By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Due to the high temps, I again started my Watch a little later than normal.  I arrived downtown after 6:00 pm.  As I was leaving Rte 490 on the west side of the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT), I could see one falcon on the west side on the platform railing.  I circled the tower and found two more falcons, one on the “box” on the SE side (below the platform) and one on the east side platform railing.  At first I thought it was two juvies and an adult, but it turned out to be both Beauty and Dot.ca and one juvie.  I parked in the City Hall parking lot and settled in for my Watch.  Soon fellow Falcon Watcher Kathy O joined me.  Kathy spotted a 2nd juvie on the lower communication, next to the FCT.  Now we had 4 of the 5.  Could #5 be up there too?  All was quiet.

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Yep, we were right.  A third juvie popped up with the one that had been on the west side platform railing, but now Dot.ca was gone.

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We were pretty sure the whole family was up there and just as Dana and Lou joined us we got the proof that all five were indeed on the FCT!  The juvies started to stretch and spread their wings.  Baron jumped on to the large drum on the north side of the FCT.  We watched him spread his wings and hop around.  Rosetta took off and attempted to knock Baron off.  She landed next to him for a moment and then she was off and so was Baron!  The chase was on!

It wasn’t long before Voyager launched herself off the tower and joined in the chase.  Dot.ca flew in and remained high above his young ones.  Beauty stayed where she was on the SE side of FCT below the platform.  The four of us watching the young falcons tearing up the sky above us.  It was usually two that would come together, but every now and then there would be three.  We watched them and tried to snap some pictures while they were above us.  Too soon, they tired in the early evening heat and they all settled back on the FCT with their parents.  Here are some pics I took while they were flying above us.

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Larry O joined us as the juvies settled down on different parts of the FCT with Beauty and Dot.ca watching over them.  As I was heading home at about 8:15 pm, two juvies flew a little bit and then settled back down.  I was very happy to end my Watch with a sighting of the whole family, Beauty, Dot.ca, Baron, Rosetta and Voyager.  Remember to click on any pictures you would like to see larger.  Goodnight everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

The fledge watch continues as three young falcons spread their wings and command the sky above Rochester, NY.  It’s amazing the different spots we have seen them on since they left the nest box.  Tonight was no exception.  Let me start by saying we (Kathy O, Larry O and I) saw all three juvies during our evening watch.  It was a really hot day with temps in the 90’s (F).  The weather people kept saying it would feel like it was 100 degrees!  Rochester (NY) is in the grip of a true heatwave right now.  Looks like the temps will cool down a bit on Sunday.  So in the meantime, instead of going out on my usual afternoon watch, I’ve waited for it to cool down a bit.  When I arrived downtown it was only 90 degrees.  Hot and Humid.  lol

I arrived downtown at about 6:30 pm.  Kathy O beat me by about 1/2 hour.  She had tweeted out that there was a juvie on one of the antennas sticking out near the top of the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT).  My route into the city brings me right by the the FCT.  As I pulled off of 490, I immediately spotted something different on the FCT.  So I pulled over and parked my car and took a closer look.

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After taking a few pics, I was able to ID this falcon as Rosetta.  These juvies love to stand on small perches.

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It wasn’t long before Rosetta spread her wings and took off heading south towards the Times Square Bldg (TSB).  I followed the best I could.  When I got to the Broad St Bridge (BSB), I found a juvie on the base of the Mercury statue and Dot.ca up in the metal grid work at the top of the TSB between the SE and NE wings.  Dot.ca was keeping guard over his young.

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Kathy O joined me on the BSB and we settled in to watch the area.  Finally the juvie on the base of Mercury showed me her leg.  It was Voyager.

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While Voyager preened and stretched, she suddenly started to cry out and looked to the north.  We looked in that direction and saw Beauty flying towards us heading north to south following the river.  She circled gracefully above us heading towards the east.  Kathy noticed that there was a juvie flying way above Beauty, circling higher and higher.  We were witnessing a flight lesson.  Just beautiful.  They both flew out of sight.  While we continued to watch Voyager and Dot.ca a 2nd juvie flew in and landed on the base of Mercury next to Voyager.  It was Baron.  He searched around the base of the statue and found a scrap of leftover prey.  Voyager and Baron shared what they found.

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After they ate, first Baron and then Voyager took off and the chase was on!

