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Post by ken on May 10, 2011 12:46:03 GMT
They introduced Peregrine Falcons a few years back, to keep the pigeons down in Nottingham city centre. Trent Uni rigged up a webcam to watch a pair when they nested. They have got 4 chicks now. They can be watched here if anyone is interested.
www.ntu.ac.uk/ecoweb/ntu_doing/falcons/103295.cfm
When you click in the link, you will be asked to install an addon before you can watch the cam.
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Post by Lynnrose on May 10, 2011 14:48:35 GMT
I clicked in time to see mummy/daddy fly onto the ledge, still there 
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Post by ken on May 10, 2011 18:17:20 GMT
I've got them on the extended desktop, and can keep an eye on whats going on.
Mum brought them a pigeon at 14.00, dad brought them one at 16.43 and spent about half hour feeding them. Shortly after mum brought them another one. The kids eat most of the first one, but mum and dad tucked into the last two as well. The bigs ones get fed first and the little one fights for what he gets. Unlike other birds, they bring the food home in one big lump, so they continue feeding them until they are all full and the little one gets a proper meal in the end. When they get big, the pigeon population is going to drop fast. Mum and dad are going to be rushed off their wings to feed that lot, in a few weeks.
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Post by Lynnrose on May 10, 2011 19:14:53 GMT
Looks like they are sleeping now, wish I could have seen the pigeon fest!
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Post by ken on May 10, 2011 19:31:58 GMT
Mum has cleared off again now the rain has stopped, its still daylight and theres time for dad to bring some supper home before dark. They clear off for an hour or so at a time and they must eat themselves, either one of them could bring supper home I suppose. Its surprising how fast they can strip a pigeon, even into tiny pieces for the babies.
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Post by ken on May 11, 2011 10:49:53 GMT
They had a pigeon for breakfast and another for elevensies. I think I would be sick of pigeon by now, even if it fresh on the hoof. Mum and dad are there now. They dont say a lot to one another, but they are both good to the kids. She sits with them more, but he does take a turn at feeding them. He came home with a pigeon this morning and started to eat it up the end of the ledge. Mum ran at him and I thought there was going to be a fight. The poor hen pecked bugger just gave it to her and she ran back like mad to feed the kids.
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Post by Lynnrose on May 11, 2011 10:52:19 GMT
Lucky you getting to see the exciting stuff....just the babies snuggling up right now
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Post by ken on May 11, 2011 11:26:08 GMT
If they have a regular timetable; like they seem to have, one or the other will be back with food about 13.45 Lynnrose. Keeping them on the extended desktop, I dont miss much. I can see whats going on even when I'm watching the TV.
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Post by Lynnrose on May 11, 2011 18:59:23 GMT
Missed it, the babies are suggling in for the night. I can see what looks like a pub with outside lights flashing.
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Post by ken on May 11, 2011 19:22:53 GMT
Thats Langtrees pub Lynnrose, I got barred out of there New Years Day before last. Mum came home early tonight when it got a bit chilly and tucked them all in to keep them warm. Then she cleared off for a while, now shes back napping. Dad will be home just before dark with the supper. I think mum was at bingo all afternoon, dad fed them twice. They have been eating a bit later today, the rain has interrupted their routine.
Dads back with the supper, I cant see what it is yet, except its massive. It looked bigger than him when he landed. Mum has gone up the end to help him to tear it to pieces. I think someone is missing a white duck. They have got it round the corner and I cant see it.
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Post by Lynnrose on May 11, 2011 19:46:34 GMT
Lol, naughty you getting banned!
Still just the chicks for me
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Post by ken on May 13, 2011 1:03:18 GMT
I only got one family picture. Dad stays well out of the way, when mum is feeding the kids. He might think he's on the menu.
There was a panic on this morning, mum was away and dad was watching the kids. All of a sudden he started running up and down the ledge screaming and looking up. Then he took off and shortly afterwards she came back and jumped in with the kids. Then he came back and stood guard on the ledge. There are several falconers in and around the city and I think someone was flying a strange bird. I think it would have to be an Eagle, to try and get close to a Falcons nest.
I wouldn't want to try and get near it. I got attacked by a Barn Owl, when I was a kid. I climbed up the hollow tree, to see how many babies they had. Mum came back, knocked me right out of the tree and nearly tore my ear off doing it. I learned to stay away from birds of prey when they are nesting.
