Here at NTU Falcons HQ we would like to express our thanks to avid Falcon Cam watcher Pam Birley. Not only has Pam been one of our most consistent and favourite posters on this blog, but she also has some serious skills when you get her together with a ball of wool and a pair of knitting needles.
This knitted falcon sits proudly on my desk at work while we watch the progress of the Falcons this year. She sent it a month or so back and we meant to say a public thank you earlier. If you would like to see more of Pam’s knitted birds check out her Loonville online shop.
If anyone else out there feels inspired to get creative on the theme of the falcons then let us know. If we like them we might feature your work on here too.
Jared Wilson
NTU Falcons Team
NTU Falcons 
That is amazing!!!!
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How lovely – you’re very clever. It looks just like Mr P.
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Can you ask her for the pattern please. I love watching but don’t post. I work just off Park Row so have quite a good view of the sky above Nottingham city centreI always keep an eye open for any flyby activity but no luck yet
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Hopefully Pam will read your comment and respond herself Carolyn. But I’d imagine she might want to keep full details of skilled craftsmanship like this top secret.
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The knitted falcon is absolutely lovely !
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So cute! Well done Pam 😀 Don’t forget to make the babies, too! (currently balls of white fluff with beaks, so should be easier than the adults!)
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How clever! Could someone just tell me what is happening with the 4th egg?
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Nice work Pam !!!!
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That knitted Falcon is awesome! Great talent, Pam!
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Well done Pam…it looks really good…….I shall now go google for a crochet version………
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Well done Pam. 🙂
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Still 3 chicks and one egg………
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Just been watching 3 very healthy looking chicks being fed
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Pam, we love your knitted falcon – so lifelike. You have a real and rare talent – keep on knitting and checking out the nest!
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Is that a bit of fresh egg shell I see this morning ? Pam – – that is amazing !!
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Egg #4 hatched around 5AM:
So small already compared to his siblings! It was sad to watch Mr. P feeding the chicks and totally ignoring the newborn, who got nothing. I hope he/she can catch up, but with a 3-day difference that’s a big challenge.
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Ha ha – just seen four little beaks having breakfast !
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We appear to have 4 chicks now!!
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Four chicks being fed at 7.25 am:)
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how fabulous is that I just love it i am constantly watching the nest saw the 3rd chick hatch as it was pefect timing for change over
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I think we may have chick 4 hatched after all!
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Definitely FOUR chicks 😀 Been watching them this morning and saw mum and dad both taking turns to feed the chicks, and got some beautiful clear views of all four cuddling together and getting food.
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Now we are 4 !! ……….
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Just watching Mum feed all 4 chicks….. 🙂
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Just seen four chicks being fed 🙂
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A screenshot of all FOUR chicks being fed at lunchtime! 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200980177786648&set=gm.691319110929129&type=1&theater
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I know this is not the right place to post this comment but, sorry didn’t find….just to say that mam and dad were feeding together (04-26-07.06 pm) such a cute moment to watch !
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Have just caught the tail end of a feed, I don’t know if the little one got any but as the parent flew off with the food the little one toppled over onto his back and was getting a bit squashed by the others, Dad came back to try and cover them but mum was soon back and cleared him off, it’s only easy to tell male from female when they are seen together. I hope the little tiddler catches up and gets some food
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The male has just been back with some food, he ate his breakfast in front of the female who was covering the chicks, I’m sure he was feeding the female – one of the chicks was trying to break free from under mum’s wing to get some food, I hope the little one has managed to get back on his feet as he just flopped over onto his back at the last feed, I guess he is the weakest so has some catching up to do
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Its so hard to watch them feed when the little one doesn’t get anything : (
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I have watched several feeds now of the four chicks and there seems to be plenty of food for all four with the parents sometimes flying away with a large piece of prey to store in their larder somewhere. In fact on one occasion Dad brought in a big piece of meat but Mum refused to budge off the chicks and he flew away with it again.
Thanks for all the interest in the knitting – I really did not want such publicity. I can only make one bird every couple of days or so as they are time-consuming and I do not sit knitting all the time. As I complete one I will put it for sale so just keep checking Loonville on Etsy if you want to buy one. While the demand is there I will keep re-stocking when I can. There is no pattern published at this time – I just work from my own notes which are in no fit state for publication.
