Monday, May 4, 2009

Peregrine and Parenthood

Peregrines and Parenthood

By Ron Joseph, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

“How very exciting and quite a relief”: a blogger’s response to Patrick’s announcement of a falcon hatchling summarized our collective feelings. I couldn’t have stated it better myself. Admittedly, as the days dragged past a projected first hatch date, I had my doubts that any eggs had survived the cold snap that coincided with egg laying more than a month ago. Trying times are still ahead for this youngster and any sibling(s) that may hatch over the next few days (don’t be surprised if an egg or two doesn’t hatch). As my father was fond of saying, “They’re not out of the woods yet.” But there is reason for optimism. Peregrines are very dedicated parents so we’ll see food deliveries increase especially as the young mature. The adult male has been busy off camera caching food in “cupboards” such as crevices or ledges on old buildings or bridges. Those prey items will be retrieved and delivered to the attending adult. She’ll tear meat from a bird (most likely killed on the wing) before feeding it to her young. Since the young will be nearly full grown when they fledge in six weeks (six plus a few days for females), you can imagine how much food will be delivered by both parents.

At one month old, the young will compete with each other for food delivered by their parents. The nestlings will aggressively strike at food with their talons. It’s during this stage of their young’s development that parents, not wanting to be “footed” by a hungry youngster’s sharp talons, will drop food off quickly before departing the nest box. Some young are reluctant to leave the comfort of the eyrie when it’s time to fledge (sounds like my 19-year old son!). I once watched an adult female peregrine in Bryce Canyon National Park fly close to her eyrie clutching a dead white-throated swift in an attempt to encourage one reluctant youngster to fledge. It was actually quite entertaining. The youngster’s siblings had already fledged. But this particular youngster had no intention of leaving the red sandstone cliff eyrie. Each time a parent flew close by carrying food, the youngster would open its wings and scream defiantly. Finally, as the nestling leaned forward again with open wings, a strong gust of wind lifted it sideways out of the nest. The fledgling soon discovered the value of wings as it awkwardly chased its parents. The adult female dropped the dead swift and the youngster caught it in mid-air.

Peregrines in Maine also prefer to catch birds on the wing. Experienced adults use the sun to their advantage during hunting forays. They “climb” high in the sky, positioning themselves between the sun and their targeted prey knowing full well that an unsuspecting blue jay, for example, won’t look up into the sun where the peregrine is making its stoop. Peregrines fly over 100 mph (and sometimes much more) in a dive; their talons form a loose fist until the moment they strike. When peregrines hit their prey, be it blue-winged teal or grackle, the feathers fly as the injured bird tumbles through the air.

I collected feathers from over a dozen different bird species (i.e. rose-breasted grosbeak, northern flicker, mourning dove, American robin, to name a few) in one western Maine eyrie in the mid-90s. The Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife sent the feathers to the late Roxie Laybourne of the Smithsonian Institute for identification. She was the world’s leading expert on bird identification from forensic evidence. I was privileged to work with Ms. Laybourne when I worked as a raptor biologist in Utah. She helped me identify lots of prey remains from many peregrine eyries. She could identify the age and sex of a bird based on one feather. Ms. Laybourne told me once that she helped the FBI solve a murder by matching the pillow feathers in a dead man’s nose with the pillow used by the murderer!

If all goes well in the weeks ahead, the young peregrine(s) should fledge sometime in mid-June. The nest box will become littered with small feathers, desiccated prey bones, and lots of white wash (falcon excrement). Be sure to turn on the volume because nestlings are quite vocal, especially when food is delivered.

Ron Joseph
Wildlife Biologist

80 comments:

  1. I've watched Mom(?) for about 25 minutes and it appears the three eggs are out in front of her. She hasn't made any attempt to pull them back underneath. Maybe they are not going to hatch and she just knows its time to give up on them.

    Time will tell.

    5:37 PM May 4

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  2. Thanks, Ron, for all the info!

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  3. 05/04 @ 24:00

    Thanks for the great post, Ron.

    Now if only we could have at least one more chick ...