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Kathy and I watched as both juvies flew above us chasing each other and talon tagging when they came together.  There was a lot of vocalization between the two young falcons, especially when they came together.  This is one of the things I truly love to watch.  You can’t help but laugh and cheer when they are up there.  It’s playfulness with a purpose.  Everything they do teaches them a skill they will need in the future to survive.

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They both flew over and around the buildings surrounding Aqueduct St (aka the Hole).  Baron zipped around them at high speed, coming out the other side so he could continue the chase.  Both of them headed northwest towards the Frontier Comm Tower.  I headed over there and found one juvie on the SE corner of the FCT platform.  Kathy O tweeted that she had one over on the TSB.

Suddenly, I heard loud cries overhead.  It was Beauty and she was being chased by one of the girls.  They both landed on the top arm of the FCT and the juvie continued to scream and droop her wings.  Classic behavior when the juvie wanted to be fed.  Beauty did not have food, so after a few moments, the juvie charged her.  Beauty stood her ground and the juvie finally gave up and flew over to join her sister on the SE corner of the platform.

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Larry O joined us near the end of our Watch in the City Hall parking lot.  Dot.ca came to the FCT and landed below the platform, below Beauty.  Larry left at about 8:30 pm and reported that he had seen a falcon fly up to the cupola on the Kodak Tower.  Before 9:00 pm, this juvie returned to the FCT.  In the fading light, we could see 3 falcons there (2 adults and 1 juvie).  There may have been more.  We wondered if this might be their nighttime roosting spot.

Kathy and I left a little after 9:00 pm.  Kathy texted me that she could see one falcon on the SW corner of the TSB.

It was time to end our evening Fledge Watch after seeing the whole family.  The sun was setting and it was time to head home.

Be sure to click on any pictures you would like to see in a larger format.  Goodnight!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

This morning I had the pleasure of fledge watching with Dan,Donna,Bonnie,Ei,Paul,Ricardo,Dana,Carol,Lisa and Joyce. The juvies were mixing it up over by the Frontier Communications Tower (FCT),City Place and Widows Walk. As is the usual pattern of Beauty, she brings her new fledglings to FCT for some lessons so I will more than likely be watching from this area of downtown for the next few weeks.

The bunch of us went up to the top floor of the Sister Cities Ramp Garage to observe our young fledglings as they put on a great show above us talon tagging and playing  like juvies do. Our out of town guests started to leave for home around 9am and as it was getting very hot out the falcons hunkered down in the shade for a long rest period.

This afternoon I checked on Pigott around 4pm just like yesterday and found her at the front edge of the cubby once again with her back to me. At first she wasn’t moving at all and I got a little nervous but she finally started to preen and I think her tail feathers are looking better-less tattered at least from a perching position. I’d like to see her in flight to check her out better.

After a quiet afternoon I ended my watch over at FCT with 2 juvies on the platform railing. I’m happy to say that all 3 fledglings are continue to improve and stick together in the air. Watchers Weekend was a blast meeting people in person whom I’ve only known by their computer names up until now. All 6 Rochester Peregrine Falcons were seen today which should make us all smile!

Click on the links below for more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqiTS

http://youtu.be/wUd4576u8OQ
http://youtu.be/82mgN9TjE50
http://youtu.be/YQn61ak8Z_w

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

What a wonderful time  we had with all our visitors today.  The falcons did not disappoint either.  Giving us some lovely overhead aerial displays and playing with each other and their parents,talon tagging and food exchanges.  They’ve discovered the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT) and Widows Walk.  Each day we’re seeing different things from them as they broaden their horizons.  Some very high flying was observed by at least one juvie with the Beautyful one.  A very nice day all around spent with many smiling faces! 🙂

Click on the links below for a photo album and videos of todays watcher weekend fledge watch

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqiS0

http://youtu.be/-J_qPkV7Wfw
http://youtu.be/I640u821gWY
http://youtu.be/O5ttfliNmCw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I arrived on my Watch at a little before 4:00 pm.  Voyager was up on the Cross Rds Bldg and Baron and Rosetta were on the OCSR.  It was nice to see all three doing well.

Watchers present during my Watch, hope I get them all:  Joyce, Susan C, Kathy O, MAK, Donna, Dan S, Jeanne, Aaron, Shaky, Carrie, Dana, Lou, Joe (aka Viper) and his family and me Carol P.

