Melv The Chicks Are Here

[carrot99]

https://www.mavir.hu/web/mavir/feszekmegfigyeles

I think you said they are falcons, I've just seen that the two chicks have hatched.

[melv16]

Yayyyy. Thanks for the heads up.

[ladybirder]

So good to see them back again.

[melv16]

Btw, they're hobbys. A migratory falcon that we also get in the UK.

[carrot99]

One chick and one egg. The mum is feeding the chick now.

[roopower]

Oh, lovely

[melv16]

Prey just been brought in.

[melv16]

2 chicks now.

[melv16]

Feeding time.

[melv16]

The 2 chicks seem to be thriving:-) They're both flaked out at the moment as its 36c in Hungary.

[calmck]

The chicks are getting big

[carrot99]

I've never watched a nest before and I'm a bit worried that I haven't seen an adult for a few days. I did see them eating a couple of days ago so it looks like they're being fed.
I worry that they might fall off the nest now they walk about and also that something might happen to the adults and they're not fed.
I'm finding it a bit nerve-wracking and just hope the adults are watching from nearby.

[melv16]

There's usually an adult close by guarding the nest, carrot. If any thing threatens the chicks it will get a good duffing-up.
Saying that, a hobby tried to rob a kestrel of its prey near its nest platform. It was killed after a massive fight, the hobby was fed to the kestrels chicks.

[melv16]

https://amp-reddit-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.reddit.com/r/HardcoreNature/comments/nf783y/common_kestrel_kills_a_hobby_that_attacked_her/?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16284533758739&csi=1&;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&;amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2FHardcoreNature%2Fcomments%2Fnf783y%2Fcommon_kestrel_kills_a_hobby_that_attacked_her%2F
Link to the above.

[carrot99]

Thanks Melv you've put my mind at rest. I suppose leaving them on their own is just a step towards independence. I've just had a look and they're cuddled up together asleep now.

[melv16]

Tha fluffy little balls aren't fluffy little balls any more.

[carrot99]

One of the chicks left this morning. He was there first thing and gone by 1.30pm. When I looked in, the parent was nearby and then flew off. The chicks have been practising wing flapping and the missing one didn't have much down left so I hope he flew off deliberately rather than just flapping off accidentally.

Melv would you expect the missing chick to return to the nest for food and to sleep or do they just go off on their own?

[melv16]

If it has the ability to fly it could return to the box.
When a saker has fallen out there was someone on hand to put it back.
Otherwise, I don't hold out much hope if its been on the ground overnight. It will probably starve to death or be taken by a predator.

[carrot99]

Oh dear, thanks Melv. He seemed quite strong and had most of his feathers so I hope he flew away but he was only a month old. Fingers crossed for him.

[melv16]

https://m.facebook.com/home.php#!/story.php?story_fbid=4231031803642827&id=113908735355175&;refid=7&_ft_=qid.-7951715232219246357%3Amf_story_key.-2737729639377634976%3Atop_level_post_id.4231031803642827%3Acontent_owner_id_new.113908735355175%3Apage_id.113908735355175%3Asrc.22%3Astory_location.5%3Aview_time.1629117778%3Afilter.h_nor%3Aott.AX-T4GBBHawJ__JQ%3Atds_flgs.3&__tn__=%2As%2As-R
Just read this garbled translation on Facebook. I gather the chick is safe.

[ladybirder]

Looks like the other one is about to go ...