Three of the four eyases passed milestones on Monday, 5/27, with their first shaky trips out of the nest box and onto the main ledge. The first youngster left its gravel home base at 1205 with a hop to the main ledge. Two of its siblings followed at 1627 and 1628, while the fourth remained in the box. The venturesome three were back in the box again at 1927, where they spent the rest of the night.
We will back the camera off so that we can follow them as they explore the main ledge.
Stay tuned.
May 28, 2002
May 26, 2002
26 May
Four healthy, vigorous eyases were banded on Friday afternoon, 5/24, and we have two males and two females. The banders gave each eyas a preventive dose of medication against frounce (avian trichomoniasis), which has been a problem for the young at this site several times in the past. We did not publicize banding because our web cam had been down, and we were not sure if it would be up and running in time.
Stewart made a brief appearance during banding and zipped by the building, but, as usual, he left the heavy duty nest defense to his mate. Although Bell made many strafing flights at the window washing stage and scored one direct hit on the engineer running the stage, she was not as aggressive as in the past. Also, rather than riding the stage back up from the ledge, glaring at its human occupants, she went directly to the nest box and the chicks. Speculation is that she is, after all, a nine year old peregrine and may be feeling her age. Certainly, there are older birds in the breeding population, but the majority are younger; this is yet another reminder that we will not always have Bell and Stewart. But, if we are very lucky, in the
future we may watch one of their offspring raise its young in the very same place.
For the eyases, their next big steps will be out of the nest box and onto the ledge. We expect their next adventure in a few days.
Stewart made a brief appearance during banding and zipped by the building, but, as usual, he left the heavy duty nest defense to his mate. Although Bell made many strafing flights at the window washing stage and scored one direct hit on the engineer running the stage, she was not as aggressive as in the past. Also, rather than riding the stage back up from the ledge, glaring at its human occupants, she went directly to the nest box and the chicks. Speculation is that she is, after all, a nine year old peregrine and may be feeling her age. Certainly, there are older birds in the breeding population, but the majority are younger; this is yet another reminder that we will not always have Bell and Stewart. But, if we are very lucky, in the
future we may watch one of their offspring raise its young in the very same place.
For the eyases, their next big steps will be out of the nest box and onto the ledge. We expect their next adventure in a few days.
May 23, 2002
23 May
The four chicks are continuing their amazing transformation, fueled by multiple food deliveries and feedings by the adults. They are visibly larger, more mobile, and more alert every day. Their feet are now pale yellow, and the first tips of tail and wing feathers are showing. They aren't quite strong enough to walk around yet, but they've become proficient at shuffling on their tarsi and are getting better at standing for a few seconds. They are beginning to feed themselves from food left in the nest box, and we've seen at least one grab prey away from Bell during a feeding. When this happens, Bell always takes it back; we have never seen her allow an eyas to keep "stolen" prey. From a human perspective, it seems clear that she is showing them who is in charge, and it's not them.
The chicks are way past the size where she can cover them, but she is still trying to brood them. She compacts them into a wiggly, fuzzy white mass in the inner corner of the box and then leans on them. It can take a few minutes, if they don't want to be confined, but eventually she prevails - at least for a few minutes.
In a few days, one or more will begin the first tentative exploration of the world beyond the nest box, and the others will follow onto the main ledge. At about the same time, the chicks will start the metamorphosis into "harlequin" plumage - the comical combination of down and feathers that they wear when halfway between fluff and fully feathered.
The chicks are way past the size where she can cover them, but she is still trying to brood them. She compacts them into a wiggly, fuzzy white mass in the inner corner of the box and then leans on them. It can take a few minutes, if they don't want to be confined, but eventually she prevails - at least for a few minutes.
In a few days, one or more will begin the first tentative exploration of the world beyond the nest box, and the others will follow onto the main ledge. At about the same time, the chicks will start the metamorphosis into "harlequin" plumage - the comical combination of down and feathers that they wear when halfway between fluff and fully feathered.
