Fact File
Adult stats:
Length: 30-50cm
Wingspan: 95-115cm
Weight: 0.6-1.3kg
Lifespan: 13-17 years
Eggs:
Lay 2-5 eggs per year
Incubation: 29-32 days
Chicks:
Fledging: 35-42 days
Trivia:
Peregrines are the fastest animals in the world, capable of speeds approaching 200mph.
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Peregrine Diary 2006
19th July:
Over the last two or three weeks we have seen no more than three peregrines on or flying around Sussex Heights which would seem to suggest that only one of the chicks has survived this year. After having flying lessons from its parents recently it is now time for the chick to leave Sussex Heights and make its own way in the world.
14th June:
The smaller of this year's two male chicks fell off Sussex Heights this morning, fortunately he was found unharmed and returned to the roof.
26th May:
On Friday 26th May the annual ringing of the chicks took place. Not having a nestbox camera this year we were unsure what we would find. It was a pleasant surprise to find three healthy looking chicks.
The chicks in the nest box before being taken for ringing
The chicks were removed from the nest box and taken into the building where they were measured, weighed, photographed and a feather taken from each so that their DNA could be recorded. Throughout the procedure both parents flew overhead making an incredible noise.
The female chick has a ring attached to a leg
This year the chicks hatched at the beginning of May and we have one female who weighed in at 890 grams and two males who weighed in at 655 and 590 grams.
The chicks have been ringed and are about to be returned to the nestbox.
It should be possible to see the new chicks getting their flying lessons from mid June.
With no nestbox camera this year this is probably going to be our only coverage of the chicks this year...normal service (possibly improved) should resume next year.
One common question we are asked is whether the parents will reject the chicks after being in contact with humans - the simple answer is no. Once the chicks have been returned to the nestbox after ringing and the roof area is clear the adults return to the box and continue feeding and caring for the chicks.
One other question that crops up regularly is where do the adult pair go in winter - the answer to this is nowhere really - they can be seen on Sussex Heights throughout the year.
26th March:
Unfortunately we haven't got our nest box camera this year but will try to give progress reports as and when possible.
We should be covering the ringing of this year's chicks at which time it might be possible to set up the nest box camera and get pictures of this year's chicks - this will probably be in the last week of May.
Please keep checking back for progress.