Fledge watch 8-11-12
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
When I arrived downtown at 6:20am Dan was on the Broad St. Bridge(BSB) and Orion was on the base of Mercury.
10 minutes later LarryO joined us as Dan spotted Beauty on the jail tower.
Another 10 minutes passed when Beauty flew right over us enroute to Xerox where she landed on the southwest corner after riding the therms for a bit. Interestingly enough our little singer Orion didn’t sing one note as she flew by. Soon he would take wing flying almost the same route to the east side and landing on Bausch&Lomb on one of the southwest corners near where Archer spent his last days in the territory.
A few minutes later Beauty flew off Xerox into a stoop over the river near the Court St. bridge where we lost sight of her near Cornhill. Then Orion flew over to Xerox soaring above it just like mom had been doing earlier and landed on the same corner briefly. Then he did some more big boy flying before departing the area flying west and out of view.
Larry and Dan left so I went over to check the Frontier Communications Tower(FCT) because that’s the direction Orion flew. Nobody over there so I started back to the Times Square area when I ran into Nelson-a guy Donna and I be-friended last week who was just amazed at how dedicated we are to the falcons. He said he had been looking for us the last couple days and I told him Donna had to go back to New Jersey and I had been by City Hall lately. As we were standing at the corner of Main and State streets I could see Beauty up on the ledge above the nest box. Dana was by He’s chinese joint where I joined her to continue my fledge watch. She informed me that Orion was on the ledge behind and above the nest box. While we were sitting there a yellow jacket(bee) went up my shorts and stung me on the top of my right thigh. Sheesh good thing I’m not allergic!
Orion flew over to the southeast ledge where he fledged to and then up to the southeast wing before taking off for the FCT. CarolP joined us around this time. I walked over to City Hall to check leaving Dana and Carol. There was a Carribean Parade going down Main St. at the time. Orion was on FCT where he stayed a little while with me.
After he departed I made my way back to the hole to rejoin Dana and Carol. As we stood below the Thomson Reuters building 2 falcons came screaming in from behind us over our heads going toward the Times Square building where Beauty joined them. I had packed up and was ready to go catch a bus home when this happened so with my camera in my bag I just stood back and watched the show. The 3 of them circled Times Square a few times chasing each other and mini stooping. It was a wonderful way to end my watch and sent me home with a big ole smile on my face! 🙂
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August 11th, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Lucky you to see all three in a training session. When do you guys change these reports over to Juvie Watch. Seems like Orion is a full fledged juvenile now.
August 11th, 2012 at 8:28 PM
I am so loving your reports and pics and videos MAK!
It is like being there with you instead of where I am stuck in my office doing audits LOL 🙂
August 12th, 2012 at 9:52 AM
Thank you for all your repoerts and photos if it not for all of you we would not see what “The Family is up to” thank you so much for your time it is so worth it.
August 12th, 2012 at 6:01 PM
Yes Bonnie I am extremely lucky every time I lay eyes on one of our falcons much less all three! As always Ginny I’m more than happy to bring you and everyone along with me through my reports. And Cheryl you’re so very welcome! 🙂