Goshawk Nest in Zemgalē 2025

[Polly]

10:57 - 11:05 Mona leaves the nest.


The siblings are anchored, so to speak, by their little beaks. I have the impression that one of them is the boss. The older one, or the female one... the other one tries to hold on. Even if it falls to the ground.




Mona returns, and the nightmare is over.

[Polly]

12:23 Mona leaves the nest.

'25 The female can be seen calling as she flies by.
'26, '27 Rustling wings very close to/directly at the nest.

Intruder or parents?
It's Mona. Unmistakable by her call.

'28 She jumps into the nest with food.


Her little darlings are pecking again. Even when she starts feeding them, it doesn't stop.


But then the smaller one paddles past... yes, that's how it goes.

[Polly]

May 17th

During feeding, as I wrote this morning, there were various sounds from the young chicks.

At least visually, I was able to provide some clarity.
The chick brushes its little paddle over the egg. The stain remains.
So it's not a hole. It's a branch.


For now.

[Polly]

13:47 Mona pulls out the food carcass and begins feeding.




What happened to the egg?
It looks dirty and old. Brittle, spoiled.
Completely different from what it was a few hours ago.
Maybe the light is making it appear different. ?

[Polly]

14:01 Mona carries the rest of the food out of the nest.


Returns two minutes later.


And what happened to the chick? It looks beaten up.

[Polly]

14:40 - 42 Mona calls with her familiar begging cries


Except for her cries, everything remains quiet.

[Polly]

*click click
Mona stands up







When a female goshawk takes flight, your breath catches. They are simply lithe, beautiful forces of nature.

[Polly]

She doesn't leave the nest.



She returns to the nest bowl. And Mona first rolls the egg beneath her, only then gathers the bundles of joy beneath her.

[Polly]

Mona leaves the nest briefly and returns with bark.

[Polly]

19:54 And once again Mona flies out to get a pine branch.

[Polly]

20:01 Miks calls, and Mona rushes out of the nest, euphoric.


She returns with food and begins feeding her chicks.


A clear view of the egg.


Well, it would hatch by now, four days apart. Actually, I think it's unlikely.
I'm absolutely not qualified to judge, but I think one of the chicks didn't make it.
The shell doesn't look vital. Something didn't go well, unfortunately. I'm afraid.
I'd be happy if I'm wrong.

[Polly]

The chick on the right is pushing the egg with its buttocks. This gives us another different view.


Mona still treats the egg well.

[Polly]

20:58Mona leaves the nest.
As if the egg didn't look damaged enough already, the female accidentally steps on it again.




Mona returns with a pine branch.


Unfortunately, I won't be able to document it tomorrow (I'll write about Riga's nest tomorrow). It's our child's birthday, and I'm actually getting up right away to get everything ready. I'll be watching on the side.

I wish everyone a nice Sunday!

Greetings to Spain!

[Polly]

May 18th


I'm going crazy!
Little #3 has hatched!


Welcome, you strong little fighter!


07:22 Mona stands up and a broken eggshell becomes visible. And then the little miracle... still wet. It can't have hatched long ago.

[Polly]

8:40 Feeding
The youngest chick isn't present yet, but it's standing well, holding its little bouncy head, and is now dry.






♡



The weather is going to be tough for Mona again today. Lots and lots of rain... and not really warm (8 - 12°C ).

[Emi7]

Hello, Polly and all.

The chick was born early this morning. Congratulations.
We had almost given up hope
We were shocked by the delay, but calculating it has not been far from what is usual. They have regulated until the 2nd egg and if since then it has incubated "strong", the distance with the second one would be similar to the difference in the laying (about three days). Not everything is written and they are there to make amends to us. In 2022 in Rapla something similar happened. The beneficiary was the second chick and we can see again that having three eggs is not the same as having four.


Greetings

[Polly]

Emiliano, thank you!

On the day of his hatching, this little miracle realized that he was the dwarf among the dwarfs.
There were two feedings, and both weren't very productive for him.

13:35 - 53
He was very unfortunate, sitting behind his siblings, and Mona was feeding from a greater distance again. No problem for the older ones, but the little one had no chance. His beak couldn't reach the food, and Mona didn't distribute it precisely. She was holding it out, offering it.

Even when she moved her position closer to the chicks, he couldn't. Their beaks touched once, but nothing came through.

Conclusion: 2 knockouts (unintentional by the siblings) and no food.

[Polly]

19:25 - 38
The next experience for the little latecomer.







No bites for the little one, but he kicks along bravely and happily.