Alley and 19/k have been reunited!  Video of release and some observation details from watchers on their FB page!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/376667965721280/

That's great! 

 

2nd hatch!!! But still no sign of Bula.   

Diamond struggles on
Published 4 October, 2016 | By Cilla Kinross
Incubated eggs can be left uncovered even in cool weather for 2 hours, and even up to six hours in one case, with a brood being successfully reared, so it seems that the disruptions last week have not had a major impact.

Two chicks have been hatched overnight.  Both appear to be healthy, although the second seemed to lack feathers, but I think it was just a bit wet.

Diamond was obviously very distressed, dithering between the need to keep the chicks warm (it is quite cold and windy here today) and the need to fetch food.

Finally at half past one, she left for a proper hunt and was successful after an hour (probably a pigeon, very pink legs).  And the chicks have received a feed (at least one has, by the blood on the beak; not sure about the other as she had her back to the camera).

No sign of Bula or alternative male, but she more she shows herself, the more likely she will be seen by a prospective mate.   I am fairly certain this nest box is a prized site, so would be well known to visiting peregrines (as well as past offspring, of course).

Apologies for no photos.  It’s the website, not the software, I think, so I’ll see if Scott can fix it.  If not, I’ll think of another solution…Facebook perhaps.

From the website:

Shep says:
4 October, 2016 at 3:08 am
We have a hatch!
October 4, 2016 Shepnotes
Shortly after 1.30 am in Oz I saw her peep – probly to her chick.
She is wiggling almost continually

2.45 am Oct 4 Oz
11.45 am US edt
There is a shell! Chick #1 has arrived!

BCAW posted awhile ago that the egg hatched.  No sign of male as of yet.

Thanks, carly.  Poor Bula!  And poor Diamond and baby(ies)!

Cilla Kinross says:

3 October, 2016 at 6:55 pm

Yes, Diamond has finally had a feed, possibly a pigeon; not sure as it arrived headless and wingless, and I thought I saw a hint of yellow…but I am assuming she caught it herself as she was gone from the box for just over 10 minutes. There is a crack in one of the eggs, but no sign of chicks as yet. Perhaps tonight, but tomorrow is pretty much the last chance for hatching as it would be 33 days.

I hope you're having a great birthday, Jeanne! 

   

This is not the good news I was expecting this weekend:

Bula is missing?

Published 2 October, 2016 | By Cilla Kinross

I may be wrong, but I don’t think I’ve recorded a sighting of Bula since 1300 on 30th September ie Friday.   This is not at all a good sign.  As far as I can tell Diamond has not had a feed since then (over two days) and, coupled with the frenzied activity on the Thursday, when I suspected an intruder, and the eggs were only irregularly incubated, I fear the worst.

And I don’t think that it is a coincidence that the box was visited by a strange female today, a very large bird that was instantly chased away (definitely not Bula).    I’d show you some stills, but the software is once again playing up.  I’ll send them to Scott and see if he can upload the stills or a videos.   I went around afterwards to see if I could see this bird again (or Bula) but all was quiet.   It could be an offspring from previous year.

Bad weather (and we’ve had plenty of that) does often lead to reproductive failure and so these problems may stem from difficulty in procuring food (they can’t complain of their nest getting wet!).   Or it may be that something has happened to Bula and he’s no longer able to hunt.

Anyway, let’s hope that I am wrong and that Bula (or another ‘suitable’ male) turns up again.  It’s a pity she isn’t inclined to accept another female, but I don’t think peregrines are that progressive:).  It’s also not unheard of for peregrines to raise a brood on their own, but very unusual and the poor weather (more expected tonight) is definitely not helping.

Fingers crossed.

Farewell to the Rosetta mission!

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/30/496042230/watch-rosetta-ends-mission-by-crashing-into-comet?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=movies&utm_term=artsculture&utm_content=20160930

Yes, it must have suffered for quite a while. Sounds like they did what was best.

Below is a link to more information from the Wildlife Center of Virginia's website.  Apparently the injured falcon was unbanded. 

http://wildlifecenter.org/critter-corner/current-patients/peregrine-falcon-16-2192

 

Thanks Alison.  Island Girl's journey astounds me every year, especially when I think of how many birds are doing the same thing.

Have a wonderful birthday, Dana!   

Awesome!!!!   

Thanks, Kris.  Great videos!  Sorry I missed you and Bill again.  I was out watching for a good portion of the morning and afternoon, but I was not home in the evening.  For those viewing the video who are not familiar with the area, I live in Summerville in the tan colored complex right behind the red-roofed Coast Guard Station. 

Geez, it's tough on a pefa when humans keep invading their territory.

I think that's the first time I've seen people up there.

Me too.

Over the years I've seen people up there working.

Someone has to go up to the top to change the light bulb every so often too.

How many Frontier workers does it take to change a lightbulb?