Bird Cams Around the World

Finally got the camera.

Still one...

Yes, laid during the night! So most of the eggs from former resident AURORA (2000 -2008) were laid at night...

I wonder why it is that many seem to lay eggs in the middle of the night. I guess its just whatever time the egg was fertilized, but some seem to lay all their eggs at night (and even the replacements!)

Just had a nest exchange, but Perkeo was up and outta there so fast, there was only like a nanosecond that they were both in the picture and I missed it.

Third egg: tuesday, 1900 pm local time!
Hans-Martin

Great news on that third egg Hans. I was just going to come on and ask the status of the eggs, everytime I look, someone is on the eggs so I thought incubation had already begun and only 2 eggs. I guess maybe the temps there keep them close to the eggs.

3 chicks and maybe more.

Today our temperature finally gives us a vision of spring-time: 10° C i.e. 50° F ? - so the eggs could lay free for some time (like yesterday and the day before ). Night temperature in Heidelberg still goes down to freezing-point and there is always a sharp wind around the steeple with the church situated in midst of Neckar River valley. I learnt Peregrine Falcons start breeding when the egg before the last egg is laid! Our European falcons have a maximum of four eggs ( 5 eggs very rare), so JETTA started with breeding ("heating") yesterday. Until then the eggs were just kept warm...
Last year the former nestbox-owner AURORA had some fighting- situations with JETTA, so both females had only two resp. one young. This season they seem to be friendly neighbors (nestboxes in 5,000 ft distance) so we hope both pairs will raise four chicks.
Hans-Martin

Thanks Hans for the information. So glad things are more peaceful this year.

Fourth egg was laid at 11.19 a.m. local time!
Hans-Martin

I better take another size, sorry...
HM

I'm amazed that the boxes are only 5,000 ft apart! Thanks so much for all the local expertise. It is no colder in Germany than places in the northern US that are seeing eggs, like Green Bay and Maine. These cold weather falcons are a hardy bunch and they seem to adapt to their circumstances.

I have been trying to get a picture of the four eggs for days, seems longer, finally.

Yes, both falcons are very eager to incubate the clutch! PS. Now we have spring in Heidelberg 65°F!
Hans-Martin

Our three webcams are now presented in the Foyer of Heidelberg City Hall (Rathaus) from 8.00 a.m. to 20.00 pm for the rest of the 2010-season. Pictures from the Cams are transmitted via cable plus an additional microphone inside the nestbox from the top of the steeple to this monitor, of course there with higher quality than here at home So please pay a visit!
Hans-Martin