On Tuesday, May 30, 2006, Mr. Scott Wright, volunteer peregrine falcon nest monitor, observed “Orchid”, K 81, take two flights.
Ready…….
Mr. Wright tells us: "A young falcon's first few flights are fraught with danger. I have had to rescue and return a few young falcons to the nest after they ended up in harm's way. One year NONE needed to be assisted - that was a good year - and some years one needs much help....... this is normally the last hatched and it has had to struggle for food. Males have less body mass to grow and often fly first. Females, on the other hand, hardly ever end up on the ground (where they shouldn't be). The females are 1/3 as large as the boys, so they take longer to develop. I have had to rescue more males than females."
This year, a large female flew first. Was she the first to hatch?
After Orchid, K 81, flew for the second time, Mr. Wright reports that she took a bath on top of the hotel near the nest. Here she is all wet.
Set…………………
On his visit, Mr. Wright saw all the chicks except for Hazel, K 29, who may have ledge-walked far away, or perhaps she was flying, too.
Meanwhile, back at the ledge Indigo, K 80, discovered an interesting wire to play with.
And drying off.
Who will fly next? Sara Jean Peters of the Ohio Division of Wildlife (retired) tells us: "Like children learning to walk, flight is a series of experiments...some successful, some not.
Chicks typically exercise their wings, flapping in place, hopping and flapping, and running and flapping. If their nest is on a cliff, updrafts can actually catch under the extended wings and lift the birds up into the air and to a higher ledge. There are updrafts in the city as well, although the ledges aren't as numerous.
A chick that flushes from the ledge and takes flight too early may end up on the ground...a risky place in the city as well as at the foot of a cliff. It takes more muscle power to fly UP than out. Muscle development comes with age and exercise. The first flight made by an older chick will probably be more successful than that made by a younger chick. Landings, a very important part of flights, take lots of practice regardless of age!"
SW and Buckeye are always close by watching over their chicks, and now they are showing them how to fly.
Our thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for sponsoring the FalconCams.
The photos are courtesy of Scott Wright, volunteer peregrine nest monitor. They may be used by children for school and/or personal projects, but please give Mr. Wright photo credit. All others must contact Mr. Wright directly for permission to use his photos.