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Pam, have just looked on the Loonville site and am very impressed with your craftwork skills, even more so when you are working to a pattern you have devised. I am assuming the marvellous paintings are also yours. What it is to have talent (not that I’d know)! Keep up the good work which I assume is your hobby, rather than your “day job” to take up when you have time and inclination.
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Thanks Cockney. I am well retired (in my eighties now) so have time to do what I want to do ! There are some compensations to getting old, !!
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Love my knitted peregrine! Thanks Pam!
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Have to say that I had given up on the fourth chick! So what a surprise! Mum keeping them warm and Dad along the ledge at the mo, so I have not been able to see all four yet!
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Managed to count 4 heads at the 15.15 changeover! No food tho’
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15.55 just went back to find it was feeding time! No4 at the front of the queue and getting plenty!
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Glad to hear the little one is now getting plenty of food. Having brought up so many chicks successfully in the past, Mum and Dad must know what they are doing with the feeding routine but it was a worry when the youngest seemed to be missing out on the food, though maybe they can’t eat when just hatched. Will try to catch the next feeding time and if I miss out will check our the blog for updates.
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i’ve seen 3 feeds and not seen the 4th one get any. its heartbreaking to see the mum stop feeding while the little one is still begging. she certainly doesnt overfeed them!
glad you’ve seen it being fed and hopefully its getting enough to survive.
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Both parents feeding just now, once again the little one toppled over when the parents left, I did see him at the front of the queue yesterday and have to trust that the parents know what they are doing with portions etc, there shouldn’t be a shortage of food so no reason why they all don’t get a share – fingers crossed for the little ‘un
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Please remember these are wild creatures and it is perfectly natural for them to favour the stronger chicks. When food is plentiful they will all get enough to survive but when times are hard, either through a shortage of food or extreme weather, it is much better for them to successfully bring up one chick to maturity than to lose all four. I have just seen the falcon giving the youngest chick plenty of pigeon and two of them not even begging. Hopefully they will all fledge but even then the first couple of years of adulthood are fraught with dangers.
Celebrate the fact that these birds, once very endangered throughout Britain, are making a remarkable comeback but let’s not endow them with human qualities or start believing that they are in some way domesticated.
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Just watching a feed. Little one is falling over but is at the front of the food line and is being very carefully fed by the parent. It will be okay, it is still just kinda wobbly 🙂
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Good to hear the little one is getting sufficient food – perhaps overfeeding is more harmful than underfeeding. Pam, thanks for your reply – you certainly don’t seem your age, probably due to how active mentally and physically you are. I retired last month and am wondering how I found the time to go to work, though now have more time to devote to checking on how the falcons are. As a sideline,- while I am a Londoner I am neither a Cockney nor a Nomad but thought I’d use the nickname I acquired at work; perhaps as a reminder of recent but now bygone days!!
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All 4 being fed now with the little un right up front…so def holding its own so far against its bigger siblings 🙂
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i just looked in on them. the chicks were on their own for a minute, then the male hobbled in and tried to brood them. but he is too small now and they stick out alot. then the smallest chick fell over on its back and got separated from the others. the female came back to take over and i wondered what would happen but she just grabbed the chick by the side of its head (probably by the down) and returned him to the others. i didnt know birds picked up their offspring like you see mammals do. the youngest chick looks ok, apart from not being very co-ordinated.
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I saw that too, so funny. Mum looked as though she wasn’t going to stand any more nonsense from any of them! I didn’t know either that birds picked up their chicks.
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Had to laugh just now! Dad, I think, almost tripping up as he tried to fit ]all 4 underneath him!Screenshot 2014-04-28 13.56.41.png (file://INSPIRON-PC/Users/Inspiron/Dropbox/Screenshots/Screenshot%202014-04-28%2013.56.41.png)
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Why wont that link work??/
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Try again! Screenshot 2014-04-28 13.56.41.png (file://INSPIRON-PC/Users/Inspiron/Dropbox/Screenshots/Screenshot%202014-04-28%2013.56.41.png)
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No!!!!!! Give up!!!!!!!!!
