Peregrine falcons @ Nottingham Trent University

[radfordred]

Been watching this for months so I'm going to share it with you - best watched in full screen - If you know Nottingham at all this is bang in the city centre - fascinating & enjoy !

http://www.ntu.ac.uk/ecoweb/ntu_doing/f ... 103295.cfm

[Surprised]

Wonderful stuff.

[unc.si.]

Wow.

Feeding time now

[grob]

Thanks for that radfordred,great pictures of the fastest bird in the sky,though racing pigeon owners will have different views.

Those interested in the peregrine falcons will probably find this story equally fascinating about the return to the nest in Portmadoc in which it was born 3 years ago of a young Osprey,looking for a mate on his first visit since he flew off to Gambia 3 years ago and bringing a gift of a fish for his prospective bride - not realising that it's his mother !
Good job for him that his dad had gone fishing !

They do usually return to their place of birth to find a mate and breed after 3 years,and this nest was built by the Rspb and volunteers many years ago after their original nest was blown out of the tree in gale force winds.

There's a webcam in the nest with a link in the article but the picture quality varies due to the remote location. http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/278311-surp ... e-holidays" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Unlike Nottingham's falcons however,which can't be observed other than via their webcam,the Ospreys can be watched flying to go fishing from the RSPB site which is in a fabulous location for anyone within travelling distance of North Wales.

I hope radfordred won't consider this a thread hikack,I just thought it would interest like minded people.

[unc.si.]

Been watching this for months so I'm going to share it with you - best watched in full screen - If you know Nottingham at all this is bang in the city centre - fascinating & enjoy !

http://www.ntu.ac.uk/ecoweb/ntu_doing/f ... 103295.cfm

Are you still watching this radfordred?

Been keeping an eye on it, but not seen the chicks for a few days now. Looked like a couple of them were pretty close to flying the nest, but not all of them. Any idea what's happening with them?

(every time I walk past the Newton building I have to have a look up to see if I can see them flying in or out - no luck yet though, although had a few near misses with lampposts / signs / other people )

[unc.si.]

OK, scratch that - just seen one of the chicks back in the nest

[Knulpuk]

2 there now - I assume both chicks as one seems to be testing their wings out.

Now 3 out and about.

They are standing a bit close to the edge its giving me the heebie jeebies.

[unc.si.]

Know what you mean about them standing right on the edge. Great bit of footage that last 10 minutes. 3 of them hopping and flapping around. Presumably won't be long before they take their first flights.

Better do some work now though

[radfordred]

Are you still watching this radfordred?

Yeah spent hours watching only seen any empty nest/box for the last few days , early doors when they where chicks if you sat outside Langtrys you could see the parents searching the area for food.

[unc.si.]

One of them was pecking at the camera yesterday. Have to be lucky to spot them at the moment though - they keep wandering off.

[Surprised]

Are all the feathers lying around from ex-pigeons?

[grob]

I think so; let's hope Spencer4 doesn't notice this thread.

I happened to click on earlier this morning,just as an adult landed on the ledge,which brought one of the chicks up from the nearest box immediately on to the ledge in the hope of breakfast being served.

However it was out of luck and the adult got fed up with being pestered and soon flew off again,only to return shortly afterwards when the routine was repeated.

[Surprised]

Keeps going to a black screen every few minutes for me.

[Surprised]

A falcon is there now

[grob]

Me too,but in feeding ACTION NOW !

[Surprised]

Me too,but in feeding ACTION NOW !

See him eye the camera has he took a bite out of that pigeon?

[grob]

.....he thinks he's on Celebrity Big Bird

[Surprised]

He's making a mess of the nest.
He looks too big to be one of the chicks so must be the parent.

[grob]

You could be right. Otherwise I'd expect the other chicks to be joining the dinner table; they can't be that well mannered to take it in turns,unless they're asleep.

Presumably,at some future stage those in charge of the project clean the nest and put new straw/bedding material down.

I wouldn't want to be the window cleaner of that building while the chicks are still in the nest !

edit: it's one of the chicks eating at present,so I think probably the parent was preparing the pigeon for it earlier,as parents do.

[unc.si.]

Not sure - look to be a few downy feathers still on its back so could be one of the bigger 2 youngsters?

[grob]

It's a chick there now - I edited my post at the same time as you posted.

[unc.si.]

Another one there now - doing a bit of flapping practice

[Surprised]

I took a 30 second screen cap of the chick munching away on the pigeon

[grob]

A lone falcon is sitting on the edge of the ledge,absolutely fascinated by the camera lens,which it can hardly take it's eyes off.

[Rick]

Looks like they have all flown the nest now. Just one bird (looks like an adult to me although could be wrong) sitting on the ledge.

[Rick]

No actually a chick has appeared, must have been out of camera range.

[grob]

Rick,it was an adult falcon sitting on the edge staring intently at the camera lens,but it was keeping a watchful eye on a chick in the box nearest the camera.
Last night there were 2 chicks flapping their wings on the concrete ledge,one practicing for an imminent takeoff it seemed,so it's possible there's only the one chick yet to make it's maiden flight.Even then,I would have thought it'll be a little while before they develop their hunting skills to become self sufficient ?

[grob]

Let's hope that there aren't any peregrine hating pigeon baiters around in Nottingham like these guys :

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-w ... -28859126/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Surprised]

Let's hope that there aren't any peregrine hating pigeon baiters around in Nottingham like these guys :

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-w ... -28859126/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some very sick people around

[grob]

I don't know about those guys,but some owners of racing pigeons have been known to resort to such tactics,as their birds are often quite valuable,and I expect betting rings are involved sometimes.