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Recent pictures from the web cam.

Guestbook of Råger and Axa

Welcome to follow the falcons family life!

Pictures and information (in Swedish) from 2010 and in English (see below)!

A pair of Peregrine falcons has been stationary in the harbour of Helsingborg, south Sweden, since the autumn 2001. As both birds were colour ringed it was found that they are brother and sister, hatched by a pair of Peregrines breeding some 30 km from Helsingborg. The couples do, however, not come from the same brood. The female hatched in 1999 and the male in 2000.

For the breeding season 2002 a nest box with a web cam was placed on the building where the couple was most frequent, but no breeding took place.

Pictures and information (in Swedish) from 2002!

For the 2003 season a new nest box was built. Although the falcons did copulate and made a nest scrape, no eggs were produced, possibly because the male and the female are brother and sister. Therefore brown coloured hen eggs were placed in the nest and especially the male started to "incubate".

Later the hen eggs were replaced by the 15 days old Peregrine chick Tiffany from the Swedish Peregrine project. When the female, after several attempts, finally landed in the box, Tiffany immediately started to beg for food and the couple started to feed her and the adoption was successful. Tiffany fledges in the beginning of July and was present in the neighbourhood at least up to September.

Pictures and information (in Swedish) from 2003!

The Peregrine couple did not produce any eggs in 2004 either. Therefore two coloured hens´ eggs were placed in the nest by end of April. On May 30 the eggs were replaced by two ca 14 days old Peregrine chicks named Majsan and Axel. The youngs fledged by the end of June and were observed around the nest during the summer, but after this there are no sightings of them reported.

Pictures and information (in Swedish) from 2004!

The Peregrine couple did not produce any eggs in 2005 either. Therefore we decided to help the falcons this year too. Two coloured hens´ eggs were placed in the nest on April 29. On June 6 (the Swedish national holiday) we replaced the eggs by two ca 18 days old Peregrine chicks named Grynet (a female) and Linus (a male). It was very successful and the old falcons accept the chicks immediately. It took only 45 seconds before they were back in the nest box. The youngs fledged by the end of June and were observed around the nest during the summer, but after this there are no sightings of them reported.

Pictures and information (in Swedish) from 2005!

The couple - Råger and Kornelia - could not produce any eggs on their own this year either. Therfore three hen eggs were placed in the nest box on May 4. The birds accept the eggs and proceeded with the brooding instinct.

The hen eggs were replaced on June 11. The couple got a male chick named Malte about ten days old. The chick got a violet ring on his left leg. On the right leg a red and blue one with the letters P and K.

The female took immediately care of the little one and very soon the adult male came with food.

The picture shows Malte as he arrived at his new home. He got a lot of food (as you can see) before the replacement (photo: Christer Strid).

Malte, the young male, on the edge of the building (photo: Christer Strid)

Kornelia is watching him carefully (photo: Christer Strid)

Pictures and information (in Swedish) from 2006!

We are sorry to say but this year was not so successful.

The breeding season started well but later on we met some difficulties. The same couple – Råger and Kornelia - as before and it looked good at the beginning. Of course no eggs of there own as we more or less expected. Two hen eggs were placed in the box on May 4. A week later the eggs were gone. What happened? We fixed another two eggs and one disappeared. But the birds began to brood again.

Now we had to wait for chicks from the Swedish Peregrine project. But the project also ran into trouble. There breeding birds started late to nest and they didn´t get so many clutches and chicks.

Later on our birds didn´t show the same interest to sitt on the egg. We had some discussions to stop this year but we got the chance on June 17 to get a chick. We changed egg too chick an waited… and waited and … for nearly 5 hours we waited. But the falcons didn´t show up in the nest box. They were only present in the neighbourhood. The chick was alone and it was raining all the time and it didn´t get any food. So we decided to interrupt because of the health of the chick.

In late July Råger and Kornelia are still around the nest box and as you perhaps can see they show up in the webcam now and then.

