How many chicks are in this ball of fluff?

One, two, three!!!   SW and Buckeye proudly announce the hatching of their chicks in 2004.  Welcome to the world, little guys!  Just as last year, the final egg remains unhatched.  

Scott Wright, peregrine falcon nest monitor for 12 years at this site reports:  

"The chicks will spend a great deal of time sleeping and huddled together for warmth.  The parents will cover (mantle) the young for 4-7 days. The young are not able to control body temperature (self-regulate) for about a week. "

Here's some information about feeding the chicks from Marcel Gahbauer, biologist with The Canadian Peregrine Foundation:

"For the record, the chicks at a young age already scream for food incessantly, regardless of how recently they have been fed. This will only increase, and eventually you will see both adults away from the nest most of the time, for as long as one or the other is present, the chicks will be clamouring for food from them, even if they have none."

The chicks will grow very fast for the next 6 weeks.  Check out a picture guide to chick growth by The Canadian Peregrine Foundation at:  http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/info/ageguide.html

To watch the falcons live go to:  http://www.falconcam.apk.net/  Our thanks to EcoCity Cleveland for providing the FalconCams as a public service.  The photos are stills captured from the FalconCam.