3 May 2022
Yesterday I was quite surprised when the fourth of five peregrine eggs hatched at the Cathedral of Learning nest. The chick emerged, pink and wet, while Morela was feeding his three older siblings at 1:20pm. (see update at end)
Morela laid five eggs in March but the fourth egg appeared three days after incubation began so I expected it to hatch three days after the other chicks that hatched on 26 April. In other words, on 29 April. Instead it was three days after that.
With its siblings nearly a week old the new chick looked tiny and vulnerable but it is not. We had already forgotten that newly hatched chicks must dry off and wait a bit before their first feeding.
Chick #4 is getting his fair share so far. Check out these slides from the 8:45pm feeding. (Yes, Morela feeds them after sunset.) The fourth chick moves around to the front of the pack and gets lots of food.
4th tiny chick is on the left
Morela she stuffs the older ones first, then focuses her attention on the smallest chick.
We now have four nestlings at the Pitt peregrine nest. Will we have five soon? According to my calculations the whitish egg#5 is due to hatch today. But we know how bad my calculations are.
Watch four chicks and the fifth egg at the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.
UPDATE, 7 May 2022: The fourth chick was very weak and did not survive. Click here for details.
(photos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Will these chicks be banded?
Stephanie, we hope so. Awaiting news at those point
Kate, has the streaming camera changed in the past couple of years? I remember it having a night vision mode that gave decent clarity at night, while now it seems no better than the snapshot camera.
Mary Ann, when we fixed the audio problem we must have accidentally unplugged the infrared light. We can’t fix it during the breeding season so it is waiting until this fall
Strange behavior around 10:15 am today where Morela left the nest and Ecco came in to stand beside the chicks, then a few minutes later, Morela came to the perch, but instead of coming in with something to feed the chicks, she stood there an wailed at Ecco who cheeped quietly and looked very submissive. It almost seemed like she was telling him to go and and get something for the chicks to eat.
Mary Ann, I just saw the video. First time I’ve ever seen that behavior. The only thing I know about wailing is that it means “I want [something] to be different!” Your idea that Morela wants Ecco to bring food is a good one. Since the smallest chick has to eat more often than the larger ones it may be hungry and she’s telling Ecco, “Don’t be fooled that the big kids aren’t hungry. Go get food!”
Oh my, what a pleasant surprise! Thanks for the update, Kate.
Kate, it looks like the 5th egg may be opened? I’m having a hard time seeing but it seems there’s a darker blur spilling out of the egg. Could the eyas be trying to come out still? Does anyone else see what’s happening (1:28 PM Pacific Time) I hope someone else gets a better look.
I was surprised to see no mom or dad sitting on the babies when i tuned in at 5:00. Is this normal? They’ve been unattended for at least 20 minutes so far.
LuAnn, It is a warm day here & the older chicks do not need to be brooded because they can regulate their own body temperature.
At 17:53, chick #4 is out by itself. Normal? I hope it’s OK.
LuAnn, it is not normal but I have seen it in disabled chicks that are not well.
Has she abandoned the 4th baby? I don’t think she fed it much today. Could she sense something is wrong with it?
Cindy, Morela will not abandon it, but if it is ill she cannot cure it. A chick she is unable to help would be a new and frustrating/upsetting experience for her.
6:49 PM—adult is furiously digging a hole in the gravel in the corner of the nest box. What’s going on?
I don’t know what it means. We’ll just have to keep watching.