First Egg of 2011!
The peregrine falcons in Richmond have laid their first egg of 2011!
Although the morning glare made it hard to tell exactly when the egg was laid, shortly after 9:30am an egg could clearly be seen at the rim of the scrape (shallow depression in the gravel of the nestbox). The male moved in and gently rolled the egg safely into the scrape.
Peregrine falcons typically lay 4 eggs at a time. Eggs are laid about 24-48 hours apart, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on this nest over the coming days. Viewers may notice that this first egg is often left uncovered. This is normal and is no cause for concern. Full-time incubation doesn’t typically start until the second to last egg is laid. This helps ensure that eggs hatch closely together, reducing any competitive disadvantage the youngest chick might have.