May 17, 2002
17 May
The 4 nestlings are now two weeks old and are obviously thriving on the care, attention, and food provided to them by their parents. They are bright-eyed, fuzzy, wiggly, and are larger and more mobile every day. The adults have fed them up to 13 meals in a 24 hour period, so it's no surprise that they are growing so fast. They have progressed to preening their down, and have begun to try to flap their stubby wings and to shuffle around a bit on their tarsi. Since they now have their second coat of down, they have more insulation and don't have to be brooded as much.
We have had several calls on our local "hotline" from people who are concerned about the smallest eyas. Because of its size, during feedings it can be blocked from our view by its larger siblings, but it often either squeezes between the others or by clambers around to one side to get close to the adult with the food. All of our volunteers who review video tapes every morning note that it is getting fed as much as the others and that it appears to be healthy and vigorous.
We had one eyas that was noticeably smaller in 1997 and again in 2000. The 1997 eyas was male; while he remained small, he was the liveliest of all of our young that year. In 2000, the smallest was a female that was still tiny at the time of banding, but, after she attained her full growth, she appeared to be the largest of that year's three females. Time will tell the story on this one - including what sex it is.
Bell has done most of the brooding and feeding of the chicks. It is typical of many females to be so protective of their young that they will not let their mates feed them or brood them, especially when they are very small. Stewart often flies to them within seconds of Bell's departure, only to leave again as soon as she returns to the ledge. He did not get to feed them or brood them, except for a few minutes at a time, until this week, when he has been allowed to feed them a few times and has partially brooded them
for up to two hours.
He is, of course, hunting for them and bringing prey to her (both fresh and cached leftovers), so that she can feed them. We suspect that she is now doing some hunting, too, since the mild weather and their development have freed her to leave them unattended for up to 45 minutes at a time. Downtown Seattle is so vertical that it is difficult to follow an adult's hunting flight, unless the observer is very lucky.
We will post further updates in a few days.
We have had several calls on our local "hotline" from people who are concerned about the smallest eyas. Because of its size, during feedings it can be blocked from our view by its larger siblings, but it often either squeezes between the others or by clambers around to one side to get close to the adult with the food. All of our volunteers who review video tapes every morning note that it is getting fed as much as the others and that it appears to be healthy and vigorous.
We had one eyas that was noticeably smaller in 1997 and again in 2000. The 1997 eyas was male; while he remained small, he was the liveliest of all of our young that year. In 2000, the smallest was a female that was still tiny at the time of banding, but, after she attained her full growth, she appeared to be the largest of that year's three females. Time will tell the story on this one - including what sex it is.
Bell has done most of the brooding and feeding of the chicks. It is typical of many females to be so protective of their young that they will not let their mates feed them or brood them, especially when they are very small. Stewart often flies to them within seconds of Bell's departure, only to leave again as soon as she returns to the ledge. He did not get to feed them or brood them, except for a few minutes at a time, until this week, when he has been allowed to feed them a few times and has partially brooded them
for up to two hours.
He is, of course, hunting for them and bringing prey to her (both fresh and cached leftovers), so that she can feed them. We suspect that she is now doing some hunting, too, since the mild weather and their development have freed her to leave them unattended for up to 45 minutes at a time. Downtown Seattle is so vertical that it is difficult to follow an adult's hunting flight, unless the observer is very lucky.
We will post further updates in a few days.
May 13, 2002
13 May
Our four eyases are now a little over a week old. About a week and a half ago, we were anxiously watching the adults for signs of an impending hatch. They have hatched every year, of course, but there's always a bit of tension for human observers at this time. Now we are watching Bell feed her diminutive chicks.
The first signs of hatching for us were that the adults were incubating "higher" and that their feathers were very fluffy. Stewart, who often incubates facing the camera, can fluff out to an amazing degree of roundness, except for his hooked beak and pointed wingtips. We also saw the adults suddenly look down or stand and stare at the eggs, when they heard the chicks vocalizing inside the shells. At times, they "talked" softly to the eggs.
