MN / Elk River - 2008-22

[The Peregrine Chick]

Its 10:00pm CDT/Winnipeg and now I can see that there is a light outside the box that is providing illumination even at this time of night.  Kind of nice ... was there last year folks?  I don't remember  ...

[carly]

7:12 pm and there are 2 of the cutest little black birds running in and out of the nestbox, jumping on the wrungs and then to the top of the box..it's hilarious.  I saw them here yesterday briefly but now they look like they've decided to 'buy' this house maybe..lol.  Just adorable 

[carly]

 And if she can hunt/feed for herself, she can probably escort some usurping floozy out of her territory.

Lol..Tracy, what a nice post to come home to, that just made me laugh out loud!!

[The Peregrine Chick]

You guys might want to pace yourselves, there are always things to worry about when it comes to peregrines 

As for foot injuries ...
if she can't stand, she's a goner
if she can stand and is still alive after the first year, she's doing better than 70% of the other peregrines hatched in her year
if she can stand, is alive after a couple of years, has had and raised young successfully, you can worry less, experience is a very good thing

As for territorial disputes...
alot (not all or not all the time) is sound and fury, dominance displays if you like.  If one doesn't back down, then it gets a bit hairy and there is spitting and talons etc.  And yes some disputes are to the death.  They are also gender specific - females fight females, males fight males.  So the bird that turned up that isn't 30/B, it could be the male, both genders are involved in nestsite selection and in nestbuilding (ie: making the scrape/scrapes) remember.  If it is another female, 30/B may dig her talons in so as not to show weakness to a competitor.  And if she can hunt/feed for herself, she can probably escort some usurping floozy out of her territory.

Think happy thoughts folks ... 

[carly]

I hope that we hear something about 30B.  I am really pulling for her. 

Me too Maggie, she is at such a disadvantage with 2 damaged talons, for carrying food with the one she was good but for fighting I'm guessing you'd be at a real disadvantage if you couldn't use them both.  I'm hopeful she was smart enough to realize this wasn't a fight she was going to win and she just flew off and will find a new home.  I'm going to miss her though 

[maggieblue]

I hope that we hear something about 30B.  I am really pulling for her.  She has had such a tough time with injuries, loosing a nest box to a lightning strike, and now shut out of both her previous nest sites at Sherco and Elk River.  Other than her foot injuries, she does appear to be large and healthy. Let's hope that she is O.K. and finds another nest site.

[carly]

Yes it seems she has managed to drive out 30B - I really hope 30B is okay and just flew off and will be safe.

If I was the 'dad' I'd be hiding after listening to that scream fest this morning 

[maggieblue]

I think that it is Mom screaming out for Dad to come by 

[msdolittle]

there is someone in the box checkin out the digs.  all toes accounted for.

[carly]

Well who ever it is definitely not 30B as they have both talons intact.  I hope 30b is okay where ever she is 

[carly]

Someone is back again and perched outside, back to me so can't see the feet but all quiet so far.

[maggieblue]

Someone was just back sitting in the spot that the Great River logo blocks and calling out.  And flew away. I don't think that this bird was injured.

[maggieblue]

I don't ever want to see anything like that again either.  I still think that it is positive that they weren't using their beaks.  Now I know how Bev must have felt watching the battles in Edmonton.  Let's hope this is all over and that one of them will go on her way without any serious injury. 

[carly]

I went back and I caught the end too, I couldn't stand not knowing and my thoughts are the same, let's hope it's an escort out.

I don't ever want to see anything like that again...

[maggieblue]

OMG  That was awful but I had to watch.  The only positive is that they didn't appear to be injuring each other.  For the most part it seemed to be a talon to talon standoff.  More noise than anything.  The falcon on the left ( a banded bird) with her back to the edge eventually managed to leave and the other falcon flew after her.  Hopefully just to escort her away.