Following the successful ringing of the peregrine falcon chicks today, we’re pleased to inform you that we have three female birds in the nest.
For the fourth and smallest bird however – because it’s still so tiny – we’ve been unable to determine its gender. So we need you to come up with three female names and one unisex!
We’d like you, the FalconCam viewers, to email us or submit comments on this blog of your suggestions of names. We’ll pick the best ones and then put them to the polls for you to vote on.
The deadline for submissions is Friday 9am on Friday 23 May.
The three chicks were all ringed by professionals from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, causing minimal distress to the birds. If you’d like to read more about bird ringing, read Erin McDaid’s previous blog: The Importance of Bird Ringing.
NTU Falcons 
At last – been waiting all day for the news!!! Shall have to put my thinking cap on now!!!
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Names: Pudge or Flo spring to mind, no idea why. 🙂
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Oh bless ’em – they look like 4 startled kids who have been caught misbehaving. 🙂 Will have to ask the Grandchildren to help with some suggestions for names.
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From Linda Downes, Beeston, Nottingham may I suggest please:
1. Isis
2. Tilly
3. April
4. If the small one is found to be a boy – Drago.
We wish them a long and happy life and thank you all for keeping the world enthralled.
Kind regards
Linda
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Fantastic news!! 😀 Such a cute photo of them!
I suggest Milly, Molly, Mandy and Mo!
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I really like the name HORUS.
Horus is one of the oldest and most significant deities in ancient Egyptian religion, who was worshipped from at least the late Predynastic period through to Greco-Roman times.
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Look at them in that photo, they look terrified. The poor little souls don’t know what is happening.Bless their baby hearts.
You can tell I am a real animal lover. 🙂
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Do you also like the poor song birds they kill every day to feed these chicks?
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Thank you Grant for the info…Great news…..now lets think….
Georgie for the unisex name…..and then Ada, Norah and Jessie….. 🙂
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Good Morning
Looking at the photo made me think of little women lined up so my thought went to the book.
Meg, Beth, Amy and Jo. Jo could be male or female.
Unfortunately this year I have been unable to follow the chicks as much as I have done in previous years owing to not having a computer at home but I have relatives who have kept me informed. Thanks for all the work that you do.
Anne Mahl
________________________________
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I like the idea 🙂
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Me too
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Brilliant idea! Gets my vote 🙂
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Best idea ever. Naming them after the “Little Women” and having the fourth one named “Jo” is perfect. I’ll upvote this as well.
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Last year we had an Oscar Wilde theme which provided two of the names.
This year we have the Patron Saints because the first egg hatched on St Georges day. We could still maintain the Patron Saints theme for the three girls – eg Georgina, Davina, Andrea or Patrcia. For the little one, I really like the idea of “Titch”.
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I like the “Patron Saints” theme since the first egg hatched on St George’s day.
For the girls, Georgina, Patricia, Andrea or Davinia
For the little one, I like “Titch” which is unisex (or, continuing the Patron Saints theme, “Georgie” until we know what sex it actually is)
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“For the fourth and smallest bird however – because it’s still so tiny – we’ve been unable to determine its gender.”
ah but if the 3 biggest are assumed to be female because of size, surely the same logic has to be applied to the small one in assuming its a male. are there any other features that suggest gender at this age?
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April-,May- June and Georgie
Thankyou to the team for all the work that you do
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For what it’s worth, here are my submissions, using HAWK as the theme: Helen April Wallis Kathy UNISEX: Hallem Allard Willow Kana Worth checking the meanings of these names.
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The little one has to be PIP
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Love it, especially with the Dickens reference as a bonus.
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Yes I am aware of my back flip concerning “Little Women” chars, but Pip is so fitting.
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What is that awful noise it seems to be worrying mother? It is like an alarm but it also sounds like a squeaky bike.
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Such wonderful news that all four chicks are thriving and have their shiny new name bracelets 😀 Three females and one undetermined, hmm? How about Georgina, Patricia, and April for the girls (because of the days and month they were born or hatched), and Titch for the littlest one? I think Sue mentioned Titch a few days ago, and I thought PERFECT!