The highlights of my Watch:

Beauty came in with food and both Rosetta & Baron gave chase.  Rosetta ended up with Beauty on the 2nd IBeam down on OCSR near the elevator shaft.  Rosetta grabbed the food and mantled it from Beauty.  Baron ended up on the Wilder Bldg where he sat next to the pipe he sat next to on the day of his first flight.  He likes it there.  lol  He didn’t stay long.  Baron joined Beauty and Rosetta and he and Rosetta shared the food that Beauty brought in.

In the meantime Voyager vocalized quite loudly that she was not pleased that she was not being fed.  She did a lot of flapping and running, but did not leave the Cross Rds Bldg. It wasn’t until close to 8:00 pm that she took off from the Cross Rds Bldg, first heading SW towards the Times Square Bldg (TSB).  She attempted to land below the SW wing, but came in a touch short.  She dropped and threw out her wings and flapped, heading back towards the Cross Rds Bldg.  We really thought that she would land there, but she was gaining altitude quite nicely.  She continued on towards the OCSR where Rosetta and Beauty were located.  Higher and higher until she made a very nice landing on the top disk section of OCSR.  This used to be a revolving restaurant a long time ago.  The gathered Watchers gave out a big cheer for Voyager’s awesome flight.  I have no fear that she will soon catch up with her siblings and that three young falcons will soon own the sky above Rochester.

Here are some pictures I took during my Watch (4 to 9 pm).  Remember to click on any pics you would like to see larger and hover your cursor over them for a description of what the picture is.  Enjoy!

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By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Been a busy and long day today, so there will be no report, sorry.  But, I wanted to leave you with a few pics from my Watch today.

Please be sure to click on them for a larger format.  Hover your cursor over them to find out what the picture is of.  Enjoy!

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By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Watchers today:  Dan S, Larry O, Donna (from NJ), MAK, Eileen, Joyce, Aaron, Jeanne, Shaky, Carrie, Lynda, Tim and me, Carol P. Sorry if I forgot anyone!

Today’s all day Watch was an exciting one.  Not only one fledge, but two!  First Rosetta fledged this afternoon, then Voyager, early evening.  Rosetta took her first flight over MAK and I heading east towards Mercury.  She then U-turned back towards the Times Square Bldg, gaining altitude.  She ended up landing on the NW end of the ledge directly above the nest box, right next to Baron!  An outstanding first flight for Rosetta.

Voyager’s first flight took a different direction.  Beauty brought food in and Baron flew out to meet her.  They both ended up on the SE corner of the ledge 2 levels above the nest box.  Baron grabbed the food and immediately mantled it.  Beauty attempted to get it back, but he was having none of that. In the meantime, Rosetta was running down the ledge she was on until she reached the end.  Now she was one level below, maybe a couple feet.  She ran back and forth until finally she jumped-flew up to the ledge that contained Baron and his meal.  During all of this, Voyager was screaming and running back and forth on the nest box platform.  Then she was off!  She flew across the front of the building and landed on the ledge on the SE side of the building, same level as the nest box.  Now she was two levels below Baron, Rosetta and the food!

Meanwhile, both Rosetta and Baron were having a tug-o-war/food fight above her, and Beauty attempted multiple times to grab the food.  She finally gave up and landed on the NE short column above the nest box.  Voyager was loudly vocalizing and she ran down the ledge she was on and ended up on the NW side, 1/2 way around the building.  When she could go no further, she ran back to where she started on the SE side, no closer to the food she wanted to share with her siblings.

Again she spread her wings and ran along the ledge.  This time she took off for a 2nd time.  Voyager headed north towards where we were watching from.  She turned around just before she reached the Wilder bldg and headed back to the Times Square bldg and mom.  She spotted Beauty and that’s where she headed.  She gained a little altitude and just missed landing next to Beauty.  Voyager fell down the face of the building towards the nest box below and into the well (below the nest box).  I immediately called Shaky to let him know what happened so he could search for her in the well.  That’s when Voyager popped up onto the nest box platform.  She had climbed the ramp that our friend Tim G built for us.  A ramp that went from the floor of the well back up to the nest box platform.  Voyager made her way up the ramp quickly.  This is the first year that the young falcons used the ramp.  It worked just as we had hoped it would!

When I left around 9 pm tonight, Rosetta was on the SE corner of the ledge (two above the nest box) and Baron flew over to the NE end.  Voyager was on the left side of the nest box.   Not sure where Beauty and Dot.ca were, but I did find out from the folks on the live streaming video chat that Beauty brought food to Voyager before it got dark.

