It’s possible that the 4th and final egg has pipped! Our experts in the Falcon Lab have been examining a few frames of video taken this morning (actually it’s just 2 of us trying to zoom in on blurry screen shots), and there seems to be a pip mark showing near the top of the egg. If this is an actual hole we might expect the last falcon chick to hatch sometime today! Meanwhile, a number of people have commented on the current messy state of the nest box. Indeed there are a lot of Pigeon feathers building up just lately. We expect that the parents will get around to tidying up at some point. If not perhaps they should advertise for a maid. Pigeons probably shouldn’t apply though.
regarding the “messy” state of the nesting box … it looked like there was a bird foot in the front left of the screen earlier today? Would that have been a prey animal that they were picking at to feed the little ones, or did one of the hatchlings not make it?
That was a pair of Pigeon Legs. They sometimes have discarded pieces of prey lying around in the box. They usually do remove them.
Noticed that spot on the top of the egg in above photo at 11:13:12 when I was watching this morning. Zoomed in as best as possible before Astrid pulled it in closer but too blurry. Was interesting watching the pigeon feathers blowing around with the stronger wind gusts, sure kept them alert since they’re always watching for danger inside and out! Hopefully we’ll see a new chick before dark! Ugh, Astrid just left (likely to relieve herself?) around 17:30:00……….. no egg visible! Hidden beyond the 3 visible chicks? Or did it hatch this afternoon?
Ah-ha, looked away for a short time and the egg has reappeared!
am surprised at comments about a messy nest. these are birds, not humans, and their house keeping standards are different than ours.
For them, survival is probably more important than having a clean nest.