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!
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11 comments:
I would be surprised if the remaining egg hatches ... getting pretty late. I have a couple of questions for all SLC PEREGRINE CAM watchers. Has anyone observed the tiercel(adult male)bringing in prey? Although he often times chills on the front board in the absence of the female and visits the brood as if supervising, has anyone observed the tiercel feeding the young-of-the-year? I have not observed either delivery of prey, or feeding by the tiercel and I wonder if we may have a 1st time adult male and/or a male that's content to allow the falcon (adult female) to do the lion's share of the work. If the aforementioned is true, I'm hoping that he gets with it and soon! RW
Yes, I have seen him feed them and even got a screenshot of it. I'm happy to share it if you can let me know how.
MP
Email the screenshot to Liz@utahrox.com and I will post it. Thanks!
While there were still only two hatched chicks last Monday, I observed the "changing of the guard" when the feeding (mama ?) bird departed and a replacement bird (dad?) continued with dinnertime feeding. There was a brief moment when both adult birds were in the #2 camera view and the switched places.
S Wagenhals / Buffalo, MN
I just looked at the web cam and both adults are in the nest! It's 5/29 at 4:45 p.m. Must be dinner time.
Liz, I agree that the egg probably won't hatch and even if it does, the eyas will be so far behind the others. Does anyone know what they'll do with a "dud" egg, if anything? Bob, I've seen the tiercel bring prey then fly off with it. I've also noticed Mom vocalize often while perching on the front board. I've assumed she was calling him. I'm looking forward to seeing Mike's photos of Dad.
Felicia
I have seen the male peregrine deliver prey a couple of times, only to have the female snatch it from him upon arrival, and then feed the chicks, herself (after which point, the male leaves).
Earlier this afternoon (Wednesday) this happened.
Thanks for the reports of prey delivery and feeding by the tiercel. As for the egg, I hold out little hope ... it's way late for hatching. Then again, I'm a believer in never say never when it comes to wildlife and the comment coined (by I don't know who) that the birds don't read the books, etc. If the egg is not entirely demolished due to the ever increasing falcon foot traffic, it may be nudged off to the perimeter of the box where it could last for an indeterminate length of time. I've found entire(unhatched)eggs in the box and elsewhere at other sites in the past. We may observe one of the adults haul a larger, eggshell shard out of the box for disposal well removed from the nest box. We may also see one of the adults eating eggshells. Always, something to look forward to seeing on the SLC PEREGRINE CAM. RW
Wednesday 4:45 p.m.
Male arrived with prey. Female had brought prey just before this--maybe 15 minutes prior--and was in the middle of a feeding. Once again, the female promptly took the prey from the male and continued to feed the chicks.
Male lingered for a couple of minutes, calling softly, before leaving again.
Lots of food...excellent feeding!
Where did the mom go?! She hasn't been there since at least 6:00 last night!
Usually a parent is close by, even if they can't be seen on the camera.
(There was actually a late-night feeding last night--around midnight--and prior to that, an adult was perched at the box entrance.)
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