Rochester

No new fledges today. Susan B and Zephyr are enjoying themselves flying together or with Mariah and Kaver. Both juvies are getting better and better at it.
Diamante has been joined by Quest who has left the nestbox and is exploring the playpen. Only Seneca is left nos in the nestbox. Mariah has been checking her reluctant daughter every once in a while. And Seneca is joined by one of her siblings from time to time. The outside juvies are sleeping just beside the nestbox, so she can see them.

Jim Pisello has again made some amazing pictures of Mariah, Kaver and Zephyr and Susan B.
On Peregrinations:

http://marchlords.com/birdblog/2008/06/more-flying-for-first-fledges.html

And for the latest Fledge report check out Imprints:

http://www.rfalconcam.com/falconwatch/

Derby Cathedral Peregrines

Again just like yesterday a beautiful day with a lot of wonderful pictures. They can all enter the competition for Britain's Next Top Model.
The puddingcam in the sun makes absolutely great shots: thank you Project Team.











What happened today. Most remarkable is that the scrape was occupied by one of the juvies. He entered this morning with a preyitem. After breakfast he fell asleep. He's been there practically all day and left in the evening.
On top I have seen 3 at the time, while number 4 was in the scrape, so all 4 are accounted for. They have this hidingplace behind the pilar on top, so quite often you don't see more than a tip of a wing.











I think 2 of them can handle a prey item by themselves now: plucking is skill that has to be learned and 2 do manage very well.

And the rest of the day: sleeping, preening, a little flying and just enjoying the gift of life, living in The Dales.











Most juvies stick around for 8-12 weeks, so there will be a lot to enjoy.


On the Derbypage you can read about a fifth falcon in Derby, sitting on a roof, for days now ;) Follow this link:
http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/

And do visit the Derby Photo Blog of Jon Salloway. He has amazing photo's of the Derby peregrines.:
http://derby-peregrines.blogspot.com/

The Peregrines of Derby Cathedral DVD

And from the very first moment the DVD starts I was drawn into the story of the Derby Peregrines. The DVD lasts about 35 minutes and includes a large number of webcam video highlights from the 2007 breeding season. All narated and with a commentary by Nick Moyes from Derby Museum & Art Gallery.
All four Nicks appear on the film by the way, as well as Tony Grantham from Derby Cathedral, plus peregrine prey expert, Ed Drewitt from Bristol Museum.
The music from the Cathedral in combination with the peregrine is exceptional and makes it very special indeed.





We see also how the peregrines came to Derby, how their breeding season is commencing, with great video footage. All the important behavioural sequences are shown: head-bow-low, prey excange, mating, egglaying, hatching. The juveniles screaming of exitement on the edge of the nestbox just before fledging.
But it also tells us of the story of almost extinction from DDT in the past century and it's recovery.





It is a great DVD made and produced by people who love this so very special bird very much. Their passion is in their eyes when they speak of the Derby peregrines.
This DVD is a must for everybody who watches the webcams, or watching peregrines in the field. It gives us a better understanding of the live of the peregrine falcon.
It has been made with love and respect for the ways and the personality of the peregrine falcon!
And I really love that! It is a superb production which is al real tribute to this magical creature!
After all this phenomenal creature has been worshipped for as long as menkind can remember as Horus.





The Peregrines of Derby Cathedral is an independent production by Ashley Sims of Delta Echo Media, a Derby-based company. Filming and editing was by Chris Atkinson of Jasper Films, also based locally.

With special thanks to Ashley Sims.

Here you find the way to order your own copy:

http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/2008/01/its-hatched-dvd-now-available.html

De Mortel: beautiful S2

Here she is S2. For me she is the most special and beautiful falcon ever. This female came into our lives in a horrible way. By killing our resident female she interrupted a kind of peregrine fairytale in a very confronting way. 3 hatchlings where in immediate danger because she took al the food away which the tiercel brought to his hatchlings. One died.
But this special falcon she learned, she watched the tiercel and in 3 weeks she changed her behaviour from courting into nursing. She started to feed the remaining 2 eyases and fledged them strong and healthy.
She made us make choices about where we stand, forced us to make ethical dicisions. What to do when this happens, do we intervene, or will we let nature take it's course. She is special this falcon, she is very intelligent, caring but feisty, soft but strong, she is S2.

This year she laid 4 eggs which all hatched. Together with the resident tiercel Pa she fledged them all savely. They all look after her. They have the same features as their mother, strong, big shoulders, sharp face. It's amazing how they look like her. I have noticed now that I have watched all these nestsites this season, how you can distinct them from eachother by the features of their parents. Of course they all have different stripes on their face, like a fingerprint, but the form of the face, the eyeridge, cere, beak is absolutely inherited and very very distinct.

Columbus Ohio: 38 days

Last night several people reported around 8:30 p.m., while lunging for food, one of the nestlings got pushed or otherwise fell off the ledge. In checking this morning, all four are on the nest ledge so if it did happen as reported, the bird was able to make it back to the ledge!

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=qntn7382h23s&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=4956779&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

Check out this link to see a bird's-eye view of the Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus! This link shows the south side of the building where the nestbox is located. Look closely at the 4 black recessed areas towards the top of the building (between the top row of windows but below the roof). These are air intake vents. The peregrine nestbox is located in the lower left corner of the second black vent area from the right. It almost looks like a peregrine might even be sitting on the ledge in front of the nestbox but without zooming in further, it's hard to tell for sure. Quite a very interesting perspective!

The eldest juvie is now 39 days old, that means fledging is coming near very rapidly. Male juvies can fledge as soon as with 38 days.

Xcell Allen S. King Plant

Nijmegen

X Cell Black Dog