Today Astrid seemed to be signalling her desire to leave the Utica Peregrine Falcon reality show. For the first time she was seen pecking like crazy at the poor camera. One of the chicks had a go at it as well. Seriously, we speculate that the falcons are seeing reflected motion in the lens and are mistaking it for the movement of insects. Insects in the nest box are becoming increasingly common as the floor gets covered by droppings, bits of prey, feathers and pellets. Meanwhile the chicks are becoming more and more ambulatory and more independent. Seeing the chicks now, with their strange folds of skin and rudimentary wings, I can’t help but be reminded of Dodo birds. Look them up and you’ll see what I mean.
Matt, looked up Dodo birds and Astrid does resemble one in this photo, too funny!
will any of the chicks be banded (?adults too) ?
I don’t think that these chicks will be banded. So far, the DEC has not expressed an interest in doing it. Generally Peregrine Falcons are only banded as chicks. It is impractical to band adult raptors unless they become injured or are netted.
The DEC would need easy access to the nest box to band the eyases because the adults will attack the DEC workers. The first year in Syracuse they did not have access to the box. The box was moved back after the first year so that the DEC could go under the box and come up in front. They could then retrieve the eyases for banding. They always have 2 or 3 people to protect them from the adults.
occasionally the upper portions (mostly this part) of the video break up into small blocks, picture is distorted. I’ve seen this more with late evening or early morning viewings. but not during the day
what would be causing this?
falcon vs. tiercel at what age would the feet start to change enough to determine which one is which?
(am gathering this might be around 4 weeks? {based on when PA in Hsb had banded the young} )
I will look into the technical difficulties with the video feed. It would likely be our streaming provider that is responsible for that kind of distortion of the image. The straight feed from the camera has been fine.
I would say that we might be able to tell male and females apart by the end of next week or roughly at 3 weeks old. We shall see.