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Fledge Watch Saturday – A Day of Wings – No More Fledges – 7/6/13

Saturday, July 6th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Another 12 hour Fledge Watch today.  There were no more fledges today (1st time flights) by the two females, Rosetta and Voyager.  Even Baron didn’t try to fly again today.  The whole day was spent watching them practice, practice, practice.  They were very active, with lots of wings flapping on the Times Square Bldg.

The closest we came to a fledge was when Rosetta, stumbled off the wall at the north end of well.  She was hanging like a bat by two talons.  After what seemed like a very long time, she was finally able to pull herself up back onto the ledge. We were relieved, since if she did fall like that, she probably would not have had much control over her flight.  We were ready to help if needed.  Thankfully, she recovered and continued to run around and flap her wings along with her siblings.

The weather was warm, mid-80’s (F) with blue sky and fluffy white clouds.  No rain for the first time in a very long time.  But, it was very hot and humid and we (the Watchers) followed the shade, moving from spot to spot.  Today’s Watchers were:

Dan S, MAK, Larry O, Kathy O, Dana, Brian H, Lisa McK, Joyce, Jeanne, Lou, Donna from NJ, Joe B (aka Vyper) and me, Carol P.

So no fledges today, but after all the practice and exercising going on, we will have new fledges soon.  We’ll definitely be out again early in the morning for the continuation of our fledge watch.  Join us if you can!

Here are some pics from today’s watch.  You can click on any pictures you would like to see in a larger format.  Just hover your cursor over the picture to see what it is a picture of.   Goodnight everyone!

The eyases spent the day practicing for their fledges; including Baron. - 7/6/13Rosetta ready to go with talons over the edge - 7/6/13See Sis!  This is how you do it! - 7/6/13*

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Showing Each Other How to do it! 7/6/13Beauty Lands on the ledge above the NB - 7/6/13Oh my goodness! What a wide wingspan you have! 7/6/13*

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Rosetta on Cam 4 - 7/6/13Eyas Looking Up at Beauty on Pan Cam - 7/6/13Joe B Checks out the Falcons Through the Scope - 7/6/13*

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Beauty Feeds Her Young Ones - 7/6/13Beauty Feeds Her Young Ones - 7/6/13Beauty Feeds Her Young Ones - 7/6/13*

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All Three Near the NB. - 7/6/13All three plus Beauty - 7/6/13A Small Morsel Offering by Beauty -7/6/13*

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Dot.ca Always on Guard from Above. He also brought in food a couple times.- 7/6/13A Gull Tug-o-War. One gull had the other gulls beak gripped tight and was dragging it. Finally they broke it up. 7/6/13Hmmm.  My Spidey senses were tingling!  :-) - 7/6/13

Friday Fledge Watch – Baron Fledges! – 7/5/13

Friday, July 5th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Wow!  What a day.  As long as I’ve been a Rochester Falcon Watcher, I never tire of the excitement and anxiety of a fledge or first flight of one of the beautiful creatures.  One day these young Peregrines will have the potential to be the fastest creature on this planet.  To watch these first tentative flights is a gift.

Today I arrived downtown at about 7:20 am.  I joined MAK & Larry O on Aqueduct St, aka “the hole”.  It was sunny and warm, promising to be a very hot and humid day, with a chance of rain.  All three eyases were still at the nest box when I arrived.  I had to move my car, so off I went.  When I came back, both MAK and Larry said they weren’t sure what they saw.  It looked like a falcon flew off of the Times Square Bldg (TSB) nest box area, but they were unsure if it was an adult, or maybe a pigeon that landed on the east end of the Wilder Bldg?  Did we have a fledge?

Larry walked towards Exchange and MAK and I scanned the roof of the Wilder Bldg.  Just as we received a tweet from an on-line camera watcher (not sure who tweeted) that Baron had fledged, we saw a small brown-feathered head pop up at the SE corner of the Wilder Bldg.  It was Baron alright and he was looking around, checking out his new location. Just as Baron came off the TSB, Dot.ca flew up beneath the NE wing of the TSB to keep an eye on Baron’s flight.

