When a raptor nest doesn’t have a camera, the only way to tell if the eggs have hatched is to watch near the nest for the first food delivery.
Last week Lori Maggio stopped by the Downtown peregrines’ nest every day to see if Louie was bringing in food. On Thursday, April 19, she was lucky to be there when he made his first delivery to Dori and the chick(s) — but it took five attempts before he was allowed to drop it off.
That’s because the mother peregrine is always in charge at the nest. She’s present when the eggs are hatching, she calls the shots on the timing of feedings, and she’s the one who feeds the chicks until they are older.
This slideshow of Lori Maggio’s photos shows how completely Dori is in charge at the Downtown nest … and proves that the eggs hatched on April 19, 2018.
In his first four tries, Louie brings prey to the nest opening but Dori says “Not yet; go away” She probably tells him with just a look. On the fifth attempt she says OK, Louie makes his delivery, and flies away with empty talons.
Even if we had a webcam at the Downtown nest we would never have seen this activity. The same is true at the Pitt peregrine nest.
The Cathedral of Learning falconcam has such a narrow view that we can’t see when Terzo arrives with a food delivery and we can’t see how many times he’s brought food and been rebuffed. Here’s what we do know:
- Somewhere off camera Terzo signals that he’s brought food.
- When Hope signals OK, Terzo comes into the nest to shelter the chicks while Hope leaves to get the food.
- Hope is gone for a few minutes.
- She returns, bringing the food into camera view.
- Terzo leaves and Hope feeds the chicks.
Peregrine mothers rule the nest.
(photos by Lori Maggio)
curious: how long did it take from first attempt to the successful attempt to deliver the food?
Great catch by Lori. Do we know how long this entire exchange took?
No, I don’t know, and the photos didn’t have the original time stamps.
All five attempts were within about 20 minutes.
Kate I just saw this notice re: our beloved Dori and Louie and their 4 babies.
Is there any way we can stop this from happening?
NEWS ALERT:
It’s come to our attention that the nesting season for the Downtown Peregrine pair may be over sooner than we all think!
A development project of BET Investments next to the building where the 3rd Avenue nest is located has decided to obtain a United States Fish and Wildlife Service permit to remove the 4 chicks, who are only 2 weeks old. The permit is within the parameters of the newly relaxed Federal rules related to migratory birds.
The chicks are to be taken away from the nest and raised at a rehabilitation facility.
Louie, Dori, and the chicks only need about one more month for them to fledge and leave the nest forever.
We urge you to contact BET investments to express your displeasure and to urge them to delay the removal of the peregrine chicks.
BET Investments
200 Dryden Road, Suite 2000
Dresher, PA 19025
Phone:215-938-7300
Fax:215-938-8651
email: info@betinvestments.com
Another way you can express your opinion is by picketing the construction site across the street from 319 3rd avenue. Do not block the street or sidewalk
Patricia, thank you. I saw it too. I will post an article about it tomorrow morning.
Speaking of ruling the nest, I saw the two Pitt falcons chasing off a third falcon from the top of the Cathedral yesterday at around 2:00 PM. The chase I saw only lasted a few minutes but it was wild. Did anyone else happen to see this/is there anything on the webcam footage from around that time to corroborate?
Thank you Kate. I did send them an E-mail and posted it on my Face Book Page. I just let them know as nicely as possible how this would effect the Peregrin family and all of us that love them so dearly. Pray we can all make a difference.
Does anyone know who put out the statement regarding the relocation of the Downtown Peregrines? Could it perhaps not be legitimate? I didn’t know that it is known how many chicks they have.
Darleen, it was first posted by John English at Falconuts. It is legitimate. I received official news myself from the PA Game Commission. (The permit to take the chicks is from US Fish and Wildlife — a Federal permit, not state level.) I am writing an article about it for publication early tomorrow morning. The number of chicks is known by those who will do the removal. They looked at the nest from inside a building.
Yes Peregrines Rule, Ma, Pa & all, lllolll. Checkout our falcon cams: http://www.kalamazoofalcons.com/