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That link is to the local file on your computer, which is not accessible via the internet (the file:// at the beginning of the link is a clue that this is what’s happened). You need to sync that folder to Dropbox, or however you usually upload pictures, and then post the Dropbox link.if you want others to see it.
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Thanks Elspeth, but that is all very well if one knows HOW to ‘sync’ it to drop box! It is already in drop box, so where do I go from there?????/
You may have gathered that I aint much good at this sort of thing!!!!!!
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15.45 Both parents feeding 4 hungry chicks!!!!!!
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16.25 – mum trying vainly to get comfortable with all four chicks huddled together in an ever-expanding ball of white fuzz. They’re growing so quickly! 😮
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Hi all
Trust me to go on holiday and miss all the excitement!
Just caught up on all the posts. Don’t suppose anyone managed to get a shot of the chick when it was in the eggshell just after it hatched as that must have looked so cute!
Belinda
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Testing, testing!!!!!
Have I cracked it at last????? Please forgive the pun!
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Bingo! You’ve cracked it Barbara!
For anyone else wanting to use Dropbox, you need to put the photo in the public folder, right click the file and select “copy public link” That copies the link to the clipboard, from where you just paste it in your post here.
Also, a couple of people have posted Facebook links. I don’t know about others but I can’t see the pictures. I suspect this is because they’re shared only with friends, not public.
Anyway, nice pictures Barbara 🙂
Nick
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19.15 Just watched another hand over and feed. I notice that the littlest is hanging around the back and not getting much food (nor is his slightly bigger but just as shy sibling) – not an unexpected behaviour, but still hard to watch, ESPECIALLY when the chick at the front seems to always get the lion’s share. He’s a conveyer belt into a bottomless pit when it comes to pigeon, and both parents just can’t keep up with demand!
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I love watching these birds…Mum has just been plucking/eating a bird brought in by Dad then she went back to the chicks and settled down only to spot 1 had escaped and gave it such a look as if to say” and what d you think you are doing out there?” before shifting round and pulling it back under her…its so fascinating to see how the parents cope with their young…
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just watched a feed. the youngest chick didnt seem to be get anything this time. he or she looks weak and has its head down half the time. even when it stretches up as much as possible its alot shorter than the others and is overlooked. hopefully it got fed well last time, and is just not trying.
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It is sad to see the smallest chick missing out. Or at least, seeming to miss out. The parent birds are very experienced and know what they are doing, and hopefully they will rear all four chicks to maturity. But they are, after all, wild creatures, and in nature it is always survival of the fittest.
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I just watched the 4:00 PM feeding and the mother falcon did not give even one morsel to that tiny baby, #4. He was trying so hard to get her to notice him but she just continued feeding the other 3. I know they sometimes feed the babies at different times but he needs all the sustenance he can get. I wonder if she knows he is not going to make it. We just lost one of the San Francisco babies in similar circumstances. He was also #4 and was smaller than the others and never got fed as much.
I hope this one can thrive. The others seem to be very healthy.
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5.30pm feed just finished and still #4 goes hungry …..
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19.30 Feed and both parents fed all four chicks til they were ftb. I could not see the prey as it came in instalments but looked like Pigeon. Carcass removed both times and the chicks all went to sleep looking well pleased.
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The parents may wish to raise 3 chicks for this season and treat the 4th chick as a reserve in case any of the first three chicks does not survive. Human ethics may not be applicable to wildlife which is impelled by instinct. Survival of the species is above all.
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6:15am morning feed. I can assure everyone the little one had plenty. No one was begging when mum took away the carcase, they were all content, and cuddling up.
I know its hard to watch, and I was half expecting the little guy to no longer be with us, but he’s hanging in there.
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Just watching the chicks being fed…and am pleased to say that the little one has managed to fight back and get fed….there is one really greedy chick but the little un waited til the others were full then finally got a chance to feed without being pushed aside…its also had quite a few goes at one of its siblings and managed to push its way forward a little so its doing ok so far
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Just saw all 4 chicks for the very first time – they have been snuggled under Mum every time I’ve looked in, until now! They were being given breakfast by Mr P (I think) and little #4 seemed to be missing out until the other 3 began to lose interest, so Mr P was able to feed #4. 🙂
Mrs P came in with seconds, but the chicks weren’t interested and they all fell asleep.
