6:30 Morela feeds 4th chick
4 May 2022
Yesterday the tiny fourth chick appeared to be very weak and unlikely to survive. Morela and Ecco are aware of it and are doing the best they can.
As you can see in the slides above, labeled with feeding times on 3 May, Morela attempts to feed the chick even when it is on its back. Ecco looks for the chick every time he visits the nest.
Perhaps the two of them were communicating about this at 10:15am when Morela wailed at Ecco. In the video below, Ecco comes to the nest and looks for the fourth chick, then Morela arrives and wails.
This is the first time this pair has had a weak chick.
p.s. Thank you to Mary Ann Pike for alerting me to the 10:15 wailing session.
(photos and video from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
At the feeding there was a baby. #4 or #5? Appeared to be a shell off to side.
That’s happy news. I believe it is chick #4.
What was the name of the falcon before the crazy mother? Dorothy, Doris?
I remember her feeding her very last baby she raised, upside down when he couldn’t stand . She did everything for that baby. I know ultimately his outcome wasn’t good but she was amazing! I’ll never forget that.
Dorothy was an amazing mother. In her time she also has a chick or two that died at the nest. She never gave up, even when they were dead. Always her mate waited until she was away from the nest to take away the body.
Dorothy fed Silver, the one with the neurological issue. Hope was the cannibal mother.
The older sibs were sitting on him yesterday and he did not look well when I saw him. I hope he is doing better today.
This news made my heart sink! I hope the little guy/girl makes it. I have the camera feed up all day at work (the joy of duel monitors) and was so excited to see the 4th chick hatching right before my eyes!
Around 10:30 this morning, you can see the baby sitting up and begging for food. Looks like mom/dad (I don’t know the difference) was trying to feed him. Fingers crossed
Poor baby. It’s sad to see him/her so weak.
Wow, it’s so tiny, poor wee one
Question: Why is Morela so vocal when she feeds the chicks?
Wendy, Peregrine mothers always “chup” to encourage the chicks to stand up and get food.
I watched Dorothy and the struggle with Silver. She was an amazing mother!
Has anyone seen the little one today?
I have not seen the fourth chick since Wed afternoon. I have not heard that anyone else has.
Morela gave us a good view of the feeding on the nest today (5/5), starting at around 17:17. I never saw the fourth chick…..
I saw it this afternoon briefly during a feeding. It was tucked in front and was looking for food, but then fell back between two siblings and was unable to get back upright. I didn’t see it after that.
Hi Kate, I was wondering how the fourth chick is doing? Everytime I tune in I never get a good look.
I have not seen the fourth chick since Wed afternoon.
I saw #4 this morning on its back, haven’t seen since.
At 9:59am I think Morela pulled the body of the 4th chick out and ate and fed it to the chicks.
Heidi, I reviewed the footage. It’s an old prey item with black feathers. The nestlings are hungry and have not had as many feedings as usual this morning because it is raining heavily.
But the 4th chick is definitely gone, right?
Yes. Perhaps Morela or Ecco removed it overnight.