Salt Lake City peregrine cam

[Donna]

So cute when they roll the eggs! Nice capture and yes, it's hard to catch them off the eggs. 

[Kris G.]

Here is a picture of momma (I think) up and turning the 4 eggs.  The 4th is behind her feet.  This was the only shot I could get of the 4 eggs, she's sticking to them pretty hard.  I think they have been in full time incubation for about a week now, so there's still quite a ways to go.  A (very) rough estimate would have the hatching occurring around Memorial Day.  I hope we don't have unseasonably cold (i.e., snowy) weather that weekend like we did a couple of years ago that resulted in the death of two of the eyases.

Nancy

Great pic, Nancy!

[Donna]

Biologists ruffle some feathers at UT
Plucky parents shield chicks

Meet Cairo, Sendai, Madison, and Gaia, four adorable chicks. 2 males, 2 females

It's hard not to get a warm and fuzzy feeling for them. Yet you might want to know Mama and Papa Peregrine Falcon -- aka Belle and Allen, respectively -- weren't especially thrilled by Thursday's human encounter, an annual rite of spring on the University of Toledo campus since the breeding pair produced their first offspring in 2007.

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2011/05/20/biologists-ruffle-some-feathers-at-UT.html pics and story

[rynnac]

There haven't been any hatches at the SLC Peregrine nest yet this year, and for right now, I am hoping they hold off for a couple more days.  The forecast is for cold, stormy weather for the weekend, warming up the beginning of next week.

Checking in on the webcam, the male seems to be incubating the eggs right now and there isn't a bit of a sign of shell or white fluff, so we'll keep our eyes open over the weekend (anticipated hatch date was approximately the 24th to 26th.)

Nancy in Utah

[Donna]

He was just off the eggs and squeaking....unless mom came in and took over. Reminds me of Beauty when she switches with Archer, she talks to the eggs.

[rynnac]

... Reminds me of Beauty when she switches with Archer, she talks to the eggs.

Haha, more likely chewing him out for doing an inadequate job.  He had an egg exposed for a while there and when she came back again, she made sure to roll it and cover it up.

Nancy

[margaret]

Keep us posted !

[rynnac]

Still no hatch as of this morning and mom doesn't seem as unsettled as she was yesterday.  I'm glad, weather is supposed to be cold and stormy the next two days.  If they hold off until Monday the temps will be more supportive of eyeas survival.

Nancy

[rynnac]

First hatch!  Caught a picture of the mom and half a shell and have been watching her eating the shell for the past 15 minutes.  She's sticking tight to the little one however and hasn't given me a glimpse of it.  Just as well, want the little wee one to stay warm! 

Yay!!!

Nancy

[Donna]

  YAY Congrats!!

[rynnac]

There is another broken shell in the scrape this morning, so we have at least a second hatch. :-)
Anyone who would like to watch, go to http://wildlife.utah.gov/peregrine/ and choose Camera2 to get the closeup.  It promises to be fun over the next 6 weeks.  It is a live feed with sound!

Nancy in UT

[rynnac]

Momma just fed the little ones, and there are three, two fluffballs and the new little one!  My computer wouldn't let me capture a picture while she was off the nest. :-(  But they are completely adorable, as you might suspect.

Nancy in UT

[Donna]

Ahhh but I did and are they a pleasure to watch!!!

[rynnac]

Keep going Donna, it looks like the 4th egg is hatching right now, momma is turned that direction and I just saw her remove a bit of shell!  Good capture on the pictures!!

[rynnac]

Definitely a hatch, mom is eating more shell from right beneath her.  Donna, you have to get a picture when she lets us! :-)

Nancy in UT