We learned later that afternoon from Shaky that Baron had flown off and on Cam 4 and the top of the nest box a couple times before heading towards main cam and veering off to the south, towards the Blue Cross Arena.  He then must have turned back to the north, heading towards the Wilder Bldg and landing on the east end near a tall smoke stack at that end.  When MAK and Larry spotted him, he was just passing in front of the TSB, heading north.  Both MAK and Larry reported that he was not flapping his wings at all, but gliding with wings fully extended.  They did not see him land because it was further in on the roof.  It did not take him long to find the corner of the building so that we could see that he was ok.

Many Rochester Falcon Watchers came out today to cover the whole day.  Watchers today were MAK, Larry O, Kathy O, Dan S, Dana, Lou, Pat, Debbie H, Carrie, Shaky, Brian H, Lisa McK, Jeanne and me Carol P.

After watching Baron run up and down the roof line of the Wilder bldg, back and forth, at 3:40 pm, Baron finally extended his wings and flew south towards the Times Square Bldg.  He flew past the TSB and around to the south side of the building.  Baron then turned back and gained altitude, finally landing on the well wall on the south side of the TSB.  He was directly across from the nest box and his two sisters, Rosetta and Voyager.  All the Watchers gathered were ecstatic to see that his 2nd flight was strong and that he had easily gained altitude and that he landed well.  Both Beauty and Dot.ca were there watching over his first flights.

His 3rd and last flight of today came quickly.  At 4:00 pm, Baron started moving back and forth on the ledge, head bobbing, wings extended and flapping and he vocalized the whole time.  Then he was off!  A nice strong flight over open space to the nest box platform on the northeast side of the building.  Cam Watcher Donna tweeted that the landing wasn’t perfect, but he was safe and he was home.  Yes!

If you would like to see Baron’s flight across to the nest box, just click on this link to my video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDb7LQetKYA&feature=youtu.be

The rest of my Watch was spent watching all the falcon activity at the nest box and above.  After a brief rest, Baron had joined his sisters and they were running and flapping all over the nest box platform and well wall.  A little bit of food was dropped off, but not much.  Beauty and Dot.ca were holding back food, in anticipation of the eyases first flights.  Of course Baron was now considered a fledgling, no longer an eyeas.  lol

I ended my Watch at about 7:20 pm, 12 hours after I arrived this morning.  Tired but very happy that we had a successful fledge today.  The Watchers will gather early tomorrow morning in anticipation of more flying by Baron and possible fledge flights by Rosetta and Voyager.  The Rochester Falcon Fledge Watch continues.  Please consider joining us downtown if you have any free time to help out.

Here are some pictures from my Fledge Watch today.  Remember to click on any you would like to see in a larger format.  If you hover your cursor over a picture, it will tell you what it is a picture of.  Enjoy!

Baron on the Wilder After He Fledges - 7/5/13Baron's Fledge from TSB to Wilder Bldg - 7/5/13Baron on Wilder After Fledge - 7/5/13*

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Baron Makes it Up to the Fire Escape Ladder on the Wilder Bldg - 7/5/13Baron on the Ladder of the Fire Escape on the Wilder Bldg - 7/5/13Baron on the Fire Escape Ladder on Wilder Bldg, A Little Wobbly at First - 7/5/13*

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Baron on the Wilder Bldg -7/5/13Baron on Wilder - He spent A Lot of Time Behind this Pipe in the Shade - 7/5/13Baron Zipping Around the Wilder Bldg - 7/5/13*

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Baron on Wilder - Nice Wings Baron! - 7/5/13Beauty and Rosetta & Voyager - 7/5/13Rosetta Hop-Flies Over Voyager - 7/5/13*

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Beauty and Dot.ca Were Busy Busy Busy! - 7/5/13Dot.ca Brought Food for Rosetta & Voyager During the Afternoon - 7/5/13Baron Welcomed Home by His Sisters - 7/5/13*

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All 3 Together Again! - 7/5/13Wow! Look at that Wing Span! - 7/5/13*

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This is how I will always remember these three.  Goodnight everyone!

Rosetta - Baron - Voyager - The 3 Amigos!  :-) - 7/5/13

Red, White and Blue Fledge Watch – No Fledge Today – 7/4/13

Thursday, July 4th, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

I want to start out my report by thanking all the Rochester Falcon Watchers that gave up a part of their holiday to come downtown and help with the Fledge Watch today.  Today’s Fledge Watchers included, Dan S, MAK, Aaron, Kathy O, Linda, Dana, Lou, Lisa McK, Larry O, Joyce, Jeanne and me Carol P! Thanks everyone!  Also, thanks to all our Rfalconcam Cam Watchers that send out tweets to let us know what’s going on at the nest box.  Your help is much appreciated!

