By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Wow!  What a Fledge Watch this has been so far.  All 4 juvies (yes, juvies) have successfully fledged.  The Rochester Falcon Watchers have been very busy, covering from sun up to sun down, in all kinds of weather.  I am so proud of this bunch of very passionate folks that love the falcons and want to be there in case they get into trouble.  Thanks to all of you!

I finally had a chance to go through my 1,400 pictures taken over the past few days, and I’ve chosen a few to share.  Enjoy!

June 19, 2019

<— Donna and Phoenix on the front of the TSB after they fledged.

June 21, 2019

<— Jupiter on Wilder Bldg ladder.

<— Lakota on top of the Times Square Bldg after his Fledge Flight.

<— Donna and Jupiter on the Corner of the Wilder Bldg.

<— Phoenix on the Powers Bldg.

June 22, 2019

<— Phoenix on the Telesca Bldg.

<— Jupiter on WW.

<— Love the flag pics! This year it’s Phoenix’s turn. 

June 23, 2019

<— Dot.ca on Cam 1 aka Pan Cam.

<— Beauty Feeding Lakota on TSB Well Wall.

<— Phoenix on the Parapet Ledge, just above the nest box.

<— Phoenix is the first juvie to make it to the top of Cam 1 this year!

<— This is my favorite pic so far.  Beauty landed with food and Donna chased her, while Phoenix watched from above. 

<— Donna on Wilder looking for a shady spot.

<— Beauty loves to spread her wings on the Wilder green stripe. A well deserved rest!

<— Time to get back to work!  Beauty takes off from the Wilder Bldg.

<— Beauty and Dot.ca meet for a short ee-chup session on the OCSR.

<— Phoenix and Lakota spent a lot of the day on the TSB well wall, near the nest box.  They practiced flapping their wings and strengthening their muscles.  They were the last two to fledge and I was happy to see them do this.

<— Jupiter, Donna and Beauty on WW.  We saw a lot of Jupiter today, but it was mostly flying high and fast with Beauty and Dot.ca.  He also loves to chase his sister Donna.  When he was tired, he spent time napping on the ledge above the nest box in the shade.

We’ve also noticed that when Beauty and Dot.ca alarm kak when a TV or other intruder flies too close to the Times Square Bldg, both Donna and Jupiter both join their parents by alarm kaking loudly and looking up.  Just one part of their training which they’ll go through over the next couple months.

So sorry I haven’t had a lot of time to leave more detailed reports this year.  I’ll add more pictures over the next few days.  The fledge watch continues for the next week or so.  Watching these four young eyases, fledge and become juvies has been so much fun this year!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

A heatwave has started in Rochester, NY and I wanted to go out for early morning watches Saturday & Sunday.  Today is going to go up to 98 degrees with a heat index of 105!

Both mornings, I met Dan on the Court St Bridge around 6:30 am.  Larry O joined us Saturday morning.

Saturday, June 30, 2018

There wasn’t much to see Saturday morning for the first part of my watch.  After Dan left, Larry O and I decided to check the High Falls Gorge.  The only raptors we saw were three Red-tailed Hawks, an adult and two juvies.  Other than that, it was very quiet.  Larry and I said our goodbyes and I headed downtown for another look.  I wasn’t disappointed.  I soon heard that wonderful sound that juvie Peregrine Falcons make when they’re flying with each other and talon tagging.  I could see three at a time flying high above Xerox and B&L.  Yes, I know these buildings have new names, but I’ll continue to call them by the names I remember.  lol

During my Saturday morning watch, I saw all five downtown Rochester Falcons.  Here are some pictures that I took during this watch.

*Be sure to click on all the pictures to see the full image.*

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Sunday Morning Watch started with an outstanding stoop by Beauty!  When I arrived on the Court St. Bridge Dan pointed out that Beauty was soaring high above the Xerox Tower.  As we watched, Beauty started her stoop.  Her wings folded back and swoosh!  At what seemed supersonic speeds, Beauty fell from the sky, hurtling towards the river on the south side of the bridge.  We lost sight of her as the pigeons took panicked flight in all different directions.  When I next saw her, she was carrying a pigeon back towards the Times Square Bldg.  I moved back to get a better look and saw that she brought it to the Widows Walk and she was surrounded by at least two juvies.

Dan had to leave, so I headed over to the Widows Walk.  I spent an hour with Letchworth, Sundara, Mike and Beauty before it got too warm and they were hunkered down in the shade after all getting a share of the meal this morning.

All three juvies are flying high and doing great!  Enjoy this 4th of July week and keep cool!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Morning Afternoon Watchers: Kathy O, Dana, Ron and Carol P.

Weather: For the first day of Summer, it was a chilly day!  Brrrr!

Early this morning, I found newly fledged Sundara on the Powers Bldg.  The same building she had fledged to yesterday.  She looked bright eyed and ready to join her siblings.  She was doing a lot of wing stretches and flapping strongly.

