Rochester Falcon Watcher: Carol P.

What a day!  I’m not even going to mention Watcher names.  I think every Watcher that could make it downtown came to help search for Callidora, even two ladies from Watertown!  🙂  Even the Falconcam team held their meeting near the Times Square Bldg.  Everyone wanted to help.  In all the years I’ve been a Rochester Falcon Watcher, we’ve never lost a bird during fledging, and it wasn’t going to happen now!

As both Larry O and Jim P reported, at 12:30, Callidora took flight from the Talesca bldg aka the Four Corners bldg.  All day, Beauty had been bothered by workers on a building just north of the Times Square bldg (TSB).  They couldn’t have chosen a worse day to start working on the roof of this building with Callidora just fledged.

When Callidora took off, she headed towards the TSB, gaining altitude.  She landed on the metal grid work at the top of the TSB, clinging like a bat.  She never did land on a ledge.  When she let go, she flung out her wings and headed towards the river and then swung around the Blue Cross Arena aka War Memorial.  Her intentions were good, she really did try to return to the TSB, but she was tired.  We lost her somewhere over the Civic Center.

Watcher spread out and attempted to find her with no luck.  All afternoon Watchers began to gather.  Everyone was really concerned for Callidora’s safety.  I think most of us walked a few miles today, checking building roofs, getting inside taller buildings to check the roofs below.  No one was able to find her and it was starting to get dark.

Around 8:30 pm, Larry decided to take one more walk around the area.  With Cleo by his side, he headed west down Broad St, crossing Exchange St.  At the same time I heard him yell something out from across the street, I noticed that Beauty was skimming the tops of the buildings in the area that we thought Callidora had landed.  I quickly caught up with Larry and Cleo and we continued to walk west.  Other Watchers joined us, walking and in cars.  By this time Beauty had continued west and we thought maybe she had been on a hunt and nothing else.

Larry and Cleo were first around the the corner on N Fitzhugh, now heading south.  The rest of us were hanging back, checking the buildings.  This is when Larry yelled out, “I HAVE CALLIDORA!”  “I SEE A RED BAND!”  We all ran towards Larry’s position and one by one we saw what he saw.  A beautiful brown just fledged juvenile name Callidora!  and Beauty was flying just above her!

The Rochester Falcon Watchers arrived, gathering in the dark on the corner of N Fitzhugh and a no-name one-way street, next to a very old, beautiful church.  She was on the roof of the Monroe County Jail on the north side, not very far from the TSB.

We were all so relieved.  WooHoo’s! echoed thr0ugh the nite.  Both Larry and Cleo got lots of hugs tonite.  🙂

For 8 hours we had lost our wayward traveler.  But now she was safe and we were happy.  I had drained 3 camera batteries tonite and didn’t have even enough power to take one picture of Callidora.  But, it didn’t matter.  My long lens friends were clicking away.  There will be plenty of pictures for everyone to see.

It was a long day of Falcon Watching, but it was all worth while.  My thanks to everyone that made it out to help find Callidora.  What a great group you are.  and special thanks to Larry O and Cleo.  We can all sleep easier knowing that she is safe.

When I left, Jemison was safely on top of the TSB and Beauty was on Mercury’s foot.  I’m not sure where Archer was.  What a wonderful way to end this day.

Watcher: Jim P

Highlights of the watch are below. I’ll post more details when I have time.

Lots of kacking from Beauty. Callidora left Four Corners around 12:30, landed on TSB briefly, then flew again. Watchers lost sight of her over the Civic Center, south of TSB. Larry O thought she landed there, Carol and I couldn’t see her when we went up to Mark’s office in TSB. Got a call from watcher Debbie who thought she saw Calli on the western, lower portion of Times Square. Carol and I searched that side but didn’t see her. However, Beauty was on the NE wing root looking unconcerned, so we think Callidora may just be out of sight on the roof. Watchers are aware and keeping an eye out.

I’ll post full details and pics later. For now, here’s a shot of Callidora as she passed overhead on her way back to Times Square (click it for a bigger view):

Jim P.

Watcher: Jim P

Carol P, Jim D and I watched the falcons this morning. Archer, Beauty and Jemison were all on the Times Square bldg, with Callidora on the Four Corners bldg, which is next to the TSB on the corner of Main St. and Exchange Blvd.

Beauty & Archer both flew by Callidora trying to get her to fly back to the nest box, but she was content to stay where she was. All 4 were in sight when I left at 9. Carol took the day off so she’ll be out watching most of the day. I’ll be back downtown at lunchtime.

