Goshawk Nests in Riga 2025

[Polly]

Pērle does what she can to protect her chicks.
12:35


14:28


15:45

[Polly]

15:58 H44 brings food, and Pērle welcomes his presence.
She practically runs out of the nest.


The chicks, in contrast to her and H44, look wonderfully dry.


H44 doesn't stay. He also leaves the nest.

[Polly]

15:59 Pērle returns via the side branch.
It's not easy, but eventually, every space and space below her fills with jostling dwarves. They skillfully exploit every gap.

[Polly]

The chicks are getting impatient. Perhaps they're hungry, and certainly they're also eager to move.
But even after many hours, they still have to endure.

19:47

[Polly]

19:54 Pērle stands up, and the bundles of joy bubble out from beneath her.


She pulls the food that H44 brought and feeds her chicks.
A rather short but lively and effective feeding.


Pērle leaves the nest but returns quickly.

[Polly]

Pērle covers her chicks, and she begins to shiver.
The body tries to generate heat through muscle contractions.






Unfortunately, the weather forecast for the next day isn't any better.
Over a longer period of time, it could become critical for the chicks. They should be able endure well for two days. Then things will improve.

[Polly]

Pērle & H44 are great partners and parents.

[shuck]

Hello Polly,

What is the source of all the local industrial sounds near the Riga nest.

Cheers, Steve

[Polly]

Hello Steve!
At the beginning of the broadcast last season, there were a lot of noises that suggested construction work. Heavy construction work. So I thought this nest was close to the nest of H44 & H21. The construction of a new industrial building was announced there (which is why the stream was stopped). It was basically just confirmation, because we could already hear that massive construction work was underway. So the background noises from both nests were very similar last year.

I now know that the nests are 4-5 km apart.

I don't know what sometimes happens here. It's a hospital site. But there could be modernizations there too. Extensions to the building or improvements to a green area, etc.

Cleaning machines also seem to be driving through. Or there's construction going on nearby. Apartments, a supermarket...
Yes, sometimes it's really loud.

Interestingly, the pair isn't too bothered by it. Only sudden bangs, bangs, or clangs make them flinch and become briefly very alert.
They're more likely to react to nearby human voices. Specifically, children (in anger or sadness) and uneven tones. . They detect abd feel an uneasy mood.
These are things I notice but no longer document. It's very subjective, and it would also be too much of a stretch.

I've become so accustomed to the trains that I hardly hear them anymore. That just occurred to me.

Best regards, Polly

[Polly]

May 16th

05:17 - 28 Dry flight for Pērle.

The female returns with empty claws. She loosens the nest floor, and her chicks are already wrestling for the best standing positions under mom.




No feeding yet

[Polly]

Just like for the Goshawk couple Mona & Miks in Zemgale, the rain in Riga doesn't take long to arrive.

10:18

[Polly]

Pērle tries to keep the chicks together, but the little darlings are a bit uncooperative.
They jostle and are restless. Covering four fidgety chicks of this size is a real challenge.
11:42






Pērle hardly has a dry feather left.

[Polly]

12:42 H44 brings food.
Pērle immediately gets up from the chicks, and the little ones are quickly out of the starting blocks.


They are already actively tugging at the food.

Pērle feeds them for a long time and thoroughly.

[Polly]

The remaining food stays in the nest, and Pērle tries to gather her chicks back together.

It's a difficult balancing act.

[Polly]

Persevere
15:05




15:14

[Polly]

16:56 Pērle leaves the nest and returns with food.


It's a lively feeding session with tug-of-war and paddle-pushing...

[Polly]

At first, it looks as if Pērle wants to carry the rest of the food out of the nest. She seems indecisive.
Pērle carries it to the other side of the nest and flies away.
17:12




Back again, she quickly covers the bundles of joy.
17:18

[Polly]

17:28 H44
He walks along the edge of the nest to the food, pulls it toward him, and stands on it.




Pērle gets up from the chicks, not seeming impressed.

H44 lets go of the food and leaves the nest. Did he want to encourage his female to feed her or check the food supply?
Pērle returns to the chicks and covers them again.

[Polly]

Pērle cleans the nest bowl. One or two dwarves prefer to watch Pērle's activities from the stands.

[Polly]

19:34 Pērle finishes her work and starts feeding.