Up to 80% of them do not survive their fledging year. If they make it that far, they can live to 20 or older, but between 12-15 years is about normal. I can't remember where I read this, but some research has shown that a male retains control of a nesting territory, on average, about 5 years, and a female, about 8.
The new female, whom we have dubbed Niecey, is our former female, Mom's, niece. Niecey hatched in 2009 on the PA/NJ Turnpike bridge over the Delaware River. Niecey's father and our "Mom" both hatched from the same parents on the Girard Point Bridge - Mom in 1998 and her brother in 2003. So Niecey is the same age as New Girl was.
Thanks. Since she was lost right before fledging, I had to channel my energy into ledge life instead of grief, so I sort of compartmentalized both aspects. The chicks' fledged over Memorial Day weekend. The new mate showed up during fledging and the partner bond has been growing slowly since then. She has been giving the kids some trouble since she took possession of the ledge, but she doesn't realize that they are part of Lil Dad at this point - she sees them as competition. So far, I have been able to keep them emotionally separate, but I think I am basically just stuck in the first D phase of DABDA. Once things stabilize at the ledge, maybe I will make more progress on the rest of the process.
I'm glad we humans have antibiotics so we are spared these kinds of illness/deaths. I hope that you come to enjoy Lil Dad's new partner as much as you enjoyed New Girl.
I am glad too. I am sure that I will come to love Niecey just as much as I loved New Girl, so long as she is a good mate and parent and defends the ledge as valiantly as New Girl did. She is very beautiful and absolutely HUGE. She has a strong connection to our ledge - her father and our former female, Mom, were siblings, hence the name we have given her. So she is family, and I am looking forward to the next chapter on the ledge. I have been in touch with the woman who watches over Niecey's bridge and she is very happy to learn the whereabouts of one of her fledges.,And the PGC officer who banded her sent me a photo from her banding day.
Comments 9
Is the new mate a young one too?
Reply
The new female, whom we have dubbed Niecey, is our former female, Mom's, niece. Niecey hatched in 2009 on the PA/NJ Turnpike bridge over the Delaware River. Niecey's father and our "Mom" both hatched from the same parents on the Girard Point Bridge - Mom in 1998 and her brother in 2003. So Niecey is the same age as New Girl was.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment