4 downy chicks born to Moncton pair of rooftop peregrine falcons
Moncton has welcomed some new feathery friends.
Two peregrine falcons that have been living in a nesting box atop the Assumption Building in the city for the last 13 years have just hatched four chicks.
Earlier this year, the Magnetic Hill Zoo and Nature Moncton partnered to set up a livestream on the pair's nesting box, so viewers waited anxiously for about a month, closely watching the eggs.
Jill Marvin, the director of the Magnetic Hill Zoo, said she first noticed something unusual when she checked the livestream on May 10.
"I tuned in, and for a split second Mom moved off the nest to rotate, and you could see one of the bright-coloured eggs had just a little crack, and you could see a little beak," Marvin told Information Morning Moncton.
"It was really exciting times."
The mother and father falcons sat on their eggs for 31 days and they hatched at almost the same time. This shot was taken on May 17 from the video livestream. (Magnetic Hill Zoo nest cam)
She said the first chick hatched that Friday and another hatched overnight.
"What a beautiful morning, to see two fuzzy — somewhat cute, if you like that kind of thing — and two eggs," said Marvin.
Within four days, all four chicks had hatched.
Marvin said the parent falcons are healthy and doing well. "We really have to celebrate these parents."
Jill Marvin, director of the Magnetic Hill Zoo, said the falcon parents took really good care of their eggs. (Nature Moncton)
She said the pair sat on their eggs for 31 days and they hatched at almost the same time.
"These are two dedicated parents who have sat through all sorts of weather, from courtship to laying the eggs to incubating the eggs, and now raising those babies for about 45 days," she said.
Marvin said these chicks are doing well and will grow up really quick, already trying to get out from under the wings of their mother.
According to an update posted on the zoo website, "the chicks normally fly away from their nest about 35 to 42 days after hatching."
She said the livestream monitoring these birds has become quite popular, with some residents tuning in on a daily basis.
Marvin is not sure yet whether this project will be renewed next year, but they do know that it's received great feedback and doesn't seem to be disturbing the birds in any way.
"I would say the camera will stay up there, and I think it's providing the inspiration that we're looking for," she said.