Rochester Falcon Watcher:  Carol P.

As Larry O reported, we were witness to Callidora’s first fledge flight.  It wasn’t pretty but most first time Peregrine flights aren’t.  🙂

While Larry, Jeanne, Margaret and Darlene ran towards the intersection of Exchange and Broad to try to find her, I was on the phone with Jim P.  “Please move pancam down to the top of the Wilder Bldg.  Callidora just fledged and that’s where we think she landed!”  Jim quickly moved the camera and told me he could see her on the west side of the Wilder Bldg roof and she seemed to be in good shape.  Whew!

I joined the others near the Wilder bldg.  Callidora was above us, running up and down, wings flapping.

During the next few hours, more and more Watchers gathered to watch our newest fledgling.  Kathy O, Lisa McK, Dana, MAK, Jeanne, Margaret, Carla P, Joyce, Diana R, sorry if I missed anyone.

Callidora seemed content to walk and flap around the roof of the Wilder bldg while her brother Jemison took flight multiple times.  Each time joined by Archer and Beauty.  One time he made it over to the top of the Cross Rds bldg, which is just north of the Wilder bldg.  I really think he could have easily joined his sister at anytime.  He elected to keep flying with his parents, each time being returned to the Times Square bldg.

I left the other Watchers at 8:30 pm.  Archer had brought in food to Jemison at the nest box.  Both Archer & Beauty were on the Times Square bldg where they had a good view of Jemison and Callidora on the south side of the Wilder bldg.

I’m sure she’ll be perfectly safe where she is under the watchful eyes of both of her parents.  Tomorrow is another day of adventures for our young fledglings.  Stay tuned!

Rochester Falcon Watcher:  Larry O’Heron

Well, generally a pretty quiet morning falcon watching. J & C stayed by the box or at least the walkway to the north of the bldg. A & B would take laps around TS or disappear for short periods.
There was one feeding.
B went over to Crossroads when a worker appeared on the roof, but she did not stoop on him. She just circled and then returned to TS.
The actual highlight of the watch was a domestic disturbance arrest on a woman who was slapping and chasing some guy down the street and into the street.
Ce la vie!

Rochester Falcon Watcher:  Carol P.

I was downtown, along with many other Watchers, for a good part of today. During that time, there was a lot of flying by Archer and Beauty and a lot of flapping by Callidora & Jemison.

After a dinner break, I returned to find a whole lot of Watchers in attendance, Kathy O, Lisa McK, Joyce, Willie, Dan S, Dana, Lou, MAK & Marcia, Ralph & his wife (sorry I forgot your name).  I’m sure I’m missing someone.  I wasn’t on official Watch, so I wasn’t keeping track of names.

By 7 pm, there were only a handful of Watchers left, Marcia, Joyce, MAK, Lisa and I.  I felt really sorry for those that had just left, because that’s when the fun began.

We watched as Jemison flap, flap, flapped on top of the main camera.  and then……………………..off he went (he was banded as a small female, but I’ve started to think of him as a him, just my opinion)!

Jemison took flight!  Real, long, sustained flight.  Not just the short flight over to the other side of the Times Square bldg.  Jemison first flew out to the east towards the river.  Beauty zipped in from the Mercury statue where she had been for a long time.  It looked like she was physically pushing him back towards the Times Square bldg.  Stopping him from heading for the river.

Jemison flew back to the long section of the Times Square bldg on the south side, landing quite well.  Beauty landed above and kept watch.

Jemison flapped, hopped and skipped his way to the taller, front part of the building, coming up against a wall, which he attempted to climb, jumping up on small ledges until there were no more.  This didn’t stop him.  Off he went yet again, this time heading south, then east.  Again, Beauty was there to guide him back to the Times Square bldg, where he landed on the same section he had first landed on, except this time on the north side.  The remaining Watchers hurried to the other side.

Jemison was not happy where he was and was in constant motion, again heading towards the taller part of the building where the nest box was located.  He tried to climb again with no success.  Finally attempted a short flight up, but missing his target.  This time he fell down the face of the building, threw his wings out and started flapping again, heading east.  Jeanne had joined me at this point and I quickly told her what was happening.

He headed towards the east, again towards the river and Beauty put up a block.  She followed him very closely towards the Wilder building, where he landed at the top, south side.  Whew!  Safe yet again

For the next 15-20 mins, Jemison paced, flapped and hopped back and forth, making his way to the top of the fire escape that his parents were seen many times.

Again, off!  This time towards the Times Square bldg.  He first landed on the level above the nest box, rested a bit and then headed down to the level he had been flying to for two days.  One more short flight and he was safely back at the nest box.  Archer had returned during this last bit of flying.

