It's that time of the year when parents are taking care of their new-born. I took this photo at the San Antonio Park Preserve as I was looking for red tail hawks. Newly hatched peregrine falcons, weighing at 1.5 ounces, double their weight in just six days and increase tenfold by three weeks. Hatchlings are covered with a fluffy down, replaced by feathers in 21 to 35 days. Peregrines first fly 35 to 45 days after hatching, when they have reached their adult size. The eyasses, as baby falcons are called will be referred to as fledglings and are still dependent on their parents until they can hunt for themselves. Peregrines reach sexual maturity at age 3 and they may reach 17 to 20 years of age. Peregrines, generally return to the same nesting territory annually and mate for life.
