James River Bridge: third Egg

James River Bridge: 2nd Egg March 13

James River Bridge

James River Bridge

Tomorrow there will be a second egg, no doubt.

James River Bridge

James River Bridge: first egg

James River Bridge

James River Bridge

Elizabeth has nogd yet laid an egg. Last year she laid her first egg on March 2

James River Bridge

James River Bridge

James River Bridge online

Meet Elizabeth the resident female of the James River Bridge nestsite. Her mate is Sir James who is already 19 years old. That is very old for a wild peregrine falcon.

James River Bridge is part of the Peregrine Falcon Restoration Project.
Both peregrine falcons used to nest here without any nestprotection. A nestbox was installed so the eggs could hatch savely. But it is very dangerous for youngsters overhere. When they start branching and attempt to fly they could easily fall into the river and drown.
That's why the eyases are not put back after banding but taken to New River Gorge. They spent about 2 weeks in a hackbox, before they are released into this beautiful National Park.

Last year there were 3 eyases:

VA M 5/14/08 5/21/08 X/33 White 220681681 James River Bridge
VA F 5/14/08 5/21/08 63/Z Green 180702769 James River Bridge
VA F 5/14/08 5/21/08 64/Z Pink 180702770 James River Bridge

New River Gorge Project.

On April 10 3 beautiful eyases where born at the James River Bridge nestsite. They grew up to wonderful and adorable chcklets. Many hundreds of images I posted here on my Blog of them growing up. Both parents Sir James and Elizabeth where with the 3 constantly, guarding them feeding, protecting.
And then all of a sudden they where gone. They did not return from banding.
They where transported to the New River Gorge where they where hacked together with eyases from 2 more nestsites. The panic and stress of the parents struck me intensly. It does trouble me, it still does when young animals are taking from their parents.

But today I saw pictures of the 3 JRB juvi's who have fledged from the hackbox and are in this garden of Eden over at the New River Gorge. Pictures made by mr Gary Hartley who is Chief Park ranger in the New River Gorge Park. Mr Hartley gave me permission last year to use his fabulous pictures of juveniles in the Park om my website.

So this story continues in a very joyfull meet again with the 3 JRB juveniles who are so amazing, and look very happy. They landed in paradise. It is a fantastic Park, it looks like the Amazone. I'm sure they will have a great life over there. I wish them all the very best there is, a long and prosper life. Dear 3 take the chance you where given and live a great life full of joy in one of the most beautiful places there are on our blue planet. May the Great Spirit light your paths through the skies. Climb the highest mountains of clouds, tumble and dive, pull up to the sun and fill the heavens with your honor.

Here they are:



Both females



The male

James River Bridge: goodbye

Today the James River Bridge eyases where banded and taken from their parents and the nestsite to a hackingbox. That is a very sudden unexpected goodbye from these 3 little chicklets.

This nest box is on a very busy bridge. The nest box is situated on a catwalk on the side of a building approximately 160ft above the water. The cat walk does not have any thing on the sides to keep the chicks from falling into the water and drowning. A few years ago, when Virginia was the female at this site, they would move the chicks to the roof of the bridge, which at least had a side to keep them corraled for a bit. Then the problem became that they would get up on the wall and tempt fate by walking what was essentially a tight rope. When there are gusty winds in the area, more than one of the chicks was blown off. The falcons chose this nest site, and a couple of years ago, they chose to forego the nest box and nest on the other bridge tower. That didn't turn out too well as you can imagine with the height involved and the winds that blow here in the Spring.

Read more about the hacking progrem in Virginia

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/birds/peregrine-falcon/

James River Bridge: 34 days old

Our 3 little Virgina chicklets are 34 days old today. We can see how there is a size difference between them. By the looks of it, 1 male and 2 females. They are getting browner by the day.

James River Bridge: 33 days old

the patches of remaining down feathers are becoming restricted to the base of the legs, parts of the wings, and perhaps parts of the back, as well as the crown. They are also becoming increasingly vocal and active around the nest area, to the extent that the adults rarely visit except to drop off food for them.

James River Bridge: 32 days old

The wonderful thing of this nestsite is that the three chicklets are of the same birth-day. They all hatched within hours and so are all three in the same stage of transformation. Real triplets they are. And very cute.