!!! First real good look at the hatchling since his banding! He finally appears!
July 12, 2012 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Mark Nash Reports:
July 12th - 2012
Today, unlike the previous six days on the fledge watch, we were finally rewarded with a treat and the first real significant event since the banding of the hatchling.
To summerize the days events, and clearly the highlight of the day was made of of three single events. At approx. 6:45am ths morning, the young male hatchling has finally showed himself! He has finally developed enough confidence to come forward to the leading edge of the roof for the first time. For almost an hour, he watched in amazement the new world that has been hidden from him by the retaining wall that surrounds of upper roof area. Up until today, his entire world has only been in 2D. This morning, (and for the first time in his life thus far) his would is no being observed in 3D.
We managed to get some decent photos during his short stint on the upper east roof elevation. At approx. 8:40am, his mom, Statler finally came in with food and they disappeared back into the roof and out of our view. He didn’t re-appear again until the evening, shortly before dark around 9pm.
Throughout the day, he was fed only twice as the adults are in the process of leaning him of the excessive baby fat and weight. This is in an effort to get him into a flying weight. Unlike the previous weeks where he was being fed six to ten times a day to deal with his incredible rate of growth and nutritional needs, the adults are now limiting his food in an effort to lean him of the excessive baby fat and coax him into flight.
Food is a wonderful motivator!
On four occasions, Turkey vultures ventured into the territory and were immediately dispatched by both adults. Now that the young hatchling is on the move and almost ready to take its first flights, you are going to see the adults become far more aggressive and anal about intruders and any perceived threats in their territory.
One two occasions, Statler made several full body contact hits as she stooped down from above on one of the Turkey vultures. On another occasion the resident adult male peregrine attacked one of the turkey vultures from below as Statler stooped on it from above. It was incredible to see both of the adults working in tandem.
During the heat of the day, it was for the most parts a typical fledge watch, truly uneventful, especially when its hot and humid. Peregrines for the most parts during the heat of day are hiding out in a shady spot to avoid the heat, and are generally only active in the morning until the sun get high. They are not active again until the late afternoon when the sun sets. The best hunting times are in the mornings and late afternoon and early evenings.
In true fashion, shortly after 8pm we experienced the typical “falcon follies”. Just when you think (or at least hoping) that everyone is bedding down for the evening and you can relax, the young hatchling was back up on the upper roof top ledges running around chasing his parents.
Both adults were out again on hunting forays this evening and although unsuccessful on two of the three hunts, Statler was successful on her third hunt and brought in a meal to the hatchling.
By 9:40pm, losing our light we finally packed and called it quits for the day and headed back to the hotel for the night.
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