Private Estates Nest 3
Visiting any private estate in the Forest of Bowland to examine Peregrine nests usually leads to a very disappointing and sad experience. Nests that had been located earlier in the spring containing complete clutches of eggs are, when revisited, found to contain a single chick, dead embryos or eggs which have failed to hatch at all. In the worst scenario, the nest is completely empty and deserted. Today was a mixture of both.
To my complete surprise this morning, when I examined site 3, three eggs had already hatched successfully and the fourth was on the verge of hatching. What a shock to my system, but I felt sheer euphoria; throughout the 3 decades I have been watching this territory tenanted by a variety of different pairs over the thirty years, never before has anyone recorded a nest on this estate containing 3 chicks, possibly 4 by the end of the day. This site will now be carefully monitored and photographed during the next five weeks up until all chicks – god willing – fledge. Any disappointing news, together with good, will of course be posted on the web site at suitable intervals.
Private Estates Nest 5
Before I even arrived at site 5 this morning I felt uneasy, the birds were quiet and fresh 4×4 tracks leading almost to the nesting site were clearly imprinted in the heather; possibly an ominous indicator. I was correct, for although the eyrie was still occupied it only contained a single chick. I suppose I should not have been surprised. On closer inspection, a single dead chick was just beginning to emerge from out of a second egg. The circumstances at this site were identical to what was found at site 6 located on the same estate, and just 2km distance between both sites. Compare both eggs from the picture gallery. When the shell of the third un-hatched egg was opened, there was again no surprise to find a well developed dead embryo.
This current on-going situation seems to be par for the course, and just has to be accepted. Without resources and more dedicated field workers, very little will change and persecution will never be totally eliminated from England’s uplands.
Summary
To Sum up the current situation, we have a single nest site 3 on one estate containing possibly by tonight 4 hatched and healthy chicks. However, on the second estate where nests 4,5, and 7 are located, each nest respectively originally containing clutches of 4, 3 and 3 eggs, there is a total of just 3 hatched chicks.
Edit: Good news to follow – more chicks hatch.
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