Lawrence Peregrines: Egg #4!

March 28, 2020 in In the Nest Box

Conditions; clear skies, wind S at 3MPH, temp at 37F; forecast for day ahead – increasing clouds, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Tonight rain likely, mainly after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Light southeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

2020.0328.LPWhat a joy to behold this morning just before 7AM….egg #4! The eggs have been laid 48 hours apart over last number of days.  This is the normal pattern and this may be the last egg to be laid. So now, the Peregrines shift into full and shared incubation duties that will last the next 32 to 33 days or so.  We are about a week ahead of last year’s egg laying time frame and two weeks ahead from two years ago.  With God’s grace the circle of life continues!

2020.0328.LP1According to Birds of North American Online: the eggs are fairly smooth without gloss. When fresh, ground color varies from pale creamy to brownish or reddish overlaid with dots, spots, and blotches of various warm browns to deep reds and purples; great variation. Generally deeper and richer color than other large North American falcons.

Lawrence Peregrines: Egg #3

March 26, 2020 in In the Nest Box

Conditions: partly sunny, wind N at 18MPh, with gusts to 29MPH, 40F; forecast for today – cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 45. North wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph; tonight – increasing clouds, with a low around 40. Light south wind becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

2020.0326.LP-001After a long observation period this morning through the New Balance Falcon Cam, finally just before 9AM, the female lifted up and took in flight for a break and revealed egg #3 right on schedule.  Typically the female Peregrine lays eggs about every 48 hours until the process is complete.  We have seen mostly 4 eggs laid per year at this location, and usually near the end of March! This first image shows the eggs in the scrape all close together!

2020.0326.LP1-001Moments later, the female returned to the lateral perch that extends out from the nest box.  She rested there for a awhile before resuming her incubation duties!

Lawrence Peregrines: 2020 Egg #2!

March 26, 2020 in In the Nest Box

Conditions: overcast skies, wind NW at 7MPH, temp at 35F; forecast for today – partly sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind around 8 mph and tonight -mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.

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Great news this morning about 10 minutes before sunrise time, checked the nest box web cam and egg #2 has been laid overnight! This first image was captured through the webcam about 6:40AM. At first look, the female was out of the nest box, and then returned minutes later. Normally, the eggs are laid 48 hours apart, but there may be variations. We’ll expect the third egg on Thursday morning. Until the next to last egg is laid, the female may only incubate form time to time unless the temp is a bit cooler.

 

 


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Later in the afternoon as the sun came out and the temperature warmed up, the female was seen incubating both eggs!

Lawrence Peregrines: 2020 Egg #1!

March 22, 2020 in In the Nest Box

It was a cold start to this Sunday, with temperatures in the upper teens to 20s, under a clear sky and subtle breeze.  This afternoon, under sun-filled skies, temperatures only rebounded back into the upper 30s. The wind chills were in the upper 20s through most of the day. Tonight, the Peregrines will have increasing clouds, with a low around 24. Southeast wind around 6 mph.

2020.0322.LPMade a visit to the extended Clock Tower area late Friday afternoon, and checked on the activity around the nest box and the extended Clock Tower. It was fairly quiet and the female was seen from the street and through the webcam. She was mulling around inside the nest box. Checked again this morning and wonderful surprise in seeing the first egg for 2020!

Later in the afternoon, she spent a more time incubating the egg, and basking in the later afternoon sunshine! Recently, her behavior was very consistent with the general lethargy that a female falcon typically experiences in the few days prior to laying the first egg. In many cases this lethargy may last a week or longer. She lazes around and spends lots of time in the nest box, nest scraping, and other courtship related activities.

2020.0322.1-001Incubation usually will not begin until the second to last egg has been laid. In this cool spring weather, with night time temps in the low 30’s, the female will spend some time incubating the egg, but it may not be a non-stop effort! The female has a silver federal leg band on her right leg; and a black over green 38/BV band on her left leg.  The male has only a silver right leg band and no band on his left leg.