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Dad brought in a meal a little while ago and mom got up and left. Not only did it look like the youngest one was able to snatch a few bites, but dad fed several pieces directly to it.
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Yes – I watched the late feed last night when both parents brought in food. Dad does seem to pay particular attention to the little one, and he feeds them all so delicately. Just beautiful.
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Mid-day feed. All four getting plenty. Nice day in Nottingham.
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ive never seen the male feed them which is maybe why i havnt seen the 4th chick being fed.. maybe he feeds them for longer than the female, allowing the ‘big 3’ to get full and stop begging, or maybe he is more ‘fair’ with the food allocation.. when i see the female feed them she always stops before they stop begging, even when theres plenty of meat left. maybe overfeeding causes problems
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A couple of years ago, when 3 of the chicks perished, the crop of Storm, the survivor, often looked fit to burst. Didn’t seem to do her any harm though 🙂
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So happy to hear that number 4 is being fed as well as the other three. I hope he continues to be strong enough to push his way in there and get his fair share.
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Both parents just done a feed, Dad came with a starling and started to feed the chicks, Mum arrived with what looked like the remains of a pigeon, both parents were feeding all four chicks – they all got food and at one point Dad actually took a small piece of food from Mum and fed it to one of the chicks, Dad left leaving the starling behind, Mum carried on with the feed for a while and then took the pigeon away and came back to remove the starling that Dad had left behind – all four chicks were then doing a ‘group hug’. So can reassure everyone that they are all being fed
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6:00am Dad took over the nest and fed everyone a couple of bits of something that was still in the nest – then flew off leaving the little ones by themselves.
Mum and Dad arrived back 10 mins or so later and both fed all four chicks. The little one was mainly fed last, but still had as much as it wanted before the carcass was taken away.
Was lovely to watch.
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All 4 chicks looking fit and well, enjoying a feed @ 10:45 …….
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Hope Mrs P is able to keep the chicks warm this weekend as the forecast is for a couple of cold nights down to 3 or 4 degrees.
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when i watched them being fed earlier i couldnt tell which is the youngest one any more. they look much the same size
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Just watched another feeding session…little un did well again…..and its been fed quite a lot during the day….in fact I’ve noticed a definite increase in feeds in general today …..seems to be one every hour!
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12:40pm Lunch. Nothing for the little one this time, was stuck at the back again.
Hang in there!
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2.02pm….Both parents now feeding the chicks with mother feeding the little one, which is good as its been missed a couple of times today….so its still battling on
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Thanks Mel, that makes me feel better 🙂
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Its such a fighter……I’ve seen it wiggle its way from back to front and it often has a go at its bigger siblings, but it was good to see Mum pay so much attention to it in terms of ensuring it got a proper feed for a change
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Just missed a feed at 2:10pm, saw the leftovers being cleared away. The chicks are growing so fast! Both parents seem to have a job to brood them comfortably now; poor Dad especially struggles to get them all tucked in. One more week and that nest box is going to look pretty full…
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I see what you mean!!!!!!LOL This was my very first view of them today, as I have only just come on line! https://www.dropbox.com/s/48vuyrz7i61vx40/Screenshot%202014-05-02%2015.53.52.png
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Few minutes later, dad starts squawking loudly and flies away!https://www.dropbox.com/s/olnqjneoa1gs644/Screenshot%202014-05-02%2016.05.11.png
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Bit concerned. Falcon seems to have been gone a long time. Tiercel doing his best to keep the eyases warm.
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Still no falcon. Getting very concerned now. Tiercel went for a short flight, came back and tried to warm chicks. Then went to get food. Worrying.
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Nothing again for little one. Not sure what you guys are watching, but its pretty clear who the little one is. Maybe I’m tunning in at the wrong times.
