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Lawrence Peregrines: full time incubation begins!

April 13, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

Onset Of Broodiness And Incubation In Relation To Laying

Here is a look around 6:30 AM this morning, under clear skies, winds from the west at 8MPH, and temps in the low fifties. It looks like we have officially started full time incubation. In temperate latitudes, full time incubation usually begins with the penultimate, or second to last egg egg. When temperatures are at or near freezing, active incubation may start a bit earlier. We have now seen either the female or the male incubating the eggs with almost no break in between shifts, since the fourth egg was laid. The male seems to be taking a very active role in the incubation process.

Incubation Patches

Both sexes have paired lateral brood patches. Less well developed in male. Belly area may function as patch also but less edematous and vascular than breast (TJC). In this photo, the male is taking a break on outside edge of the nest box. He waited a while until the female showed up and set down on the perch pole outside the nest box.

Incubation Period

The peregrines at this location have usually incubated their eggs for 29 to 33 days. In the early days of brooding it’s important to keep the eggs as close to their ideal incubating temperature as possible. If it is too hot or too cool and the eggs won’t develop properly. Later in the incubation process, proper temperature isn’t quite as important. After a couple of weeks the falcons will be able to leave the eggs uncovered for longer periods of time. Sometimes leaving the eggs uncovered frequently, or for long periods can mean that the eggs hatch a few days later than normal. This is a very well protected nest box in a location where the resident peregrines will not be disturbed, so they will tend to incubate steadily until the eggs hatch.

Literature cited:

White, C. M., N. J. Clum, T. J. Cade and W. G. Hunt. 2002. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.660

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Lawrence Peregrines: Fourth egg!!

April 12, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

Great news….the fourth egg was laid overnight and now the full-time incubation process begins and lasts about 30 days! This is likely the final egg, but were not able to know for sure just yet.

Checked in a look around 6AM this morning and the female was hunkered down, in incubation mode, under partly cloudy skies, winds from the south at 6MPH, and temp at 35F.

The forecast today calls for a chance of showers, mainly after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 58. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Finally, warmer temps on the way!

The male came in and allowed the female to take a break, and then he proceeded to incubate the eggs, now starting to share in the task of sharing the duties. Once incubation begins, the incubation process usually takes between 29 – 33 days until the chicks hatch! During this time the weather is expected to become warmer! Despite the dramatic events of the last two weeks, the circle of life continues on!

Lawrence Peregrines: awaiting next egg?

April 11, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

Up again just before 6AM, and observed the female out of the box, and 3 eggs nestled close to one another, under overcast skies, fog and mist, little wind, and temp at 34F. A dense fog advisory is in effect for a few more hours. The female will typically get and head out first thing in morning. Once full time incubation starts, the male will cover for her while she is out.

The forecast calls for patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

A 6:18 AM, the male arrives at the nest box, the female departs, and the male fidgets around, adjusting eggs a bit, and then departs after 7 minutes leaving the eggs unattended. This would suggest that full time incubation has not yet started. Full time incubation means one of the falcons will be on the eggs at all times except for a few short breaks, typically lasting no more than 2-3 minutes. The male was almost fumbling and bumbling with the eggs and seemed unsure on what to do….stay tuned!

The female returns at 6:36 AM and lands on the outer edge of the nest box. She moves around just a bit and then resumes her incubation posture. She will often make a number of micro adjustments before sitting still for a while. The eggs were left alone for almost 20 minutes.

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Lawrence Peregrines: Three eggs!!

April 10, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

Up early just before 6AM, for a look at the possible third egg and the answer is YES! This morning the female is waking up to overcast skies, wind from the NE at 5MPH, and temp about 34F.

The forecast for today: Scattered showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

The female was moving around quite a bit late yesterday afternoon, and spent time standing over the two eggs. It looked like she was ready to drop the third egg, but the timing was not yet right. Looks like the third egg was laid after dark. The time interval between egg #2 and egg #3 looks to be in the range of 56 -64 hours, or just a bit more than 2 days apart……well within normal range!

Around 6:25AM the female departed for another break, and then returned and perched on the outer pole for a while, before returning to the inside of the box…

Once again, she hovers over the eggs, and then nestles in back in incubation mode to keep the eggs warm. The male has not yet engaged in incubation duties, but will do so shortly!

Lawrence Peregrines: waiting for next egg…

April 9, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

Today may be the day that the female lays her third egg! The second egg was laid Saturday in the middle of the day, and typically the female will lay eggs about 48 hours apart. Today the female woke up to clear skies, and winds from the west at 10MPH, and temperature around 30F. The wind chill was around 21F and with the wind blowing from the west, she felt the chill and spent lots of time incubating the eggs and protecting them from the cold. She did spend time perched at edge of nest box and on the outer perch pole.

