JERSEY CITY FALCONS - 2011

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64773

Thanks for the heads up, Bonnie...I decided to post the update here:

May 16, 2011 - Nest Check
Viewers will probably notice there are two chicks in the nest. Biologist Kathy Clark checked the nest Saturday and found that the smallest of the three nestlings was not well, and she removed it to get special care for it.

The smallest chick was showing some problem with its legs such that it could not stand and therefore was not getting its share at feeding time. The chick will be evaluated to see if it can be treated successfully, but it probably cannot be returned to the Jersey City nest because it is too far behind developmentally.

The good news is the remaining two chicks looked very strong and healthy, and they got an extra boost by the medicine provided today to ward against Trichomoniasis, a pigeon-borne disease to which urban peregrines can be vulnerable. There was no sign of the fourth chicks suspected to have hatched and died quickly; some viewers reported seeing the adult remove it from the nest last week.

The adults were at their most defensive Saturday, making it a real challenge to get to and from the nest. The female will continue to brood them closely for the next week, when the chicks have more down feathers to keep themselves warm; then the adults will need to spend more time hunting to provide for the very fast-growing, hungry chicks.

I'm just grateful they are trying to help it out. There was a kestrel baby in Italy several years ago that had problem with its legs..(I sure wish I could remember what they said was wrong). I don't believe it could stand either. I believe he was hand raised successfully, but unable to be released because of his inability to grasp with any strength in his feet..will need to double check my facts...Hopefully, someone has a better memory than I do.

Mary · **Posted:** Mon May 16, 2011 8:52 am

Hey SGB you beat me to it! Interesting post. I wonder what could have happened to the chick's legs; is it a congenital problem or caused by the aggressive behaviour of the two others?

And thanks so much, Mike and Bonnie, for the wonderful blow-by-blow account, and the fabulous photos.

ljames · **Posted:** Mon May 16, 2011 9:29 am

Well, that would explain why the poor little thing couldn't seem to stand up and would struggle so hard. I guess they would be able to know if it was born that way or if it was injured in the nest. I am sorry that it won't get to live as other falcons, it appears.

The other two have just had a meal. I don't know if it was first breakfast or 2nd breakfast.

PeSSouZiX · **Posted:** Mon May 16, 2011 12:44 pm

skygirlblue wrote:

The smallest chick was showing some problem with its legs such that it could not stand and therefore was not getting its share at feeding time. The chick will be evaluated to see if it can be treated successfully, but it probably cannot be returned to the Jersey City nest because it is too far behind developmentally.

Do you think the third chick of IPL can have the same problem ?

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64773

PeSSouZiX wrote:

skygirlblue wrote:

The smallest chick was showing some problem with its legs such that it could not stand and therefore was not getting its share at feeding time. The chick will be evaluated to see if it can be treated successfully, but it probably cannot be returned to the Jersey City nest because it is too far behind developmentally.

Do you think the third chick of IPL can have the same problem ?

It could be....but I haven't caught a feed since that one I recorded..

ljames · **Posted:** Mon May 16, 2011 11:08 pm

I saw a couple of different feedings today, at least and I think by each parent. Bigger chick always eats until she turns away only to turn back around when the other one starts to eat.
:sunrolleyes:

ljames · **Posted:** Tue May 17, 2011 12:34 pm

An early lunch I guess.

mikeg713 · **Posted:** Tue May 17, 2011 6:00 pm

Wow, Athena must've brought in either a whole pigeon or small duck for dinner....that last feeding seemed to go on for like a half hour! :lol:

Mary · **Posted:** Tue May 17, 2011 6:11 pm

Mike, I only watched a bit as I am busy in the office. But, did you think that one of the chicks was rather forcibly pushing away the other? At one point I was slightly concerned but can't really follow up right now

mikeg713 · **Posted:** Tue May 17, 2011 6:26 pm

Mary wrote:

Mike, I only watched a bit as I am busy in the office. But, did you think that one of the chicks was rather forcibly pushing away the other? At one point I was slightly concerned but can't really follow up right now

Hi Mary!

One of the chicks did push itself past it's sibling at the beginning of the feeding (it didn't help that Athena had her back to both of them when she brought the prey in). The more aggressive chick got more then 50% of the food from what I could tell, but once the other one got impatient and pushed forward, it too got quite a bit of food.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64773

A little bit of positive news about the 3rd chick..

From Nestbox News

May 17, 2011 - Chick Update
The third nestling was removed from the nest on Saturday because we judged it to be significantly behind, developmentally, from its siblings, and it exhibited a problem with its legs. The chick was evaluated by Dr. Erica Miller at Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research in Newark, DE.

Dr. Miller says that it does have splayed legs that are keeping it from standing properly, but she has begun treating it to attempt to improve the function of the chick's legs. The bird is also on a calcium supplement. There does not seem to be any other deformity. With a lot of luck, this bird may recover. We will have to see if he becomes well enough to make it out in the wild.

Mary · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2011 10:19 am

Thanks Mike for the details on the feeding!

And SGB this is indeed good news. That chick was spunky, let us hope it makes it with this TLC.

Bonnie · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2011 10:52 am

We were prepared for much worse. At least now there is a glimmer of a chance that the eyas may have some kind of life. I exercised the legs of my parrot babies who looked like they might have had splayed legs and they are all just fine. I had them grasp and stand four times a day.

ljames · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2011 11:27 am

OMG, I never even knew of such a thing. I looked it up and saw some images, and yep that is what I was seeing. I so hope that it can develop enough to enjoy a good life. Thanks for the report.

I just watched a feeding and didn't see anything anymore unusual than any other feeding. One dominant chick trying to eat everything until it can't hold anymore. The little one reached and ate too. In the end they each fell over a couple of times and kept their mouths closed when offered more bites.

I think it was dad that came in to gather scraps and Mom came back to cover them.

mikeg713 · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2011 11:30 am

Wow, definately good news on the 3rd chick!! I echo the hopes that it can recover enough to have some type of life. :sunsmile:

mikeg713 · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2011 4:58 pm

Just watched a very even-steven feeding for about 20 minutes or so. Athena was finally sitting face-to-face with both chicks (a few times lately, the chicks were positioned along her side, so the chick closest to her head got fed the most until the other chick would push in). Also saw Athena gulp down first 1, then the other foot of the prey, yummy!! :wink:

kittenface · **Posted:** Thu May 19, 2011 12:06 am

mikeg713 · **Posted:** Thu May 19, 2011 10:38 am

Finally some sunshine here this morning, along with an exciting post on Nestbox News about a JC alumnus from 2004 nesting in Brooklyn! :sunsmile:

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/peregrinecam/jcp-2011nestnews.htm

mikeg713 · **Posted:** Thu May 19, 2011 12:18 pm

Been able to watch 2 feedings in the last 90 minutes or so, both were quite even with the food distribution I'm happy to say :yip

The chicks already look quite a bit larger then they were on Saturday, just amazing how fast they grow!

PeSSouZiX · **Posted:** Thu May 19, 2011 2:50 pm

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