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Like Georgina/Georgia and Patricia as these names were the very first suggested on these blogs. Like April as well. Not sure about Titch – if the little one is male let’s do the Horus suggestion – sometimes little things need a big name. If female – how about staying with the months and calling her June. Or stick with the British saints and go for Georgia, Patricia, Andrea, and David/Davida?
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My tutor group at Bramcote School have been following the falcons with great interest over the last month and we have had a vote this morning for the names. We suggest April, Daisy and Scarlett for the girls and Bobby or Bobbie for the little one. By popular demand however, I have also to include Buckbeak (a Hippogriff from Harry Potter).
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I think the little one should be March with the girls being April May and June to commemorate an exceptional spring for the breeding birds. Thank you all for the hard work that you do to keep the birds in our view. No doubt we will have some heart stopping moments over the next few weeks while they stretch their wings and get more adventureous! Thank you all again.
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My suggestions for names are –
Faith, Hope and Charity for the females and Hero for the little one.
Thanks to everyone involved with the Nottingham Peregrines.
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Whats wrong with momma?
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At first glance I thought one parent bird (Momma ?) was unwell (bottom right hand corner)
— but he/she is just basking in the glorious Nottingham Sunshine.
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Why is she staying close to the next today
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ooops should read nest !!!
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Do you think the ringing worried her?
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She was panting earlier on and was biting the window sill (her mouth was open wide). I hope she is not poorly.:(
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Darren
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I’m worried what’s wrong?
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Freddie,
Flo,
Farah,
Finley
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Glad to see the chicks doing so well, My suggestion is for the girls is Isabella,Prudence, Florence, and tiny one Georgie.
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Eenie
Meeni
Mini
Mo
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Artemis – the huntress. Athena, the warrior Goddess. Gaia – Mother Earth. And Apollo for the little one since Apollo was Artemis’ twin brother?
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Phew mummy seems fine now, but something didn’t seem right with her earlier, was very worried,
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Me to, she was panting, her wings weren’t close to her body and she had her mouth open wide biting the slate windowsill.
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fluffy,toppsy,twinkx,topper
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It’s got to be RIO if it’s a boy!
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Perhaps he won’t like football. 🙂
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Looking at the photo you just know the girls are saying…….”It was him.”
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I really can’t get over how messy the nest is this year, it’s like it has been hit by a whirlwind.
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Could the parent bird have been worried because it witnessed the chicks being taken yesterday? – she seemed to be looking at the window !
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My cat Shiva used to love watching the falcons on the webcam. Unfortunately she passed away this year, so I’d like to suggest Shiva as a name for one of the falcons (and it works for either gender:) )
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here are a few very random suggestions. some are probably a bit cliched 🙂
i definitely think the names should convey the extreme dynamic potential, brutality and predatory nature of the peregrine, or some kind of ancient thing, or god lol
sickle, sythe, saphire, scarlet, honey, hannibal, excaliber, threat,
haze, glare, shadow, venom, angel, slant, blue, beauty, thorn, plume,
jade, loki, pixel, baker [ja], rythm, panarama, hood, dot, shriek, solo,
zelda, lucy, conan, chase, gun, zone, arrow, jinx, ace, grendel, rune,
tyrant, zing, eve, utah, manson, fortress,dare, druid, ghost, sprint,
stryker, riker, raker, supreme, skylon, sentry, vigil, foe, curse, bane,
dread, flashheart, dusk
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Old Pubs in Nottingham
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem = TRIP
The Bell inn = BELL
Ye Olde Salutation = SALLY ?
Feathers Tavern = FEATHERS
Major Oak = MAJOR
The Old Angel = ANGEL
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I think Mum was worried today in case those “human beans” came back to borrow” her children again and thats why she was with them in the nestbox for so long….
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After four females who contributed to knowledge about birds:-
Gaby (after Gaby Nevitt)
Betsy (after Betsy Bang)
Julie (after Julie Hagelin)
unisex chick name: Wenzel (after Bernice Wenzel)
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Mum is in the nest panting again like yesterday.
