By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I arrived downtown very close to 7:00 am.  Many Watchers were already gathered on the Broad St Bridge.  Dan, Lynda, Larry O, Dana, MAK and I settled in our chairs on the bridge for what would be a spectacular couple hours of amazing flying over the Rochester Skyline by Orion, Beauty and Dot.ca.  Sometimes it was hard to know who was who.  Obviously Beauty is the largest and her split wing tip (due to her molt) is a dead give away.  All three were diving and stooping and chasing and talon tagging and just when one of the adults would land, Orion was on them, knocking them off of a building for more fun!  It was so much fun to see this young fledgling doing all this flying and getting the attention of both his parents.  The Watchers were enjoying every moment of Orion’s lessons. If Orion had a sibling, they would both be learning together, but in this case, both Beauty and Dot.ca were giving Orion their full attention.

After a couple hours of intense flying, everyone left except for Lynda, MAK, Dana, Kathy O and I.  We decided to move our chairs down closer to the library to get the sun out of our eyes.  Larry and Dan had to leave and Kathy O joined us.  During that lull, we were approached by a reporter from the D&C, David Andreatta.  He interviewed us and asked many questions.  Between all 5 of us, he got quite an ear full.  lol  We were all interested to know how the article would turn out and what would be included.   It was wonderful meeting you David!  Come join us anytime!  🙂

During the mid-afternoon, the falcons were still flying around a bit, but not as much as they had this morning.  I decided to get some things done, so I left Kathy and Jeanne on Watch.

I returned at 7:00 pm for a quick look around the city to see where Orion was.  I was joined by Dana and Lou.  We found Orion on the platform of the FCT and Beauty on a small ledge on the SE corner of the TSB, below the nest box level.  This was one of Archer’s favorite spots.  As we were losing light, Orion flew back towards the TSB, and we found him at the base of the SE wing, hopefully tucked in for the night at about 8 pm.  Beauty remained on the lower ledge.  So, with it getting dark and both Orion and Beauty settled in on the TSB, we all decided to call it a night at about 8:30 pm.  Tomorrow was another day to keep our eyes to the sky to view more lessons for our young juvie. <3

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Let me just start by saying…holy freakin’ falcon flying Batman! Today Beauty and Dot.Ca put on a clinic for Orion who flew just as well as his parents as far as I’m concerned. Most of the watch was spent observing the 3 of them on the east side of the city flying,soaring,talon tagging,hovering and stooping near Bausch&Lomb(B&L),Xerox,Chase and Midtown.

When I got off the bus at 6:15am and turned the corner at Main and Exchange I saw Beauty up on the ledge directly above the nest box.

I dragged my cart up the stairs at Falcon Watcher Central to go join Dan on the Broad St. bridge but I didn’t see him so I went back down to the hole and looked for Orion. I soon got a text from Lynda that she was with Dan on the bridge so back up I went(I’m surely getting lots of exercise these days). Shortly after I joined them(LarryO and Dana were there too) the show began with Beauty and Orion soaring above Xerox. Beauty landed up on the southwest corner of Xerox and stooped from there across the river near Cornhill as this has become a morning routine for her. She came up empty-taloned and landed on the south side of the jail tower. Orion was perched on the northwest corner of B&L and had a front row seat to watch his Beautyful mom show him her skills.

Beauty flew off the tower flying behind the Times Square building(TSB) then she flew over the river and joined Orion on B&L. A series of  flying and talon tagging took place and Dot.Ca joined them in the sky as well at one point. Orion chased his mom off  B&L a couple times which always cracks me up!

Lynda and I rode over to HSBC where I saw Orion on the northwest railing for the first time. Beauty always liked to hunt from atop HSBC first thing in the morning and no doubt she was encouraging her son to do the same.

After we rejoined Carol and Dana on the bridge we got a visit from a reporter for the Democrat&Chronicle(local newspaper). Dave Andreatta was very interested in our story as they are always looking for something out of the ordinary to report.  And lets face it folks to see a bunch of people sitting in lawn chairs in the heart of the city holding cameras and binoculars is definitely different and eye catching! Of course the whole time he was there the falcons were resting.

This day was all about flying lessons for Orion and fly he did!

