There is additional information on Spirit from Union québécoise de réhabilitation des oiseaux de proie (UQROP), posted today:

Did you know that Spirit, the female peregrine falcon star, was a survivor? Learn more about her story of rehabilitation by visiting https://uqrop.qc.ca/fr/actualite/31-l-histoire-du-faucon-spirit. You will learn there, among other things, that she was shot with lead ammunition from a rifle at some time in her life! Our educational work still has a lot more to be done.

A little later. At one point the sun touched the little eaglets' heads with gold.

I've really enjoyed all the spectacular hatching photos!

Dot in PA

Thank you, Dot! I have really enjoyed watching these little ones hatch.

Romeo feeding the hatchlings early yesterday morning:

Aria in one of her more peaceful moments:

[Trouble in Harrisburg]

Trouble in Harrisburg

As has been his custom almost every year, Lil Dad has apparently gone on his annual vacation. And as usually happens, an intruder male shows up at the nest, so that when Lil Dad returns, he has to battle to reclaim his territory.

This year, the intruder male is the same one who was there last year during Lil Dad's vacation.

From the site:

11/28/2017  ::   New Male Observed on Ledge

A new male peregrine has been visiting the nest ledge since last Friday. This bird is banded, band code 38/S, and appears to be larger and younger than the resident male. The new male was banded in 2010 on the McElhatten Bridge in Clinton County and visited the ledge in January.

The fourteen-year old resident male has a black over red striped leg band with "W/V" on it. He was last observed on Sunday, November 19th on the ledge. Any information falcon cam viewers provide regarding falcon sightings, photos and interactions would be of great value in determining what we can expect for the 2018 nesting season.

Please email to ra-epfalcon@pa.gov.

Niecey has been bonding with the intruder male, but as of yesterday Niecey is not at the nest. A new, unbanded female is there with the intruder male.

So there are many questions. Did Lil Dad really go on vacation, or was there a coup? What has happened to Niecey, and where is she? Will either or both return to their nest?

Yesterday, there were two birds there, one of whom was banded and another who did not resemble Niecey. Today, there was no view of legs or bands.

I hope things will return to normal at this nest soon.









The link to the website has also changed:

http://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/EnvironmentalEducation/PAFalcon/Pages/default.aspx

Yankee:

Nothing but snow at the Statler nest today:

Pearl is just beautiful! I hope she will stay around and continue to do well. I think the Toronto area could use a few more nest boxes . . .

A new update on Bailey, posted two hours ago:

We posted a few weeks ago the news that Bailey the Osprey (patient 799-17) was making it up to the high perches in the 55 foot rehab barn. Since then however, we've noticed that she cannot sustain the height to fly from one high perch to another. Instead, from the high perches she can only glide down to lower perches.

Throughout her rescue, transport and time in the clinic, Bailey has some broken wing and tail feathers. We try to prevent broken feathers throughout the rehabilitation process, but it happens. Since there is a possibility that these broken feathers are the reason she is unable to sustain height while flying, we imped Bailey's wing and tail feathers today.

Imping is a process of gluing a matching feather from a donor bird of the same species into a damaged feather. It's an old falconry process that's been around for hundreds of years, although it's become an easier and more efficient procedure through the use of modern materials.

Now that Bailey has a full tail and set of flight feathers, we'll be able to continue to monitor her flight and see if the new feathers make difference in her flying. More updates to come when we know more.

Images: Audubon Center for Birds of Prey.





I knew Bailey had some feather damage, but this was pretty extensive. I think they did a wonderful job with the imping, and I hope this will help Bailey to be able to gain height and strengthen her flight muscles.

https://www.facebook.com/AudubonCenterforBirdsofPrey/posts/1740086726004234

NE19 officially hatched at 3:42 p.m. Welcome to the world, sweet little NE19!





Romeo relaxing for a moment as the sun goes down.

NE19's progress:

[Update]

Update

The second egg has a confirmed pip at 10:59 p.m. Hatching has begun for NE19.

Romeo was on the nest this afternoon when Juliet returned and started pecking him on the head. Romeo tried to avoid her beak, but Juliet had decided it was her turn on the nest, so he reluctantly left.

Juliet fed little NE18, who ate the fish with enthusiasm and has a great appetite. He/she is a very beautiful little eaglet.

Wonderful rescue! Great job by your brother, nwfloridafalconfan! I'm sure the kestrel was very happy to be flying free again. 

Zephyr, I think, in to check the new cam:



http://www.ag-wanderfalken.de/webcam1/