I and the other Watchers will be up early and out to Watch the three fledglings, Baron, Rosetta & Voyager tomorrow morning.

Here are a few pictures I took today.  Please click on any pics you would like to see larger.  To see a description of what the picture is of, just hover your cursor over it.  Enjoy!  Goodnight everyone!

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When Rosetta first fledged and joined Baron on the NW side, both Beauty and Dot.ca started to kak an alarm call.  They then dove over and over again on a Crow that had somehow landed on the back extension of the TSB, way too close to where Rosetta and Baron were located.  The Crow remained on the ledge and was attacked periodically throughout the day.  When I left this evening, I did not see the Crow, so hopefully it finally got out of the area.  Here are a few pics from the attack.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Another 12 Plus Hour Fledge Watch and I need to get some sleep.  🙂

My highlight of the day was seeing the interaction between Baron and Dot.ca.  DC has taken Baron under his wing, literally.  We watched with a lot of amusement as Baron physically knocked Dot.ca off the Times Square Bldg wing ledges three times!  Baron is flying incredibly well and landing well.  The only time I saw him miss a landing is when he came up a little short attempting to land on the corner of the Cross Rds Bldg.  He recovered quickly and flew back to the Times Square Bldg and landing on a ledge on the NW side.

Now we wait for Rosetta and Voyager who continue to flap their wings, strengthening them for those first flights.  I have a feeling we will have at least one fledge tomorrow.  The Watchers will be there to keep an eye on them as they join their brother Baron.

Today’s Watchers that joined me during my Watcher were: Dan S, Larry O, Donna, MAK, Lisa McK, Pat, Joyce, Shaky, Kathy O, Joe (Happy Birthday Joe’s Mom!) and Aaron.

Here are some pics from my Watch today.  If you would like to see a picture in a larger format, just click on it.  To get a description of the picture, just hover your cursor over the picture.  Enjoy!

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By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Baron took advantage of the warm, and sunny Sunday Morning.  When I arrived at around 6:30 am, he had already flown a couple times.  When I parked in the Aqueduct St parking lot, he was up on the ironwork between the NE and NW Wings on the TSB.  He then flew over to the roof on top of the OCSR where Dot.ca was just below him on the top IBeam.  Next he flew back to the TSB landing in different spots before ending up on the level directly above the nest box.  He eventually made it to the nest box to rejoin his sisters Rosetta & Voyager, who did a whole lot of wing flapping and running around.  They did not fledge today.  All three were fed by Beauty and Dot.ca.

Beauty and Dot.ca were never far away.  One or the other seemed to always be in view.

The afternoon was extremely warm and humid.  We again followed the shade the best we could.

Today’s Watchers during my watch were: Dan S, Larry O, Donna, MAK, Kathy O, Kris G, Bill, David, Linda (Braveheart), Pat, Dana, Lou, Joyce, Carrie, Shaky, Jeanne and me Carol P.

Here are some pictures from my Watch today which I ended at 9:30 pm.  They are not in order.  Please be sure to click on any you would like to see in a larger format.  Also, you can read what the picture is of by hovering your cursor over the picture.  Enjoy!  Another Fledge Watch early start tomorrow morning.

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By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Todays starting temperature was 72 (F) 22 (C) clear,calm and still a bit humid

Just a quick few words for the hour is late and the call of the wild will come soon.

I started in the hole at 5:20am with Beauty on the column above the nest box,Dot.Ca (DC) under the northeast wing,1 eyas on cam 4,1 on the wall cap and Dan on the Broad St. Bridge. A bit later I could see all 3 eyases and all was good.

<DC Beauty and kids> Click on all my pics to see the full version

Singing lessons

It was a quiet watch today. No eyases fledged or even tried with the exception of Rosetta when she was at the north end of the well wall. Voyager came charging over and bumped her a little causing her to slip off the ledge. She managed to grab onto a small lip on the building  with her talons and then was able to pull herself  back up to the ledge. Phew! This was the highlight of the day.

Watchers on hand today were-CarolP,KathyO,Dana,Louigi,Larry,Dan,Joyce,Brian,Jeanne,Joe(Viper) and special guest watchers from New Jersey Donna,Kara and Chris.

I ended my watch around 6pm tired but smiling! 🙂

Click on the links below to view my photo album and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqiPE

http://youtu.be/yDuk79wvzrI
http://youtu.be/etwgBDxguPU

http://youtu.be/xMVYeQ9i0Ds