Thursday, September 11, 2008

Embryonic development day 10

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Juvenile of Falco Peregrinus Macropus


The first 6 days have been the most important part of the development. The blueprint of the peregrine falcon as it is written in the genes has to be executed to the smallest detail. One little mistake means the death of the embryo.
At the end of day 5 all organs needed to stay alive after hatching are there, very small, but they are there. In the next embryonic period the organs have to grow and develop into the very specialised functions they have to provide.

From day 6 the development of the sexual organs start. Embryonic cells destined to someday become eggs or sperm are called primordial germ cells. Primordial germ cells first become recognizable in the yolk sac of the embryo. If the chick embryo is genetically female, these germ cells will migrate from the yolk sac through the mesentery to the body cavity of the embryo and develop into an ovary. The ovaries can be seen around day eight in the female chick embryo. The embryonic ovary is made up of germ cells which have multiplied to form clusters. Only one cell within a cluster will actually become an egg, destined to undergo meiosis and carry on the gene pool. This cell is called an oocyte. The remaining cells will become specialized to protect and nuture the developing oocyte. The oocyte and its surrounding cluster of specialized cells are called an ovarian follicle.


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Om Day 10:

The bones of the legs begin to form.

The crop begins to form.

The beak becomes visible.

The wing bends at the elbow.

The allantois begins to fuse with the chorion.

The ribs begin to appear.

The gizzard begins to form.

The intestines begin to loop.

The amnion has a regual beat

There is an activ transport of amino acids in the yolksac.

Alcoa Anglesea: day 14

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Oberhausen

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I do love this peregrine couple in Oberhausen. They stay at their beautiful nestsite all year long. There is plenty of prey so ther eis no reason to leave.
No news about the 3 juvs that fledged from this nestsite.

Derby: Both parents on the pluckplace

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Alcoa Anglesea day 13

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Tuesday, September 9, 2008

The Falcon and the Squirrel











I came across these superb pictures made by Chad & Chris Saladin.
The pics were shot in April. Hillary of Hilliard Bridge sat in a close tree, when a squirrel started making his way up toward her. She watched intently as the squirrel checked her out from a branch right across where she was perched. Then the squirrel started up her branch. Hillary gave the defensive posture, then lunged a bit toward the squirrel, and he scooted the other direction.
It is as if Hillary is saying: Don't you know who I am? Do you want to end up as my dinner, come on and make my day.
And gone he was the squirrel, a fascinating interaction between raptor and potential prey. Peregrine falcons do catch squirrels. But not like this. The squirrel in a tree is much faster than a peregrine falcon.
But Chris and Chad have seen Hillary dining on a squirrel once.......
The pics are magnificent. Thank you Chris and Chad Saladin!

Quest of Rochesters travels




September 7 th: Quest has really settled down in her Summer territory. She has found herself a save place full of prey. Here she can practise her hunting skills and feed herself to build up power and strenght. It is great for her that she has flown all the way from Rochester, New York to Cape Cod. It is such a wonderful start for a young peregrine falcon. And it makes us all very happy to know she is doing well!

Alcoa Anglesea day 12