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Oh crikey ! Didn’t see the little one get much at the last feed but it got a foot caught on the prey and was dragged halfway across the tray while mum took the food away, when she came back he was away from his siblings, thought he was going to be left out in the cold but thankfully mum realised and tucked him back in, hope he gets a good share next time
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After the last feed Chick 4 was left separated from the other three. Mum returned and tucked away three leaving No.4 out on its own. It made its way eventually under her tail feathers and as she constantly readjusted to get 3 covered it tried to get included. Eventually I was so pleased to see that it was near enough for Mum to hook it in with her beak and tuck it under with the other three. It is a good thing the weather is being kind. Pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/66339356@N00/sets/72157629524594786/page4/
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Well—- another feed and the little one definitely got some food this time !! Gosh, they all looked ravenous !
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Just seen two feeds in quick succession. All four fed to passing out stage! They are really growing! I love the way the mum pulls them back under with her beak! she can hardly contain them now!
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Another feed and all four ‘stuffed to the gunnels’ !!
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watched a very good feeding session at about 7.15 by the male. he actually continued trying to feed them after all the chicks stopped begging. his last pieces were massive and they showed no interest. then the female returned with another carcass. she then settled and the male eventually left, leaving the two carcasses with the family. it llooks like they try to satiate the chicks before nightfall, which makes sense if they arn’t fed all night.
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I must be lucky because each time I’ve tuned in lately there is a feed going on, just seen another one with the little one getting plenty to eat, I wonder if they feed more because it has turned cooler or because the chicks are growing so fast
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The male seems to have been with the chicks for hours now. I haven’t seen mum yet. The chicks are more exposed with the tiercel so they look cold. Poor things. I hope she comes back soon.
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I can’t believe how fast the chicks are growing. I saw them last night, and now this morning they look twice as big! One was even practising flapping its wings just now.
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Its a lovely sunny day and all the chicks look much bigger this morning…..even the little un looks great..I was surprised to see the difference in all of them…..I bet the little one is a male and all the others are female 🙂
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Really worried. Tuned in at 10.30 and Mum wasn’t around. Keep checking and it’s now 12.20 and she still hasn’t been back. Dad trying to brood the chicks but not easy because they have split into 2 groups of 2. He has been calling out for her and the chicks have been food begging – hope Mum is ok. 😦
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She’s back and has bought food with her – thank goodness! But not good Mrs P – surely you shouldn’t be leaving your young chicks for that length of time? Poor Mr P seemed totally bewildered.
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3.20pm feed. Chicks 3 and 4 had only a couple of mouthfuls between them.
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Another long feed where they all got plenty
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Tis very quiet here, but all sorts going on in the nest! Have seen several wing flappings, and a lot more general moving around today, and I do believe that I can see the beginnings of a darker feather or two https://www.dropbox.com/s/b8q5g8nnwvojnth/Screenshot%202014-05-04%2018.15.40.png
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4 very well fed chicks…all have bulging crops which is no wonder as they seem to have been fed every half hour all afternoon! I think they should sleep well tonight 🙂
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I do worry about the little one.
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there was no parent bird for along time at about 1pm. i wonder if both are hunting, or maybe the female is watching from the roof, out of shot.
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Mum giving the nest a quick once-over clean while the chicks are full and sleepy 🙂 They’re growing like nobody’s business, and obviously thriving. Good thing the weather’s been on their side these last few weeks.
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I think that I have realised why the blog is so slow? Any posts that have been made are awaiting moderation!!!!!! I am sure that ‘ awaiting moderation’ did not go on for so long last year!?
I can understand why it is done, but surely you can trust all us regulars by now?
Trying to wait patiently!
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Sorry Barbara, even Falcon HQ has a bank holiday! We do our best to approve the comments within a couple of hours during normal service. Thanks
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Definitely beginning to stretch their wings – two of them side by side today! https://www.dropbox.com/s/a2nn3f1fcb2sc91/Screenshot%202014-05-05%2017.07.44.png
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After a very wet and windy night here in Nottingham, pleased to see all 4 chicks looking lively and healthy in the sunshine this morning. 🙂
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Oh bless them they are leaning against the wooden side to their nest box.
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I just want to put a little blanket over them to keep them warm.
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14.49: Dad giving everybody a very vigorous feed; the chicks are downing it faster than he can offer it. It’s a fluffy rugby scrum! I swear these little guys have grown even in just the last few hours.
