MD / Baltimore - 2015-22

[GCG]

If anyone cares to see the little one, this is a video from Facebook. 

https://www.facebook.com/grosse.gerhard/videos/o.135755826444138/690638647730102/?type=2&theater

[GCG]

  At least some good news to share. Barb and Boh's first chick has hatched. Watched on the web cam and wanted to share this post from Facebook.


https://www.facebook.com/ChesapeakeConservancy?ref=ts

[GCG]

She is having problems covering the eggs and now I think all three eggs have pips. In communication with the Chesapeake Conservancy, I was told hatching could begin May 16th, yesterday. I love this site and look forward to a successful season.

[GCG]

  Barb is antsy today and appears to "talk" to her eggs. She left the nest briefly and I think I saw a pip. Could today when there will be a chick? Their heavy rains have passed. Horrific downpour during yesterday's Preakness.

[GCG]

I received the following message from Lacey at CC with the following update.

"Yes, I just responded to your email inquiry through info@chesapeakeconservancy.org. There are not osprey hatchlings yet; we expect them anytime from May 18-June 2. We expect falcon eggs to hatch anytime from May 11-May 22. You can find updates on our Facebook page and on the osprey camera blog, which is managed by the Crazy Osprey Family (self-named!). Below are the links to each:

https://www.facebook.com/ChesapeakeConservancy

https://ospreycamerablog.wordpress.com/

Hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns."

[GCG]

It has been cloudy the last couple of days. Mom has been sitting tightly on the eggs. I feel certain these eggs will be breaking out soon. 

[Alison]

Incubation continues, and a glimpse of the eggs:

 

[GCG]

The following was taken from the text of the Baltimore Sun article.

"There's already been drama since the camera turned on. One day not long after it went live, a female falcon arrived in the nest appearing ruffled, with a band on her leg indicating she was a newcomer — a 2-year-old that flew in from Philadelphia, Koppie said.

"There was a fight somewhere," he said.

The other female hasn't turned up yet, dead or alive. Koppie banded her soon after her birth at the Key Bridge in 2009. Chesapeake Conservancy officials decided not to publicize the switch, keeping with the Barb name, given in honor of Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski".

She was a Congresswoman from 1977-1986 and has been a Senator since 1987-present.

[GCG]

Thank you for your post, Alison. I am in complete agreement with you. This falcon does deserve her own name. How many Barb's has there been? I am posting an article that appeared in the Baltimore Sun from their FB post. It has a video and slideshow.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/blog/bs-hs-light-street-falcons-20150417-story.html?fb_action_ids=10206465360937529&fb_action_types=og.shares

[Alison]

It's good to know who the new female is, but I do wish they would not refer to her as Barb. She is not Barb. I wonder if their biologist checked to see if the actual, injured Barb was still in the area during their visit?

The new female is from St. John's Church in Manayunk, Philadelphia County. She and her three siblings were banded on May 14, 2013. At 700 grams, she was the largest of the four at banding. Her parents also nested at the church in 2012, and probably also in 2011.

Manayunk is about 107 miles from Baltimore.

 

[GCG]

  The Chesapeake Conservancy has identified their new resident female. A Facebook posts reads as follows.........

Chesapeake Conservancy

"Good evening falcon camera followers! We were able to gather a brief biography of the new Barb, thanks to a site visit by a regional USFWS Raptor Biologist. Barb is a 2 year old from Philadelphia, PA, and has 3 siblings who were born alongside her in a church steeple. She is previously unnamed and her tags are black over green (both horizontal), reading "09" and "AR" respectively. Wishing Barb a belated welcome to Baltimore!"

[GCG]

With mom hovering over the eggs before hopping on the ledge and taking flight, I can now confirm there are still only three eggs. Dad was waiting and is now sitting on the eggs. Can't be sure if she if finished laying eggs.

[GCG]

I received the following email response from The Chesapeake Conservancy regarding my inquiry about the web cam.

Hi gemcitygemini,

"Thank you for your email. The black window-covering that we use to reduce glare on the camera fell off the wall and knocked the camera down on Saturday. We were able to have someone correct it early this morning. We apologize for the disruption but it should be back to normal now!

Thank you for watching our peregrine falcon camera!"

Best,
Lacey

Lacey Hankin
Chesapeake Fellow
Chesapeake Conservancy
Office: 443-321-3610
Cell: 410-627-9518

I checked and it is indeed up and running.  

[GCG]

There appears to something wrong with the webcam at this site. The view is obstructed. I have sent an inquiry to them.

Just went to Facebook. They posted the following:

What a morning for camera issues! It looks like the peregrine falcon camera has fallen off its mount. Unfortunately we won't be able to get into the building until tomorrow to fix it. The issues with the osprey camera are due to the Internet connection and are likely being caused by the wind, which we have little control over. Thanks for letting us know and we will get things back on track as soon as possible!

Wind...... something we can relate to.

[GCG]

  There appears to something wrong with the webcam at this site. The view is obstructed. I have sent an inquiry to them.