Another disappointment at the beginning of 2007 was Axel, the malechick from breeding season 2004, who was found dead on March 30, near Malmö in the southern part of Sweden. It´s just about 90 km south of the places he was brought up. We don´t know the reason of his death. Here the news in Swedish and some pictures of the bird.

March 3
Life runs on as usual and you can now and then see both Råger and Kornelia take a break in front of the camera. New year means of course always a degree of curiosity and the expectations are high.

April 18 - New plans for our Falcons
The falcons are showing interest in the nestbox as usual. The next few weeks may decide how we move forward. If everything run smoothly and The Falcons are cooperating, we intend to put hen eggs in the box to strengthen the hatchinginstinct. We will hopefully be able to move forward and make a change to real falcon eggs during the first week in May.

May 2 – Hen eggs on the ground
Hen eggs on the ground. Now we have to wait and see how the falcons receiving it.

May 7 - Soon time for falconeggs instead!
Today, we take a decision on when the change will be done. Perhaps already for the weekend but we have to see. We plan to add two fertilized eggs.

May 10 - A new stage ...
This morning we made the change to falconeggs. The two fertilized eggs are from the Falconproject at Nordens Ark. The eggs have been examined and embryonic development is judged to have progressed so far that a hatch can be expected in just over 10-14 days. Something to really look forward to!
Kornelia complained high and loud when we replaced the eggs. Råger, who sat on the lookout close, immediately came to help her. A quick change ... and the whole process was over in less than a minute. Then Kornelia soon returned to nestbox, she hesitated slightly at first sight. Bad mathematics ...? How could it suddenly be just two eggs! But, but ... this is no tedious, nature has its course, it is only to brood.

May 11 - Action in nestbox!
For those of us who have been able to follow developments in nest the past days have noticed that participation is also very important. Sharing the burden to brood makes it much easier. At some occasions we have been able to follow when Råger takes over.

May 20 - joy and sorrow
Big event in nestbox. Round seven o´clock this morning Bengt T at Lantmännen could note that Kornelia and Råger hatched up a first young. Bengt had also noted that Råger has been inside the box with food and that Kornelia cut it up, and entered the newborn.
During the afternoon the second egg hatched. But the development was not as we hoped. Something for us is so far unclear happened and we could after a while to see how Kornelia started to pick with egg shelf from the second egg, and also highlighted the young. After several attempts to lift the young she gave up and flew away with it. Of the images we captured the young appeared to be dead. We have some photos which show this tragic event.

May 21 - What happened ...?!
Really sad news! The second young failed life outside the egg. More than a day after hatching, took Kornelia the dead young and flew away. What has happened ...? You can always speculate, but as we have not rediscovered the young, may cause of death remains unknown. Some pictures of how it developed in the nestbox during the morning hours can be found here.
Despite this new setback, we wanted to try to get falcons to continue breeding. In consultation with Peter Lindberg, Falkprojekt, we decided quite immediately to place hens eggs again and see how it was received. Late afternoon, there were three new eggs on the ground and of the pictures to judge Kornelia found this OK. It took just 12 minutes from her left (because of that our disturbance) until she was stable on the eggs again.
New images from the afternoon's events.

Tiffany - our first "young kid"
Control of the first young falcon leaving the nest in Helsingborgs. Read more about this interesting event.

June 8 - At last a young in the nest!
So, we have finally received a new young to Kornelia and Råger. Of course we hope that it will go much better this time and that the falcons will take care of young with great care. The chick - which is a female - has been named Agnes. She is about 18 days old and come from Falkproject farming at Norden Ark. She is marked with two blue rings. On the left leg a large ring with the letters CC and on the right leg a smaller ring, to be known as 90A75164.

Kornelia flying outside the nestbox (photo: Christer Strid)

Just before 16 pm we made a quick change from eggs to pulli. We also placed some "candy" a few quail, to give Kornelia the opportunity to begin feeding immediately. Kornelia kept a watchful eye on us. As soon as we left the nest she was on the premises of the young.

