Four Falcon Chicks!

Hi All,
We now have four falcon chicks being cared for at this site. All eggs hatched and we are watching these birds grow rapidly. In about six weeks they will be beginning to fly. It all happens fast for falcons.

In the meantime watch for these chicks to be fed regularly. Are you able to identify any of the prey items?

All the Best,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute

Falcons continue to share incubation duties!

Hi All,

I am sure that many are enjoying watching these falcons bear the weather and protect their eggs. You have probably noticed that both the male and female falcons take turns at incubating the eggs. This allows the second bird to hunt for prey, drink water, and maintain their territory. What percentage of time do you see the female incubating compared the male?

One observation that many have made is that the female falcon is larger than the male. At times this size difference is striking, other times it can be less clear. Don't forget that birds can control each feather on their body to 'fluff up' or to compress their feathers against their body to be more streamlined. One artifact of the size difference between males and females is that larger females can take larger prey items to be eaten by the falcon "family".

I hope to be able to make a visit to the site to survey what the falcons have been eating of late. I will keep you posted when I am able to do that. In the meantime, be in touch with questions and share the BRI Peregrinecam with your friends. Observing the nest is likely to grow very exciting if indeed all four of the eggs hatch!

Until next time,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute

Four eggs! and update about banded male.

Hi All,

The falcons are now incubating four eggs. Eggs were laid on March 18, 20, 22, and 24. Egg #5 could appear today! Last year these falcons laid only four eggs but it is not out of the question for falcons to lay up to six eggs!

Also, I am excited to pass on some additional information about the banded male of this pair. As you know the male at this nest has a black over green band (with codes B/S) on its left leg and a silver Fish and Wildlife band on its right leg. Chris Martin of NH Audubon has provided an update about the history of this bird--he hails from New Hampshire and is in his sixth year!


From Chris Martin, Senior Biologist, New Hampshire Audubon:

Black/green B/S was 1 of 4 chicks fledged from the Brady-Sullivan Tower in downtown Manchester, NH in Spring 2005. His mother was raised at the Throgs Neck Bridge in New York City and his father comes from Cathedral Ledge near Conway, NH. Black/green B/S has been confirmed to be associated with this (webcam site) breeding territory since 2007.

In 2007 the falcons at this eyrie fledged one chick. Breeding efforts failed in 2008 but last year, 2009, these falcons again raised one chick...the only chick to hatch of four eggs. This is the second season that we have monitored this nest with BRI Peregirnecam.

Detailed information about individually marked birds is uncommon and difficult to acquire. Although such information is limited, it can be critical for addressing certain questions that relate to the behavior individuals such as dispersal distance, site fidelity, territory size. Can you think of other questions that might be answered by marking individual birds?

Because we banded last year's chick we may have a chance at tracking multiple generations of falcons...we just have to hope for the stars to align so that last years fledgling might be observed again somewhere. So, be on the lookout for falcons!

As always please keep in touch with your questions and comments about what you see here. Help contribute to this blog!

All the Best,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute

Falcons lay first egg on 3/18/10

Hi All,
I am happy to report that the falcons on our webcam have laid their first early this morning between 1:30 and 3:30 am. This is a very exciting start to spring. Last year the birds laid their first egg on March 20th. Here is a photo of a falcon incubating this first egg.

Peregrine falcons are widely distrubuted in North America and show variation in the number of eggs that they lay--generally they lay 3-6 eggs. The eggs are typically laid at intervals of about 48 hours, give or take. So, we will have to keep an eye on these birds in the coming days to see how many eggs they lay!

Many thanks for all your posts and please be in touch with questions and comments about what you are seeing. Don't forget to share this project with your friends and family.

All the Best,
Patrick Keenan
Outreach Coordinator
BioDiversity Research Institute

Webcam is down until Monday

Hi All,
I am sorry to report that we are having an issue with our webcam system and we will be down until Monday. Unfortunately, we will not be able to access the site until at least that day. I hope that I can solve the issue and have us back up first thing on Monday...wish me luck.
Best,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute

The male continues to prepare the site!

Hi All,

I hope that you have all been finding the time to check the webcam and see the male falcon that continues to make visits to this nest tray in preparation for the nesting season. As you can see from this photo this bird is banded. These leg bands are a small but critical piece of evidence that allows us to be certain of the individual identity of this bird. The birds bands have unique color and letter combination that allow observers to recognize individuals.


We have been able to identify this birds bands as...silver on the right leg and a black B over a green S on the left leg. We have several queries out to researchers to get more details about this bird and we will keep you up to date about the history of this bird in upcoming blogs...so keep checking back!

All the Best,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute

Falcons persist at the nest site!

Hi All, I am very happy to report about the frequent visits by the falcons to the perch in front of the nest and to the nest tray itself. Many are very eager for eggs to appear. Last year late March was the period of laying for these birds-the earliest nesting record for falcons in Maine! Let's keep our fingers crossed for this pair as the season progresses.

Here is an up close and personal view of what I believe is the male falcon perched directly in front of our inward looking camera.


Please be in touch with questions. My hope is to get a better dialogue going on our blogs and try to maintain posts each week or two.

All the best,
Patrick Keenan
BioDiversity Research Institute