Two weeks old and going well; extension to vote

First, to say thanks for all the votes.  Up to 78 as I’m writing!   There will be an extension for voting until Tuesday evening as the notice to our staff went out a bit later than anticipated.  We need to give them time to ponder:).  You can vote on this thread or the earlier one; it doesn’t matter as I get them all as emails, anyway.

The chicks are really doing well.  Despite the drought, there is plenty of prey out there.  On one day, they managed between them to bring in 11 birds…. Xavier is still doing most of the hunting, but Diamond has been bringing in prey too (never starlings, note!).   Most of the prey have been rosella, starling, pigeon, one red wattlebird and various smaller prey that have given us a bit of a headache to identify.  One looked like a bit like a quail.   On one occasion both Diamond and Xavier brought in prey within a few minutes of each other.  Xavier had begun feeding the chicks (he’s a very good father), when Diamond arrived with a second prey and took over (as is her wont!).

You have probably noticed a change in their down. During the second week a second down pushes through, rather woolly and giving them a rather tatty appearance.  Pin feathers should appear soon as they usually arrive at about 17 days.    I’ve also noticed a change in behaviour.   Most importantly, they took their first walk:

Diamond seemed a bit concerned and tried to corrall them back into their corner, but they were not too keen to cooperate.  Eventually they regrouped on their own.

I’ve also noticed, that they are starting to grab at their prey.  And that the prey is less ‘dressed’ and ‘prepped’ as they mature.   Peregrines need to cough up the indigestible bits as pellets and here is one them having a good old vomit:

I’ve got a very busy weekend coming up, with our music club bbq tomorrow and a landcare event on Sunday, so any help you can provide with timestamps and videos or screenshots of prey would be most welcome.

Have a lovely weekend!

Cilla