Every night, Clara is perched on the high ledge by the nest box, keeping watch over her offspring so they don’t spring off.
Last week, the little ones would be mostly settled down for the evening even before it was all the way dark, barring their tails getting bounced on. (Veer!)
Today, the two remaining females spent a lot of time side-by-side, first on the lower ledge, and then finally, the last one, with her head bobbing upwards and back down to her feet again and again trying to judge the distance, okay, here goes nothing under me!, joined her sister for the first time on the upper.
Preening with a careful set of talons gripping the edge. Looking out over San Jose. Skittering backwards during wing-flap practicing, as the earlier two had done. Finally, it was enough for awhile, and one hopped back down to the runway. When food arrived to the ledge shortly thereafter via Mom , the other tried to eat it without the movements and the height getting to her, but finally gave it up and flew down with the prey to where it was a little safer. Where the two could share.
But soon they were both back up high on the upper ledge or on the top of the box rather than inside it. They could now, so they did.
I looked at the cam tonight. It was late. A parent peregrine was standing guard, as always.
And one of those eyasses was, instead of snoozing away in the box, standing on the far side of it from Mom on the lower ledge, looking out. Probably reading some chick lit under the covers with the city lights as a flashlight.