Bird Cams Around the World

Falcon site update
Gender
Published 8 November, 2015 | By Cilla Kinross
Telling juvenile birds apart at this age has always been a bit tricky because, although females are eventually much larger than males, there is little to split them now because the males actually develop faster than the females.
And you need to remember that the three birds are all slightly different ages, compounding the complexity.
Once the bird’s wing length is > 9 cm, however, one can determine sex with reasonable certainty, which is useful as it is now when the birds are usually banded (about 4 weeks). So, according to Victor Hurley et al’s paper in 2007, there should now be significant differences between the female and male in relation to tarsus length, head-bill length, tip-cere lenth and body mass. Unfortunately, one needs to have the bird in the hand to get these measurements…
Having said that, and based on estimate of body mass, I think Clare is right when she says there are two females and one male. Certainly there is one bird quite a bit smaller and he is well into juvenile plumage, so not ‘immature’ or younger.
I’ve noticed that usually only bird feeds at a time and there is little aggression between the chicks, apart from the occasional (and increasing) tugs of war, and sleight of hand nicking when the other is distracted, and they do all still seem to be getting enough to eat. There are young starlings a plenty, plus the odd racing pigeon coming in…and well appreciated by the young chicks.
I’ll be away from tomorrow until Thursday, but have sent an alert around to staff at what to do if they find a chick out of the nest. They certainly shouldn’t be attempting anything till about 18th November, but the best laid plans and all that.

loza!

7:57am


(I wonder if the 'little' one (male?) will fledge first? I'm glad they left instructions in case of a 'fludge.' He(?) does always seem to move away from the ledge when someone flies in or starts flapping nearby...)

Thanks for posting Cilla's update, Bonbon & for posting the video, Loza!

I'm guessing its 2 males & one female based on the amount of dark feathers. One male is smaller than the other, but that's not unusual. I guess the only way we will know for sure is if at least 2 go to ground when they fledge. Of course if a female & a male go to ground, we still won't know. Not that its important, just kind of a fun guessing game for us! The important thing is that they are all healthy & all fledge safely.

I really don't like seeing him standing in the doorway like that at his young age.

Me either, cat!
Thanks, all for the vid's and pic's.

just some flapping and playing.









Finally they were all up getting in some practice .

That little one gives me palpatations too!

sure wish they had added a perch last year, after our youngster got blown off. It nearly made it back and maybe a perch would have helped.
I have nto had time this fall but I am going to look at the feet to determine sex.

nice to see them doing nicely.