Agnes photographed on arrival to Helsingborg (photo: Christer Strid)

At the beginning, the food was much more interesting than the young Agnes and Kornelia eat with very good appetite. But later even Agnes took part of the diet. For a few evening hours we were able to follow the Falcons and Råger have also come to show his skills with cutting and feeding (even if Kornelia kept a watchful eye and looked a little suspicious of him).
As you can see from the photos (in the gallery) Agnes has already received beginning of the feathers on the tail and wings. In the next few days there will be rapid change in her feathers.

June 18 - Daily exercise on the wings on schedule.
As you can see Agnes disappears from the picture now and then. Exercise is important and to discover the world closest the nestbox must provide both new perspectives and experiences of life. Check out this.

June 23 - Agnes escaped from the nestbox.
Today, Agnes made her first flight, which ended with her landin´ on the ground and then she was not able to get up to nest again. We suspect that it was not entirely planned but the strong wind made it.

Bengt T (at Lantmännen) was as usual a watchful eye on the events and returns her up pretty immediately. In addition, he is once again mounted a protection of the right side of nestbox to a certain extent prevent Agnes freedom of movement.

July 2 - Agnes on her own
Nowadays the nestbox often is empty. But with a little luck we can glimpse all three birds now and then.

Agnes is becoming more independent and can be on her own for much longer periods. However, we can expect Kornelia and Råger to keep an eye on her, even if it is outside the camera's range. To cut food and maybe even catch her own food is also a part of everyday life.

July 19 - Agnes on vsit
As we noted the last time, Agnes is not on a visit so often ... or you have bad luck and missed opportunities. But today she was on the ground a few moments. On the picture, it appears she slept pretty deep.

Agnes in the box
(picture from the webcam)

August 20 - Agnes visits rare.
One month since the last report and Agnes visits to the nest are becoming increasingly rare.

I (Christer S) made a visits in the port last week and did not see any falcons at all. Bengt T (at Lantmännen) however, told me that he saw all three birds at the same time the day before.

We also have received a report on Agnes attempts to stand on her own feet (or rather the wings) and her clumsy attempt to hunt doves. We can read all about in guetsbook.

Råger and Kornelia, are visiting the nestbox now and then and here are some thoughts signed Dick in Östersund.

October 5
Nowadays it´s calm in the nest box. But today the couple were together inside the box. Maybe they searched protection to avoid the bad weather passing by.

In the image archive from September 27, you'll find a sequence of Kornelia which Dick Enebro picked up. Dick has the following comment ... "I have noticed this behaviour before, but this time it was Kornelia that outcasts sounds for a long time. I do not know what that means, if it´s contact call or to claim there territory. I imagine myself that the nest box can act as a sounding box, and also reinforce the sounds…"

I agree with Dick that it´s certainly to highlight territory and keep in touch with Råger.

December 4
The couple are on place, and sometimes we get to see them together. The observant could also noticed that we have two nesting places on the surface. Why? To strengthen the cohesion between individuals though Kornelia and Råger stayed together for a long time. It’s could be fun to speculate ... Here some pictures that Dick put together.

Pictures and information (in Swedish) from 2008!

January 1
A happy new year! We will be gathering information about what happens our peregrine falcons during the year.

February 21
Visits in the nest box are quite rare for the moment. Our "falcon guardian" Dick, however, caught Råger when he flies away from nest box after a short visit. The images you find in the gallery.

The couple are in the territory and now and the you can see them hunt along the coastline of Helsingborg.

March 6-8
New pictures in the gallery that Dick once again "caught" (March 2). He also raises a small question. Is it Kornelia or not? The rings do not give any really good answers. Right ring should be black, but we are not fully satisfied. On the other hand light and reflections play trick many times.

Now we see clearly how the interest increases significantly and the two birds appearance in the nestbox. They move stones and clean up.

Once again we show the difference in size between the sexes (a photomontage). Råger is considerably smaller than Kornelia, but it´s so difficult to see difference if you only have one bird at a time. The female has also been stronger spots on breastfeathers and flanks.

(the picutes from tha webcam)

April 6 - Real falcon egg!
Yesterday, a day that created some confusion with both exclamation points and question marks. An egg ... an "real" egg! What's on? Should we get the first “real falcon breeding"?

The next few days will probably provide answers to some questions. Further information will come.

Råger protects the egg.

April 7 - Is it Kornelia or not ...?!
If you have followed what´s written in the guestbook we raised some questions on a new female falcon. We know from observations of Bengt T (at Lantmännen) that there has been a "third" falcon on a visit in the spring.

Sporadic visits occurred before but always resulted in the visitor been chased away.

Ringlabel gives not really good answer. I´ve picked some different pictures of Kornelia from previous years (2007-2008) and a last picture from today. Is it Kornelia on the last picture? To consider is the profile of the head, the black part of the beaktip and plumage in general. Is there a difference?

We are investigating the possible colorcombinations on the rings.

If the female will continue to lay eggs it will be about two days apart. The females usually do not begin to sit steadily until the brood is full.

April 8 - New female - the second egg!
Today, the second egg is laid and if all goes according to the plan, we can probably hope for another egg maybe on Friday.

Now we are quite convinced that it´s a new female bird who has taken over from Kornelia. The theory that Leif Klintroth gives in the guestbook is sure entirely correct. What happened to our old female we probably never find out.

We will in the next few days try to read the rings in field to see if we can secure the color and the text.

April 9 - Fieldobservations
During the day, I spent some time along with Leif Klintroth and Bengt T attemt to identify the female bird. We made fine observations of both falcons but not good enough to make any individual determination.

April 10 - the third egg!
The brood has been expanded, the third egg. Some new pictures are in the gallery.

Should we expect another egg? If ... it may be on Sunday!

April 14 - the fourth egg !
The brood is complete? Four eggs in the nest - even if it took a little longer than expected - and now the incubation should take off. Remains to be seen whether the eggs are fertilized. An answer we hopefully should get in a month or so.

Leif Klintroth has made some attempts to photograph the new female bird during his visit. The images (from left 1 and 2) are taken at a distance of approximately 400 m (through binoculars) so they are not of the highest quality. To be noted that the color of the right-hand ring has totally disappeared.

Leif also sent the image of an initial marking of a young bird in 2007 (picture 3). You can clearly see how the color of the ring should be. Another picture (4) on a falcon (male) marked 2007. Photographed at a different site associated Lantmännen, March 2009. Even here you can clearly see how the process has changed the color of the ring.

April 25, 2009 - Axa - the new female.

The new female got the name Axa, a name which has been linked to the place where she is currently in several respects. Thanks for all the fine names that have been submitted. Don´t stop now, give us some more. With a happy end for breeding we may need four new names. It is with eager anticipation that we are waiting. Are the eggs fertilized? It remains to be seen.

May 2, 2009

A few days ago we received a question in the guestbook about the brooding bird's food habits when they are incubating and the answer was that it´s certainly no problem with the food. It´s usually the male who hunts and he comes with the food to the female. He´s handing the food directly to the female or deliver to the special "place of slaughter". While the female will eat, she leaves the nest, leaving eggs in the male care.

It is only when the eggs hatch as the female takes part of the hunt.

Here is a little sekvens of picutres when there is a change between the male and the female on the eggs.

The brooding has been going on for about 17-18 days and a normal brooding is 28-32 days before it is time for hatching. That means we could expect a hatching of the first egg perhaps around May 15. It´s an exciting time approaching.

May 14, 2009 - A historic day!

First chick hatched! Already this morning seemed to be something going on. Indeed during the day as first hatched egg and a small flossy chick looked up. One up three to go!

This is the first time that the entire breeding occurs naturally. That the new female - Axa - have been contributing factor to this success, we can be fully satisfied. Obviously, much remains.

We hope the coming weeks will be as successful!

May 17, 2009 - Now they are two and maybe three!

It is full of activities in the nestbox. The second chick was born on the 15th and I think I can see a third chick(?) today 17th.

