What a difference a week makes. The eyases are nearly as big as their parents and are out exploring their skyscraper ledge. This is Lunge taking a walk.
Strike has her juvenile tail feathers.
Here is a view from the nest.
“Ledge-walking” scares some falcon fans, because the falcons' nestbox is 13 stories up on their skyscraper - but don't worry, they won't fall off. Falcons are cliff-dwellers and are adapted to high places. The chicks instinctively know how to avoid falling over the edge.
Cirrus, who still has quite a bit of down, is also out walking…..
The chicks are growing very fast and require LOTS of food. The chicks scream loudly and constantly at their parents for food. As the chicks become strong enough to feed themselves, the parents are able to spend more time away from the nest hunting. The peregrine falcons’ keen eyesight (believed to be seven times the power of human vision), great speed, hooked beak and powerful talons make them excellent hunters.
To watch the falcons live go to: http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/news.php Our thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for sponsoring the FalconCams.
Today’s photos come from Scott Wright, volunteer peregrine nest monitor, except for the ledge-walking picture, which is from falcon fan, Jennifer. They may be used by children for school and/or personal projects, but please give photo credit.
The band identification system has been developed to track the birds if they are found or seen in the future. Peregrines generally receive 2 leg bands, one on each leg. When SW was first seen at the Tower City skyscraper, someone read her left band as “black/red S/*W” - that means that the top band is black with an upright "S" and the bottom band is red with a "W" on its side. The band on the right leg is a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) band which contains a number unique to that individual falcon. Buckeye's US Fish and Wildlife Service Band #2206-35861 and identifies him as being hatched in 1996 on the Rhodes State Office Tower, Columbus, OH. SW's USFWS Band #1807-44144 identifies her as being hatched in 1999 in Pittsburgh, PA.
You may have noticed that ever since the eggs were hatching, when you could see eggshells everywhere, the nestbox is a mess!
Wildlife biologist Marcel Gahbauer tells us: "Peregrines are admired for many reasons, but housekeeping is generally not one of them! Like with most aspects of their behaviour, there is considerable variation among individuals, but generally they let things lie where they land - whether feathers, bones, etc. By the end of the season, the nest area can be VERY messy! The best one can hope for is a good wind to clean off the ledge a bit from time to time." Nest monitor, Mr. Wright, reports that the smell is pretty unpleasant as well.
Watch the FalconCams closely to see the chicks out exploring their ledge. Look at Lunge and Strike’s real feathers!
