This morning the peregrines started the day with fog and light rain, winds from east at 5MPH and temp at 52F.  The day ahead calls for showers before 2pm, then showers likely with areas of drizzle between 2pm and 3pm, then areas of drizzle with a chance of showers after 3pm. Patchy fog before 5pm. High near 52. Northeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

The chicks are approximately 22 days old.  As we watch these chicks, the amount of black protruding along the edge of the wing indicates that the flight feathers continue to develop at a rapid rate, but it isn’t until the wing is spread that the state of development can be fully appreciated.  The web cam angle, from above, makes this view of the underwing a bit tough to observe.   The underwing view, when available, reveals that the primaries are barely emerging from their shafts, while the secondaries are already considerably more advanced. Here they are,  all three in active feeding mode again!

Overall, the developing young peregrines tend to live together amicably, and there are usually not any epic battles, which are so characteristic of some other raptors, notably Bald Eagles. Young peregrines are given to socialization with each other in the nest ledge, right up to and well past first flight.

Literature cited:

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

The Canadian Peregrine Foundation, Peregrine Falcon Development – Age Guide; http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/info/ageguide.html

Another beautiful morning…..today the peregrines started things off with sunny skies, calm wind conditions, and temp at 54F just after sunrise at 5:10 AM.  The day ahead calls for more sunshine with a high near 82. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph in the middle afternoon hours!

Over the past few days, the chicks have shifted to the north end of the nest box, up and under the web cam.  At times, it looks like no one is at home, and yet they are there.  Last year, a number of frantic emails came in with alarm and concern that somehow the chicks were gone…..not!  This morning, same thing, just out of sight, but with the female, with her tail just visible, out near the end of the perch pole, keeping a close eye on her little ones.  The unhatched egg remains intact through it all, and the nest box continues to be littered with feather debris from left over meals.

Just after 6:30 AM, the female returned to the nest box with a morning meal.  At first she met the chicks in the lower left hand corner and then the female moved to her right and more towards the middle of the box.  This allowed for a fuller view of all three chicks.  It provides a nice perspective on how the chicks have grown larger, yet still are somewhat patient when being fed!

Literature cited:

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

The Canadian Peregrine Foundation, Peregrine Falcon Development – Age Guide; http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/info/ageguide.html

Memorial Day started off under overcast skies with fog and mist, wind from the north at 9MPH, and temp at 52F.  Sunrise time was at 5:12 AM.  The forecast for the day ahead calls for patchy drizzle before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.  WOW!….from near 90F Saturday afternoon, to stuck in the 50s yesterday afternoon, it was about as big of a turnaround as you’ll see around here as August weather went to April real quick.  The week ahead brings warmer temps and lots of sunshine for the growing peregrine chicks!

Now we are around day 15, and the chicks are beginning to enter the “hunchback” phase, during which they are often seen in the pose above, with their feet splayed out in front of them and their head angled forward.  Today, we continue to observe the chicks in the ongoing lazy mode of lounging and sleeping in the back left corner of the nest box, with the attentive female always nearby.  Around 2PM, the female returned to the nest with prey in talons.  Once she settled inside, the chicks gathered in the semi-circle position, and they provided a nice look at their feet splayed out and they all stood in hunchback mode! 

Literature cited:

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

The Canadian Peregrine Foundation, Peregrine Falcon Development – Age Guide; http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/info/ageguide.html