Baby on a Ledge

   On Sunday, at the age of 35 days, the elder of the two Peregrine chicks (we'll call Booger Jr.) left the safety of the nest to look out on the world from 100 feet above the ground.

At this age a young male will start to exercise its wings, which can lead to a gust of wind carrying the rookie flier tumbling to the ground.  

  On Monday morning I searched the ledges and ground below but was unable to locate the bird.  That evening I received a call from one of my work buddies (we'll call Booger Sr.), who told me he found it alive in a dumpster.   I called the Southeast Michigan Peregrine coordinator, Chris Becher, who dispatched Raptor Rehabilitator Dave Hogan to pick up the bird.  Dave told Booger Sr. that the chick looked fine and he would return it to the nest area in a few days when it would be strong enough not to repeat the mishap. 

  

    Here is the flight path the newbie took to the dumpster.  Note that he missed landing in the water by only a couple of  feet.

Mom watching over Baby on the Ledge

ID tag always on display

Close-up

Blood on her bill

  With chick #1 out of harm's way, this morning I found its sibling, now 35 days old, had stepped out of the on-deck circle and into the batter's box.  Uh-oh

To be continued......