Juvie 005 takes off for the very first time
After number 005 left the other 2 just went on with their normal routine. I don't think these 2 have much in common. Junior is a bit scared of his big sis.
There are so very many beautiful pics of today. You can find them all here:
http://picasaweb.google.nl/efrona22/DerbyJuviesOnJune132008i
Well a lot has happened today.
This morning at 08:07 one of the 3 juvies left the nestbox in great wingdisplay. But at 8:30 he could not get up again and landed on the pavement in Irongate in Derby's Cathedral Quarter. The projectteam rushed to the juvenile with resque equipment like sturdy gloves and boxes. Nick Brown managed very quickly to get hold of juvie with bandnumber doubble-0-5. The juvie was not happy with that but the team was! They took him back up to the roof of the Tower.
The juvie was left there to recover from all the excitement. He was kept company by one of his sibblings. Probably number doubble-0-3 who fledged 2 days ago and who was very happy to finally have one of his brothers with him no doubt. Both parents where up in the sky cacking loudly. As usual Dad kept distance far up in the sky and let Mum do the work of scaring off the humans. But no broomsticks and helmets needed overhere fortunately.
So we have 2 juvies left in the nestbox and 2 up the Cathedraltower. From which I think one is flying on and off and the other one just does not want to let go of the cathedral wall for savety.
Photo courtesy of Derby Peregrine Project
Fledging is always a tricky business. Very often only one of a nest is a born flyer and takes off as if he never did anything else, is capable of gaining height and is able to get back. In this nestsite that is double-O-4.
The other ones have to learn to fly. Fledging is always before the flightfeathers are fully grown and hardened out. And the flight muscles are not strong enough. So they are not able of powerflight yet. Drag is the enemy in this case. Gravity and drag. A peregrine falcon however is a champion in fooling drag by changing it's form into airfoil ( droplet) Wings, body everything about the peregrine is build for fast flying. The juvies have to learn to use the laws of science and not to fight them. And fighting is what they do when fledging. But they learn very fast.
Colin Pass told me last night how juvie double-O-4 flies great already.
This peregrine family has a wonderful projectteam behind them to protect them from harm. To be there when something happens like this morning. Thank you all projectmemebers for everything you are doing for these wonderful birds of prey we all love so very much.
Read more on the Derby Blog:
http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/
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