MN / Elk River - 2008-22

[allikat]

Yup, if you watch this cam regularly, there is the update below the webcam window stating that they are incubating 4 eggs and that they hope to fix the sound at time of banding.

[carly]

About 48 hours or so before they hatch the mom will start 'talking' to them.  You would see her head down near the eggs and hear a soft chirping sound and they would chirp back to her...

That IS amazing, carly! Is that what is known as the beginning of "imprinting"?

Yes exactly!

[Kinderchick]

About 48 hours or so before they hatch the mom will start 'talking' to them.  You would see her head down near the eggs and hear a soft chirping sound and they would chirp back to her...

That IS amazing, carly! Is that what is known as the beginning of "imprinting"?

[carly]

About 48 hours or so before they hatch the mom will start 'talking' to them.  You would see her head down near the eggs and hear a soft chirping sound and they would chirp back to her...totally amazing kinderchick!  

I have read that most birds do that and of course humans do it as well when pregnant - you know how they talk to their bellies or the husband does?   Well the birds to the same thing apparently so that the birds will recognize the sound of their parents 'voice'.  In bird species that nest in communal type environments, it's especially important so the baby will know who it's mom is amongst all the other females there.

[Kinderchick]

...I'm going to miss hearing the little ones peeping from inside the eggs and mom chirping to them softly to come out.  Oh well as long as they are healthy and safe is what's important  

You could actually hear them "peeping" from inside the eggs, carly? Do you mean as they were hatching?

[carly]

There is a message on the Elk River website that the microphone ahs stopped working and that it will be fixed when the chicks are banded.  So...no sound until sometime in June!

They also estimate hatching around May 14 or 15.  I can't wait!

Ack!  Oh that's more serious then as they usually just do something on their end and it works. I'm going to miss hearing the little ones peeping from inside the eggs and mom chirping to them softly to come out.  Oh well as long as they are healthy and safe is what's important  

[Cammie]

There is a message on the Elk River website that the microphone ahs stopped working and that it will be fixed when the chicks are banded.  So...no sound until sometime in June!

They also estimate hatching around May 14 or 15.  I can't wait!

 

[Elaine L]

Everything has been very uneventful at this site, which is perfect for our falcon parents; they are both very committed, they know exactly what they are doing, and they are relaxed enough to spend alot of time dozing on the eggs while waiting for the big day.

[bcbird]

House keeping alert! 
Lovely view of the four eggs as parent shuffles pebbles a short distance away. 
Now settled back on the eggs facing away from the newly arranged pebbles.

[allikat]

There are now 4 eggs!!!  Way to go you two!!! 

I love watching the male come in, hunker down, move, shuffle, wiggle, nope not quite right, get up, move the eggs, hunker down, shuffle, wiggle, nope not quite right, get up again, move the eggs, hunker down, wiggle, shuffle, settle.....

[Cammie]

Still 3 eggs first thing this morning.  She has been restless all morning, on and off the eggs, shifting position, digging in the gravel and panting.

[JL]

I guess that was false labour.  She's off the eggs now, still just 3.   

[bcbird]

She still looks to be unsettled, working hard, panting, and occasionally using her talons to scrape away more gravel.  More harsh words for her mate, who made a very brief stop.

[Cammie]

Looks like it.  She had a lot to say to the mister a few minutes ago.

[JL]

Looks like she's in labour right now...another egg coming?