Hi All,
Well, as many of you may be aware the falcon chicks have taken the leap! Following about a week or so of increased activity and wing flapping the falcons have flown for the first time. They will still maintain a presence at the site as they practice flying--indeed the adults will continue to care for them bringing them food for them to eat in the nest or near to it. These chicks still have along way to go. This is a difficult time for chicks, the probability of surviving these next few months is not high (probably < 40%). They have to become strong fliers and hunters and begin to fend for themselves. Let's keep an eye on them and wish them luck.
Until next time,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute
6/8/2010 How lucky to live so near the nest that I can see them whizzing back & forth in the sky. Just this morning as I pulled my trash to the roadside I was able to see & hear 4 PF's flying around in a sunny blue sky. They truly dart thru the sky always on a mission it seems, and nearly impossible to photograph or even get the binoculars on.....fast Fast FAST.
ReplyDelete06-09 @ 07:53
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to witness the success of this peregrine nest. Congratulations all!
Thanks for the anonymous post. Great to have a witness to the fab four on the wing.
JAM in IL
i read on the falcon blog, ( Ustream chat ), thingy.. that one of the banded male chicks from this nest was found dead.. on june 3d ...any truth in that ??or was someone posting lies on the blog ?? would be nice to hear from BRI..hope this is not true..
ReplyDeleteThe first eyas was documented as having left the scrape on June 2nd, by the viewing community. Patrick Keenan, the BRI biologist, reported on the BRI Peregrine thread, yesterday, June 11, that the Maine Banding Lab had notified him that - unfortunately - a banded male eyas had been found dead - on June 3rd.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that one of the eyas was found dead.
ReplyDeletecopy of comment from Patrick on the BRI ning site
ReplyDeleteComment by Patrick C. Keenan 1 day ago Hi all, thanks for all the posts.
I do want to pass along some bad news. The Bird Banding Lab sent a note that one of the male falcon chicks banded on May 18th was found dead on June 3rd. Notably this coincides with comments by community members that a max of only three chicks were seen for a few days around that period. I will send any details when or if I get them. This is not uncommon. Birds do die and for falcons this post-fledging period of time is particularly difficult to survive through. I have read that survival estimates for falcon chicks through flegding to dispersal are typically very low, 15 to 40 percent.
I hope everyone is doing well otherwise.
All the Best,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institue
6/14 6p.m. Just caught a PF in the scrape acting as tho nesting, altho I know it can't be...can it? It was met after about 5 min of twirling around in the box by the male!! who came by for a little 'hey how are ya'...he left after only a few minutes and a few kisses....she did the nest bowl thing for a bit but then stood for awhile at the edge of the nest box showing off her bands. Neat to see them acting like it was springtime all over again.
ReplyDeleteJ. in S.P.ME
I live in Lewiston and a PF just picked off a pigeon on my front lawn. I couldn't get my camera to open in time...
ReplyDeleteWow Lewiston PF lover! What an experience that must've been, one for your memory forever. I wish something would pick off a few pigeons that take full advantage of my bird feeder!
ReplyDelete