First Hatch of 2007!
Everyone who guessed that Mariah’s first egg would hatch on May 7, give yourselves a nice pat on the back!
It looks like the egg hatched around 7:15 this morning. In the picture above, you can see the broken egg shell, neatly opened by the eyas as it pipped its way out of the shell.
Now’s probably a good time to talk about the new eyases. Falcon hatchlings are semi-altricial. This means that for the most part, they’re unable to fend for themselves. Hatchlings don’t have enough feathers to maintain their body temperature. This ability, called thermoregulation, is very important, becuase without it, the eyases will freeze in the cold night air, and they may overheat during the day if the temperature outside gets too hot. So Mariah and Kaver will need to keep the hatchlings covered for the first seven to ten days, to protect them from the cold and the heat. That’s the reason we haven’t gotten a good look at the new falcon chick yet.
During the first days of their lives they’ll grow a thick coat of light downy feathers. After a week or so they’ll be able to regulate their body temperature well enough that the adults will be able to leave them uncovered. For now though, the new eyases will stay covered most of the time, so you’ll have to watch carefully to catch a glimpse of them!
When you do see them, their eyes will probably be closed for the first couple of days. Unlike their parents, their bills and feet range in color from light gray to light pink. They’ll get their yellow feet from their meaty diet, but that will take several weeks. They’re not strong enough to stand on their legs yet either, so they move by crawling.
In my recent article on hatching I mentioned that all the eggs should hatch within a couple of days of each other. It’s possible more will hatch today, but they should certainly all hatch within the next day or two, so keep watching! In an upcoming article we’ll talk more about feeding and some of the other behaviors you’ll see as the eyases grow.
UPDATE! FIRST LOOK AT THE EYAS
In this picture from 10:20 this morning you can see the eyas poking out from beneath Mariah’s wing. It’s looking toward the left wall, and its closed eyes and pink bill are visible along with the fine white feathers.
-Jess
May 7th, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Jess-
Any update on naming the eyases now that the hatching process has begun?
May 7th, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Woo Hoo! Those are great shots, too. The missus managed to grab a few images as well, but they’re not quite as nice.
May 7th, 2007 at 11:09 AM
Way to go Mariah and Kaver !
May 7th, 2007 at 12:03 PM
Oh, I am so pleased to hear the great news! I was getting a little bored….But shall be in tune now. My first year at doing this!!
May 7th, 2007 at 12:11 PM
I just got a glimse of the little one when Mariah repostioned herself. Darn, I was one day off on my hatch prediction (May 8th).
May 7th, 2007 at 1:18 PM
Been checking constantly each day and I am very happy to hear the news that the first egg has hatched. Looking forward to the day when we all can see the baby eyases. Also interested in what names have been picked out.
May 7th, 2007 at 2:31 PM
Such great news, and wonderful pictures!!
How soon do the babies eat? Kaver was acting like the “proud PaPa” this morning, vigilantly sitting high atop the light post for a very long time.
May 7th, 2007 at 5:33 PM
This is such great news. What an awesome picture.
You guys are doing such a great job with this website. The pictures and information are amazing. Thank you so much.
I have been checking each day several times per day and this was so great to see.
May 7th, 2007 at 5:56 PM
Well, I most certainly am going to lose my job. I am so hooked on these chicks, I get no work done at all. Happy to see the first baby moving about. I got the chance to watch Kaver feed this evening. WOW! Mariah is very protective and stingy of her time with this one. Such a good mommie. I can’t wait to see the rest. I’m watching some in Harrisburg PA, too, and 4 of their 5 have hatched and are eating like piggies. My monitor is 4 little squares with falcons in each, that way I don’t miss anything.
Thank you,
May 7th, 2007 at 6:56 PM
Now there’s a picture worth several thousand words! Great job, Jess. Love the new site.
May 7th, 2007 at 9:47 PM
I saw the eyas about 5:43, looking up at Mariah, and then Mom cocked her head as though listening to the eyas. Then it looked like she fed it… they were beak to beak.
May 8th, 2007 at 5:55 AM
As of 6:45AM this am, TWO eyas are now present!!! Mariah was actively feeding them both!! My 4 year old daughter is hooked too!!
May 8th, 2007 at 8:55 AM
And then there was 2!!!! I see 2 being fed this morning.
May 8th, 2007 at 9:30 AM
a second one has hatched! thank you shaky for the ability to scroll back in time and see the pics we’ve missed!!!!
here’s a pic
here’s another good one
May 8th, 2007 at 9:48 AM
I was checking on the eyas at about 8:48am on May 8 and saw there are two babies.That is just great.
May 30th, 2007 at 2:18 PM
It is cool seeing them up close like that for the frist time
May 31st, 2007 at 5:47 PM
been watching all day and have seen nothing of the banding
Where is it?