Courtship is Under Way
Only a day after returning to Rochester, Kaver and Mariah are already exhibiting the behaviors of a courting couple. As we put the final touches on the Rochester Falconcam website in anticipation of this year’s launch, our cameras caught our favorite falcons in a typical bowing pose that is part of the Peregrine’s courtship ritual. If we could hear inside the nest box, the falcons would be ee-chupping at each other as they bowed back and forth.
Here’s a picture that illustrates another courtship behavior. Kaver has just caught some prey, and you can see that he has presented it to Mariah. This gift of food demonstrates his ability as a provider for his family. Those of you who can get downtown are likely to see the two of them flying together, with Kaver performing aerial manuevers to show off his flying prowess. Taken together these activities are meant to display his fitness as a mate for Mariah. For these two who are entering their seventh year together, the courtship activity also reinforces their pair bond after months of separation.
We here at the Rochester Falconcam are sure that all our dedicated local watchers will be on the lookout for mating behavior, which should begin pretty soon. In the meantime if you want to learn more about Peregrine courtship, check out this post from last year.
-Jess
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Not only is he presenting food as a demonstration of his ability to provide for his family, but she is getting ready to “bulk up” to support a healthy pregnancy, and any help she get in the food procurement department is probably much appreciated!
March 4th, 2008 at 6:38 AM
“Only a day after returning to Rochester, Kaver and Mariah are already exhibiting the behaviors of a courting couple.”
Well, of course, that is what he came back to Rochester for 🙂 I am eager to see the cameras rolling and a healthy brood of …4 ?
March 4th, 2008 at 5:12 PM
Superb….I am waiting for Spring and this is a sure sign. Welcome home Kaver and Mariah. 🙂
March 5th, 2008 at 3:19 AM
Well …THEY’RE BACKKKKK..I am so glad and it is so great to know they find each other year after year…now thats true LOVE. Looking forward to the opening of the main camera so we can see the progress. Thank you.
March 5th, 2008 at 7:16 AM
Woo hoo! Came in to work this morning, snowy, rainy mess that it is out there, to the unmistakable cries of our falcons and immediately warmed up!!
March 5th, 2008 at 7:46 AM
I have observed a peregrine falcon in my yard twice within the past couple of weeks. How do I determine if it is one of the offspring or one of the parents.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:59 AM
@Celeste– All of the falcons hatched at the Rochester nest site have ID bands on each leg. If you can view a leg band it can be used to determine the identity of the bird. Both Mariah and Kaver are unbanded.
However, you’re probably not seeing a Peregrine. It’s likely you’re seeing a Coopers or Sharp-shinned hawk. Both are frequent back yard visitors. Check out the last few paragraphs of this post from last year for more details.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Welcome back All! Thanks so much to everyone for all of these wonderful updates. I was so happy to see Rhea Mae in Toronto. She looks beautiful.
Ahhhh, Spring!
March 7th, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Oh hurrah! Thank you for the updates. I can’t wait to watch the cam.
March 8th, 2008 at 7:59 AM
there such a cute couple
March 8th, 2008 at 10:38 AM
It is always a pleasure to see the Falconcam back in operation. The Falcons are our link to our hometown and we look forward to watching them from Greenville, SC. Our thanks to the many devoted volunteers for this sight and their informative commentaries. It’s wonderful to have someone explain what is happening on a regular basis.
March 8th, 2008 at 6:48 PM
I’m so happy the cams are back online. We in the Netherlands are looking forward to another great season with the Rochesters.
I have already included the 2006 Season in my Peregrine Falcon website as an example of the day to day development of the little eyases.
http://Falcoperegrinus.nl
It’s so amazing that one of them, Rhea Mae is now the Queen of the Sheraton. And how beautiful she became. There is something special about the Rochesters. I simply love them! Thank you for making all this possible.
March 8th, 2008 at 10:05 PM
YEAH…let the season begin. Thank you to all who make this happen.
March 9th, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Nice to see the cams working so well today, the 9th. Thanks guys and gals. Once again we will enjoy watching “your” birds from ND.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Thanks Jess for letting us know the Falcon Cam is back on I’m looking forward to another year of watching the falcons. So neat to see icicles hanging from the nest box. There are no icicles here in Florida. Thanks again. Linda from Lakeland, FL.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:57 PM
Yeah, I was thrilled to see them back and the courtship has once again begun! Thanks to all of you for your hard work last year and for starting this year off with some great pictures.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:10 PM
I am SSSOOOOO EXCITED !! SPRING is surely just around the corner !! Welcome Back Mariah and Kaver !! Thanks to ALLof you that make this possible !!!
March 10th, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Hi!
Falconer U.S.A. 1950 to 2008 A.D.
I Really enjoy beauty, don’t you?
March 10th, 2008 at 11:53 PM
What a thrill to see Mariah and Kaver back. Can’t wait to experience it all this spring/summer!! Thanks for all you do!
We were wondering where do they go in the winter? I tried but couldn’t find the history of the migration. Thanks.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:16 PM
A St Patrick’s Week “Hello” to everyone in my home town. Delighted to see the falcons are back for another season. I will be back home during May, so would love to find the time to head down for a real visit… good as the “virtual” ones are!!
March 11th, 2008 at 3:36 PM
@Debbie H- Mariah usually stays in town throughout the winter. Kaver takes off, but where he goes is anyone’s guess. Since he’s not banded there isn’t any good way to track his movements. He seems always to reappear at about the same time each year– a remarkable feat for these remarkable birds.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:27 PM
oh my! the territorial fight story was heart-rending! great it is to know that there are enough peregrine falcons now repopulating the area that there even can BE territory fights, but still…the thought of anyone disturbing Mariah and Kaver gets MY tail feathers in a flurry!!! i hope to be coming down to keep an eye out soon with my binoculars…..just to be there. thank you so much to all for your reporting…..now back to the multi-view for THIS falcon watcher!!!
March 27th, 2008 at 3:35 AM
Looking at camera 2, is that the lst egg?