The chicks have hatched!
Two downy peregrine babies are fed regurgitated pigeon meat in their roost at San Jose City Hall. The mother* shields her young protectively. When I first checked the Falcon Cam (a very cool tool presented by the City of San Jose and the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group) this evening, I couldn’t tell right away whether they had hatched because she held them under her wings, close to her breast. But, she seemed much more alert, vocal and animated today than she was last night. So I stuck with the camera for a bit. She soon shifted her stance enough that I could make out the white fluff of her hatchlings.
An hour or so later, the camera pans out and shows Jose keeping watch outside the nest box. He stands, turns and goes inside to the mother and young. Beak snapping, he appears to coax one of the hatchlings out from under mom. The white figure of fluff comes out for a turn, beak crying wide. It’s almost as if these birds know the camera is there and the world is watching.
*I’m only assuming it is Clara, and not Jose, doing this. I admit, I don’t know how to tell the difference in peregrines. Wherever I assign a particular action or role to one, it could actually be the other doing it.
Sunday, 29th April 2007 at 23:53
Thought there were three chicks; see only two. Saw parent carry a small lifeless bird away.
Monday, 30th April 2007 at 17:23
the diary didn’t say anything about one of the chicks dying, but I can’t tell this morning as Jose is sitting tight on the nest. [ according to the Merc news Jose is smaller and has the white “sideburns” down his face.
Thursday, 3rd May 2007 at 16:50
ok I finally got a good look at the the chicks and there are still three of them. I think Jose just got sent off for fresh pidgeon. this is thursday may 3