Division of labor is clear. Råger carries home food and Axa cut and benefits. Today I have seen the remains of at least two different prey, one of which is a gull of any kind. Råger may also help to brood when Axa flies away for small trips. But he´s in difficulties to get both kids and eggs together under the stomach.

May 19 - now they are three!

Now we can state that they are three kids and the fourth egg seems to be gone, or is left well hidden by the kids? We'll see if we get clarity in future.

If the pair will manage successfully with these three kids, it´s something that´s very positive, given that Axa probably breeding for the first time. But so far, we take one day at a time. It takes a few weeks before the kids are so big that they can leave the nestbox.

May 28 - Eating and sleeping ... that´s the life in the nestbox!

The kids are growing gradually, and although their lives for the moment almost are just about to eat and sleep is it very interesting to follow developments. We note the fourth egg remains, but it is a not fertilize.

At the beginning of next week we plan to put rings on the kids. Peter Lindberg from Swedish Falcon project is coming for the annual ringing tour. We hope to be able to determine gender falcon kids. If I may speculate a bit, it seems to me that at least one of the kids is slightly different in size, which could indicate that it is a female. We'll see if it is true?

June 1 - a hot and busy day!

Just after lunchtime Peter Lindberg arrived with the sidekicks (John, Leif and Patric).

The afternoon we would devote to our falconcouple with three kids. On site we found that the female chosed a strategic vantage point to sit on, the webcam. The male was a bit from there.

Immediately work began ringing, measurements and blood samples for DNA determination. The later in order to ensure gender determination (which today is bad) and for future use, and genpool. Everything went smoothly and was finished after just over half hour.

Information about the ringing:

• Kid 1 (male?) 90A75203 - blue (right leg) and AC - black (left leg), weight 500 gr.
• Kid 2 (female?) 90A75204 - blue (right leg) and NH - black (left leg), weight 550 gr.
• Kid 3 (female?) 90A75205 - blue (right leg) and NJ - black (left leg), weight 560 gr.

Kid 1, male (?) With black ring AC.
Photo: Christer Strid

Kid 2, female (?) With black ring NH.
Photo: Christer Strid

Kid 3, female (?) With black ring NJ.
Photo: Bengt Lundgren

Kid 3, female (?) With black ring NJ,
here with the project manager for
the Falcon project, Peter Lindberg.
Photo: Christer Strid

June 3 - it is now only the food that counts!

The kids are growing rapidly and Axa and Råger has been busy in hunting and thus also leave the kids alone much longer periods than previously. But be so sure there is always a watchful HAWK-EYE!

To show how quickly the kids are growing these three images picked by the "falcon outrider" Dick with about a week apart.

Axa is feeding - the firstborn about 9 days.

Råger feeding - the firstborn 14 days.

Axa feeding - the firstborn 20 days.

June 14, 2009 – where are the kids?

As you can see the kids are growing very fast and the feathers are changing from day to day. The down disappear and give way to first juvenile plumages. To grow so quickly they need plenty of food and we can see Axa and Råger coming with lot of prey. The kids are also beginning to cut the food themselves. Practice makes perfect ... so it should start on time.

Some new pictures are in the gallery showing primarily feedingoccasions. Unfortunately the pictures are not the best because the protection glass on the webcam now and then becomes target of the kids residuals.

The young ones more and more disappear from the site of the webcam, which is of concern for us spectators. Practice of flying "on site" also belongs to everyday life, but they will stay at least one week more (if nothing unexpected happens in all the youthful enthusiasm) before they may try their wings more seriously. It is far to the ground.

June 23, 2009 - The young ones leave the nest ...

... and you often meet a web camera images show a rather messy nestbox with the leftovers from falcons diet in the form of feathers and down and so on, but no kids.

Safest to see a glimpse of the kids seem to be in the evenings when they tend to search into the box to rest. Often the ruling in a corner and looks to be more dead than alive. An eye blink, however, tend to reveal a life characters.

From Hasse Sjökvist (Lantmännen) I got some pictures of falcons photographed today. Thank you! For eg, he has taken a picture of one of the kids who sit on a roof more than 100 meters from the nest. So certain are the kids outside and moving. No wonder they look totally "exhausted" sometimes.

