Falcon Cam Partners

• Subscribe to Feed

1. Monday, April 26, 2010

   When Will They Hatch?

   Peregrine Falcons typically incubate their eggs for 33-35 days. Incubation generally starts with the penultimate (second to last) egg. This helps to ensure that the eggs hatch closely together which can reduce the disadvantage a younger chick might face. Cold temperatures in Richmond while the clutch was being laid caused the adults to sporadically incubate the first two eggs to keep them viable. We’ll have to wait and see if this results in staggered (asynchronous) hatching or an earlier than usual hatch date.

   Full time incubation began on March 28th with the third egg and April 30th will mark 33 days of incubation since that point. Over the next few days we’ll watch closely to see any signs of hatching activity. The first sign that something is happening will be the behavior of the adults. they will become somewhat restless while incubating, standing often to peer closely at the eggs. Check back soon for a discussion of what happens inside the eggs as hatching grows near.