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I worry about them so much. Earlier on mum insisted that one of her babies ate this rather large piece of meat. Baby spat it out several times but mum kept on putting it in his/her mouth. Eventually baby swallowed it but when mum went out on the ledge it appeared as if baby was choking and despite ‘coughing’ nothing would come up. Eventually the large piece of meat came up, poor baby I was so afraid it would die.
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yesterday i was surprised to see the mother swallow a whole pigeon leg, even though it was just bones and foot left. i thought she was going to take it away and dump it, but she just downed it. and today i saw one of the chicks easily swallow the leg of some smaller bird. another time a chick got something stuck and he used his foot to remove it. they are definitely giving the chicks bigger bits and lots of feathers too.
im wondering if the female is now hunting as they seem to be on their own quite alot.
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Morning all..its 7.10am and both parents are in the box, dads feeding chicks (though last night they all looked so stuffed tot he gills they could barely move and certainly didnt appear to want any more food) and Mum is watching, prob making sure he does it right 🙂
The chicks are all getting more active now, I watched one attempt to waddle about yesterday ad it was feeding itself from bits of food left on the bottom of the box
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13:40 chicks just had a feed and all snuggled up together.
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Touch wood the weather is not to bad for the next month according to Accuweather.
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Only just come on line. Mum (I think) trying to protect them from the elements – n t sure how succes!!sful she is being
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Flamin’ rain.
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i was watching the peregrine falcon chicks being fed at 15.30 and the prey was much bigger than a pigeon, when the parent had flown off with the carcass i noticed a leg on the parapet above the nest, this had a green ring on it. this is a marvelous site . can someone tell me how to tell the male and female apart
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The female is about one third bigger than the male in all Raptors. In this pair the female also has a more pronounced hook on her beak.
15.30 feed was a Pigeon. Colour is called “Chequer” which is a light pinky brown. I am glad the ‘evidence’ of the leg with the green ring has been removed.
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Could someone tell me how the little chick is feeding? I saw a very early feed this morning around 5am, and it got nothing. I’m so worried about it, am I missing some of the other feeds where its getting plenty?
Thank you.
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i saw an early feed too, by mum. small one looking very small, did not try to feed and was squashed against the rear board by a big chick! i was looking before the feed, and he (presumably by its size)was not visible and active like the others.
on the bright side, i saw one chick briefly stand up on its feet properly but was very wobbly. also saw one flapping its wings. the small one has come back before, so fingers crossed.
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Well if it looks as if it is going to die I won’t be able to watch anymore 😦
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Just watched Mrs P plucking a bird on the ledge – could have made an eiderdown with the feathers – and is now feeding the chicks. Little #4 was fed first and getting the majority of the food – crop now full to bursting – lol – and looking fine, was even helping him/herself at one point. Mum now feeding the other 3. 🙂
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I agree with you geebee, I’ve just watched a feed, and even though its been fed, I’m still very worried about it.
Hang in there little guy.
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Mum is currently feeding the little chick from what was a complete bird……and mostly just the little un so its definitely getting fed….the others are getting bits now and then….they are all starting to wobble about now…even little un who might not be a strong as the others but it was the last born and is doing just fine….yes, it gets squashed now and then but it can still shove its way to the front for feeding…and it is quite capable of having a go at its siblings when required..
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At the 1.15pm feed little un was still too stuffed to even open its beak. Its crop was full. They are all getting plenty of food and Nottingham will surely not miss a pigeon or two ! Peregrines certainly are messy eaters. It is interesting to compare this nest with that of the wild Goshawk in the New Forest.
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Couldn’t believe how many feathers came off that bird! Yes Pam, the peregrine is certainly a very messy eater 🙂 Its good to see the little un having managing to cope.
At the moment I can’t get the New Forest webcam, hubby has to sort my laptop yet again as I’ve also lost all the Rspb webcams again..
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Last night the little un (Henry in my eyes) was feeding himself. “He” sometimes stands back but can push forward when he needs feeding. But if he gets nothing he has got the habit of pushing down onto the corpse and tearing little bits off for himself. I still think he will make it barring problems with supply.
Nice to see the pin feathers coming through now when they flap their winglets. Sometimes the unsteadiness on their feet is due to overloaded crops upsetting their balance.