    JAM in IL

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  4. 5:35 pm EST and mom just fed the little one. These two are so devoted and such good parents, I'm really happy they've had a hatch here!

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  5. Chick just got fed again. Getting bigger.
    Does anyone know what they will do with the eggs? Push them out?
    6:30PM May 5

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  6. Mom (no bands) just got through feeding the chick. Still three eggs. Still hard to tell what the victim was. She takes the remnants away and comes back a short time latter. I suspect she is getting rid of it to keep predators from sniffing it out.
    5:25 PM May 6

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  7. The baby finches are starting to look like clowns pouring out of a VW Beetle. How long before they venture beyond the nest? Their feathers appear to be filling out nicely.

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  8. 7:30PM May 6
    Some type of bird was just fed to the chick.

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  9. 05/06 @ 03:35

    Looks as though we are going to be able to watch the development of one very spoiled only chick. Love watching (and hearing!) the interaction.

    Is there any hope for the other 3 eggs hatching? I guess we will know for sure when Mom gives up on them.

    JAM in IL

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  10. Thank you so much for all of the super info! Watching this am...Momma was fussing with one eggs in particular...maybe another hatchling? My fingers are crossed! They are truly attentive parents.

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  11. Both parents fed the chick within a few minutes of each other. Mom spent the most time. Noticed the chick is getting some dark areas around the chest...feathers starting?

    Both the chick and parents vocalizing during feeding.

    6:40PM May 7

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  12. Mom just fed the chick. Nice, full crop for the little one. Victim looked like a small bird.

    6:10AM May 8

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  13. Will the wildlife biologists retrieve those eggs if they get the chance to try and determine if they were fertile?

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  14. Mom just fed the chick. She stood sideways to the camera this time so you could get a real good view of her feeding. When the chick stopped reaching up for the offering, Mom gobbled the rest of whatever it was right down.

    12:20PM May 8

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  15. May 8, 1:45PM

    Dad had been hanging out on the end of the stick and then took off. A short time later he delivered a meal. Mom grabbed it and started eating. When Dad turned to leave I could see a green band on his left leg and a silver band on his right.

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  16. May 8 1:57 p.m.
    I had been away from the cam for awhile. So happy to tune in and see the chick and then a parent bring food and feed it, then settle down over the chick.
    Karen in Denmark

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  17. With one chick getting all of the attention, he/she is really growing fast! What a cute little guy, love watching/listening.

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  18. Mom fed the chick at 7:00AM May 8. Chick must have been full as it turned away from Mom. Mom then finished off the leftovers.

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  19. That chick is getting huge! I just saw it stand up tall for a bit. I've enjoyed this and the other cams. I have a peregrine nest on the power plant three blocks away here in Madison, WI, but there's no cam there. Maybe next year.

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  20. Just saw both parents feed the chick; 2:46 pm EST. They must be young parents because she still won't stop incubating the eggs and she just tried to grab the chick by the neck and push it under her with the eggs..poor chick is too big now and can now regulate his/her body temperature so I'm concerned that mom keeps trying to keep it right under her. Will you go in and take out the eggs at some point? Or would that discourage them from coming back next year?

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  21. I found a great site that documents the development of peregrine chicks from hatching to fledging...photos and behavior descriptions. Looks like we are right on track.
    http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/info/ageguide.html

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  22. the sound has gone...... just weird noise.

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  23. 05/14 @ 17:40

    Thanks for the link re peregrine development! I cannot believe how the chick has grown while I have been gone. Nice to know that those huge looking feet are normal!

    The sound is still weird with a very irritating noise. Wonder what happened, hope BRI can fix it as I miss the chatter.

    JAM in IL

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  24. do anyone know what all the blk stuff ( feathers , maybe ) in the falcon nest ?? was not there last nite..Jr is getting very big..

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  25. 05/15 @ 10:04

    10:00/10:03 - How fun to catch baby home alone. Did not catch adult departure so length of time unknown. Baby was quite active until Mom returned for snuggle time.

    No sound at all right now (which is better than that irritating noise). Hope that means that BRI is working on it as baby seemed to be vocal and I hated to miss hearing those strange baby sounds.

