Aylesbury Peregrines
You are looking at the nest site of a pair of Peregrine Falcons, situated on the 12th floor of the Buckinghamshire Council building in Aylesbury town centre.
Peregrines are the fastest animal on the planet and can reach speeds in excess of 200mph.
They are an apex predator who catch and kill live birds on the wing - as such the footage here may contain gory images.
Peregrines first appeared on County Hall in 2007 and the nest platform was erected in 2010. They first attempted to breed in 2011 and birds have been present ever since.
The female is larger and greyer than the male. Our current male has a metal ring on his leg but we don't know where he is from.
Peregrines are awesome and exhilarating birds! We are very lucky to be able to watch these wonderful birds up close and personal.
No change over the weekend- the young chick remains in care at Tiggywinkles.
The fledged older sibling is doing really well, visiting the nest site and leaving again with great confidence.
What a week it's been !
Our young Peregrine chick appears to be trying to prove that Peregrines have more lives than Cats !!
So the week went something like this -
Monday evening - Back from Tiggywinkles - successfully released at the nest site.
Tuesday morning - It fell off again and fell 12 floors to the courtyard below - I went down and rescued it, and with Windols help we successfully released it back at the nest site. It fell trying to take a Starling that the adult male had brought for it.
Wednesday morning - the blooming sun and heat returned, and in trying to escape it by jumping up to the ledge it fell off again, but this time it was seen to be gliding away. It clearly came down somewhere in the town, but not unfortunately on a building. If you're reading this and you are the good samaritan who found it and got it to Tiggywinkles - Thank You !!
Thursday - So by Thursday it was back at Tiggywinkles with a minor wing injury, it's been x-rayed and checked over - all good, but will be staying there for a good few days to get meds and allow the injury to heal. Hopefully then it'll be fit for another go at the world, and hopefully it'll have fully formed flight feathers and good flight muscles by then. 4 times it's fallen, 4 times it's survived, surely it's written in the stars that this chick is going to make it !
As you can see on the cameras it's sibling is doing extremely well and appearing regularly and roosting overnight last night.
Fingers Crossed :)
Mike
Not only did our Little Miracle survive it's fall last Thursday, it's got no injuries, and it's back home !
After it's fall last Thursday it was kindly rescued by Tiggiwinkles and since then has had a thorough examination, its been resting and eating very well. It has no injuries :)
So tonight I went to Tiggywinkles and collected it and with the help of John in security we successfully released it back onto the ledge and it didn't jump straight off, a quick but quiet withdrawal was also successful and it is now in plain view on the ledge at the far end from the camera.
I've just checked the camera and Mum has now joined it on the platform.
Here's hoping he stays for a good few days this time and gets those flight feathers properly ready.
Whether it'll find the fact of fledging for real a walk in the park or it'll be petrified after it's two falls who knows, but if I were a betting man I'll go for the first option, it's not Bird Number 1 for no reason.
Thank You again to all the staff and volunteers at Tiggiwinkles - you are amazing.
We're all rooting for you Little Miracle !!!
Mike
Early this morning, about 05.40 I'm told, our little miracle decided that falling once wasn't enough and accidentally fledged and fell all 12 floors this time !!
However it is seemingly well, definitely alive and kicking and we hope will recover to go back up soon.
But this did now give us the opportunity to have it properly checked over, having now had two significant falls, and it did seem to be hobbling a bit.
So with the help of the security team at the Council and Kathy and the amazing team from Tiggiwinkles it has been rescued and taken to Tiggiwinkles for a proper assessment, I will update this blog when I hear news from there. Thank Goodness and huge THANK YOU once again to the staff from 'Tiggy's' and all that you do :)
Fingers crossed !!
Mike