Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Photos May 29

Hi folks, Mike P provided me with some excellent photos of the tiercel (male, dad) from his window in the big bronze building on the cornere of State and South Temple (Eagle Gate?). He also sent some cam shots he grabbed of feedings. I am still wondering if this male might be a new mate for her, not the same as last year. He seems quite confused and not quite with it as far as parenting, which the tiercel last year didn't seem to struggle with. Comments,.. Bob?

I am pasting in some comments I received from Bob Walters today about the difference between tiercel (male) and falcon (female):

I believe that the photos of the tiercel have led me to another clue to distinguishing one adult from the other. If you look at Mike's pic's, note that the area directly above the tiercel's bill is black, while in several screen captures that I have in hand (you too, I imagine) the falcon displays a white patch above the bill. So, the falcon is marked by the white spot, or patch above the bill and the buffy-tipped tail.

Mike's photos help to distinguish in other ways as well. I believe that the tiercel's malars are more "rounded" than the falcons. Her malars are more "pointed". The tiercel's legs and feet are definitely the orange-yellow variety ... the falcon's legs and feet are more of a lemon-yellow color.






The play of events on the next four pictures is as follows according to what Mike saw:
1. Falcon (female) screamed from ledge (calling for food maybe?) She gives up and leaves. Shortly after Tiercel flies in with prey, which you see in this pic.
2. Tiercel feeding, then falcon flies in with prey.
3. Falcon takes over feeding. Tiercel leaves with his leftovers.
4. Good shot of falcon with the white above the nose as Bob pointed out.




Monday, May 28, 2012

Last Egg a Dud?

I think its about time to give up on the last egg hatching. From my post entries you can see that this light colored egg was the third layed and if it was going to hatch, should have been fairly soon right after the 4th layed hatching. In the picture below, this light colored egg is out of the 'scrape' where the parents would incubate it. What do you think, Bob? The good news is that the three hatchlings are growing and look great!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Video of Second Hatch

Thanks to BCAW members for this capture of hatching.

First Hatch!

Woot!! I got the first email of someone seeing eggshells at 8:30 this morning, so it was sometime before that. Here is a screen capture from Burt of mom feeding.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Hatching to Begin Very Soon!

Get ready! Hatch days are coming up this week, possibly beginning Sunday or Monday. We should have an egg hatch about every other day, once they start. I received an email from Donnie saying that the parents keep getting up and staring at the eggs, so maybe the pipping has begun.

(Pipping: the process of breaking open an eggshell using an egg tooth)