Meanwhile, each chick was going through the long and involved process of breaking out of its shell, which can begin up to 72 hours prior to the actual hatch. First the chick breaks into the air cell, using the hatching muscle at the nape of the neck and its egg tooth to do this. This is when it begins vocalizing, because it starts to use its lungs, and also is when it "stars" or "pips" the shell. Then it begins the transition to full use of its lungs. After lungs and air sacs are fully functional, the chick rotates within the shell and, using the egg tooth, saws its way to freedom. The hatching muscle, swollen with fluid, is what gives the newly hatched chick its thick-necked appearance; the egg tooth is the protuberance on the upper surface of the beak. Both disappear in a few days.
During their first days "outside", their eyes were not fully open, and the eyases responded to Bell's chirps by stretching their necks up and gaping for food. They had difficulty keeping their balance and often toppled over during feedings. By now, they are much stronger, and their dark eyes are open, so they can see Bell when she brings them food. This is probably their first awareness of the world just beyond themselves.
While they are still tiny, it's obvious that they have begun that amazing growth and development that will have them on the wing in mid-June.
The first signs of hatching for us were that the adults were incubating "higher" and that their feathers were very fluffy. Stewart, who often incubates facing the camera, can fluff out to an amazing degree of roundness, except for his hooked beak and pointed wingtips. We also saw the adults suddenly look down or stand and stare at the eggs, when they heard the chicks vocalizing inside the shells. At times, they "talked" softly to the eggs.
Meanwhile, each chick was going through the long and involved process of breaking out of its shell, which can begin up to 72 hours prior to the actual hatch. First the chick breaks into the air cell, using the hatching muscle at the nape of the neck and its egg tooth to do this. This is when it begins vocalizing, because it starts to use its lungs, and also is when it "stars" or "pips" the shell. Then it begins the transition to full use of its lungs. After lungs and air sacs are fully functional, the chick rotates within the shell and, using the egg tooth, saws its way to freedom. The hatching muscle, swollen with fluid, is what gives the newly hatched chick its thick-necked appearance; the egg tooth is the protuberance on the upper surface of the beak. Both disappear in a few days.
During their first days "outside", their eyes were not fully open, and the eyases responded to Bell's chirps by stretching their necks up and gaping for food. They had difficulty keeping their balance and often toppled over during feedings. By now, they are much stronger, and their dark eyes are open, so they can see Bell when she brings them food. This is probably their first awareness of the world just beyond themselves.
While they are still tiny, it's obvious that they have begun that amazing growth and development that will have them on the wing in mid-June.
May 5, 2002
5 May
All the eggs have hatched, and we have four tiny, fuzzy eyases, that are being carefully sheltered and fed by the adults. The first egg hatched yesterday morning (May 4th) at 0234, followed by the second between 0507 and 0517. The third followed at 0729. The fourth egg hatched this morning (May 5th) at 0029. This is a hatching span of less than 24 hours.
Bell, as usual, has been with them most of the time, keeping them warm and out of the cold, blustery wind. Stewart has brooded them for short periods of time, often when she leaves to retrieve cached prey to feed them. It appears that their first meals have been pigeon - the first of many pigeon meals to come. Today's observation team reports that the fourth eyas appears weak. This may be because it is the most recent to hatch, which is an arduous process.
However, we usually lose an eyas within a few days of hatching, so this may happen once again. We hope that this pattern will not repeat itself this year.
Bell, as usual, has been with them most of the time, keeping them warm and out of the cold, blustery wind. Stewart has brooded them for short periods of time, often when she leaves to retrieve cached prey to feed them. It appears that their first meals have been pigeon - the first of many pigeon meals to come. Today's observation team reports that the fourth eyas appears weak. This may be because it is the most recent to hatch, which is an arduous process.
However, we usually lose an eyas within a few days of hatching, so this may happen once again. We hope that this pattern will not repeat itself this year.
May 2, 2002
2 May
We are eagerly waiting for the first eyas to break out of its shell and break the monotony of incubation. As of this morning, there were four intact eggs, but the weather has turned wet and cool, and the adults are covering them so closely that it's difficult to inspect the eggs for a pip or pips. Half an eggshell may be our first confirmation of a hatch. The first hatch may take place as early as tonight or tomorrow morning.
Stay tuned.
Stay tuned.
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