Part 3. D7 and D8 Fledge......and it doesn't go well
The 2nd day after D6 had fledged I arrived early sure that D7 would fledge but thinking that D8 may need another day. I watched and watch as both wingercised and gazed outward. Like D6 their view had changed from nest and sibling-focused to the outward world. D6 was calling from nearby and it seemed to frustrate them immensely. Then I glanced down to check my camera settings as the light brightened, a movement caught my eye and I blinked.....
....What caught my eye was Dee, who had been perched high above them. She was in full stoop and diving straight down. It is rare for them to dive from such a low altitude and it certainly caused me concern. When I finally looked up there was only one Peregrine at the nest. D7 was gone. Had she fallen? Had D8 bumped her with a strong wingbeat and knocked her out? Had she jumped and done more falling than climbing as she got wind under her wings? I will never know. Soon after, peeking through trees, I could see some wing action and hear some vocalizing below the nest that let me know she was probably okay. Not long after Dee took food to her and I could hear that everything was fine with D7.
D8 IS ALONE! Being alone in the nest drove D8 crazy! Running back and forth with wings flapping as she desperately didn't want to be left behind. She was very vocal and her frustration was obvious. But, she didn't fly....it wasn't her time yet.
In frustration she made a run at the edge of the cliff opening and suddenly she was out of the nest and scrabbling on a sheer rock cliff face with nothing for talons to grab. Scrabbling she finally lost the battle with gravity and dropped a few yards onto a very narrow ledge. She flapped and flopped and finally got enough purchase with her talons to fold her wings and rest.
Some reminiscing:
I have often wondered how Dee fell into the Ohio River when she fledged. Well, it may be the same way that D8 got into trouble. D8 went exploring and although she came out of it just fine she certainly gave me a scare and lots of laughs. From the day Dee arrived on the cliff I have seen her explore cliff ledges. She walks along as she looks and pokes at everything. She checks every crevice to see if she will fit or if it is too small. If she did this on the bridge supports, where she was hatched, it could be how she fell. Maybe D8 is a mini-Dee.
Back to the present:
Once D8 got her talons under her she began to explore. Within a few yards she tried to squeeze past a dead bush. It didn't work. She got her wing on one side of a branch, another branch pinned her down across her back and a third wrapped up her talon. She was wrapped up and scared as she pulled and flapped trying to get free. I honestly was not sure she was going to be able to free herself. She finally wore herself out and relaxed and all of a sudden she was free.
I worried about an injury but she moved on with her explorations with no sign of a problem. Well, that was until she got to the dead-end of the ledge and even bigger dead and dry bushes and got caught again. She flapped and worked at it and was again successful in turning around. I was not having fun although a giggle or two may have escaped.
Back she went toward the nest and successfully navigated the first weed attack. As she neared the nest she stared up at it longingly and cried out. Getting back in wasn't going to be easy and, in fact, proved to be impossible. But she tried going up, going over, going right and going left. She ran until she was exhausted and then she would rest. It was obvious that she had one goal in mind and I think it was returning to the nest and very possibly back to the egg! She wasn't impressed with her trek fledge.
I kept thinking she would slip and that would force her to take flight but in spite of some close calls, she never fell. Her body and brain had not switched into flight mode as it had for the others.
At one point Dee decided to become involved and flew in with a prey. Peregrines will sometimes offer prey as a way to get the Peregrines to fly where they want them to go. Dee perched on the edge of the nest and dangled it down but it was too high and she just couldn't make the flight.
Dee flew in a circle and came back and landed right next to her troublesome fledgling. D8 was so excited to see her and the prey food. She reached out for the prey and Dee pulled it away. Again, she tried to grab the food without success. She got mad and really went after it but with no luck. Dee wasn't going to give it up until D8 flew. It was an enticement and when Dee flew away with it; D8 did not or was unable to follow.
D8 finally worked her way further from the nest area and started more explorations. At that point I decided it was time for me to take my leave and let the family explore to the best of their abilities and find safe places to spend the night.
She's looking great considering her day. Little did I know that the next time I was going to see her she would, once again, be in trouble....but that's the next Blog.