<— The Powers Bldg.

I found Letchworth on the SW corner of the lower roof on the Cross Rds Bldg.

Beauty came in with food and brought it to the north end of the Cross Rds Bldg to prep it.  When she flew in, Dot.ca followed, along with Mike.  Sundara took off and landed next to her sister Letchworth on the Cross Rds Bldg.  Mike ended up on the top IBeam of OCSR.  He made an awesome landing there!  Dot.ca flew over to the Powers Bldg.

<— Dot.ca on Powers Bldg.

<— Mike on OCSR Top Ibeam.

After prepping the food, Beauty brought it to Mike on OCSR and beak fed him.

<— Beauty feeding Mike.

After feeding Mike, she took the prey over to Letchworth and Sundara on Cross Rds.  They were very aggressive, and she ended up leaving it on the ledge for them to feed themselves.

<— Beauty brings food to Letchworth and Sundara.

Beauty flew back over to OCSR.

<— Beauty to OCSR.

After the girls finished their meal, Beauty returned to the corner of Cross Rds, where she was joined by Mike.  He wanted just a bit more.  He is very good at following the food.  lol

<— Beauty and Mike on Cross Rds Bldg.

A little later on, we witnessed Beauty successfully hunt a pigeon over Main St.  She flew over us with her catch, heading south.  She landed on a couple different buildings with it before heading over the river to the library, where I believe she cached it.

<— Beauty with prey.

My watch ended at just before 3:00 pm.  After being there for 8 hours, it was time to head home.  All was quiet.

Before heading home, I stopped on the Andrew St. Bridge, where I found all three juvies on the NW corner of the Cross Rds Bldg.  They were all huddled together under the watchful eye of Beauty, who was on the Powers Bldg.

<— Mike, Letchworth and Sundara on Cross Rds Bldg.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Success!!!  As of late this afternoon, all three eyases have fledged from the Times Square Bldg.  Mike, Letchworth and Sundara have graduated from eyases to juvies (or fledglings).  Sundara was the last to fledge this afternoon.  She took her first flight to the Powers Bldg, landing on the top ledge.  The fledge watchers will continue to keep a close eye on them while they hone their flying skills.  Beauty and Dot.ca will continue to feed them and teach them how to be Peregrine Falcons.

We also have received information that Billie and Seth have been seen flying with three young ones near Seneca Towers.  This is wonderful news!

Here are a few pictures from today.  Enjoy!

*Be sure to click on each picture to see the full image.*

<— Sundara spreads her wings under the watchful eye of Beauty.  This is before she fledged.

<— Mike taking off from the Times Square Bldg Wall after visiting with Sundara.

<— Sundara and Mike at the nest box.

<— Letchworth on Times Square Bldg, on the ledge above the nest box.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Today’s Fledge Watchers:

Morning/Afternoon - Larry, Kathy O, June and Carol P. (6:00 am - 4:00 pm)

Evening - Pat, Brian, Carrie, Lisa, Ryan and Larry O. (5:30 - 8:30 pm)

Weather:  Very warm, with temps in the mid 80’s, not much wind and lots and lots of sun.

Third day of fledge watch, and no fledges yet.  Although Mike is getting closer.  He’s been running and flapping on the wall like a champ, jumping up onto the top of the nest box and finally making it to the top of camera 4.  All steps toward his first flight.

Kathy O and I covered the fledge watch from 8 am to 4 pm.  Most of the time it was very quiet, but there were times when the eyases and adults were very active.  Beauty and Dot.ca are flying high above and around the Times Square Bldg. giving their young ones flying lessons.  They seem to be getting less food at this time.  This is normal.  They need to slim down a bit before they fly.

The evening watchers reported continued activity by the falcon family.  They ended their evening watch at 8:30 pm.

Here are some pictures from my morning/afternoon fledge watch.

*Be sure to click on the pictures to see the full image.*

In case you’ve ever wondered, here is our view from Aqueduct St, aka “the hole”.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

6/10 Fledge Watchers: Kathy O, Linda and Carol P. (9 am - 4 pm); Carrie (evening)

6/11 Fledge Watchers: Kathy O, Dana and Carol P. (8 am - 4 pm); Pat, Carrie, Herbie and Joyce (evening)

We’ll be very busy with the Fledge Watch over the next week or so.  Mike is very close to taking his first flight.  Letchworth and Sundara will take a little longer.  Both Beauty and Dot.ca are very busy watching over their young, and keeping the airspace above and around the Times Square Bldg clear of everything.  We’ve seen them chase off gulls, hawks and turkey vultures.  Anything that gets too close.

I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from the first two days of our fledge watch.  So you can see what we do from the ground.  Enjoy!

*Be sure to click on the pictures to see the full image!*

June 10, 2018

June 11, 2018