There was a lot activity by the eyases this morning.  A lot of running up and down the wall and flapping wings.  Then the rain moved in.  Not a monsoon like yesterday, but just enough to keep the eyases quiet.  During the time the rain stopped, the eyases would move about.

This afternoon, the clouds moved out and the sunshine was intense, with temps in the high 80’s (F).  There was no shade to be found for the watchers that remained.  The eyases were again very quiet.

The evening watch was much more pleasant weather-wise.  Blue sky and wispy clouds and a little bit of a breeze.  At least for awhile.  We still had to sit under our umbrellas for awhile as yet another rain shower moved through the area. The downtown area was filling up with folks there to see the 4th of July fireworks, which promised to be awesome!  We were questioned by many of them – whatchalooknat?  Of course we were more than happy to point out “our” falcons to all that cared to listen.  Those of us that had taken pictures today, shared them and I set-up the scope and sat back as people oohed and ahhhed when they got a close up view Beauty, Dot.ca and the 3 eyases.  Rfalconcam cards were passed out.  I’m pretty sure we have gained some new viewers.

During the day, Beauty and Dot.ca did a lot of flight and stoop lessons for their young ones.  Food was brought in by both of them.

So, no fledge today.  Tomorrow is another day and you can bet the Rochester Falcon Watchers will again gather downtown to keep watch over the young eyases that are oh, so close to taking their first flights.

Here are a few pictures that I took today.  Please click on any you would like to see in a larger format.  Just hover your cursor over any picture and it will tell you what it is a picture of.  Enjoy!

Dot.ca on the Frontier Comm Tower When I First Arrived - 7/4/13Dot.ca on the Wilder Bldg Fire Escape Looking for Starlings - 7/4/13Dot.ca Takes off From the Wilder Bldg Fire Escape - 7/4/13*

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Pre-Fledge Eyases - 7/4/13Busy Eyases  - 7/4/13Lots of Wings - 7/4/13*

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Baron's Wings on Cam 4 - 7/4/13Beauty on Main Cam with 2 Eyases - 7/4/13Incoming Beauty - 7/4/13*

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Beauty on Guard on Well Wall - 7/4/13Dot.ca on Guard Beneath NE Wing on TSB - 7/4/13Dot.ca on Widows Walk Bldg - 7/4/13*

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Dot.ca on Widows Walk Bldg Location - 7/4/13Beauty on Pan Cam (Cam 1) and Eyas Below Her on Well Wall - 7/4/13One of Beauty's Many Flight Lessons for the Eyases - 7/4/13*

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Dot.ca and Beauty on Columns Below Nest Box Level - 7/4/13Dot.ca Carrying Prey to the Nest Box - 7/4/13

Bathing Beauty. Beauty Came in Soaking Wet. Obviously She Found Somewhere to Bathe - 7/4/13*

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We’ve also been watching some House Finches that nested in the ivy on the TR Bldg.  This morning two fledgling finches were out with mom and dad.  This was definitely a first for me.  🙂

House Finch Fledglings - 7/4/13Newly Fledged House Finch - 7/4/13*

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I ended my day with this beautiful sunset.  Goodnight everyone!

Beautiful Sunset - 7/4/13

Late Afternoon/Evening Fledge Watch – Monsoon Fledge Watch – 7/3/13

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Let the fledge watch begin.  On my way downtown, I drove through a downpour with thunder and lightning.  As I got closer to downtown, it stopped, but it soon caught up with the Rochester Fledge Watchers that were gathered to keep an eye on our young soon-to-be fledglings.

I arrived for my watch at about 4:20 pm and  parked on Aqueduct St., aka “the hole”.  Joyce, Brian H, Kathy O, Susan C (and two guests)  and Aaron were already gathered there.  We could see the dark clouds moving in from the west.

Beauty was on the OCSR  top IBeam, west end when I first arrived and she flew towards the Times Square Bldg (TSB) and back to the Wilder Bldg, landing on the SW corner of the green stripe.  Two of the eyases, Rosetta & Baron were on the north end of the well wall and their wings were flapping wildly.  That’s when the thunder and lightning storm arrived.  It started to rain lightly and then it was pouring rain, with flashes of lightning and booming thunder.  Beauty flew over to nest box and both Rosetta and Baron joined Voyager in the nest box.

