Norwich Peregrines

[johnalison]

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Probably a Sparrow Hawk but still hadn't left much of the pigeon which was still struggling when I ran to fetch my camera. Right outside the study window, last year.

Peter.

Sparrowhawk, with the yellow ring round the eye. I put a video of one dispatching a pigeon on YouTube a few years ago. If you look hard you might find it - among dozens of the same!

 

[Biggles Wader]

They are looking quite grown up now. Soon be flying I think.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

They are looking quite grown up now. Soon be flying I think.

Hope they do better than these: Incredible photos show peregrine falcon chicks rescued by college porters

 

[Malish]

Hope they do better than these: Incredible photos show peregrine falcon chicks rescued by college porters

There seems to be established networks of watchers and friends in most of these locations. If this is normal then survival rates in the wild must be relatively low.
The pigeon population in Norwich is taking a hammering with many seeming to have a ringed foot - racing pigeons?

 

[Habebty]

There seems to be established networks of watchers and friends in most of these locations. If this is normal then survival rates in the wild must be relatively low.
The pigeon population in Norwich is taking a hammering with many seeming to have a ringed foot - racing pigeons?

Yes, I spotted the rings, I wonder if they are collected and sent back to the pigeon clubs or whatever? Could do with some peregrines round my bit of Norfolk to help manage the flying rat population in our back garden!

 

[TLouth7]

There seems to be established networks of watchers and friends in most of these locations. If this is normal then survival rates in the wild must be relatively low.

I don't know if it counts as wild given that the disappearances of males are almost certainly the result of persecution but Hen Harriers on the RSPB's Geltsdale reserve have only had 1 successful nest in the last 15 years. Typically there are one or two nests each year so not good odds.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

There seems to be established networks of watchers and friends in most of these locations. If this is normal then survival rates in the wild must be relatively low.
The pigeon population in Norwich is taking a hammering with many seeming to have a ringed foot - racing pigeons?

I think that in the wild, their parents would continue to feed them while they were in the vicinity of the nest until they could fly. Not an option in an urban setting, especially where they were, which is a busy junction! But of course, the survival rate of any wild bird is pretty low - if it wasn't, we'd be up to our knees in ducks! But on average, only 2 chicks per female need to survive to breed to maintain a population - and most birds produce at least 2 per year, often more.

 

[Malish]

Certainly getting braver, now standing on the edge

 

[seivadnehpets]

Certainly getting braver, now standing on the edge

I love the way one stands back while the other two flap about on the edge. Can't help thinking go on, give em a shove!

 

[Charlie Boy]

A parent just rolled up with a pigeon. Lots of shouting!

 

[Habebty]

Has one flown? Or fallen off?

Oh I see it! In the corner

 

[Charlie Boy]

One has gone. Looks as if the others will fall off any minute

 

[Malish]

apparently safe and well a bit further down the spire, another looks keen to go whilst the third looks like the overdid it at breakfast

 

[Biggles Wader]

Empty nest. Hope they are doing OK

 

[Charlie Boy]

One still in there. Looks very hot

 

[Malish]

all gone now

 

[Habebty]

Nope, one back again!

 

[Dee Bee]

They hang about being fed on the wing for a while. A couple of years an open air performance of Midsummer's Night Dream was accompanied by raucous calls as the young harried their mother to give them food. The audience spent most of the evening looking at the aerobatics not the play. The actors sportingly applauded the birds!