    JAM in IL

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  26. Hi. i just watched the falcon, baby. was alone in the nest for about a 1/2 hr..... mom ?? flew in and then left. Jr is laying down, and has not gotton into an upright position. hope nothing is wrong.....

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  27. looks like the little one is lieing on its side??? and maybe is hurt ??? hasen`t sat up in the last 45 minutes

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  28. ok i guess Jr was haveing a nap.. and now looks well fed......wow i was wondering if all was ok... seems to be !!!!!!!

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  29. 05/16 @ 09:20

    Cannot believe the daily growth of this chick!

    Thankful for the functioning cams but miss hearing the chatter.

    JAM in IL

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  30. i just saw a falcon ( looked like mom ) just get rid of JR !!!!!!!!!!!!??????? chased him off the nest box and was attacking him ?!!!!!!!!!!! Please someone from BRI tell us what is going on ?!!!!!!!!!! I`m just shocked and sick !!!!!!!!!!!!time is 11:27 am 5-46-2009

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  31. i just checked back in to the web cam and the mom ?? is sitting and covering the eggs again ! i think she killed the chick !!!!!!!! this was very hard to watch........... i`m trembleing !!!never seen anything like this.. wish sound was working...

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  32. he is still alive at 11:31 am........... mom ?? is still after him and do not want him in the nest box..... BRI ???!!!!!!!!!are you checking the web cam ???

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  33. just saw the falcon chick at 11:54 am behind the nest box..5-16-2009.......... mom falcon??!! still being nasty to JR.. baby looks like he is calling for help....... mom is trying to keep the eggs covered ..

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  34. i hope this little guy has a chance to fledge. hopefully the dad ?/ will keep him fed. tho looks like the mom is gonna tear this chick apart......looks like she wants the 3 eggs to hatch.

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  35. Someone needs to design a better nesting platform. Either make it impossible for a chick to get knocked off, becoming stuck in the cracks, or make it possible for the chick to climb back up to the box if he/she gets knocked off.

    The mom seems to be trying to pull the chick back up, but she can't figure out how to do it.

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  36. Just watched the whole video and I think she was trying to get him to get under her to cover him too. Though he looks way too big for that now. She kept trying to pull his head under her and he kept backing up until he fell off the box. Then her attempts to get him back up were unsuccessful as well. I did not get the impression that she was trying to attack him.

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  37. To the little falcon chick, "Head toward the light!"

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  38. Imagine if all the eggs had hatched, they'd all be stuck down in the cracks! The platform would not have been big enough for all of them, the chicks tend to move toward the corners anyway, so get to work on a better platform design.

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  39. The chick has fallen out of the box and can't get back in!!! The mother is now incubating the eggs again while the poor chick is stuck alone outside the box way down....!!!

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  40. the dad flewin with food, at about 2:30 did not see chick at first then i think might have fed Jr a little , as dad did get behind the nest box, then picked up food and flew out.. then mom and dad changed places on the eggs, then did another change..and mom is back on the eggs......any hope for the chick being rescued and raised in capitivity?? then released??.. if no one helps, then i don`t believe JR will last very long.. very sad to see this happen...and i do believe the falcons nest on clifs...so a bigger nest box might not have helped..

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  41. The area is plenty big enough, you just need to prevent the chicks from getting stuck in those gaps. The parents can't quite figure out how to get the guy back up.

    You need to extend the nesting platform to the edges so chicks can't get stuck, or lower the height of the box.

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  42. larry said: It appears the remaining eggs are not going to hatch, if anything is done the eggs should be removed and the chick put back in the nest, then hopefully the mother would get back to attending the chick.

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  43. BRI, what happens now? Do we just let nature take if course, or do we help the chick? Mom just went down between the nesting box and the wall to try to get the chick back into the nest. Hopefully the chick can figure out how to get back up.

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  44. 05/16 @ 19:37

    Chick still in corner out of box. I share the expressed concern. Apparently chick being fed. What is the weather ... cold/rain???

    Everyone keep posting, please.

    Oh my ....