This is how my fledge watch went until I left at 8:30 pm.  Only once did it actually stop raining and look like it was going to clear.  The rest of the time, it was pouring rain with intense thunder & lightning.  Every time the rain lessened, the eyases would come out and flap their wings  and run the well wall.  Voyager was out on the nest box platform much of the time, looking over at the wall when her brother and sister were out there.  She’ll be joining them soon.

Dot.ca was around, but pretty much stayed out of sight of the eyases and kept watch over his young ones.  At one point, he landed on the north side of the extension off of the back of the TSB.

For the last hour of our watch, the rain was coming down so hard that Aqueduct St  looked like a lake.  The water was pouring down the street heading towards Main St.  Dan S had joined the watch and he and I huddled under my very large umbrella in the corner near the TR bldg, keeping an eye on the young eyases above.  Kathy O and Joyce hung out in their cars and we all did a lot of laughing tonight.  This was definitely the Monsoon Fledge Watch!  lol

We saw no feedings or fledges during the watch.  With all the rain, I didn’t expect there would be one, but you never know.  Tomorrow is another day and I’m sure many of the Rochester Watchers will be downtown bright and early to continue the fledge watch.

Here are some pictures from today.  If you hover your cursor over the picture, it will explain what it is.  Also, please click on any you would like to see in a larger format.  Enjoy!

Baron & Rosetta Sitting in the Pouring Rain on the Well Wall - 7/3/13Beauty Keeping Watch from Above the Nest Box - 7/3/13Rosetta Zipping Along on the Well Wall - 7/3/13*

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Monsoon Fledge Watch - Lake Aqueduct - 7/3/13Two Eyases at the Nest Box in the Rain - 7/3/132 Eyases on NB Platform, 1 Eyas at North End of Well Wall & Beauty on Ledge Above NB - 7/3/13*

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Voyager Looking to Join her Siblings on the Well Wall. Soon! - 7/3/13*

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If you live in or near Rochester (NY), please consider joining the Fledge Watch.  We can use your help, especially with 3 fledglings ready to take their first flights!

Falcon watch 8-27-12

Monday, August 27th, 2012

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

As I walked from the bus and got past the buildings to bring the statue of Mercury in view I saw the Beautyful one on the base. A great way to start my watch! I then went up on the Broad Street bridge(BSB) with Dan and Larry.  Dan informed me that Beauty had been on the base since 6:17am and that Orion came in with her and flew behind the Thomson Reuters building out of view. 10 minutes passed when Orion came flying in from the east singing like only he can knocking Beauty off the base and they both flew off and returned to the base of Mercury. Beauty either caught breakfast or had it cashed somewhere for we could see feathers flying on the other side where we couldn’t see her. Orion meanwhile was watching her very intently from our side of Mercury.

img_0218-b-first-thing-this-morning img_0221-orion-singing-for-us

Our youngster got bored or impatient and flew off a couple times and came back. Dan and Larry had to leave so I went down to the hole so I could see both of our fine feathered falcons.

img_0227-o-taking-off-on-his-second-short-fly-around img_0234-landing-gear-down img_0237-nope-im-not-looking-at-her

After about 20 minutes I walked down to Aqueduct Park for a different perspective. I could watch Orion all day, he is so entertaining! He would look away and act like he wasn’t interested and then he would turn his head Exorcist style to watch the feathers making me crack up. Then his attention turned to some gulls that were passing overhead as you will see in one of my videos.

img_0232-mr-orion

Then the battery in my camera expired!  And as I sometimes forget to charge my extra battery the replacement was also low when I put it in my camera. So a few more pics and I was done clicking for the day. They both flew off toward FCT and I followed behind finding Beauty on the tower. Orion came by for a few minutes landing on the platform railing and then he left. I ended my watch and left downtown smiling for having seen ad spent time with my 2 favorite falcons.  🙂

Click the links below for my small photo album and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrGsg

http://youtu.be/pRUGzjIqsEs

http://youtu.be/3vThgzvnyRg

http://youtu.be/ax-ByMMFN8M

http://youtu.be/IDZuGVWlyio

http://youtu.be/RW0TwqVin7Y

Falcon watch 8-24-12

Friday, August 24th, 2012

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

I left the house today for the bus and halfway to the bus stop I realized I didn’t have my phone. So after walking back home to get it I managed to miss the 6:19 as I watched it go flying by I couldn’t have been more than 30 seconds from making it! Oh well, I waited an hour for the next one and got downtown around 7:40am- too late to see Dan or Larry and so the search was on for falcons. For a change of routine I walked up Main St. to check from it’s bridge. No bumps on any buildings I could see from there.