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Like the idea of sisters. How about the Bronte sisters – Emily, Charlotte and Anne + for the little one Branwell or Elizabeth
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Why is momma so stressed last couple of days?
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Re=Names. Eeny,meeny,miny and mo. John Stockport
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15.48 17th May – time for a snack supplied by Dad. Good grief, Dad, your kiddies are bigger than you! (and I bet Dad has to wear earplugs at feeding times now – what a racket!)
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Just watched the feed at 15.45. this is the first time I have seen Dad feed them.
And can see how they have grown when compared to him. the girls are almost as big now and even the titch is getting there.
I saw the ‘distressed’ mum yesterday. I think it was jus the sunshine bothering her. It must be getting hot in there this nice weather. Cooling postures include panting and spreading wings to disperse heat.
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Daisy, Lily and Rose and I like Titch for the little one too!
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The chicks are definitely growing rapidly now and all the feathers are starting to come through…soon they will be wandering up and down the ledges and we will all be sat holding our breath!
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Not (or KNot), Ting and Ham and the little one Uni.
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Like Georgina/Georgia and Patricia as these names were the very first suggested on these blogs. Like April as well. Not sure about Titch – if the little one is male let’s do the Horus suggestion – sometimes little things need a big name. If female – how about staying with the months and calling her June. Or stick with the British saints and go for Georgia, Patricia, Andrea, and David/Davida?
(Also posted as a reply earlier in this blog)
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I seem to make a habit of missing when a new blog starts – I wondered why no news of ringing etc and no posts for a few days!!!
Found you today! Great news that they are all well – saw nothing of the ?drama? with Mum yesterday!
Suggestions for names ,,,,,,,,,ummmmmmmm?
April, May, June and July/Julie
Georgie, Porgy, Pudden’ and Pie!
Love the photo up top!!!! Looks like they have been caught in the headlights!!
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How about April, May, June and Titch
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Never seen this before. 19.15 and mum is feeding all four and they are all getting a share. then enter left Dad arrives with another pigeon and drops into the nest and starts more feeding. The kids are looking fairly stuffed by now so it should see them through the night.
But two pigeons at the same time and all six family in shot in the box. I hope somebody can capture that? (I have no idea how.)
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Well the little one is out of the nest, trying valiantly to get back in, but no luck so far. The father did give him a small amount of food as the others enjoyed a big breakfast.
Does he just stay out of the nest, or does someone open a window and pop him back in?
Cheers.
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5.45 this morning. Little one is out of the box and struggling to get back in. “He” did manage to get mums attention and did get some food but not a lot.
I know we are not supposed to interfere but the problem is man made (nobody thought to put a ramp in for escapees to return up.) so PLEASE help him back in! Put a small piece of wood outside the box to raise the foothold over. Please!
I am going to miss this as I am getting an early train!
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Man made… you hit the nail on the head. The drop nest side it lower than the other that is why he cannot get back over. 😦
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Still out at 9.40 and yes you are right – it is lower on one side – dangerous situation
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One of the parents has just been and fed the three in the nest – it won`t be long before little one is too weak to try and get back in.
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a few interesting things this morning. i looked about 5.15am and big shock; one of the 4 was missing! it was ok though. she had just jumped into the gutter, silly thing. then the little un decided to jump in as well – the fool lol. big sis managed to jump back into the box leaving the small one by itself. then i saw one one the chicks eating a piece of meat by standing on it properly and ripping it apart. shortly after all this fun mum came in with still flapping pigeon, but it didnt flap for very long! must have just caught it. she fed them well, and even gave some to the chick in the gutter, but he didnt get much. hes still stuck at about 7am but has decided to go to sleep.
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One has jumped out of the nest box…:(
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Oops, seems we have an escapee! Hope it works out how to get back in with the others, they usually do after a bit of thought 🙂
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The escapee is looking over the piece of wood at the others. I just hope it doesn’t rain as that area floods.