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Post by Lynnrose on May 13, 2011 7:22:18 GMT
Babies are wide awake and running around the nest awwwww
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Post by ken on May 13, 2011 8:29:38 GMT
They had a nice bright sunny morning today for a change and mum hasn't had to keep them warm and dry. They are pretty active in the mornings, the night is the longest time they go without food. Mum always flies off and hides some food the night before. As soon as shes tarted herself up in the morning, she brings them a snack before dad arrives with the breakfast. They never leave food anywhere near the nest and when she tidies up, she will even eat feathers if they have blood on them. Any small scraps in the nest, she either feeds to the kids or eats herself. If dad feeds the kids, he flies off and doesn't tidy up. No equal rights in his book, she does all the housework.
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Post by ken on May 13, 2011 10:43:32 GMT
This is the first time I've seen them both feeding the kids. Normally he only feeds them if she's not there. Otherwise he gives her the food and just stands guard or flies off. This time he beat her home, was feeding them when she arrived and stayed on till the end. He did fly off leaving her to clear the table, to show her who was boss. Thats mum with her back to the camera, "Do these feathers make my bum look big?".
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Post by Lynnrose on May 13, 2011 10:53:29 GMT
Love the commentary....hope some more members are having a look at the birds and reading the messages?
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Post by ken on May 13, 2011 12:48:44 GMT
Often when I click to capture the screen reverts from full screen to web page Lynnrose, so my pictures tend to be a bit hit and miss. I need to install the software, but I might try a movie capture and then select my stills from the frames. If I can get a good movie capture, I will publish it and put a link up. I've got so much hard drive space, I could make a full length movie and then get Sir thingyy to whisper on it.
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Post by ken on May 13, 2011 12:51:06 GMT
I should have put Sir Richard, the censor doesn't like his nickname.
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Post by Lynnrose on May 13, 2011 16:10:11 GMT
Looking forward to the movie captures if you do them
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Post by ken on May 14, 2011 8:14:25 GMT
I need to look out my video capture software today Lynnrose and get it set up.
I have decided that dad is better at feeding the kids than mum. She butchers the dinner out on the ledge. As she doesn't hunt as much as dad, she eats the heart and liver herself. When she get into the nest the babies are all balled up and the little one gets fed last. He gets fed, but all the best bits are gone and he only get the worst meat left over. Dad jumps right in and butchers the meat in the nest. While hes doing it, the kids waddle forward around him and are spread out. Not being hemmed in, the little one gets lots of the good stuff. Mum favours the big ones, but dad doesn't have any favourites. I bet the little one prays that dad comes home while the old lady is at bingo, or wherever she goes. I think thats why they call them birds of prey.
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Post by nocky2 on May 14, 2011 12:11:18 GMT
Finally managed to catch both parents at home. Pic quality was'nt very good, so did a bit of a paint job on it.   |
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Post by elvisuk on May 14, 2011 18:47:37 GMT
Very tasty LynnRose  
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Post by ken on May 15, 2011 2:01:21 GMT
Picture isn't very good at this time of the morning either. The trouble is they cant change the camera or even clean the lens, without disturbing the nest. I think Falcons use the same nest year after year and they mate for life. Next year the Uni might fit a night vision camera, or at least a HD one. They will be able to do that, before nesting time comes round and not disturb the birds.
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Post by ken on May 15, 2011 10:44:55 GMT
Mum comes home to try and shelter them from the rain, but there's always one. He decided he didn't like it and soon waddled back to the fluffy ball in the corner. It looks like he's trying to take off, but he cant even walk without falling over.
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Post by Lynnrose on May 22, 2011 21:19:35 GMT
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Post by elvisuk on May 23, 2011 14:06:50 GMT
The bigger they get the taster they get
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Post by Lynnrose on May 26, 2011 7:41:34 GMT
Their feathers are changing colour now and mum/dad is looking over them
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Post by ken on May 26, 2011 10:15:09 GMT
The two big ones are about 2 days older than the next one and 3 days older than the youngest. The baby is the only one whos still white. One jumped out of the nest and he didn't look very happy when he found he couldn't get back in. Now another one has jumped out to join him and theres only the baby and his mate still in the nest. I'm waiting to see what happens when mum comes back with the dinner. Maybe mum will feed two and dad will feed the other two.
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Post by ken on May 26, 2011 10:20:31 GMT
I made one film, but it runs out at about 1.5 gig in HD. Since I have made lot of short clips and soon I will string the most interesting bits together in AVI or something light and put them on the net for anyone whos interested.
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Post by Lynnrose on May 26, 2011 11:30:59 GMT
I'll be interested KC
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