Sunday, April 27, 2008
Zwolle: third hatch
A few minutes ago the third eyas hatched in Zwolle: welcome newborn peregrine. We are so happy all over the world that you are there. You're birth has been watched by thousands.
Zwolle: second hatch
Early this morning the second eyas hatched. This evening the third egg pipped. So hatching in full progress.
There has been a lot of panic going on about the female not starting to feed the first eyas. And with panic I mean panic. There where even people suggesting the female did not know she had to feed the eyas.
Well she does! Feeding babies is the primary female instinct together with protecting.
But when the first eyas is born most of the time there are other eggs hatching or going to hatch. The female instinct tells her to stay put. The keep on the nest and not leave. And do not eat. She will not begin feeding until she accepts being fed by the male bird. Or being offered food by him. As long as she refuses she will not feed the eyas either.
The only other reason a female refuses to feed a newborn is when she knows it's not Ok en will not survive.
Nature has made this masterplan, wise as she is. Thats why mother nature provides the newborn eyases with a big foodsuplly in the intestants. Just before hatching the leftover pure yolk is being extracted right into the digestive system via the cloaca. It is more than enough to give the eyas food for 48 hours. So the female can attent to the hatching eyases and does not have to leave to feed. Isn't nature magnificent!
In Zwolle we have watched this process right into the little details. As soon as the second hatchling was born the female accepted food from her partner and started feeding. Since then both hatchlings have been getting food every 2 hours. She's handling by the book.
This is her very first nest, later when she is more experienced she will loosen up and make her very own feedingrules.
Oberhausen 29 days old
Look at this qute little fellow. More advanced in his development than both his sisters. He is almost in his juvenile plumage. His sisters however are still covered in down. They have a lot more growing to do than male juvi's. The weight difference between male and female peregrines is about 250 gram. One third or "ein terzel" as the german word says. That is where the "tiercel" comes from, the name often used for male peregrines. The name for a female peregrine is falcon.
Cobb Island
These 3 are very adorable sweeties. Being very well taken care of by both peregrines. A lot of food is being brought in.
Columbus Ohio
With all the eyases being born we will however not forget the nestboxes where brooding is still going on, like here with Orville and Scout. They have still a long way to go. Hatching is not expected before May 13. So keep up the good work !
Brighton Sussex Heights: hatching
There was a considerable amount of noise and activity this morning around the top of the building as a third peregrine made its presence felt. All three birds were heard to be calling out and while the male stayed on the eggs the female escorted the intruder away.
Biologiste have detected delicate noises coming from one or more of the eggs today and as can be seen from teh pic a "pip" (or break) in the egg has now appeared in the top of the egg on the right which the female appears to be staring intently at.
So hatching is on teh way. Tomorrow morning there will probably be a hatchling in teh nestbox.
James River Bridge: 19 days old
These 3 sweeties have so stoolen my heart. Look how they've grown. They're no little white fluffies anymore but transforming into raptors-to-be. But still so adorable.
They can stand a little on their feet instead of sitting on their tarsi. Please stay small a little longer. Will be hard to say goodbye in a few weeks time.
heidelberg: what's going on
Something was obviously going on. From this point pictures are taking and our male bird Phönix didn't like what he saw. And was checking it out. The kids have moved to the corner. And have grown quite a bit. First tailfeathers are visibel.
De Mortel
S2 and Pa love their role as new parent. The ejoyment can hardky stay unnoticed. Pa is around the nestbox a lot, showing off. He is a very handsome fellow isn't he?
S2 is a real mom, protecting, caring, spoiling, loving, she is doing a great job.
She is really taking care the youngest one get's enough food. I have been observing her during feedings and she is very keen on the little one, offering it food instead of giving it to the screaming oldest. She will take care this little chap is getting it's share. Probably a male one. Most of the time the youngest is.
Zurich: a visitor
It stays very intriguing what is going on here. I caught the male bird this afternoon plucking a prey. I expected (hoped) he would go inside to offer the prey to his female and perhaps eyases, but he did not. He left the prey on the ledge.
Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project
Watching gras grow.That must be what it looks like. It is not very exciting incubating eggs. At least not for us the watchers. For the peregrines it is just what they have to do. That is what their hormones say. While we assume that the female is fond of incubating the male is too. Often we can observe how reristant the male is to leave the eggs, when the female comes in the scrape to take her turn. Both enjoy it.Both are very attached to their eggs. And are very envolved in the proces in teh eggs. As soon as hatching approches, the male often comes to visit wehn teh femal eis on teh eggs, to check if their are any signs. As soon as there is a pip both are excited and ar every vocal. Most of the time she is the one who stayes on the hatching eggs. The male stays close by and comes in every now and then to check if the eggs are still there and how far the hatching is.
Brooding, hatching and raising offspring is the essence of their existence.
There is by the way o lot of new items to read on the DerbyBlog:
http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/
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