MN / Elk River - 2008-22

[Aline]

Don't forget pigeons are delightful falcon preys 

[carly]

It's kind of cool because we're actually witnessing the evolution of pergrines right before our eyes as they adapt to all the changes we've imposed on them by destroying their habitats. 

I wonder what happens when a peregrine from the wild meets a city peregrine   

[eagle63_1999]

Yeah TPC can correct us both on the issue of migration but you are correct, Carly, some are choosing not to migrate and if they do it's not as far as some of the Tundra Peregrines. I think each situation is different depending on location, weather, food supply etc.

[carly]

Not sure on what their migration pattern is as they are more south than us in Canada and it may be milder there in the winter.  In Etobicoke, Ontario the parents don't really migrate until late October or November (depends how cold it gets).  The parents here last year were seen as late as November and then back as early as February.  We even have pictures of them in the box surrounded by snow with talon prints in the snow leading to the box !!!  The kids though are encouraged to go out on their own and explore the world in the Fall when the migration season starts if they haven't left on their own already. 

Some articles I've read suggest that urban peregrines are not migrating at all or not very far from their home location due to the abundance of food and relative safety from predators in the city.  Tracy would be able to speak to that much better though.

[eagle63_1999]

If memory serves me correctly I believe the parents migrate first and the fledglings leave a couple of weeks later.  Migration is a whole other fascianting issue when it comes to birds.

[JL]

Quiet again...they should be back in little less than 2 hours for their naps.  I wonder how long the kids will use the nestbox to rest at night.  They'll be going soon.     I'll miss them too.  Do they migrate with their parents?

[carly]

I saw that too!  First time I've been lucky enough to see them in a few days, I forgot how much I missed the screeching..it was kind of comforting in a weird sort of way 

[eagle63_1999]

Did you just see the balance beam walk lol

[Pchemist]

I'm sure it was a bird.  Tracy has told us they don't do "ground" food.  and I had a good (too good) view of the legs.   

[JL]

   it had a tail...looks like a mouse...didn't seem like they wanted it, maybe prefer the entrees with feathers?  

[Pchemist]

Hmmm.  One chick had the prey in the box, and was hopping around with it - almost like practicing taking off with prey.  Then (after a looooooverly close up view of some feather plucking) the prey was left in the box and chick went to the outer perch.  Second chick turns around, hops in, grabs prey, and flew out with it!   

[Pchemist]

Three at the box - one may have been adult, flew away just as I came in to see what the screeching was about.  One juvenile with food in the corner and another out on the ledge screaming (sounds like Lightning).  I can hear a lot of distant sounds too, so the whole family may be around for dinner time. 

[Pchemist]

Lots of activity mostly just off camera.  Saw mom come into the box with  some prey, heard Lightning screaming, saw mom take off presumably on a training mission...  I can see a tail, and hear a lot of screeching.  Hope the training flights are going well. 

[deedream]

Earlier today, oh around 12 my time , so 10 a.m. for Elk River, there was a lot of excitement.  I could not post either. But anyhow,, Mom I think was doing some training. Coming in with food, Lightning woud jump in the box from the rail , and sass her something fierce, even nipped at her feet, and Mom had to jump and then go out on rail.  Mom sat there, with food, then she got the food in her talons and took off.  Lightning shut up then, she was just a yapping the whole time in the box.  Lightning jumped out on the rail , watched her Mom flying around, then she took off, first time I seen her fly, then Mom comes back, could here the little one flying and screeching down below.  Then she came back, Mom took off, lots of rail hopping, and another sibing was there too maybe both,, just lots of coming and going, and Mom lugging this food around.  Seen the juvies flying down below a couple different times. Really neat.   

[eagle63_1999]

Oh I'm glad you saw that Eli, I was thinking, "Did the food get dropped?"  They sure got quiet quick eh