Observation date: 13 May 2016
After spending the first five months of the breeding season on the south side of Morro Rock which turned out to be very disheartening, we have moved to the north side for the last week or so. The south side female did not nest this year after fifteen seasons on Morro Rock. She should have nested two months ago, but as of yesterday, she was still breeding with her mate of eight seasons. Seeing this was all new for me.
Back to the north side which we have been observing paid off yesterday when two chicks appeared, all white and fluffy. I had been watching prey items being delivered into the eyrie for the past three weeks and knew the young would soon appear.
North side peregrine chicks Photo by Gordon Robb
We know there are at least two and could be more. They appear to be around 25 to 26 days old. The mother is very protective and constantly chases everything that comes near. She is the only banded bird on Morro Rock. 23 R is her band. She fledged from Moss Landing Power Plant* in 2012. This is her second clutch at the “rock.”
Happy trails, Bob
* The Moss Landing Power Plant is a natural gas powered electricity generation plant located in Moss Landing, California, at the midpoint of Monterey Bay.
Item:
Possible reasons for no nesting.
- Fertility, either in the female or male.
- Age of female is 16 years. Normal lifespan of a peregrine is 17 to 20 years in the wild.
Glad to see the two chicks.
Yes, we are too! Finally! ~Heather