I missed the feed at 13.00 but am guessing from the debris and long primary feathers that this must have been a Gull.
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Baby chick was first to feed this time and looked very stuffed. I’ve noticed a large mass of white feathers on the ledge today. Does anyone know what sort of bird they’ve come from?
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i know its sad but its just the way of things. it may be small because its a male and not because its lagging behind. i read somewhere, i think ian newtons ‘the sparrowhawk’ that a male chicks behaviour might develop faster to make up for its smaller size
at 1pm both parents are at the nest. the male is feeding the chicks while the mother watches.
there is a huge pile of white feathers of a large bird on the ledge, including some long primary feathers. so maybe a white town pigeon or a black headed gull. hopefully the small one should get a chance to feed.
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Regarding the size of #4 don’t forget that it hatched 3 /4 days later than the rest of ’em, so it has got quite a bit of catching up to do!!
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My ‘reply at 14.19 above got posted wrong. Should have been here!!
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Sorry, posted too soon! This is from a feed earlier today, with both parents in the nest. Mum had been around for a while, and Dad flew in with a meal. The chicks didn’t seem to be all that hungry, but with some encouragement they forced themselves to eat. The smallest got as much as it wanted, and honestly seemed more interested in the webcam noise. It’s being very well fed, and if sometimes it doesn’t get as much as its siblings, perhaps it’s because it’s smaller, needs less food, and gets full more quickly? It’s several days younger, which is why it’s smaller. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10202854044383512&set=a.2304177175248.2120790.1573804998&type=1&theater
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id bet the smaller one is a male and the others 3 are female. the 3 are probably different ages too but look very similar esp their heads, while the male looks smaller than he should if a female too, esp his head.
im probably wrong, but its fun to speculate lol
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Sometimes I worry about the baby but overall he/she is being well fed. I just watched the 6AM feeding and baby got preferential treatment: mom made sure he was sated before moving on. Everyone got plenty.
The youngest is still much smaller than his/her siblings but with each passing day that matters less. I a few weeks. the 3 day difference in hatching date will be minimal.
The good thing is that even when (occasionally) the little guy doesn’t get his full share, other times he’s well taken care of. On average, I think the parents do a remarkable job of ensuring that everyone gets enough. Often to the point of refusing more.
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I am tempting fate I know but fingers crossed, touch wood if they all grow up safe and sound I would love one to be called Horus after the Egyptian god.
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My but those chicks have HUGE feet! We have one being very brave and going walkabout, but then it tried to run back to the others and almost fell over its own feet 🙂
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The zooming in of the camera during feeding is fantastic, big fan for yearrs now, but do try to update your blog & keep up the great work.
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I have to assume that they have been fed today, but every time I have looked in this afternoon, they have been fast asleep!!!
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I watched a feeding about 4:30 PM. They all ate their fill. Even the little one #4 was right up front getting his or her fair share. Happy to see that.
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Well mum is asleep now with her head under her wing………and it is raining.
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13 19 one of the parents has been de feathering a gull on the parapet, they are both sat there now.
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19.59 another gull has been de feathered. one of the parents started feeding about 20 minutes ago and the 4 chicks were all fed and had full crops..
will this be the last feed of the day.
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19.56 20 minutes ago was watching the babies being fed. the smallest one was given quite a large piece of food, but couldn’t manage it. they were all well fed. were the feathers from a gull? how old are the chicks now.
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20.12 one of the parents came back with the rest of the bird and was feeding the chicks again
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Oh what an untidy nest this morning….feathers all over the place from yesterdays meals and chicks falling about as they do the chick shuffle……they all look in good shape too
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about 8.35am the male came in with a starling (its not easy to tell but the head and beak looked like a starling) and fed the male chick while the 3 females watched quietly in a row. when he had full crop they were fed. one swallowed the starling head whole lol
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Andy….how do you know that one chick is male and the others female?
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the female is in at 9.20am with another small carcass. if it was caught by the male, it shows how good he is as a hunter.
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The biggest chick really wishes he could fly! It’s going to take some practice, though – and some ointment for his pride, bless ‘im. Thankfully Mum arrived with dinner about five minutes after he recovered his dignity, and everybody was too intent on the food to mention it to her.
