News from Harrisburg!!

3/8/2012 :: First Egg of the Season!
The female exhibited egg laying behavior, late in the afternoon yesterday. This morning, we have the first egg in the scrape! The egg was laid three days earlier than last year. The first and second egg should get only occasional incubation time. When the third egg arrives incubation time should increase. The full clutch will be warmed continuously until hatching begins

Another update:


3/12/2012 :: Second Egg Arrives!
The second egg was laid at 6:26 AM, Saturday, March 10th. Thanks to all who emailed, reporting the time the egg was first observed.

The adults will incubate these two eggs only occasionally- when the third egg is laid, more frequently. When the clutch is complete, they'll warm the eggs continuously. This behavioral adaptation is designed to ensure that the first two hatchlings don't develop too rapidly, in which case they could kill or bully the smaller, later arriving hatchlings

Mom on her eggs-watching the skies


Handsome Dad standing guard.



Two eggs so far

3/13/2012 :: Third Egg!
The third egg was laid at around 5 PM yesterday, March 12th. The female appears to be on her normal reproductive cycle.



3/15/2012 :: Fourth Egg!
Around 7 AM this morning, the female falcon laid her fourth egg. We'll have to wait and see if another egg arrives.

Some random pictures of the falcon parents from 3-25-2012

Mom cleaning her beak after a meal



Dad has an itch



Dad has a really big itch!

More from 3-25-----

Dad watching Mom in the box



Dad on the eggs now watching Mom who is....



Up on the ledge doing a big shuggle

3-25 continued.......


Mom doing her ka-chunk, ka-chunk sounds



Dad is eating on the ledge



He better save me some-ka-chunk!!

3-25--one last s'cap....

Mom standing tall and beautiful




4/16/2012 :: Eggs to Hatch Soon!
Based on past incubation periods, we can expect the first egg to hatch soon. The female is exhibiting behavior that would suggest this as well. Some of the eggs have white spots on them, also an indication that the first hatchling will arrive very soon. The close camera views are provided to get the best coverage of this fascinating point in a Peregrine Falcon's reproductive cycle


4/17/2012 :: Two Hatchlings!
Yesterday afternoon, two of the chicks began to pip out of their egg shells. By early this morning, two hatchlings appeared from under the brooding female. They have been fed and appear to be active and healthy. From this point on, the adults will no longer be bored, incubating 24-7. Instead, they will be actively hunting most of the day to provide for the rapidly growing eyases


This next batch of pictures are from 4-21-12

Two beautiful little cottonball babies



Mom, her chicks, and her remaining eggs

More from 4-21.......

Mom is hiding the chicks and snoozing



Here they are!



Here comes Dad, very loudly announcing his arrival

4-21-continued..
...
Mom talking to Dad and getting ready to leave.



Cuties sitting up with their egg pals ceeping their hearts out.



They sren't fighting--just nibbling each other