Given they've been there together since 2008, what is likely to happen now to the site? Will the female attract a new male, or will she go? Could a new pair make their home here?
Predicting the future for wildlife is a big ask. It would not be unreasonable to expect the female to protect her dominium. Opportunistic males and females will pass through her territory. If she can defend against another female I might guess there will be a good chance she will happen upon a male that has probably been born in or near our county and hopefully she will breed next year. Any male that replaces the one now deceased will have some big boots to fill.
Despite what may be said elsewhere on the internet, I am 100% sure he did not break his bill in a stoop/dive or chase on the day he was brought into care. He had problems with his beak weeks ago and possibly as far back as 2014 and before. That does not mean that he didn't have a collision...I simply say his beak was not injured by it. Hopefully, we will know the likely cause of death next week.
-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Sunday 30th of June 2019 12:50:41 AM
Given they've been there together since 2008, what is likely to happen now to the site? Will the female attract a new male, or will she go? Could a new pair make their home here?
I only learnt about the male when I was there this morning from some locals (I confess i didn't check this forum since early yesterday). It's very unfortunate but when you are the fastest living thing on the planet - it's a dangerous game and the occasional accident will happen. Not the best of weather today but it's nice to catch up on these peregrines. The female flew past low on one occasion and I spotted all 3 juveniles - all of which seem to be doing well. One of which gave something a good long chase before giving up. Ta!
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The adult male was taken into care yesterday having been found in a park in a mode which can only be described as upright and approachable. The bird's upper mandible is broken such that it lines up with the lower mandible which is far from ideal. Two days before I saw the bird both plucking feathers and feeding itself. I did not see it feed the juveniles nor have I ever seen it feed them. It is hoped some minor surgery will reshape the bill which may need a bit of time to grow.
All chicks have fledged. I was however wrong in assuming from my observations that no bird had fledged up to 2.00pm Friday afternoon. One bird had done a circuit that morning around the town hall and returned to the nest site. I believe the last chick fledged early this morning. Sadly I did not arrive till midday. The birds did not disappoint. I always check the river in case a bird might be bathing. I still have not seen a bathing peregrine. The cheeky adults within 10 minutes of each other took a bath in the river and I missed it. The adults also enticed the chicks out with food. One of the juveniles (A6) which I think is a male was mobbed and chased by several LBB Gulls. A6 turned and then attacked them, the gulls raced off pretty sharpish. A6 landed lowish on a pub roof and although the light was utterly dreadful for most of the day, the sun came out for a couple of brief seconds and A6 presented her wings to me like Phoenix out of the ashes. I could not have wished for much more:)
-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Sunday 16th of June 2019 10:08:59 PM
The chicks have not fledged yet. I might have expected fledging to have occurred by about 12th June, but in view of heavy rain and wind over the last few days, the birds have not had a good opportunity to prepare themselves. Sensing that, the adults are bringing food into the nest site and from my observations, have not tried to entice the birds to fledge. It is anybody's guess as to when they will fledge...I hope to be around when they do.
Not been looking at the webcam for a few days but the nest tray was empty this morning, hopefully the three chicks have flown.
Out of interest does anyone know if they are still in the area?
Just had another look and one of the chicks is now sitting on the surrounding parapet wall and it looks like the other two are sheltering beneath the nest tray.
They'll stick around for a good few weeks yet, Sid. They won't be hunting for themselves until August or September. A good time to perhaps see 5 in the air at once as the parents teach them how to hunt with mid-air food exchanges.
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Not been looking at the webcam for a few days but the nest tray was empty this morning, hopefully the three chicks have flown.
Out of interest does anyone know if they are still in the area?
Just had another look and one of the chicks is now sitting on the surrounding parapet wall and it looks like the other two are sheltering beneath the nest tray.
Hi, 3 chicks ringed and colour-ringed this morning. 2 males and a female.
Once again a big thanks to Rochdale Borough Council for allowing the installation of the nest tray, allowing access for ringing and also the funding/providing of the nest webcam for us all to watch and enjoy throughout the breeding season.
Also thanks to J Dermott for doing a great job with the climbing.
Yes indeed! Have many grumbles with Rochdale Council, but they score brownie points for this! Its been a lovely clear picture whenever I've checked the webcam!
Hi, 3 chicks ringed and colour-ringed this morning. 2 males and a female.
Once again a big thanks to Rochdale Borough Council for allowing the installation of the nest tray, allowing access for ringing and also the funding/providing of the nest webcam for us all to watch and enjoy throughout the breeding season.
Also thanks to J Dermott for doing a great job with the climbing.
I was just watching the three young birds on the webcam when a rope dropped into the nest box and a person appeared down the rope. The camera then seemed to be covered with a cloth. Is this a ringing session I wonder?
I was planning a full day out near Buxton, but I need a dry day for that- so with potentially heavy showers in the air, I decided to go and see how our peregrines are getting on in Rochdale.
I found the female peregrine adult first, then the male, but I couldn't find any of the juveniles at all. I had a feeling it was a hit and miss with the time of year, but got good views of the adults nevertheless.
Both were just lazing about and dozing, but a bit of preening gave me some good images.
Also noteworthy; a buzzard was passing over fairly high up with a large gull mobbing it.
Went up to Rochdale this afternoon and got good views of one of the adults perched up plus one on the nest box. Also 2 of the juveniles flying around and making a lot of noise, before one of them settle down on the Town Hall Tower to eat.
For anyone interested, Colin Brookes, Carl and myself went to ring and colour ring the chicks this morning, under schedule 1 license, and can confirm all 3 are fit and very healthy and were sexed as 1 Male and 2 females.
Again, a massive thank you to Rochdale Borough Council for allowing our access, allowing the installation of a new larger nest tray this spring and the continued streaming of their webcam for everyone to enjoy throughout the nesting season.
My special thanks to Colin and Carl (skylineabseilaccess.com) for their top class help today.
Couldn't resist another opportunity to pop down, this time with my family. Unfortunately, unknown to us there was a planned protest in the town centre with masses of police everywhere. We decided not to hang around too long and spent some time around the outskirts just in case. Once everything was back to normal and after a cake and coffee in a cafe (about 4pm), we made one more attempt and managed to find 4 possibly 5 peregrines flying around and one female juvenile had a meal in its talons which landed on top of the town hall with it. These are now the best juvenile peregrine pictures I have. I've posted one here, a few others will go on Flickr once I've edited and organised them!!!
Nice meeting up with Adrian and Steven. I very much enjoyed the evening and appreciate it very much (and learnt a few things too). There wasn't as much action from the peregrines as i got from yesterday (after the rain) but much better light and believe it or not- it stayed dry!! Fantastic to visit again and see them out flying about.
I've just quickly sorted to add a few extra pictures that ive had a quick flicked through. I'm so over the moon with them!!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Sunday 16th of July 2017 09:24:10 PM
Good views of all 6 peregrines this afternoon/evening although I didn't manage to see all 6 together in flight, 4 juveniles close to each other, male & female on opposite sides of the spire. No kills were made so only seen the juveniles eating what bits they had stashed or left around.
I picked up a bird of prey drifting over high heading in a westerly direction up at around 6.10pm it was a harrier & myself, Adrian dancy & Richard thew all got some kind of photos but a closer look at Adrians made it out to be a marsh harrier.
I once made an effort to view the peregrines here a few years ago without success, however, I decided to brave the rainy weather and go and see them today after being tempted over the last few weeks (many thanks to this forum). I wasn't at all disappointed. The juveniles were calling and managed to get many great views. (I presume it was the male, who was freindly enough to wave to me - picture attached). Overall it was a major joy to watch these fantastic birds and when the rain did stop, the activity grew and this turned out to be the best experience I have had with the peregrines, possibly ever!! My pictures won't be on Flickr till next friday- the two attached here were from the last few I took so I've still got 390 still to look through yet!!
-- Edited by Richard Thew on Saturday 15th of July 2017 07:41:34 PM
I visited Rochdale Town Hall again yesterday. All the juveniles are doing fine. The juvenile which has been named 'Millennium Falcon' and which has been getting itself into difficulties in the past is seemingly doing well and showing good spirit. After some aerials with an adult over a wing/leg scrap she came back with a pigeon which she may have successfully hunted herself...she was certainly having a good go at the local feral pigeon population and making some stunning manoeuvres. The image below showing a juvenile with a complete pigeon is 'Millennium Falcon' which I am able to identify from the Darvic ring. She is also the bird seen interacting over some scraps with the adult (not a food pass) and she is also the bird flying towards the camera.