    JAM in IL

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  45. i see ther chick in the left side of the box.. can`t tell if he has a full crop, ( showing he was fed )... i`m hopeing he will survive, and praying the rain due in later, don`t chill him too much..hang in there JR..... Beat the odds !!!!!!!and survive..

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  46. The falcon chicks on the Travelers Tower in Hartford Ct. (cam is online) are just plopped down next to each other in the open, no shelter.

    This chick should be ok from the rain, it would be better off against the back wall. The chick was well fed, its crop was very full.

    The mom is stressed out about the chick, though, she's up and down and even she has a tight squeeze to get back up...

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  47. 05/16 @ 20:38

    I have also observed the adult down with the chick and having a difficult time getting back into the nest. Also, it seems the adult tried to lift the chick into the nest at one point while in the nest ... holding on to its head/neck ... enough to slighty lift it off its feet for a split second.

    I would think that the adult could certainly destroy the chick easily if it did not recognize it or wanted to be rid of it in favor of the eggs. That has not happened.

    If continued feeding occurs, the chick has a chance.

    Thanks for the posts.

    JAM in IL

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  48. i think the chick is back in the nest !! I`m so relieved . and s/he is snuggled with mom... happy day ! and some great luck......

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  49. Watched steadily from just before noon until 5PM-ish to see all that has been reported, except that my observances were, too, that of the female exhibiting a pretty clear case of aggitation. Her snag of the chick when it was on the backside of the scrape box was distressing, although I did wonder for a nanosecond if she had switched to 'retrieval mode' from her seemingly initial attack mode. Her raised shoulders and spread back feathers, obsessive attention to egg turning and scrape reshaping, and her almost-manic jumpstarts/approaches to the chick when it called out were, to me, clear indications of said aggitation.

    Nonetheless, when I tuned back in at midnight/12:30ish (EDT) I saw a little white body still out on the edge of the viewing frame that appeared to be the chick in good shape. Was away from the screen for 20 minutes only to return to find a clear visual mass of white feathers at the females breast. Thank you, whatever act it was that caused that.

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  50. The chick is back in the nest box !5-17-2009

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  51. the chick was waiting for a feeding.. when mom ?? left.. but did not see dad fly ing with anyfood.. i hope they feed JR !!! he looks hungry and has been calling.. hard to tell with no sound.. I`m hopeing all will get back to normal..5/17/2009 at 6:30 am

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  52. Hey everyone...the chick is back in the nesting box and enjoying a big breakfast...I knew everything would work out. Hurray!

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  53. 5/17/2009 7:25 am Jr haveing a big big breakfast !! looks like all is well..

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  54. I was just watching the chick being fed and it looks like it has a large bump on its neck. Did anyone else notice this

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  55. That's the "crop", used to hold food before it's digested.

    Also, to BRI, thanks for helping the chick back into the nest box.

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  56. I believe the "bump" on the front of the neck you are seeing is a full crop. Mom just fed Jr for quite a while.

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  57. 05/17/09 @ 09:49

    Wow ... talk about drama! Thank goodness baby is back in the nest. Some accounts state that Mom pulled it back up.

    Great group of posts here ... thanks.

    JAM in IL

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  58. 05/17 @ 10:00

    09:55 - Another feeding attempt. Baby ate a bite and then actually declined more. Mom left with the half carcass. When have we seen the chick too full to eat more?

    Still growing with signs of feathers.

    JAM in IL

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  59. I was under the impression that the male was trying to Make jr get under him when he fell out of the box. The little one didnt want to go so he fell out. The dad was very upset and tried to retrieve jr but didnt get it done. Now little one looks as though he is hurt. I missed the feeding this morning but when I last checked in jr was doing great, now he looks almost dead. Has anyone seen jr act like he did previous to being out of the box?

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  60. When Jr looks "dead", he is sleeping. He is still too young to be sitting up and sleeping. If you observe other raptor chicks, they do the same thing. Mom fed him quite a bit this morning. They don't endlessly eat and because it is only one chick there appears to be no shortage of food coming to the nest.

