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.
... 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 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.
As always, the eyasses were fascinated by what was going on behind their window.
The more interested they become, the farther round they twist their heads in curiosity....
... and then start to move closer.
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.
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.
June 3
Mom keeps the greenery fresh on the nest with daily deliveries.
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.
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.
Is this sibling assistance or sibling greed?
The matter was resolved with a huge gulp!
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.
Meanwhile, #3 (left) still has very little peach showing
June 5
The wing feathers continue to grow in strongly...
... and though most of the wingercizing is still done facing the window, they are moving closer to the front of the nest.
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.
#3 is entering the Baby Dracula stage.
Its wings are impressive when unfurled.
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.
Though the eyasses are now perfectly capable of feeding themselves, Mom continues to feed them when she is on the nest.
She is also conscientious about removing leftovers from the nest.
This meal appeared to be a fledgling - possibly a pigeon.
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.
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...
... but as the day progressed, they got wetter and wetter. Luckily, there was little wind and the temperature was warm.
#3 proved that Thursday's accidental ledging was perhaps not so accidental. Here it is on Friday confidently exiting stage left...
... watched in astonishment? consternation? envy? by its siblings.
Then a second eyass made the leap leaving only one on the nest.
Eventually, everyone made it back safely.
June 8
Saturday was a classic day after the storm with sun and blue skies. The eyasses enjoyed catching some of those morning rays.
Utter chaos ensued when Mom arrived with food (rat) ...
... and then it got REALLY chaotic!
Eventually, everyone got fed - and fed well - judging by this eyass's enormously stuffed crop.
Mom appears to be keeping a watchful eye on the situation...
... and then flew out with the leftovers of the rat (hard to believe that eyass left anything behind!).
Later in the afternoon, with lunch (squirrel) lying graphically to the side, it was time once again to contemplate the mysteries of ledging.
The food service became even more graphic when dinner arrived before lunch got cleaned up.
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
T2
Posts
Fantastic update, Sunny! I am always amazed at the growth rate during this stage. They are all gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAnn Feldman
Thank you for another wonderful story and captions. And thanks to the generous photographers whose shots are terrific. I loved the "Chaos" one.
ReplyDeleteJoyce