Author Topic: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess  (Read 136726 times)

0 Members and 4 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Megang

  • Egg
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #471 on: June 20, 2014, 14:21 »
Peope were talking about the chicks yaking up pellets.  About 5 minutes ago I caught live action bowel movement.  Talk about projectile.

Offline Kinderchick

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 4,945
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #470 on: June 20, 2014, 09:23 »
Nestbox is definitely messier than with previous years when the kids were still this young...but still nothing like the Beleef de lente nestbox!   :P

And nothing compared to Callie & Gary's messy nest box at the U. of Calgary! :-X

Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,630
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #469 on: June 19, 2014, 22:49 »
TPC, where is Smiley hunkering down while the rain is Still pouring down?

Have absolutely no idea.  Haven't found his favourite perches yet.  Ivy liked the Hydro sign and Trey liked a cornice on the east side ...

Offline RCF

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 4,291
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #468 on: June 19, 2014, 22:43 »
Princess stuffed these two this evening.  ;D

 

Offline Liz

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 2,330
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #467 on: June 19, 2014, 21:34 »
TPC, where is Smiley hunkering down while the rain is Still pouring down?

Offline susha

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 1,841
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #466 on: June 19, 2014, 21:22 »
Nestbox is definitely messier than with previous years when the kids were still this young...but still nothing like the Beleef de lente nestbox!   :P

 

Offline susha

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 1,841
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #465 on: June 19, 2014, 21:20 »
I think owls are the worst. Watching one of those baby owls choke down a rat almost made me cough up a pellet or two

You make me smile, bcf! ;D

Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,630
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #464 on: June 19, 2014, 20:19 »
I think owls are the worst. Watching one of those baby owls choke down a rat almost made me cough up a pellet or two

Dennis has a great sequence of photos of a snowy yakking up a pellet that was easily the size of the mouse it had in its foot at the same time!!!

Offline Liz

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 2,330
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #463 on: June 19, 2014, 19:14 »
It's pouring downtown!  I guess that's why there is another mumbrella in place.   

Offline Dagny

  • Falcon Fan
  • Hatchling
  • **
  • Posts: 36
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #462 on: June 19, 2014, 18:39 »
Thank you for the info, Tracy.  I wondered how a chick could swallow a leg as big as it is.   ;D

birdcamfan, I feel the same about owls and rats.  There are some things I'd rather just not know about.   :P

Offline birdcamfan

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 1,061
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #461 on: June 19, 2014, 16:23 »
I think owls are the worst. Watching one of those baby owls choke down a rat almost made me cough up a pellet or two

Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,630
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #460 on: June 19, 2014, 16:18 »
The discussion about the feather made me curious:  I've seen chicks swallow legs, do they eat other bones as well?

Actually when they try to eat feet they end up having to yak them up again (or have them removed by parent/sibling).  That doesn't stop them from trying.  Food gets stored in the crop until it passes on to the first of the falcon's two "stomachs".  The legs tend to get caught at that part - think sword swallowing.  They can eat bones, one of their stomachs I believe can dissolve they, but I don't believe they do it much or often on purpose.

And how do the parents prepare the meal for the chicks?  Besides removing the feathers.   ???

Usually, food is "packaged" before it comes in.  Head off, wings off, legs off as they aren't the edible parts (or not chick-edible parts, the adults do like brains).  Often many or most of the feathers are removed as well.  Makes it easier to carry food - a pigeon is big - easier to just carry the torso than the whole bird.  Can mean larger meals come in - or rather more food per delivery.  Trey was the master, Ivy was not so neat but delivered tons of food.  This year Princess and Smiley have to pluck their meals in situ (hence the feathered nestbox).  Hopefully Smiley will refine his technique as he gets more years and experience under his "belt".

Offline Kinderchick

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 4,945
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #459 on: June 19, 2014, 10:32 »
Little one just pooped right in Smiley's face. At least I think it was Smiley. He shook his head & left the nest box to clean himself up, I would imagine.

Offline Dagny

  • Falcon Fan
  • Hatchling
  • **
  • Posts: 36
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #458 on: June 19, 2014, 09:22 »
The discussion about the feather made me curious:  I've seen chicks swallow legs, do they eat other bones as well?

And how do the parents prepare the meal for the chicks?  Besides removing the feathers.   ???

Offline moka

  • Phanatic
  • Fledgling
  • ***
  • Posts: 717
Re: Radisson - 2014 / Smiley & Princess
« Reply #457 on: June 19, 2014, 08:45 »
Cute, sleeping chick pile. They could use all of those feathers to make a comfy bed. ;D