DC:

       

Dot.ca in for a quick nest check:

         

From the site, posted eight hours ago:

Those of you following on You Tube will have seen that we have removed the eggs. On examination, they were infertile.

As I sit here now, the owls are on the neighbours roof and I expect them back on our balcony shortly for the mating 'dance'. The web cam is streaming.

For those who remember Bobbin, I came across an article today which contained a lot of information which I had not seen before about what happened to Bobbin and her family. At the time of the poisonings, the incident was hushed up and remained so for many months. Investigation was hampered not only by this secrecy, but by the fact that investigators were refused any access to the land to collect evidence.

Bobbin was not identified in the article, but as soon as I saw the photos below, I knew it was her.





http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2016/03/16/report-peregrine-persecution-clee-hill-south-shropshire/

Bobbin was always one of my very favorite peregrines. I watched her grow up at the St Andrew's Spire nest, and followed her story throughout her life. I still miss Bobbin.

Clee Hill is an area which has a long history of raptor persecution, and nothing has changed. This year, the resident falcon and tiercel were once again the victims of poison, leaving three small chicks in the nest. The chicks were rescued, and fostered into other nests. The little male went to the Salisbury Cathedral nest, and the other two chicks went to a different Midlands nest. All three chicks did well.

Beauty:

       

One at the nest, with a very full crop:

The chicks appear to be well fed and well cared for:

I check in on the nest too, but almost always get the solid black rectangle where the live stream should be.

Part of a feeding:







As Mom was about to leave, one of the chicks grabbed her wingtip.

The last time I saw the little chick being fed. At that time, he/she was actively participating in the feeding, and at one point even climbed up on the ledge beside Mom.

DC:

(movie)

From their site tonight:

Dear fellow falcon watchers

It is with deep sadness that we advise that the second chick has died either overnight or this morning. We are unaware as to the reason for death and will seek advice from the Victorian Peregrine Falcon Association

We hope that next breeding season will be more successful.

From the 367 Collins Street Management Team

I saw that too, Carly. Earlier they just took the live stream down and replaced it with the message "Camera is not available". Later they posted the message above. I hope they will make an effort to find the cause of these losses. If it was Trichomoniasis, it could have been treated successfully. If it was a toxin, it is important to find out what it was and where it came from for the future safety of the birds at this nest, bearing in mind that peregrines have been poisoned at this nest in the past.

I wonder what is going on with the eggs!!! How very sad for them. 

Thanks for the update Alison!

She did the same last yr then successfully 2nd clutched.

You're right, Kris, she did. Last year's first clutch was her first with Pappa. Of course, there is never any guarantee, but I hope that she will be able to reclutch successfully this year.

Unfortunately, the eggs did not hatch, and it is way past the time when they might still be viable. I feel really bad for Lady and Pappa. Lady incubated so faithfully, and Pappa provided food and support.

From the site yesterday:

Sadly, the eggs are so far overdue that they cannot be viable. To save Lady from the stress of sitting on infertile eggs , and Pappa from the stress of feeding her, we will remove the eggs at the first opportunity.

You Tube viewers may see their 'mating ritual' in the nest as she prepares to lay the next clutch. This could be in a week or two.

Very sad news from this site. We lost the second little chick today.   

I noticed last night that while being fed, the chick appeared to be in some respiratory distress. He/she was able to eat, but with some difficulty. Today, the chick was no longer moving.

As with the first chick, I think that the probable cause was either Trichomoniasis or a toxin of some kind. With both chicks, the situation worsened quickly. I have seen no comments from Melbourne on the loss of either chick. Do they have no concern for what has been happening at their own website?

DC:

     

     

Throughout his visit, Beauty was watching from the wall: