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[STLbf]

This morning, another dropped meal!  This time, Newman brought a black bird to the nest box and tusseled with Kami P59, then flew away with it.  Shortly after, with two waiting on the roof, the bird dropped next to them and bounced off, catching between a perch and the edge of the box.  At 1:00 the prey is still there, juveniles haven't figured out how to retrieve it.

In the meantime, I think that Jaycie P60 has fledged, perhaps perching in the cedar trees on top of the bluff, and returning awkwardly to the nest box roof for food.

All this is way better on video!

[STLbf]

I've been wondering if peregrines here eat anything besides birds.  They sure do!  About 1:30 this afternoon, Newman flew in with a chipmunk. Alice P58 and Kami P59 fought over it; Alice won and then they shared the new kind of meat.  Right after the prey dropoff, Thomas B59 swooped in and moved the small black bird stuck on the nest box perch.  He wasn't strong enough to lift it into the box, so there it sits just outside.  He didn't stay to eat it either.

[Nora in IA]

Oh that was a chipmunk!!!  They did both work on it.

What I got a kick out of was when Newman dropped the blackbird and the way the two up top looked down at it.

[STLbf]

Nora, I agree, these peregrines are thinking and learning every minute, and we get to watch them live!!

Morning feedings at the rooftop cafe, several birds on the menu, some from Newman, and at least one brought by Thomas B59!

[STLbf]

More pics from this morning's feeding.  Newman is dropping off food and leaving the youngsters to figure out how to defeather & defur & consume on their own.

Did Thomas catch his own bird, or did Newman bring it to him elsewhere?  The rewind may tell the story.   

[Nora in IA]

Newman has sure been doing a great job of keeping them fed.  It's probably easier for him being he can drop something off and not feed each one himself bite by bite.

[Ginger52]

Alice finally fledged at 6:57 p.m. All four have now fledged.

https://youtu.be/TjSrqUE56RQ
 

[Nora in IA]

Go Alice!!!!! 

[Nora in IA]

Two spent the night on the roof of the nest box and were up and at 'em about 0450.  One ventured out to the cam (girl) and one (boy) putzed around on the nest box picking at leftovers and took off for somewhere around 5 something AM.

[Nora in IA]

Newman kept watch overnight and they are all over this morning/afternoon.

[STLbf]

Ginger, thanks for posting the video of P58 Alice's fledge. She was the last to go.

If you only looked at the nest box cam, you'd think they were all gone away, but no. This morning, the fledglings are flying everywhere, perching for a while then taking off and perching someplace else. I got closeup pics of all the band numbers between 5:30 and noon.  No catching of prey or feeding from Newman so far today.

[Ginger52]

Good job of getting pics of all of them today.  They're so much fun to watch.  Feels so good to have successful fledges here this year, in spite of the tragic loss of Savanna.

[STLbf]

Absolutely right, Ginger.  Without Savanna's great job at mothering and protecting, these youngsters wouldn't be.

About an hour ago, Jaycie P60, was eating a bird on the rooftop while Kami P59 and Thomas B59 watched.  Don't know if Jaycie caught the bird or if Newman brought it.  Whichever, they do not seem aggressive with each other about food today.

More pics, including a butterfly visiting the nest box.  What kind??

[Nora in IA]

I'd say it's a Red-Spotted Purple -- Limenitis arthemis astyanax.

Their caterpillar...and they make a chrysalis.



They may have had some leftover from later yesterday too.  I've noticed at King and all over the youngsters seem to be finding stuff to munch on.

[Phyl]

Thanks everyone for the snaps and comments/info.
Truly the four's success is due to Savanna/Newman's parenting skills