Day 38: fledge time!

June 20, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

Sunrise this morning was again at 5:06AM. The peregrines started of this morning under clear skies, bright sun, light winds from the south at 3MPH, and temp at 57F. The forecast for the day ahead calls for mostly sunny skies, with a high near 82. calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

2018.0619-001Just after sunrise, the three chicks were observed hanging on the outer ledge of the nest box, gazing westward.  The preen a bit, jump around, bob and turn their heads, and continue with vigorous wing flapping.  Fledging, or first flight is close at hand, and they seem to know they are ready to launch into flight.

 

 

 

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Stopped by the nest box just after 9:30 AM, and observed the female on the perch and all three chicks inside!  Overall, the female chicks develop more slowly than males, and so retained their down longer.  Age at first flight varies from 5 to 6 weeks.  One researcher found an average of 40 days, with males flying before females. The normal range runs about roughly 38 -46 days based on some observations, with many peregrines in Eastern Mass. making first flight, on average, around 40 days. Stay tuned!

 

Literature cited:

Ratcliffe, D. 1993. The Peregrine Falcon. 2nd ed. Carlton, England: T. and A. D. Poyser.