We were all so excited to see Jemison flying so well.  He was getting altitude easily and flap, gliding and landing well.  I have to admit that he is probably one of the strongest first time fliers I’ve had the honor to watch.  Truly outstanding!

It was starting to rain, so we headed back to our cars.  Carla P joined us and we told her what had happened.  Beauty picked up a cache of food somewhere and flew up to land on a lower level with it.  She seemed to want to stay out of sight.  For some reason, she wasn’t ready to feed them.

We checked our watches and saw that it was 8 pm.  Jemison had been flying around for an hour.  We were ecstatic that he had done so well and had returned to the nest box safely.  Callidora was very happy too!  🙂

I left as it started to rain harder, so I’m not sure when or if Beauty fed them.  Maybe Joyce or MAK will be able to report on this.

It was a long but very enjoyable day of Falcon Watching.  🙂

I’ve posted some pictures from my morning of fledge watching on Friday over at my Peregrinations blog:
http://birdblog.marchlords.com/2010/06/flight-lessons-no-inducement-to-fledge.html

Jim P.

Rochester Falcon Watcher: Carol P.

This was my fifth evening of fledgeless watching.  But that’s ok.  The longer they take the stronger they get.  This is a good thing.

I arrived tonite a little before 4 pm.  I joined fellow Watchers, Joyce, Willie and Jim D.  They had set up at the top of the stairs near the corner of Exchange and Broad.  I stayed with them for a little while, but it was too sunny for me, so I walked over to the other side of the Times Square bldg.  From there, I was able to cover the north side of the building.  The side that the eyases were favoring lately.

During my 3 1/2 hour Watch, not much happened.  I think I had the siesta time.  Snoozing eyases and dozing parents.  That’s ok, I enjoyed the quiet time.

Archer and Beauty did a little bit of flying and the eyases did a little bit of flapping.  Beauty landed on the base of Mercury for awhile and attempted to land on the nest box platform once.  That didn’t last long since she was charged by her two youngsters.  She flew over to the old Changing Scenes Restaurant and landed on the top I-Beam.

By the time I left at 7:30 pm, Joyce & I were joined by MAK, Dana, Lou and Kathy O. 

Just as I was pulling out of the parking lot, Beauty flew in with food and stayed only a short while to feed them, then left what remained for the eyases to take care of.

It was a beautiful evening to be on Watch.  I and many other Watchers plan on being downtown early tomorrow.

Will there be a Fledge tomorrow?  Only time will tell.

Rochester Falcon Watcher: Jeanne

When I arrived, Callidora and Jemison were perched on favorite spots – the colum and the ledge. One parent (I believe it was Beauty) was beneath the wings. I was joined later by James, MAK and later Jim P.

Everything was fairly calm. At one point, I heard kakking and in flew Archer. Beauty went to meet him and they both flew a bit and then each returned to the building.  No food exchange. The girls did not react. For most of my watch, the column percher was in sight but the juvie near the ledge would only occasionally put her head up. Beauty would take off a few times but did not bring in food. There was intermittent kakking but I wasn’t sure who was doing it (though it seemed to be the girls—they hadn’t been fed). Lots of preening.

Many passersby were interested in the falcons. One man said he saw a falcon catch a pigeon near the Democrat and Chronicle (the building to the left of the Times Square Building). He said feathers were flying everywhere and two other passersby were looking up trying to figure out why there were so many feathers!

When I left, all was calm!

Rochester Falcon Watcher: MAK

My first official fledge watch was very exciting.  When I arrived Jeanne and Jim were there.  Beauty was on ledge to the right of nestbox and above one level.  Jemison and Callidora were both on the raised column on the wall to the right of nestbox.  Jim Pisello appeared and went down to Exchange St. directly below the nestbox to spread us out in case one of the eyases came down.  Archer showed up and got on NE ledge under wing and Beauty shortly after went to SE ledge under wing.  Jeanne left and soon after Joyce came with Casey and Abbey. (her dogs) Not much happened for awhile until Beauty and Archer started flying. Since there was no breakfast at this point we knew they were trying to entice them to come fly with them.  Lisa McK., Linda and her husband Tim came and joined us.  That’s when business picked up.  There was all kinds of flying by both adults.  Finally, I believe about 12:15 Beauty brought food. She fed them beak to beak and left with the remains circling and flying by them trying to coax them with food but they wouldn’t budge.  When I left B&A were under the wings and J&C were in the nestbox probably napping.