Update- Released Juveniles

On Wednesday I got another chance to check up on 2 of the 3 juveniles that were released 2 weeks ago, the first site I checked was the one where the foster female juvenile was released with a male juvenile.
As you know this site originally held 4 juveniles, all ringed, a good sized brood by any standards, personally I think the larger the brood the better, not just for obvious reasons, greater numbers as they practice on each other constantly better prepares them for life alone and taking their own prey.
With the added foster juvenile now fully accepted and brood size now up to 5, I settled down to wait as they emerged at dawn, the adult Tiercel left in near darkness.

After 30 minutes of watching them from when they emerged it was obvious there were only 4 juveniles, they all still roost on the nest building so he/she was not likely to be roosting somewhere on its own. Furthermore only the adult Tiercel left the building, the Falcon was still on site, unfortunately throughout the morning, I was there for 3 hours, I could only get too 4.All 4 were interacting when not feeding so the 5th if present would have joined in on the frivolities.

Although a pity that one had disappeared my next thoughts early on were, is it the foster or her ‘brother’ whom she was released with, RF.

It took me nearly an hour to read the numerals on the rings, I found ’RF’ and I also found the foster amongst the 4, she was easier to see not being a ringed bird. Looking at who was missing it looks as if a female juvenile has gone, you look for reasons, it is easy to jump to conclusions but urban juvenile peregrines face many hazards unfortunately.

Foster female - flanked by her 'brothers'

Foster interacting and holding her own, she claimed a Ring Necked Parakeet

The Tiercel on this site is from Chichester, during the course of the morning he took 3 Ring Necked Parakeets and a Feral Pigeon, he is an outstanding provider, I have no doubt he knows of a colony of the Parakeets, or has worked out there flight route. They are not common in the neighbourhood so he is flying to where they are, this I suspect is south due to the fact that he always returns from there with a Parakeet.

 Juvenile sparring with Tiercel and perfecting technique

Juveniles

A good visit other than the missing juvenile, unfortunately there will always be mortalities, I will check up on the 3rd released juvenile over the weekend.