Derby Peregrines: amazing!

Today Colin Pass took photo's of the Derby youngsters again and send them to me just a few moments ago. They are absolutely awesome!! Thank you Colin for sharing!





Look at our youngsters how beautiful they are. The flying actions of the juvies in the scenery of the beautiful age-old cathedral is majestic!





Well not all landings are by the book, and requires long and sharp talons to hold on to whatever they can grab.....





Look at him flying away with powerfull and amazing wingdisplay.





Photo's are courtesy of Colin Pass.

Please visit and enjoy his falcon website on:

http://www.falconquester.co.uk/

Rochester: branching has started

This afternoon at 13:10 Zephyr stepped outside the nestbox and jumped off the perchrail to the small ledge beside the box. In the early morning around 6 he was the first one to leave the nestbox to hop over on the perchrail. He did explore quite a lot, there are several pics in which we can see how he walks under the nestbox, while his sibblings almost fall out the box bending over to see what's happening overthere.





Well when one has set an example, the others will follow. His sis SusanB stepped out on the perchrail flapping her wings for the first time at 17:24. I'm sure the other ones won't wait too long before they will step out as well.



Here once more the names and bandcolors.

Derby Cathedral juvie fun.

This is the most spectacular pic of today. One of the adults lands with pigeon and gets a wingflapping welcome.









Wow what a day! The 2 fledged ones kept coming flying in and out the nestbox! And today nr 3 took some sunday excursions out of reach of the cam. No fledging but I think it is more a matter of climbing. Toddler got real excited by all the action, especially when his last nestmate was performing his gymnastics. He was hopflapping and running along the nestledge.



Nr 3 goes on Sunday excursion.

Lots of action as well up the Cathedral tower on the pluckingplace. What a great place to put a webcam! Thank you Project Team! We saw how a fresh caught pigeon was plucked and a seconds later served to the nestlings in the nestbox. And our youngest one was the first to take the food! He does learn fast. He is an intelligent and strong chap this one!

Number 004 performed a preening ritual for all us to see in full sunshine.












Around 15:00 one of the fledged juvies came in to keep his siblings company for a while. And then all of a sudden before you know he was gone again.








And one of the pics in which all 4 of them of today:



When I write this it is almost midnight, two juvies laying close together sleeping in the nestbox, a third one up the Cathedral Tower, the 4th has a secret sleeping place some where we do not know about.. . Goodnight dear precious peregrine juvies and wake up healthy in the morning for another wonderful day.

Read all about the Derby Peregrine project on the Derby Blog:
http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/

And do visit the Blog of Jon Salloway with wonderful pics of the Derby Younsters and their parents:

http://derby-peregrines.blogspot.com/

Terminal Tower Cleveland: SW and Buckeye

Courtesy of Scott Wright



Courtesy of Scott Wright



Courtesy of Scott Wright



Courtesy of Scott Wright



Courtesy of Scott Wright



Courtesy of Scott Wright



Courtesy of Scott Wright



Courtesy of Scott Wright

Scott Wright has made some great photo's of SW and Buckeye. The juvies are flying like their Mum and Dad and haveing fun. They play dive-bombing on eachother, turn in the air to grab eachother and having lots of fun.
After Tiger fledged on June 2, Tiki followed on June 4 and Spirit and Thriller on June 6.
I hope Chad and Chris will surprise us with some of their fabulous action shots of the TT 4. For now these are from the legendary Buckeye and his beautiful SW, made by Scott Wright. Thank you Scott for sharing!

Indianapolis: almost goodbye...

Laura James-Reim reports from down town Indianapolis:

Another great day for the Indy fantastic four falcons. They are just doing great everyone. They are hanging out where they have been the last couple of days, but there were some forays to buildings further south. They are spreading their wings so to speak.



Much chasing of each other and the adults, great landings and even food transfers by the adults were witnessed today by an enthusiastic group of falconheads. Sometimes it is hard to tell if you are watching an adult or a juvenile flying in the air - they are getting so good at it. Just a couple of days ago you could still see some hesitation and more flapping from the juvies but they are catching on to the winds and building ledges of downtown Indianapolis.



It is such a joy to share these sights with folks who have the fortitude to get up early in the morning - there are no guarantees that we will see anything. But the kids didn't disappoint. We positively had the bead on Val and Magee as they sat on nearby rooftops - sitting with their chests proudly thrust out in all their juvenile glory. All six were sighted at various points in the morning.



All photo's courtesy of Kathy G
Video courtesy of Sondra

http://blogs.indystar.com/falconblog/

Rhea Mae and Tiago : an update

Rhea Mae 2006

In 2006 Mariah and Kaver had a hectic season with 6 eggs. All hatched but due to a serious injury Mariah suffered the day the first egg hatched, she was not able to give the same kind of care she normally does. Kaver did a terrific job, but could not prevent 3 eyases died.
The 3 eyases that did survive where 3 beautiful ladies. Amongst them was Rhea Mae. Wonderful Rhea Mae. To watch her hatch and grow up check out my website:
http://www.falcoperegrinus.nl/ and click to "Kuikens van dag tot dag".

After they fledged Rhea Mae was seen last year in August in Toronto Canada. The Canadian Peregrine Foundation confirmed the young female was indeed Rhea Mae of Rochester. She bonded with the resident male Tiago. And this year she laid 4 eggs. All 4 hatched, but 1 eyas died. The other 3 though are healthy and strong. They where banded last week June 3.


Unity: Male 24 days of age and sporting a blue and red “taped” band
Belle: Female 24 days of age, wearing a red and yellow “taped” band
Lilly: Female 24 days of age, wearing a white and blue “taped” band


Rhea Mae being a true daughter of her feisty mother put up a spirited defense of the nest during the banding. Rhea Mae is reported to have physically blocked the nest with her wings outstretched, and actually had to be moved out of the way by the banders!

Rochesters have absolutely a strong personality and so do these grandchildren of Kaver and Mariah: Belle appears to be a bit of a “Prima Donna” preening constantly and always preferrs to sit on the lip of the nest tray.Unity enjoys stamping his feet, as if he were Tom Cruise dancing in the movie “Risky Business”, and Lily, she sits back, flips her head upside down and watches the others doing silly things.

Read more on Imprints;
http://rfalconcam.com/imprints/

Xcell Allen S. King Plant

These cuties are getting the brown patches behind the eyes already. And watch how the flightfeathers have grown. Coming towards the end of the season we know how fast it goes, this transformation from hatchling to fledgling.
The season in the Northern hemisphere is almost coming to an end, but fortunately our Earth has a southern hemisphere as well where peregrine falcons live as well. So after this season we will watch and observe the season over in Australia with Brisbane en Alcoa. Looking forward to that!

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