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  61. Thats good to know. I am knew at watching and learning alot. I wasnt sure if he got hurt in the ordeal of getting back into the nest and was concerned. He does seem to be waking up abit and moving around the way he should. Thanks for the info. Does make me feel better that he is ok.

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  62. Just checked in (12:54 PM) , baby chick moving around quite well, evidently no worse for wear. Quite an eventful evening last night, Mom just left the nest, it looked as if she was tired of the chick trying to get under her for warmth.

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  63. Just checked in this am...9:58 central time and saw that Jr was doing fine. 11:58am, he seems to be picking at his feet and preening his down...too cute. It also appears, though M&D are not there, Mom has pushed the eggs to the side. Maybe she has decided that they are not viable and has learned to focus on Jr now after the trauma yesterday. As I watched Mom this am sit with him under her breast, all 3 eggs were on the outside of her wings. While watching live yesterday and also the wonderful youtube videos shared by a member, I never got the impression that either M or D was trying to hurt Jr. Aggitated, yes, with the thought that he fell off and they didn't know how to get him back up there, but never aggitated to the point of attacking him.

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  64. Check youtube.com and watch the videos of the Rescue!! It's amazing that finally either M or D found a way to get him back into the box. Unless there was a BRI hand in the back of the box(hidden from the camera), there was no human intervention in the rescue other than our good thoughts and well wishes...psychic energy. :0)

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  65. Jr was up and walking around the nest box about 12:30 to 1 :20 pm 5/17/2009...and was calling for some food.. them the mom flew back in and wants to cover jr up.. he is sleeping and hopefully there will be a nice meal soon.. perhaps dad is checking what todays speical-----Is..... this is a wonderfull, and very thrilling , bit of nature to be able to see in real time, ( live ) and many tghanks to BRI and all who have given there time to share this ...... Many thanks !!!!!!!!!!

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  66. This is the YouTube link:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vqmioiZTnY

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  67. I don't know what she's feeding the little guy, but they've been going at it for a while now. He looks so full!

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  68. Mealtime again at 3:30 Sun afternoon. Chick was interested in picking at the supper him/herself, but Mom/Dad insisted on feeding it. Chick did as told and ate well. Chick appears no worse for wear following the recent behind-the-box ordeal.

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  69. It appears that the 3 eggs are gone, has anybody else noticed this? Maybe Mom pushed them over the side? Hopefully somebody will post if they observed anything unusual.

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  70. I believe the eggs are still there, covered. They were present at 3:30 and one is visible on still cam.

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  71. The eggs are still there at 6:50 pm 5-18-2009... Jr has a full crop, and laid dwon , after a short walk around the nest box.. and white washing the outside area.. he looks to be fine..the youtube video is cool, looks like mom just grabbeed jr and hauled him back in the nest..good work for mom or dad.. this is way better than watching tv..

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  72. I believe it has been determined Dad has the two leg bands, one green (left leg) and one silver. Also, Dad is smaller. I think Mom spends most of the time around the nest as I have only observed the legs bands a few times.

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  73. Looks like mom has given up on the other eggs. This morning they were pushed off to the side of the nesting tray, and now I don't see them at all.

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  74. Two eggs are still visible @ 7:10pm central time 5/18, but she hasn't covered them since Jr was pulled back into the box after his adventure outside the box. She has obviously realized that he's her sole focus now.

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  75. Awesome feeding at the 2 o'clock hour. Chick is nicely up off those tarsals quite a bit now, and doing lots of flapping. The prey's foot look suspiciously zygodactyl...a Pileated's? Aaacck!

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  76. 6pm 5/21 Chick is working very hard to muster the courage, strength, and coordination to get down onto the platform in front of the box. Parent is far out on the limb, as if to coax junior out.

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  77. Chick is on the platform in front of the box. 18:04 EDT.

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  78. Success. Junior is on platform and has found a good-sized piece of food there (positioned there intentionally by parent?) Gaining independence steadily

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  79. Junior is back in the box. Road trip complete.

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  80. Comments seem to have been deleted... the last two weeks have disappeared. JR is out on the branch. I think we will soon find the nest empty.

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