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Oh bless him he has gone to sleep all on his own. What if it rains and he dies in the water? Can he not be lifted back over and into the box?
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Oh dear its 8.40 and its still out of the box, hope it will be ok.
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I know you don`t want to interfere with nature taking it`s course, but, you are already doing that by providing the nesting site and also ringing the chicks. As some of the others have said, raising the side in the gutter to allow the chick to get back in wouldn`t be too much to ask.
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I think Jenny speaks for most of us. Certainly myself and my on-line friends who are following this. Thats the Lil Fella, give him a break and pop him gently back with his family. This is the right thing to do however you look at things,
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Please help it.
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It’s heartbreaking seeing it trying to get back in!
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Titch is still out of the box… and getting no food……..
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Someone has gotta help little ‘un Pretty please
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For heavens sake put that bird back.
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can someone at NTU please tell us what can be done.
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I think you now but one of the chicks has fell out of box
Sent from my iPhone
>
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hopefully dad will do a feed soon (if he hasnt already) as he is rather better at feeding them all.
small chick should jump out by himself as his sister was also in the gutter earlier (the small one followed her in), and she managed to jump up after a few goes. ive seen him nearly make it a few times. im sure he’ll work it out soon the rate they are developing.
fred, i saw the double feed yesterday too, and recorded it. i was surprised he came in with another big prey item while the female was feeding them. they seem to like to do a really big feed in the evening.
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Some name suggestions:
Dame Judi (Dench)
Dame Maggie (Smith)
Dame Diana (Rigg)
Pantomime Dame
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That little guy has been battling ever since he was born, please pop him back 🙂
Or if you won’t could you at least tell us please. At least that way I wont have to tune in and watch him suffer.
Thank you.
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Had this been a Natural Scrape on a cliff ledge the little one would have been gone – as this is an “artificial” Scrape with “artificial” sides forming a barrier I think he should be “artificially” plonked back in the nest …. if he’s thrown out a second time then so be it.
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please name the peregrines something cool. a peregrine would die of shame if it knew it was called ‘dame judi’ or any ‘comedy’ names. we are not naming a donkey or a baby rabbit here lol. dont get me wrong, i’m all for the inappropriate comedy name; ie, giving a dangerous creature a soft girly name just because its funny. for example, a rattlesnake called ’emily’ is just perfect because there is nothing ’emily like’ about a rattlesnake. but if we are being serious, a ‘human’ name should be representative of something about the animal in some way, rather than being just arbitrary, like scarlet or sapphire. both these conjure up something beautiful in general, and the first might also suggest the colour of the flesh they devour; the second the blue of the sky they inhabit, and maybe the colour of their backs. angel would be good for a female bird. it is superficially feminine, but could also mean ‘angel of death’. ‘zelda’. sounds both feminine and gladiatorial. i suggested ‘vigil’ and ‘sentry’ because falcons sit alone on crags for many hours scanning the sky for prey.. ‘stryker’.is obviously a fitting name for a peregrine. maybe a bit to obvious, but the spelling makes it original. i got the odd spelling from a very fast rc jet plane. skylon was a tower in the festival of britain, but could be an oddball combo word name for a peregrine too – ie sky and talon. sounds a bit menacing and ‘high tech’, like a peregrine, and they do like towers. i like ‘haze’ because of the way they strike out of the suns haze. ‘rune’. dunno, it just sounds like something really mysterious and ancient. as for random local names. not a fan, unless they also mean something important about peregrines. imo the names should say something about the birds themselves, not us. and be interesting, wild and beautiful as they are. preferably something menacing, because thats what they are to every bird for miles around :).
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Horus.
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little one jumped back into the nest a few minutes ago – worry over !!!!!!!!
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Missed all the drama AGAIN as I did not manage to get online until 3.15pm!
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Okay. If not Dames, what about:
Guanine
Adenine
Thymine
Cytosine
There’s will, after all, go into the mix.
