Upper Ledge Milestone

As Karen said last week, plumage is changing quickly!  Here are a couple of photos of the chicks as they begin their 5th week.  Notice the brown juvenile feathers coming in and the flight (wing) feathers in the photo of the stretch:

Another milestone was reached today when the first of the chicks made it to the upper ledge:

When the chicks get to the upper ledge it can make many viewers nervous...however, while "accidental ledge departures" can happen (due to wind, lack/loss of balance, etc.) at least in Columbus at this nest site it has never happened that a chick went off the ledge before being fully feathered and capable of flight.  Peregrines have been nesting on cliffs for eons and with or without cameras, the chicks all spend time exploring all parts of their nest ledge, whether it be on a rock face in the wilderness or a city skyscraper.  For them it is just a normal day in the life of a peregrine.