Sunday, June 9, 2013

We have at least one formel and one tiercel

The eyasses are now old enough for their gender to be differentiated by the size of their tarsal bones.  John Blakeman analyzed the structure of the tarsals (ankles in humans) of the two oldest in the image below with #2 in front and #1 behind.

      Kay Meng

He believes,
"#2 is clearly a tiercel, and #1 a formel. The photo showing both of the legs together is definitive."

A close-up image of #1's feet shows the thick, dense ankles characteristic of a formel (female) who is always larger than the tiercel (male).  The tiercel has thinner ankles.

            Kay Meng


Though the two oldest hatched on the same day and thus are known as "the twins," nine hours separates them.  The one that now has the most head feathers growing through the fluff...

          Kay Meng

... is probably the oldest, thus #1 and a formel.

Here's another view of her large ankles.  She also has those broad shoulders we see in Mom.

                                    Kay Meng


Kay took these pictures on June 7 as the torrential downpour from tropical storm Andrea was moving into the Philadelphia area.  This eyass was looking skywards hoping a parent would soon arrive with food.

          Kay Meng


As always, the eyasses were fascinated by what was going on behind their window.

                                     Kay Meng


The more interested they become, the farther round they twist their heads in curiosity....

          Kay Meng


... and then start to move closer.

          Kay Meng


The youngest, #3, stayed huddled in its corner, but watched everything with equal curiosity.  The three day difference in its age from the other two is noticeable in the lack of feathers on its head, still mostly fluff.

          Kay Meng


Over the past week, the tireless hawkstalkers have been out there in sun and rain capturing wonderful images of all the action at the nest.


June 2
T2 is wreaking havoc on the local squirrel population.  He brings at least one a day to feed his eyasses.

          Carolyn Sutton


June 3
Mom keeps the greenery fresh on the nest with daily deliveries.

          Kevin Vaughan


This may be #2, the tiercel.  His shoulders are not as pronounced as #1, and he has a narrower build.  The chestnut peach coloring is now very prominent on their chests.

          Carolyn Sutton


Rat was on the menu today, and this eyass was doing its best to stuff down the final morsel to the astonishment if not concern of its siblings.

          Scott Kemper


Is this sibling assistance or sibling greed?

          Scott Kemper


The matter was resolved with a huge gulp!

          Scott Kemper


June 4
Here are #1 and #2 showing that most of their white chest fluff has been replaced with peach feathers.  It's probably #1 on the right with slightly more peach and head feathers showing.

           Valerie Russell Hutton


Meanwhile, #3 (left) still has very little peach showing

          Kevin Vaughan


June 5
The wing feathers continue to grow in strongly...

          Kevin Vaughan


... and though most of the wingercizing is still done facing the window, they are moving closer to the front of the nest.

          Kevin Vaughan


June 6
Here is one of the relatively few images of all three eyasses standing up together.  When one or more is lying down at the back of the nest they are invisible from the ground.  #3 (right) still has markedly more white head fluff than the other two.

          Pamela Dimeler


#3 is entering the Baby Dracula stage.

          Pamela Dimeler


Its wings are impressive when unfurled.

          Pamela Dimeler


This beautiful picture shows amazing detail of the peach feathers replacing the chest fluff, as well as the gold eye color of eyasses, in contrast to the darker eyes of the haggards.

              Pamela Dimeler


Though the eyasses are now perfectly capable of feeding themselves, Mom continues to feed them when she is on the nest.

          Pamela Dimeler


She is also conscientious about removing leftovers from the nest.

          Pamela Dimeler


This meal appeared to be a fledgling - possibly a pigeon.

                             Pamela Dimeler


The big excitement on Thursday was when the first eyass ledged.  This is when an eyass steps down off the nest onto the ledge alongside upon which the nest rests.  The ledge runs several feet along the windows of the Board Room.

Much to the hawkwatchers' surprise, this important milestone was reached first by #3!  It is debatable whether #3 actually intended to jump off the nest.  Observers noted that it appeared more a loss of balance during enthusiastic preening.

Pamela Raitt happened to be down on Winter Street when this occurred, and her quick reaction caught the moment when #3 plopped down onto the ledge, watched in consternation by its older siblings.  After a moment or two it hopped right back into the nest.

                  Pamela Raitt


June 7
This was the day of non-stop rain from tropical storm Andrea. The eyasses battened down their hatches and did their best to stay dry...

          Della Micah


... but as the day progressed, they got wetter and wetter.  Luckily, there was little wind and the temperature was warm.

          Della Micah


#3 proved that Thursday's accidental ledging was perhaps not so accidental.  Here it is on Friday confidently exiting stage left...

          Pamela Dimeler


... watched in astonishment? consternation? envy? by its siblings.

          Pamela Raitt


Then a second eyass made the leap leaving only one on the nest.

          Pamela Raitt


Eventually, everyone made it back safely.

          Pamela Dimeler


June 8
Saturday was a classic day after the storm with sun and blue skies.  The eyasses enjoyed catching some of those morning rays.

            Debi Rabin


Utter chaos ensued when Mom arrived with food (rat) ...

           Kevin Vaughan


... and then it got REALLY chaotic!

           Kevin Vaughan


Eventually, everyone got fed - and fed well - judging by this eyass's enormously stuffed crop.

           Kevin Vaughan


Mom appears to be keeping a watchful eye on the situation...

           Kevin Vaughan


... and then flew out with the leftovers of the rat (hard to believe that eyass left anything behind!).

           Debi Rabin


           Debi Rabin


Later in the afternoon, with lunch (squirrel) lying graphically to the side, it was time once again to contemplate the mysteries of ledging.

          Della Micah


The food service became even more graphic when dinner arrived before lunch got cleaned up.

          Della Micah


To finish, here are some beautiful portraits of the haggards taken this week by five of the talented photographers who generously allow me to use their images.


Mom

           Nick Cinciruk


                                             Kevin Vaughan


           Scott Kemper


T2

     Pamela Dimeler


           Debi Rabin


           Scott Kemper


2 comments:

  1. Fantastic update, Sunny! I am always amazed at the growth rate during this stage. They are all gorgeous!
    Ann Feldman

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  2. Thank you for another wonderful story and captions. And thanks to the generous photographers whose shots are terrific. I loved the "Chaos" one.

    Joyce

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