SW and Ranger are very good parents and take turns egg-sitting. The eggs are almost always covered to keep them safe and warm. In a typical shift change, SW departs……
and Ranger quickly takes over.
If you have been studying the FalconCam, you may have noticed that SW or Ranger turn and rearrange the eggs about once every hour. (Click on the FalconCam Archives, located under each picture on the front page at:
http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/news.php in order to see pictures of all the day's activities). The World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho explains this interesting bird behavior: "Birds rotate their eggs to keep the eggs evenly warm or cooled (depending on weather). If the clutch is large, then the eggs on the outside are moved into the center of the clutch where the temperature maybe a few degrees higher. Eggs are also rotated to prevent the developing embryo from prematurely sticking to the inner membrane of the egg. If the egg stays in one position for too long, then the embryo can stick to the inner membrane. This may cause the embryo to develop or hatch improperly”. In the following video you can see Ranger perform this very important task:
The World Center for Birds of Prey suggests, “You could dissect a chicken egg to reveal the basic components of the egg. Most ornithology books will explain the anatomy of the egg. A store bought egg will do. The eggs are not fertilized, so may not show all components of the egg. Break the shell open gently and pour onto a smooth surface. You will also want to look at the eggshell, so don't destroy it. If you have a dissecting microscope you could see the pores on the outside of the eggshell. This is where gas exchange occurs. Oxygen goes in and carbon dioxide goes out. Have fun."
The Peregrine Fund, located at the World Center for Birds of Prey, led the way to save the species peregrine falcon. Falcon lovers owe our gratitude to this organization, as well as many others, for the survival of the peregrine in North America. Today they continue working to save birds of prey around the world. Visit them at: http://peregrinefund.org/
Did you find out which state has the peregrine as its state raptor and on its state quarter? It’s Idaho, home of the World Center for Birds of Prey.
Our thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for sponsoring the FalconCams.
Photos are courtesy of Scott Wright, volunteer peregrine nest monitor. Videos are courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Saladin, volunteer peregrine nest monitors. They may be used by children for school and/or personal projects, but please give photo and video credit.
After awhile, the shift changes again and Ranger departs. Here is a video of SW returning to take over incubating:
