New Peregrine Falcon Nest at Cobb Island, VA

[turtleman]

I was surprised to find another Peregrine Falcon nest site maintained by the Virginia Center for Conservation Biology with chicks at the Cobb Island location. This nest has 3 chicks maybe 3 or 4 days old with an egg still unhatched(?). This brood is 30 days later and one chick less than the James River chicks so it will be an interesting comparison of how they grow and fare.

I hadn't checked this nest site lately thinking it was not going to be used this year. Silly me.

Anyway, here is a picture of the family as of May 18, 2007

Richard

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/197/503587097_464252dae8_o.jpg

[turtleman]

The Peregrine chicks are growing fast at the Cobb Island nest and seem to be further along in their development compared to the James River nest. Maybe one reason is that there are only 3 chicks in this nest vs the 5 chicks in the James River nest and they are probably getting a larger share of those yummy treats that the parents are offering them. These chick are almost losing their fluffy down and getting the adult feathering sooner.

Here is a picture I captured of one of the nestlings as it was looking out of the nest box.

Richard

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1147/536256869_ca4623f630_o.jpg