[Three hungry mouths]

Three hungry mouths

With tummies growing and bodies increasing in strength the three eyases are now able to walk around on their feet and have made the most of the space provided with this larger box. Often there’ll be a single face on screen while the other two hide behind the camera window. Rest assured at feeding time all three appear and all are in fine health. At different times over the weekend and today Swift has spent longer away from home and indeed Beau has partaken of the odd feeding time himself but already he’s being dwarfed by his three charges, which opens up the betting lines that we may possibly have three female eyases this time? Time will tell, early days still. There’s also a little interest in the outside world now, with the odd curious face getting closer to the ledge.

Patiently waiting


Reclining buddha


Troublesome threesome


A couple more video clips from today can now be viewed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyl5YQYkuJQ#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLLMptm9FF4#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iiXgsAreoI#

Thank you for all birthday wishes.
Yesterday I had a nice day and and today a birthday celebration.

Good for you Annette! With your family?

Yes with my family.

Thank you for all birthday wishes.
Yesterday I had a nice day and and today a birthday celebration.

Very cute! 

[A close-up feeding experience]

A close-up feeding experience

In a maintenance climb of the Concrete Hilton this evening the opportunity was taken to film Swift feeding her three wobblies (they’ve gone past being bobblies!) with the handheld camera. The ledge camera was slightly adjusted and nest camera checked but the main reason for the maintenance climb was to shift the audio module up much closer to the eyrie itself. Mission accomplished and it will take a few days to adjust the correct volume, now that it’s just on the other side of the wall instead of hanging 2 metres below the action. Wiring was cleaned up and structural fittings were checked for health. And all done with the perfect timing of the din of rumbling sound as the tower refilled with water. With the combination of the noise, along with Swift’s concentration in feeding three urgent mouths, the moment worked out well.

To give you an idea of size and height, which is quite deceiving in these pictures, the three eyases are already standing tall at about 240-250mm (9-10 inches). That horizontal line across the middle of the back wall (see nest camera images) is about 200mm (8 inches) high and is the bottom of the opening end hatch. All three juniors are taller than that line when stretching for attention or food. You’ll also notice the first signs of wing and tail feathers. Our favourite little bobble-heads are growing up too fast!

The full colour video clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GztTRT3gdi0#

  Happy birthday and speedy recovery for you!      

[The pile of fluff]

The pile of fluff

As the 3 eyases head towards their 19th & 17th days respectively they’re spending much more time shuffling around the eyrie, inspecting the odd loose feather and visiting each other, and of course there’s always lots of time for sleeping after big feeds. Swift seems to be content in keeping a vigil on the ledge, and not long ago Beau treated us to another of his high-flying displays above campus, gaining height in the warm day’s thermals. With a little cloud cover today it’s bringing out the true peregrine (sp macropus) colours in camera shots and video clips.

Two video clips of Swift and two of the three eyases shuffling and busying themselves.

Inquisitive eyas


Exhausted fluffies


Feeding time


First clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afUmkwCMdI8#

Second clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ9LsZK3Wqk#

All these pictures are so cute! 

A very happy birthday!

[Explorer’s day]

Explorer’s day

After an initial ‘step-grandparent-style’ scary moment this morning we went back over the archives and realised that there’s no need to panic by only seeing one or two eyases on screen, with either parent in attendance. It seems there may have been a domestic, or someone’s messed the scrape, because all three littlies went on big new adventures this morning and two seem to have decided to go rest at the other end of the eyrie, which of course would have to be the corner that we have no visual coverage. Three ample meals so far this morning so no-one’s going hungry, but Swift & Beau are in a quandary now as to which end of the box they go to and whether they need to mediate any disagreements, or bring a cleaning cloth in!

Beau looking perplexed


A 5-minute video clip of Swift and the kids going for a walk …  Apologies for the video quality; it’s a temporary fix for what will soon become HD picture when the new camera is fitted soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuvhdBX_Oa8#

[Furry frolicking]

Furry frolicking

Swift is gradually becoming happier taking longer breaks from the scrape and indeed she has taken a few trips out to obtain food of her own accord. Beau seems to be keeping up appearances early in the morning but can also be away for hours at a time during the day and the three furballs can become agitated. At this stage we can see that two of the eyases are noticeably larger than the third but all are getting to that stage where those disproportionately large feet are becoming a fascination (& quite hilarious to watch!). Indeed the larger of the three is exploring a short distance further each day. You’ll also notice the first wing feathers are beginning to appear and their awareness of their surroundings is improving daily too.

Furry frolicking starring the three eyases
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUK_rjaCpd0#

More wing action

[MAK said she feels good except for her numb foot. She has a room with a view by the window in case a falcon flies by!! Ya never know!!]

MAK said she feels good except for her numb foot. She has a room with a view by the window in case a falcon flies by!! Ya never know!! 

Interesting info about different falcons

http://www.oriongazette.com/education/x1581992574/Orion-resident-researches-birds-in-Arctic