I doubled back and stopped by Tim Hortons for a decaf coffee(regular makes me shake too much for holding camera and binocs steady) on my way to the Broad St. Bridge(BSB). No falcons to be seen from there either. Next I walked over to City Hall to check FCT with no luck. I also went up to the top of the Sister Cities Garage to look around-nada! Hmm where could our elusive Peregrine Falcons be this morning!? I then walked down to Kodak Office to no avail. Yikes I was getting a workout on this day!

Back to the BSB I went enroute to the South Ave. garage for my best view of the city. Just before I opened the door to go up to the top of the garage I turned and took a look toward the river-SUCCESS there was a falcon on the base of Mercury! But not just any falcon, it was our young and handsome Orion.

img_0184-orion img_0188-o img_0189-o

I shared space with this very animated and photogenic Peregrine for almost 45 minutes. He took off and flew west out of view in the direction of FCT so I figured I would walk back over there to see if that’s where he went.

img_0192-o img_0193-o img_0196-o-taking-offClick pics for full version

Upon arriving at Fitzhugh and Church St. I could see no bumps on the tower so I sat down on my bench and figured I would just stay put until it was time to leave. A very nice man came over and asked what I was photographing and when I told him as with many people he mentioned the Kodak falcons. I set him straight on their story and then I showed him some pics on my cameras LCD screen. He thought I was a great photographer and I assured him that it was the camera that made me look good. Then he told me that he used to be a photographer and that I had an eye for it and the equipment is only as good as the operator. Well I just set it on auto and click away. lol He introduced himself as Tom and I told him who I was and we shook hands and then he went to his van and brought a folder full of pics he had taken. One pic in particular peaked my interest and he gave it to me! And here it is:

img_0197-toms-owl-pic

While we were talking I heard Orion singing and as I looked up I saw him on the tail feathers of another falcon tho I’m not sure who it was I knew Orion by his lovely voice. They both landed on the north side of FCT where I had no chance of seeing them from where I was sitting. Just as quickly as they flew in they flew back out again heading south. I thanked Tom for this wonderful close up pic of an owl and the  knowledge he shared with me about picture taking. He went about his day and I packed up to end my watch. I used to be kind of shy but as I’ve said in the past these falcons compel me to do things that I never did before.  And  I am very thankful  for all the people I have met since I came out of  lurkdom as they all have made me smile for one reason or another!  🙂

Click the links below for my all Orion photo album and videos from the day

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrGkA

http://youtu.be/GqHljwKjdiY

http://youtu.be/FBLMC4hZSls

Falcon watch 8-23-12

Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

As I rounded the corner from Main St. and looked at the Times Square building I could see a falcon under the southeast wing. Of course it’s back was to me so I wasn’t quite sure who it was so I walked up to the Broad St. bridge(BSB) and still only it’s back shown. When I reached Dan on the bridge he said it was Orion. I noticed in my pic that he was clutching something with his left talon. At the time I thought it was odd that he wasn’t eating it. I guess he just liked the fact that he had it and nobody else was around to take it away.

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Larry arrived and spotted Beauty flying to the nest box area and then Orion took off and flew across the river to Xerox circling above and around it and coming to rest on the southwest corner.

img_0130-beauty img_0128-orion

Orion left Xerox and flew around the back of the Times Square building(TSB) and Beauty flew up under the northeast wing. Dan and Larry left at this point and 10 minutes later Beauty and Orion did as well. I next spotted Dot.Ca on the top ibeam of OCSR south side and he was eating something. I walked down to the hole and a few minutes later Orion came flying in from the west singing his heart out and landed on the south corner. He didn’t stay long before he was charging dear old dad and stealing his tiny morsel of food. He flew to the TSB under the northeast wing with it.

img_0140-o-about-to-steal-food-from-dc img_0141-o-flying-off-ocsr img_0142-o-coming-in-for-a-landing

Then suddenly out of nowhere Beauty came screaming in knocking DC off the ibeam and landing on the south corner. As I tweeted it out both Beauty and Orion left. I waited a bit before going over to City Hall to see if anybody went to the FCT as has been the routine lately. If there was a falcon there I couldn’t find it. I went up on the Sister Cities garage top level and had no luck finding a falcon on FCT or the surrounding buildings but I did for one fleeting moment saw a pefa flying near Kodak Office before it flew to the north out of sight. Next I decided to walk to the east side and try my luck on top of the South Ave. garage where I would have a broader view of downtown. As I reached the intersection at Main and Fitzhugh Streets I could see a bump on the jail tower. After looking at my pic I would guess it was the Beautyful one tho I couldn’t say for sure.

