Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day…….and to the raptors as well!

I thought you would be interested in seeing a new (busy) mother and her demanding offspring, as well as getting updates to several others we have been following in the world of raptors.

On the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, following about 5 weeks of incubation, PEREGRINE FALCONS (below) have raised three chicks or eyas, as young falcons are known. They are now between a week and 10 days old. All white in their down feathers they have a ferocious appetite as was evident when the mother just bought in a Rock Pigeon. You will notice two eggs besides the brood, but these look as though they will not hatch.
You can watch all the Peregrine drama unfold by clicking on   http://www.pacast.com/players/falcon.asp

I have just been watching the female RED-TAILED HAWK at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, feed her three chicks what looks to be the remains of a Rock Pigeon. The chicks are now about 3 weeks old and still have their fluffy white down feathers. Though you can not see the male, he is obviously flying very close to the nest box screaming his head off – far louder than the whining begging calls of the young!
Check out the Red-tailed Hawks on UStream at   http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-franklin-institute-haw-cam  

And then there is the now famous BARN OWLS, Molly and MGee, from San Marcos, California.
They have been very busy raising their four nestlings who are now 6 to 7 weeks old. They have grown tremendously, and their new adult plumage is now visible under a coat of fluffy white down.
The show goes on 24 hours and you can see it all on UStream at  http://www.ustream.tv/theowlbox

All three boxes have been placed up to aid the birds in finding a secure and good nesting site. Of interest is that all three have a preference for a different “platform” to incubate and raise their offspring. The Peregrine has a box covered in pebbles, which were placed there when the box was installed. The Red-tail has added its own sticks and branches, and the Barn Owls has a floor covered in their own pellets and fluffy feathers.