Late in the morning, the male arrived in the nest box with prey and it was a joy to watch them engage in pair bonding as a new pair, and watch them in a classic food exchange. The photo shows the males with back to camera and the female facing the camera. By this time the temps had moved up a bit, but the wind chill at 27F, made the air still feel quite cold.

By late in the afternoon, the temps had warmed up to mid-forties, with wind chill just above 40F. The wind remained fairly steady and continued from the west at 10MPH. The female spent time hovering over the eggs, rather than squatting low in incubation posture. It seemed like she might be ready to lay another, but turns out, not just yet!

Lawrence Peregrines: a rest day between eggs!

April 8, 2018 in In the Nest Box

Just after 6AM, had a nice look on the nest box, under fair skies, light winds from the north at 6MPH, and temps just below freezing, and a wind chill around 25F. The female departed the nest box for a while, as is normal firth thing in the morning. As the eggs are being laid, it is normal for the female to spend time warming the eggs, and time outside the nest box, but near by. Whne she is up and out, it provides a nice look at the reddish brown eggs.

In the middle of the day, she is seen incubating the eggs, with her tail pressed down firm behind her, and her wing tips a bit up in the air, all to help her keep the warm air in! The winds remained light and temps warmed up to just over 40F.

At the end of the day, another chance to view the eggs while the female is out on another well deserved break. The winds had picked up quite a bit from the NW at 16MPH, and gusts up almost 25MPH.

Lawrence Peregrines: waiting for second egg!

April 7, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

Had some time to get up and watch from just after 6AM, with the female in and out of the nest box. At 7AM, it was snowing lightly with winds from SW at 6MPH, and temp around 37F. The female was seen perched just outside the nest box. After initial egg is laid, the female will hover over and/or incubate the egg, particularly if the temperature is at or near freezing. At this point in the egg laying process, active incubation has yet to begin. Thought we might see the second egg, but it may be just a bit delayed and coming later today!

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Lawrence Peregrines: first egg late in day

April 5, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

It is always a joy-filled day when the first egg is laid, and the new breeding season is underway. It has been a dramatic week with “Crash” getting caught in a major altercation, and having the nest taken over by another peregrine falcon, and then his death. The first egg has been laid just under 6 days after the big fight. The female is right on schedule despite this major, unexpected change. She laid her first egg almost to the day a year ago, and then laid 3 more eggs in the following days. Once you see the first egg, you can’t help but look in again, and again! Great news!

Lawrence Peregrines: First egg!!

April 5, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

Here we are at minutes before 6AM, with sunrise at about 6:16AM, and looking in on the female. It sure looks like she is hunkered down tight on her fist egg. But, not yet able to confirm until she lifts up, and provides a look! She is seen here in typical incubation posture, providing every indication that the first egg has been laid.

A few minutes before 8AM, the male returns to the nest box with prey in bill and offers it to the female who has maintained her incubation posture. As she receives th eprey, she does little to help confirm that the first egg has been laid!

Finally after waiting and waiting, the female laid her first egg early this morning well before sunrise. 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.

Incubation usually will not begin until the second to last egg has been laid. In this colder weather, the female will spend time incubating the egg, but it may not be a non-stop effort!

Literature cited:

Nelson, R.W. 1971. Captive breeding of peregrines: suggestions from their behavior in the wild. Raptor Research News 5(2):54-82.

Male and female feeding time; one egg to hatch!

May 13, 2017 in In the Nest Box

Hatching begins when the chick hammers a hole in the egg with a special “egg tooth” on the end of its beak. The bird makes a neat cut all the way around the egg, essentially cutting off the large end of the egg. This process may take up to 48 hours and requires a great deal of energy.

A newly hatched falcon chick weighs about one and a half ounces (60 grams) and is virtually blind. Covered only with a light coat of fluffy white down, it requires constant brooding by the female in order to stay warm. Obtaining energy from the small remnant of the egg yolk, now neatly tucked away inside its body, the newly hatched eyas isn’t usually fed by the parents for about 24 hours.

Feeding commences on day two, when the young falcon gapes and bobs its head around in search of small pieces of meat delicately provided by the female. She elicits their food-begging and feeding behavior by evoking a sharp “eeechup” call as she approaches the brood with food.

Tags: lawrence peregrines, lawrence peregrines eggs, Peregrine falcon, peregrine falcon massachusetts, peregrine falcons eggs ready to hatch, Peregrine Falcons Essex County, Peregrine Falcons Lawrence, peregrine falcons nestbox
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