestbox.  We realized that the roof was just uneven enough that even though we were on a high spot, we needed to shim it a bit in order to keep it somewhat level.  Neat thing about the chicks is that once they figure out how to do something, they pretty much have it nailed.  The small male and female were up on the riser 2 hours and 20 minutes after they were put in the nestbox.  Now a couple of days after the fact, I daresay one if not all of the chicks could jump up on the riser from the outside if they wanted to.  It is common for chicks to leave the nestbox if they can to follow their parents - the Radisson chicks would do if if they could get over the wall (it is higher even than the riser on purpose) and the West Winnipeg chicks have done it everywhere they have nested.  Knowing we were going to put these guys on the roof, we decided to make it easier for them based on what we had seen of chick behaviour elsewhere.  Without the ramp, they wouldn't go back and that's fine, we'd just like them to have the option.  And these little guys were very quick to figure the ramp out - faster even I think than Rain/Rosser or Sol/Hunter/Maya.  Like to think that will be a good sign come fledging - smart chicks hopefully will be able to avoid getting in to serious trouble.

[RCF]

The ramp isn't actually needed, the chicks were able to jump up from the inside so technically they can jump up/down on the outside as well.  We put the ramp on to encourage the chicks to go in/out after they left the first time, if only to provide them with the option to have cover during hot/wet times. 

Maybe you forgot the nest box is sitting on 2x4’s which makes it higher off the ground. There is also pea gravel lining the bottom of the box, which makes it less of a jump from the inside and easier for the chicks to jump up on the ledge.  From what I have observed it is easier for the chicks to jump up from inside the box than it is to try and jump in from the outside. There must be at least 2 to 3 inches difference in height.  In any case the chicks will learn to jump back in with or without the ramp or they may not go back in it at all.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Weather for today and tonight ...

Day - Partly cloudy. High of 26C. Winds from the WSW at 10 to 15 km/h.
Night - Overcast with a chance of a thunderstorm and rain, then a chance of rain after midnight. Low of 12C. Winds from the NNE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 40%.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Would it not make it easier for the  chicks if the whole front of the box was ramped, not just a small section?

The ramp isn't actually needed, the chicks were able to jump up from the inside so technically they can jump up/down on the outside as well.  We put the ramp on to encourage the chicks to go in/out after they left the first time, if only to provide them with the option to have cover during hot/wet times.  The ramp isn't the full length because the birds don't like to have their tail feathers touching when they sit perched somewhere so we try to make sure they have "edges" that are high enough to keep the chicks safe and the adults/older chicks with tail feathers comfortable.

[bccs]

Would it not make it easier for the  chicks if the whole front of the box was ramped, not just a small section?

[The Peregrine Chick]

There is always one that seems to have a problem with ramps ... not just at McKenzie Seeds but at West Winnipeg as well 
Nice to see them coming back to the nestbox, means its easier to keep track of the little darlings with the webcam.

[Kinderchick]

Precious video, indeed! Thanks for posting it, RCF. It's a keeper.