Do you ever wonder why a bird chooses to nest where it does? What is so appealing about the decorative reindeer which sits on my front porch that a pair of robins decided that the perfect nesting place was right between it's ears? (see photograph 1.)

Basically the birds are looking for a place that provides shelter and has ample food nearby. The characteristics of the nest help define a suitable location to place it in. The robin's nest is made of grasses with a cup of mud and lined with fine grass. It feeds on earthworms, insects & fruit - all of which can be found in my yard. The eave of the house provides shelter from the rain. Kind of a nice place.

It's the same with the peregrines. They prefer a ledge on a cliff (or pseudo-cliff to those urban birds) with lots of birds for prey around. Just keep in mind - food & shelter. The peregrine chicks may not choose where they're born but they have the same needs - food & shelter.

Why the long story about something so obvious? I thought about it today when I checked the webcam and saw an empty box. I knew the eyasses were too young to have left on their own power - so where did they go? The only place out of sight is the side of the box that the web camera is on but over to the right - just out of view.

Now the problem is how to confirm that without disturbing the box. Well, the chicks have shelter but they still need the food - right? So I spent the day watching the webcam (which I know many of you have been doing the same), and sure enough, the female came in with some food (see photograph 2.) She immediately hopped down, walked right up to the corner to the right of the camera and began feeding her chicks.

So don't worry, the chicks are fine. By the way - I know some of you have noticed that contrary to what I said in the last dispatch, there are actually 4 chicks at Waukegan - not 3. You're right - there are 4.

In case you were wondering if we have any chicks at the other sites - we have 4 at Wacker, 3 at Pilsen (see photograph 3), 3 or 4 at Uptown, and as of last Friday Broadway has started hatching.