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She was on the west side just above the dish. She took off as I kept my southern trek closer to the tower so I went to the BSB and checked out the river area. No falcons but I saw a Cormorant that was diving in the river and a Great Blue Heron who was looking for a bite to eat. 10 minutes after I landed on the South Ave. garage I spotted a falcon fly on to the base of Mercury and immediately leave flying out of sight. 15 minutes or so after that I spotted a falcon on the FCT under the platform on the north side.

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The distance was way too far to determine who it was. I watched a Turkey Vulture soar high above the river to the east near Midtown and HSBC where it put more than one flock of pigeons into panic mode. It was nearing time for me to leave for the day so I came down off the garage to the BSB on my way to the bus stop. I stopped to have one last look around when fellow falcon watcher Barbara pulled up in her mini van. I gave her the low down and said I had to go catch my bus to which she offered me a ride home. This was a good thing and most certainly made me smile!  🙂

I have only a small album today but click on the link below to see more than just our beloved falcons

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrGfg

Falcon watch 8-22-12

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Well I saw my first start to finish stoop this morning. I’ve seen many stoops but the ending where they actually get the prey has always eluded me. Wowee wow wow it’s a beautiful thing!

When I arrived on the Broad St. bridge(BSB) Dan and Larry were there and Orion was on the south side of the Times Square building(TSB) and he was off almost as soon as I looked.  Beauty and Orion both flew to the jail tower and then Beauty went into a stoop across to the river where she scared up some pigeons near the Freddy-Sue bridge. She and Orion chased them, broke it off and went after another flock of pigeons where Beauty grabbed one and flew to the roof top of the Cornhill landing building. It’s usually covered with pigeons but they were more than happy to disperse when she landed.

img_0022-b-with-prey-on-a-cornhill-roof

After she caught her breath she took off with her catch and landed on the Rundell library on the river side and Orion landed down at the northeast corner.  She started plucking feathers and then a crow showed up making her stop and pay attention to it.

img_0025-b-with-prey img_0037-orion img_0041-orion

Fire and rescue trucks showed up on the Court St. bridge and the Freddy-Sue bridge and we feared someone had jumped in the river. They stayed about 10 minutes and left so we figured it was a false alarm.After cleaning and eating a little to lighten the load she took off down river with Orion on her tail. A food exchange was attempted a couple times between the Radisson and OCSR before they both flew out of sight behind OCSR.  Dan and Larry left and I made my way over to City Hall where I found Beauty and Orion on the north beam of the lower red section. He was patiently watching her eat and pluck when he finally could take it no more and a food fight ensued.

img_0063-bo img_0067-big-boy-orion

Beauty eventually gave up and let Orion have it as she retreated to the east side of the same beam. Beauty managed to get the last bit of prey from Orion and finished it off. They both had full crops and settled down for nap.

img_0082-sleepy-o-with-full-crop img_0083-bo

They moved around some more within the tower and when I ended my watch I could see Beauty on the west side of the lower red section. I had lost track of Orion and I never did see Dot.Ca today. As I left the city I couldn’t help but smile for all that I had seen on this mornings watch! 🙂

Click the links below for more pics and videos including the food tug of war between Beauty and Orion

