Derby Cathedral

Goodmorning dear juvies. It's when I wish the 3 little guys a very nice day. They will probably ahve breakfast somewhere else because it has not been served up the pud. So sorry for that, it's usually great to watch ( sorry pigeons).
They spent the morning preening on their perches. What else.











Very sweet look at them, the first photo's. They do have strong bonds these 3 chaps. Juvies always find eachother very beautiful and very interesting. We have seen the very same behaviour in Rochester and Columbus in the last days.











The day was spent with some flying no doubt, preening, perching and meditating about the Derbyshire skies. Right into a great and beautiful summerevening with azur skies over Derby. Wonderful indeed!











It looks so easy but it is not. Life of a juvenile is pure survival. The greatest dangers are in the first 2-3 weeks after fledging. There are so many things that can become fatal. Like crashing at landing, unable to gain height, and been killed. When weak attacked by other raptors. Flying into glas, or wire. They are not skilled flyers yet. The remiges and retrices are not yet fully grown or hardened out. They are still very vulnerable.

Facts are, even though we'd rather not know that only 1 in 4 will live to reproduce. We watch them hatch and they are so very sweet, we get attached to them. Almost as if they where pets. But they are not, these are raptors to be. Who have to kill on a daily basis to eat. Juveniles have to prove that they are worth the gift of the life which was giffen to them. Only very view can. The others have had the chance to taste live for a short while. Feel the wind under their wings, have seen our earth and the splendor of it. Their spirit takes the very experience back into the collectiveness. Untill next time. Nothing goes to waste and nothing is invane in this infinite universe we are part of. The essence stays the same, only form changes. Never forget.

I write these words because we are missing juvi 003. She has not been seen for a week now. Every day we can see 3 juvies close together, not 4. I think her wings took her back over the rainbowbridge.