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Brilliant picture Jennifer. Bet that one will be the first to fledge.
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There were two wagtails walking along the ledge and mum was looking at them keenly but they flew away unharmed.
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i saw a blackbird hopping about at the end of the ledge this morning. it doesnt seem a very inviting habitat for a blackbird
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Do falcon mums and dads ever make an attempt to get rid of old feathers and bones from the nest site?
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I’m sure the nest is untidier this year than last year. Now bits of old bones, rings, and feathers everywhere. Not sure if falcoms do house cleaning – does anyone know?
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It is a real mess and it attracts those horrible blue bottles.
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Oh what a good mum and dad chicks being fed at 18 30 all chicks fed well
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The smaller one looks so cute alongside the others but seems to be holding his own!
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The nest seems to be very untidy this year.
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All 4 are sat up proper perky this morning and having a good look round…little un has the right idea though, stays in the midst of the others and keeps warm and is sheltered from the worst of the weather too…clever thing….and I now think we have 2 of each…..but time will tell 🙂
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i still say the little un is a male and has 3 big horrible sisters to contend with 😉
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You might well be right there andyuk…..there is certainly at least 1 greedy madam there haha
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But on the other hand they might love ‘him’ and are snuggling up to him to keep him warm. 🙂
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I watched Dad feeding them all, Little one got a fair amount and when one of the others snatched a portion of food from the little one, Dad took it back and gave it back to the little one! They look like they are doing well. we have four in Derby now. There is a little one there too, but it makes so much noise it definitely gets fed – both parents feeding sometimes. All look to be doing well. it’s nice to see them all growing.
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I think dad is better feeding the babies than their mum, she just gives food to those who are nearer whereas dad takes his time to make sure they all have some.
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I agree geebee7. I have noticed this before. He is very careful to feed the smallest even though the big ones are pestering him for more.
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Mum just let the baby have this giant piece of food feathers and all, the poor soul had an awful job to swallow it. Now dad would have removed it knowing it was too large.
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They are all asleep and someone has their leg stretched right out on the stones it looks so funny.
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Do we know when the chicks will be ringed?
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I wonder if ringed pigeons are easier for the Peregrine to catch because they tend to fly in groups? i.e. the falcon can just chase the group and it will have more chance of catching the slowest of the group, rather than chasing a single bird. What do you think?
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I do feel sorry for their prey.:(
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yes a racing pigeon is probably easier to catch as they are so concerned with winning they forget to look out for danger. 🙂
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One of them has just managed to cough up a giant piece of meat that mum gave it, it was far too big for a baby.
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its 10pm and dark. mum appears to be asleep right on the edge of the building. scary place to go to sleep 🙂
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Approx 06:00 13 May 2014
It’s a little early for flying but nothing like feeling the wind beneath your wings 🙂
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WOW! what a great shot! I have been trying to get one too, but nothing like as good as that one!!!!!
As far as the state of the nest – perhaps someone at the ntu could put up a notice saying ……..PLEASE CLEAN YOUR ROOM!!!!!!!!LOL
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it was good receiving an e mail about the plight of the chick that has fallen out of the nest, when did this happen and has anyone seen the parents feeding it there? it is sad but nature has to take its course. if the chick was replaced inits nest, the parents could dessert the nest completely. i notice the chicks are beginning to test their wings and are starting to show adult plumage. how old are they now and when will they leave the nest.? will they still return to the nest and be fed?
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it was good receiving an e mail about the plight of the chick that has fallen out of the nest, when did this happen and has anyone seen the parents feeding it there? it is sad but nature has to take its course. if the chick was replaced inits nest, the parents could dessert the nest completely. i notice the chicks are beginning to test their wings and are starting to show adult plumage. how old are they now and when will they leave the nest.? will they still return to the nest and be fed?
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14.27 was watching the chicks and about 20 minutes ago the chick that had fallen out of the nest tried again and again to get back into the nest with it’s siblings and succeeded.
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Not a sign of any chicks at 08.00hrs GMT this morning. Gone for a test run behind the cameras further down the parapet? I hope it is just a stroll they’ve taken.
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