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrGXA

http://youtu.be/n2GdQcIKZug

http://youtu.be/EgI-bgJNoOA

http://youtu.be/rt-r5It1TeY

http://youtu.be/WJzUfbJC14E

http://youtu.be/QoUHsOytK38

http://youtu.be/y_kdZVTlwOw


Falcon watch 8-21-12

Tuesday, August 21st, 2012

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Dan and Larry were on the Broad St. Bridge(BSB) when I arrived this morning at 6:34am. Dan told me that Beauty had been under the southeast wing until 6:29am. Shoot I just missed her but not to worry she came flying in 10 minutes later from the east. She crossed the river and came to rest on the Times Square building(TSB) under the northeast wing. Orion came screaming in right after and landed up there near her but we couldn’t see him. When I took the pic of her flying off I didn’t know at the time that Orion had knocked her off. When I got it on my computer screen at home I realized Beauty and her shadow were in the air and Orion was under the wing having chased her off. lol

img_9925-beauty img_9928-o-knocking-b-off-tsb

The pic is blurry but you can clearly see that’s what happened. Oh that boy! Beauty flew north, Orion vanished and Larry and Dan left. I stayed a few minutes more and saw a starling fly out from near the nest box so I knew there were no pefas around. I walked over to City Hall to check the Frontier Communications Tower(FCT). Orion was on the 2nd arm north side and Beauty was on the lower red section on an east side beam.

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Orion flew off the arm taking his flight right over me on the Sister Cities garage circled around OCSR and returned again flying above me and landing on the FCT. While he was gone Beauty moved to the north side of the beam she had been on and Orion was directly below her now.

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They stayed this way for a while with Beauty taking a nap and Orion playing hide and seek with me. He kept going around the corner where I couldn’t see him until he left and woke Beauty while he was at it. I came down off the garage when I had nobody in sight so I could walk around and check from all sides of the FCT. I found tail feathers hanging over the east side edge of the platform and whoever it was looked like it was eating something. I caught a glimpse of it’s head and thought it looked like Dot.Ca but couldn’t confirm. People working at City Hall kept stopping and asking me about the falcons and in the process I didn’t see where that pefa went cuz now it was gone.

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I got a report from Donna that Beauty was at the nest box so I opted for walking over to the TSB. Shortly after I got there the Beautyful one flew out heading straight down Exchange St. between the Wilder and Telesca Center buildings over the Powers building in the direction of FCT. I was ready to catch the next bus home and decided to walk down to the bus stop past Fitzhugh on Main St. so I could take one last look at FCT. I didn’t see any bumps on the tower and so I proceeded to the bus stop. I checked again from the bus as I left the city and still saw nothing but it didn’t stop me from smiling to myself for every day I see Orion is a happy one! 🙂

Click the links below for more pics and videos

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrGOg

http://youtu.be/tsP3NKu9RDc

http://youtu.be/o7ESyyQJadQ

Fledge/juvie watch 8-20-12

Monday, August 20th, 2012

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

I was surprised this morning when I rounded the corner and didn’t see Dans car on the bridge. Larry came by on his way to work and saw a pefa on FCT. There were no falcons around the Broad St. bridge and Times Square areas so after Larry left I started off for City Hall. As I got on State St. near Church St. I looked up at the FCT just in time to see Beauty fly off the 2nd arm to the east where Orion met up with her and then they both went into a stoop before going out of view. Orion came over and landed on the platform railing southeast corner. And a few short minutes later Beauty landed on the top arm of the FCT on the west side.

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5 minutes later Beauty flew to the west followed by Orion and together they did another little stoop over Plymouth Ave. Beauty flew to the  north side of FCT landing on the top beam of the lower red area. Orion went to the east side landing on the lower catwalk railing.

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30 minutes later Orion jumped down to his stick nest and Beauty remained. Things stayed like this for an hour or so.

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I had gone up to the top of the Sister Cities garage and during that time Orion moved to where I couldn’t find him. 10 minutes later I saw movement and found Orion just in time to see him fly out and stoop seriously on a crow. Well let’s put it this way-that crow didn’t stick around for any more hits like that one. After that he flew right over me on the garage and circled around and back to FCT landing on the south side platform railing and then he left. This would be the last time I saw him before ending my watch.

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Beauty moved from the north side over to the east side of the ibeam she was on and that’s when I left the garage to check the tower for Orion before I left for home.

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As I waited at the bus stop I got a tweet from Donna that Beauty and Dot.Ca were in the nest box bowing and renewing their bond which made me smile all the way home! 🙂

Click the links below for a photo album and a bunch of videos from the watch

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrGGA

http://youtu.be/06C3dFslYEQ

http://youtu.be/8ofbnun4TJg

http://youtu.be/cHSDHoLxaWE

http://youtu.be/eIg1-0H8e3g

http://youtu.be/maOKFn1fMCU

http://youtu.be/u_RnRX9iLOs

http://youtu.be/-DzZ5adgE_A


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