!!! Sad news in K-W
May 08, 2016 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
On Friday, May 6 – Morning feedings were observed at 6:00 and at 10:30 and all 5 chicks were accounted for. At 2:30 there was a little squabbling and jostling amongst some of the siblings while the parents were out hunting. At 3:00 one of the adults returned with an afternoon snack.
At 7:40 a.m. on Saturday, May 7 only 4 babies could be seen. The last chick to hatch was so much smaller than the others and was hard to see amongst his larger siblings. It looked like he had some catching up to do. Mystery left the nest a little after 4:00 p.m. and the 4 bigger ones were huddled together, jostling and pecking at each other a little. The littlest one was just outside of the group face down and wasn’t moving. At 4:20 Mystery came back and her foot dragged him over closer to the brood but he still didn’t move. She nestled back over the chicks and you see some of them appearing moving underneath Mom. At around 4:45, Mystery moved off of the nest and took off and the littlest one was still in the same place not moving while the others pecked at each other a little and jostled for a position in the group. Around 5:00, Mystery came back with a grackle for dinner and there was no reaction at all from the littlest one while the others demanded their dinner. A sad turn of events, that the last hatchling has passed.
At 7:00 a.m., Sunday May 8 – the deceased hatchling could still be seen sticking out from under his siblings. At 8:00 a.m. he couldn’t be seen. At some point, Mom will remove the deceased hatchling as peregrines don’t usually eat their own. There was too much of a spread between the first hatchling and the last one which you could see in the difference in the size. The 4 remaining chicks are almost double the size of the last hatchling. Although it is sad losing the littlest hatchling, it will make it a little easier for the parents to keep up with the demanding needs of the 4 remaining chicks who appear strong, feisty and healthy.