 
Two images of juveniles, photo: Hasse Sjökvist

 
Photo: Hasse Sjökvist

Photo: Hasse Sjökvist

January 2 - Happy New Year!

When I looked into the falcons nest this morning it was empty. But there were two distinct pits in the gravel.

That the birds are on the location we have identified through visual observations. Over the next few days I will update the falcon pages for 2010 and hopefully we will be able to capture Axa and Råger on pictures.

February 2 - still winter!

The falcons like to sit in the nestingbox from time to time.

Today, it is bad weather in Helsingborg, with snowfall and strong winds. A combination that never is successful. Look at the pictures from the camera and you can see the snow comming into the nestingbox. But despite that, Råger will find some protection in the box.

March 21 - the kids' name

In anticipation of what happens this season, it could be useful to present the names we gave the juvenils from 2009. Lots of nominations have been received which we appreciate. One male and two females were ringed June 1th and these have been given the names:

• Silas, male, 90A75203 - blue (right leg) and AC - black (left leg).
• Pilona, female, 90A75204 - blue (right leg) and NH - black (left leg).
• Avena, female, 90A75205 - blue (right leg) and NJ - Black (left leg).

What happens now? Yes, it's the same excitement and curiosity, we look forward to a new breedingseason. On April 5th, 2009 came the first egg and today March 21th, 2010 there are frequent visits in the nestingbox and the falcons are "testing" and adjusting. Everything runs as usual an we will see what´s happen in about 2-3 weeks.

April 1 - there'll be eggs for Easter!

There will be eggs for Easter, it´s quite obvious. To our delight the falcons are on the same track and the first egg came today. A few days earlier than last year.

I was not really surprised because I thought I saw that something was going on already a few days ago. Look at the pictures in the gallery.

April 2 - When was the last egg?

If everything works out as it should, we maybe can expect a new egg tomorrow. It is quite normal by 2-3 days between the laying.

2009 was the result four eggs in the brood, of which three hatched to fledging. It will be interesting to follow this year's nesting and see if it will be just as successful.

April 17 - Nothing is like expecting?

To get a chance to catch a glimpse of the eggs appear to be almost impossible. Fortunately, many of us look at the webpage and some found out that there are at least three eggs in the nest. I feel however that the falcons are unusually hard on the brood. It is possible that the weather plays a role. The past week has been very cold in nights and days are not so warm either.

Chronologically the breeding process is well consistent with the season 2009 even if the egglaying started a few days earlier this year.

The technology is currently not on our side. There are many stages to work. Since we are not having a direct line to the camera - but are depending on the external network - it can be difficult to make changes. But there is always an ongoing process where we try to improve.

With regard to your own computer can be important which browser you are using and also what version of this has been installed and this does not make things easier. It also requires that additional software (javascript) is installed on each user's computer. At the latter may vary be a source of "problems" as it may depend on what the security settings you have.

Some tips:

• Try to press "refresh / reload button"
• Try different browsers

26 April - finally a picture of the entire brood!

Maggie in Oskarshamn have managed to "capture" an image of the entire brood. Thanks!

If everything goes as planned with the incubation, we might be able to expect hatching in the middle of May, maybe a few days earlier. Dick in Östersund has their concerns at the May 9th to 10th. Let's see if this may be true.

May 11 - Something going on?

That something is going on. I think you clearly can see it on the falcons' behavior. A degree of communication seems to take place between parents and "eggs". You can see from the photos that Råger and Axa listen to what happens. Is the hatching started? In 2009 the first egg hatched in May 14th.

Christer Strid - Bo02 -

Pictures and information (in Swedish) from 2010!

... about the Peregrines and the Bo.02 project - please contact Christer Strid or leave a note in the Falcons' Guestbook.

Links to other web cams showing Peregrine falcons live.

The project Bo.02 is a collaboration between the Kullabygdens Ornitologiska Förening (KOF), Lantmännen and the Peregrine project of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.