Richmond Falcon Cam
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Hatched
The first egg has hatched in the peregrine falcon nest in Richmond this afternoon. We’ve been observing closely over the past two days to look for signs of a pip - the initial opening the chick makes in the egg as it begins to hatch. The female has been diligently keeping the eggs covered and weren’t able to get a good clear view of the eggs.
Checking in on the nest this afternoon we found the first chick almost fully hatched out.
Almost immediately the female began to eat the remaining yolk and eventually the membranes and eggshell itself. This allows to her to recapture valuable calories, proteins and calcium.
Peregrine falcon eggs typically hatch synchronously with a clutch of 4 eggs generally hatching over a 24-48 hour period. We’ll keep close watch over the coming days. This chick seems active is moving well.
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Friday, April 13, 2012
Brood Patches
Temperatures in Richmond took a dip in early April, with night-time temperatures getting into the 40’s and 30’s. This means that the adults must keep the eggs warm by incubating. Many bird species, including peregrine falcons, have a special adaptation that helps them keep their eggs warm. The birds develop featherless areas on their breast called brood patches. These areas develop thickened skin and an increased blood flow that helps the birds pass body heat along to the developing embryos inside the eggs. In this video clip from March 10th we can see the female falcon plucking feathers from the area of her brood patch in preparation for egg-laying. Male peregrine falcons also develop brood patches and help with incubation, but as the female will do the majority of this work her brood patch is much more developed.
We will continue to keep a close eye on the nest over the coming week as the eggs should be due to hatch. Peregrine falcon eggs are typically incubated for 33-35 days beginning with the second to last (penultimate) egg of a clutch. We aren’t sure when the penultimate egg was laid but believe it to be on or around March 15th.
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Monday, March 26, 2012
Finally a Clear View
Early this afternoon we were finally able to capture a clear image of all four eggs at the Richmond nest. While the female does the majority of the incubating the male takes turns as well and it was during a “switch” that got a good look at the eggs.
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Thursday, March 22, 2012
Four Eggs
It has been hard to see how many eggs the Richmond Falcons have. The first egg was laid on March 11th followed by a second on March 13th. Falcons typically have four egg clutches with 24-48 hour intervals in between egg laying. At times it seemed as if the female might be laying another egg - but we have been unable to see into the scrape to confirm any additional eggs. Over the weekend the falcons began to incubate the eggs almost full time which typically begins with the second to last egg. Finally on Tues. March 20th a falcon cam viewer captured an image which shows all four eggs.
We continue to try to catch a glimpse of all four eggs, but the falcons are diligently incubating and the eggs typically remain out of view. Falcons incubate their eggs for between 33-35 days. We’ll watch for these eggs to hatch around the third week of April.
Due to the constraints of changing technology many viewers had a difficult time viewing the Falcon Cam on Windows Internet Explorer. Our web staff has worked to stabilize the feed and viewers should now be able to see a consistent image.
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Tuesday, March 13, 2012
2nd Egg
Sometime over the previous evening or in the early morning of March 13th, the second egg of 2012 was laid. It is still hard to see the eggs but in the video below you can just see the edge of the second egg over the edge of the box. As the female prepares to incubate the eggs she moves them and we get a clearer view.
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Sunday, March 11, 2012
1st Egg of 2012
Both the male and female peregrine falcon have spent a great deal of time in and around the nest box over the past few days. The female has been spending nights in the nest box and has frequently been seen lying in the nest box. The adults formed the scrape,a shallow depression that the eggs are laid in. All of these behaviors indicated that eggs might be laid soon.
This year the falcons have made their scrape very close to the front of the nest box resulting in a partially obstructed view. Both the male and female at times appeared to peering at an object in the scrape. Furthermore, both have spent time laying in the scrape as might be expected to keep an egg from being chilled. While the behavior of the birds indicated an egg might be present, we weren’t able to confirm it until early this afternoon. In the photo below the edge of the egg is just visible over the rim of the nest box. We’ll continue to watch for more eggs over the coming days.
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
Update
DGIF Biologists accessed the ledge to perform maintenance today (1/18/12) on both the nest box and Falcon Cam. A loose board was replaced, old gravel removed and a new network cable installed. No peregrines were seen during the work on the ledge but building staff did note one falcon earlier in the morning.
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Monday, June 20, 2011
Young Richmond falcon does not survive collision with building
The story of the young Richmond peregrine falcon has unfortunately come to a premature end as the bird died from injuries resulting from a collision with a downtown building.
The young falcon was last seen on the Falcon Cam this morning at around 7:40. At 10:20, a DGIF biologist spotted the bird on a window ledge directly below the nest box on the Riverfront Plaza West Tower, approximately 15 ft below the box. Both adults were seen repeatedly circling the building in flight in an effort to encourage the young bird to fly. At 11:20, a flash of light from behind the window where the juvenile was perched spooked her off the window ledge. The bird took a strong, level flight northward, accompanied by her mother, and disappeared from sight behind a building.
The DGIF biologist was joined downtown by a dedicated volunteer at around noon. Before long, the volunteer spotted the young falcon perched on a building to the NE of the Riverfront Plaza towers. Following a brief preening session, the bird took a short flight and then circled back. It skittered some 20 ft down the glass facade of a nearby building, but was able to regain altitude. Unfortunately it then flew headlong into another glass building, the James River Tower Three, dropping straight down.
The young falcon was retrieved from the rooftop of an abutting building, where it landed approximately 10 stories below the collision point. The DGIF veterinarian arrived on the scene and confirmed that the bird was dead, citing head trauma from the collision as the cause and stating that the falcon likely died immediately upon impact with the building.
This unfortunate event represents the worst possible outcome that could be expected from this much anticipated fledging event, and underscores the need to monitor the progress that young urban falcons make as they leave the nest. We would like to thank all of the volunteers who have participated in the Fledge Watch this year, as well as all those folks who have followed the young falcon’s progress.
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Sunday, June 19, 2011
Waiting and watching
Throughout the day yesterday a variety of monitors, including DGIF staff and volunteers kept watch waiting for the young falcon’s first flight. At one point the young bird did perform a short “hop-flight” above the ledge, becoming airborne for a few feet. Despite this tantalizing display - her first flight did not occur yesterday.
The adults did their best to encourage her, circling, calling and tempting her with food all to no avail. The photo below shows the chick mantling (hunching over prey with spread wings - hiding it from any other predators) over food while the adult female looks on.
We will continue to communicate with observers on the ground and provide any updates as to the young falcon’s status.
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Friday, June 17, 2011
Stll No Flight
DGIF biologists were on hand at daybreak today, hoping to catch the young falcons first flight. A couple of hours later additional DGIF staff were joined by a dedicated volunteer. Throughout the day we watched several bouts of vigorous wing flapping and the chick spent most of the day perched on the ledge.
The adults attempted to coax her off the ledge, swooping low towards her and circling nearby in an apparent attempt to lead by example. The adult female even tried to tempt her by bringing in a meal and pulling its away. All to no avail as today was NOT the day that this chick would take flight. Just before 6 pm, as steady rain, lightening and thunder rolled through downtown Richmond, Falconwatch activities were called off for the evening.
Over the weekend DGIF staff will coordinate with volunteers keeping an eye on this hesitant young bird.