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Hi there,
How about female monarchs for the girl chicks, strong, noble and dignified
Lizzie
Anne
Vicki
and maybe Georgie for the 4th – I know we haven’t had a female monarch called George, but as we don’t know the sex of ‘titch’, Georgie is both male and female and our new prince is a George.
Or how about
Sue – (Townsend)
Beatrice – (Potter)
Emily – (Bronte)
Bram – (Stoker)
I have loved every year watching them lay and hatch and all the funny antics the chicks get up to. It is so lovely, happy and sad at the same time to see them fledge. Every year I can’t wait until March comes around to see the parent birds come back and the cycle continues once again.
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Snap,crackle,pop and Dora the explorer ….
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How about:
Guanine
Adenine
Thymine
Cytosine
There’s will add to the pool.
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That should have been Their’s
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I was happy the little chick was back in the nest only to wake up to two chicks on the ledge.
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Sorry , one chick out of the nest.
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Omg my heart went in my mouth when 1 of chicks went out on ledge
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I would like to suggest the British national floral emblems for names: Rose, Daffodil, Thistle and Shamrock.
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Aye up they all gone on walk about !!
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Just woke to watch 4 chicks follow each other 1 by 1 into the other box. Now none of them can be seen, they remind me of 4 naughty kids. Lol, its amazing watching them grow. And thank u ntu for giving us this opportunity,
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where have the chicks gone, have they gone further along the ledge.
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how long is it until the young will leave the nest and do they come back to be fed? have been watching the peregrines at chichester and they are tiny
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Do ‘viewers’ fuss over them like we do on here or are they more sensible? 🙂
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Here are my 7 year old Daughter’s ideas for names (Who talks no stop about the bird – day and night!) –
1 – Sunny (For the little one)
2 – Fluffy
3 – Perry
4 – Vixen (For the big bossy one)
I do like 1 and 4 myself.
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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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I would like to suggest a name for the next male falcon.
The person who made the nesting tray – Frank from maintenance – is retiring after 25 years of working for Nottingham Trent University.
I feel it would be fitting to name the next male falcon Frank in his honour.
I have spoken to his family who would be very pleased if this were possible.
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Can’t think of anything nicer, providing there aren’t any other retirees at the uni. A female could still be named Frankie.
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Thank you Thistledo. I see your point but, Frank also made the nesting tray the falcons are in. Frankie would be a good name, I agree.
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Oh well Jim, that puts quite a different light on it. Frank/Frankie it is then, as far as I’m concerned. I missed the bit about Frank making the tray.
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My Mum died a few days ago. it’s been a very sad and difficult few weeks. She was a devoted follower of the falcons, and had a final look at the them the day before she died. The first one had just jumped out of the nest and she was thrilled. A few days before that, she said, “I’d like a falcon”. Confused at first, I suddenly realised she’d like a falcon named after her; she’d been so taken with Ernest’s story. Her name was Patricia. I promised I’d see what I can do. I see now I am day late; I haven’t had a chance to look into it. I hope that my lovely Mum’s name can still be considered.
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A few points
I think the name Frankie is Great (Frank)
May I please also say again… a little shelter somewhere would be a good thing…
I hate weekends, when there is no one there to operate the camera, cant see what the vagabonds are up to
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Great names…I too agree with Frank or Frankie for the NTU maintenance man who is retiring. Also Dylan, Sunny, Claire and Patricia (for J who lost his/her Mum). Thank you for the great footage. Our family love keeping up with the falcons.
Falcon fans from Canada
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Thank you. My Mum adored the falcon families. She could watch for hours! She felt it a real privilege to be able to drop into their lives. I so wish she could still enjoy it.
J (Jen)
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When is camera one going to view further round the ledge to see chicks explore under the camera and view north like it did last year? Also it would be great if we could have sound like there is on camera two. I love to hear them calling to each other but miss it on camera one.
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Has one of them flown? I have been watching since 6am and can only see three of them.
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Just ignore my last comment, I can now see the fourth one 🙂
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As its a Uni, My husband calls the girls the Three Degrees
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