Day 39: first fledge, two to go!
June 21, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
First day of summer! Sunrise this morning was again at 5:06AM under fair skies, light winds from the south at 5MPH, and temp at 62F. The peregrines started of this morning under fair skies, wind from south at 5MPH, and temp at 62F. The day ahead forecast calls for a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Light and variable wind becoming northeast 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Now the first chick has fledged and the other two will follow shortly! Just after 5:30AM this morning, the female dropped off prey and the two chicks went into a scrum to attack the food. The rumbled with each other over the food in a tug of war….quite a show. The remaining two continue vigorous wing flapping as they perch at the outer edge of nest box and look for their sibling nearby. First flight may happen at any time of day. The males will typically fledge first, and the females just a bit after, but not always the case.
Literature cited:
Ratcliffe, D. 1993. The Peregrine Falcon. 2nd ed. Carlton, England: T. and A. D. Poyser.