Falcon Watchers – We have sad news to report. One of our male falcon chicks has died. The chick apparently jumped from the box yesterday between about 8 and 9 p.m. and didn’t survive the 10-story fall. When it was banded on Monday, its condition was good and we’re unsure as to what caused it to jump out of the box. The most dangerous period for peregrines is from hatching until the falcons are a year old. We’ll continue to keep you updated on the remaining male and female chicks. The naming contest will continue as originally designed. Many thanks to those that have already submitted names.
This just breaks my heart. I wonder if it was the little guy who was always jumping and running about with his wings out like he was so pleased and proud to have wings just like Mommy. Can’t remember if yesterday was the day it was so windy, but if so, it might’ve just picked him up when he had his little wings up and out.
My heart is literally breaking. Thankfully, I was AWAY from my puter due to prior commitments and didn’t witness it. I hope and pray that the two remaining chicks successfully fledge and move on to bigger and better things.
I’m also going to remove the name “Blizzard” from my choices in the Falcon Naming Contest. R.I.P. “Blizzard”. You were fun to watch from the time your egg was laid til you hatched and up til your intimely demise yesterday. Sighhhhhhhh.
P.S. He was the one that was always playing with the feathers in the nesting box.
So very glad you didn’t witness his fall.
It has been a very sad time learning that 32P, male, the first chick to hatch and the first chick to be banded fell to his death Tuesday evening. I had both cams up watching at the approximate time it was stated that it happened and I didn’t see anything. Some nights you can see inside and some you are not able to make out much.
The chicks will be testing their wings regularly now since that is normal preparaing for their fledging in a few weeks. I am more inclined to believe 32P was bumped and fell, or he lost his balance when too close to the edge. I just can’t picture him jumping over the edge. I can’t remember if it was windy, and I don’t know if this could have been a factor with him going over the edge.
It is very sad and heart breaking. You get very attached to the falcon family that you watch daily. I’m sure we will need nerves of steel in the next few weeks as they prepare to fledge.
I’ve been watching the Westar falcons since 2007, and each nesting season has seen successful fledging for AJ, Beaky, Sampson, Star & Wes. Too bad we aren’t able to track them to know where they are.
I decided that I WAS gonna leave the name “Blizzard” in the Falcon Naming Contest afterall. Even though this chick met an untimely demise, he DID HATCH and he DID prosper AND he deserves to have a name, too. He was a cute little guy to watch. It was quite apparent that he had an obsession with the feathers left lying around in the nest, cause he was always playing with them.
Also, I don’t think he “jumped” to his death. He either got knocked overboard accidentally by one of his sibling flapping their wings, OR, he got “sucked out” by the gusty winds that were quite apparent in and around the nest. Whatever it was that happened, I’ll always remember that cute little guy.