Hi!
Today morning we* went to check status of Shaheen Falcon nest at a
communication tower at Alibag.
While two chicks were practicing strengthening wing exercise. One of the
parent was busy dissecting an Blue Rock Pigeon with feather of Blue Rock
pigeon flying all around.
Within minutes breakfast was ready for chicks.
This was fed to chicks by one of the parent. Half eaten bird was left to
chicks to eat, but instead, chicks insisted mother to feed then by poking
her. Mother also gave in finishing feeding them. Legs with claws were eaten
by mother.
One of the adult bird went for hunting & returned with a Pied Crested
Cuckoo.
This Cuckoo was also dissected thoroughly but this was never fed to chicks,
probably this being father bird, did not cared for family :>) eat it all
alone.
This was our first sighting of Pied crested cuckoo of this season,
unfortunately it became meal for Shaheen .
The Shaheen chicks will fly anytime now.
Dr. Vaibhav Deshmukh.
* Pravin Kawale, myself & Shriniwas


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]