Observation date: 16 April 2015
Bob Isenberg using the listening device to catch the sounds of chicks Photo by Heather O’Connor
And because timing is everything, for the last three days I have spent 23 hours trying to observe food going into the nest site, but with no success. I have seen other indications which you would consider consistent with live chicks in the nest, (i.e., where the tiercel has been very aggressive towards gulls and vultures venturing anywhere near the nest.) This behavior is normally seen during courtship and breeding, such as “showing off” for the female or when young are present.
According to my calculations, today would be the 34th day of incubation. If I was close, they should have hatched within the last couple days. But seeing that I have only been right once in fourteen years, I’m right on track.
Today we did have a nice surprise for visitors and friends of PCPW in the form of a single Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus). These we observe in Morro Bay every couple of years. Although the peregrine didn’t chase him, he had tangled with at least six Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) in three days and many Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis) to the cheers of the many onlookers as the feathers float down from above.
Tomorrow I will set up a listening device to see if I can hear anything in the nest.
“Til then.”… (Decca 1944) 😉
Happy trails, Bob
Item:
Visitor: “Well, Bob, it’s past the fifteenth of April. Where are the chicks you said would hatch?”
Bob: “You want to see chicks? Come back in May!” Sometimes I think that is what I should do.
