Mother Goose came by once more. She used this nestbox for many years to brood her eggs.
There has been a peregrine falcon couple who used to spent the winter at the Electrabelplant in Zwolle ever since 1994, They never used the nestbox however, because they left for Sweden every spring to brood overthere.
Gyrfalcon
In 2001 the Egyptian Goose for the first time nested in this nestbox. In 2003 a huge escaped Gyrfalcon appeared who did not allow any peregrine falcons around. But he did allow Mother Goose to breed in the nestbox. Every now and them he came in and inspected his property and left again.
In 2007 she laid 8 eggs and started breeding and was protected by the gyrfalcon. On March 27 another goose came in, laid an egg and was evicted by Mother goose. She pushed the egg aside and went on breeding. On April 15 all 8 eggs hatched and the little ones had to jump out after 24 hours to the ground. That was a jump of 25 meters! Because they weigh so little they all survived this huge free fall.People from the Electrabel plant watched how Mother Goose walked to the river IJssel with all her 8 chicks.
A few days later a Kestrel female entered the nestbox with a dead mouse and jumped on the big goose egg of the intruder. It was way to big for her, and she left again :))
On April 23 early in the evening a young female falcon landed on the grid. She came in, threw the goose egg out and liked what she saw. Her band was K/6.
Her mate with band K/3 was a bit hesitant and did not want to come in. But she wanted him to, and a female falcon is the boss. So she managed to lure him into the nestbox and that was it.
But every evening when they came home, some Egyptian goose was in the nestbox. The peregrine falcon female evicted them all with load cacking.
And the huge Gyfalcon came by as well to inspect his property. But 2 peregrine falcons were way to much for him. He was evicted as well.
In 2008 the young peregrine couple had their first nest ever. They fledged 3 beautiful fenale juvs. And I am very sure they will not allow any goose in their home. Every intruder will definitely be thrown out. She is a feisty female this German "mädel".