Click on the pics for full version to see Orion fly

Beauty and DC did a super job teaching Orion today. He really is flying like he’s been doing it a long time instead of the week and a half since he fledged. DC chased a crow out of the area and Beauty sent a hawk packing as another lesson was taught to our young juvie. One funny thing happened after Lynda left. A homeless man came by and said “bird watching” to which we all answered yes and then he started walking again chuckling like Beavis and Butthead all the way down to the library and out of sight. Well it just hit us all funny and a laughing attack overcame us for a good 10 minutes after the fact. I ask you “who has more fun than falcon watchers”? Keep smiling it’s good for the soul! 🙂

Click the links below for pics and a video

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrFTg

http://youtu.be/ZRbuw4NHJh8

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! 🙂

Check out my pics and videos by clicking on the links below

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrFKA

http://youtu.be/1XDSjVRt2g0

http://youtu.be/bPrIFwQO5-I

http://youtu.be/P7Rs7Sw3OwA

http://youtu.be/jI-2Z9Jmt9s

http://youtu.be/02HLoRmylG4

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

I was a little late getting downtown to start my normal 4:00 pm Fledge Watch. Very dark clouds were approaching from the west. Susan C, our Official Weather Watcher aka OWW, reported that heavy rain and T-storms were heading towards the downtown area. I arrived downtown at 4:45 pm and joined Marcia on Aqueduct St just before it started to rain. Orion was on the south end of the Cross Roads Bldg and Beauty was on the south side, top Ibeam of the OCSR. We took our chairs out and got comfortable for about 10 minutes. Marcia told me that Orion had been fed by Beauty on the Cross Rds Bldg. Then it started to rain. Marcia said her goodbyes and I took over the Fledge Watch at 5:00 pm.

I decided to head up to the Broad St Bridge to watch in the rain. It’s amazing how active Orion is when it’s raining. He seems to really like it. Probably cooling to him after a very warm, humid day. For over an hour, it rained harder and harder. During that time, Dan pulled in front of me on the bridge and we both watched.

Both Beauty and Orion took off and returned, Beauty back to the top Ibeam and Orion above her on the roof of the OCSR roof. Then Orion was gone! Poof! From the BSB, I was able to see that he was now over on the FCT platform. I told Dan I was going over to check on him and Dan decided to stay on the bridge. Over at the city hall parking lot, I was able to watch Orion preen and do his wing stretches. Then he was off, heading south. I quickly followed and saw him flying with Beauty near the OCSR. I again joined Dan on the BSB and Dan told me that Beauty had stooped over the river and came back with Orion hot on her tail. She did not catch anything, but he was ready in case she did. Beauty returned to the OCSR and Orion returned to the FCT platform.

Jeanne joined us just after it stopped raining, although the sky still looked threatening. We set-up our chairs and enjoyed chatting while we kept an eye on O & B. Beauty again stooped and ended up on the jail communication tower. She continued to hunt from there. Orion had moved up to the 2nd arm of the FCT, where he probably had a better view of mom, just in case she caught something for him.

At 8:00 pm, it was time for me to leave. I left the watch in the capable hands of Jeanne and Dan, who remained downtown for another 1/2 hour. Weather permitting, I will return downtown early tomorrow morning. I would love to see a food exchange between Beauty and Orion. I will definitely keep my eyes to the sky for that! 🙂

Sorry. No pictures to share today. It was dark, overcast and raining the whole time I was there. Hopefully next time!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was lightly raining when I left the house to walk to my bus stop this morning and when I arrived downtown it had stopped. The entire fledge watch was overcast and dark with light rain on and off. After finding Beauty on the west corner top ibeam of OCSR I thought I saw a bump on the disc part on top where the restaurant was at one time. I would find out I was seeing things a few minutes later when I got a tweet from Larry that Orion was over on the Frontier Communications Tower(FCT). I checked the Broad St. bridge(BSB) for Dan and after not seeing him I walked over to City Hall on Fitzhugh St. where I caught up with Larry on Church St. Orion was on the east side railing of the platform and he said that Dot.Ca had just stooped to the north.

Larry left for work so I went to a bench on the southeast corner of the Church and Fitzhugh intersection to keep an eye on Orion. About 30 minutes later I got a call from DebbieH letting me know Beauty was still on OCSR and she thought she had seen Orion flying near OCSR and over Widows Walk. I waited a few minutes to see if he showed up on FCT and then I walked over to Times Square and had a look for myself. Beauty was indeed still on OCSR but 5 minutes after I arrived she left flying in the direction of- you guessed it FCT! And I spotted a falcon small in size fly over Keybank also flying toward FCT. So I hoofed it back over to City Hall checking for Orion along the way. When I got back over there Orion was on the north railing and Beauty was on the 2nd arm south side.

As I tried keeping track of our Rochester Peregrine Falcons I kept getting asked about them by many City Hall workers. One guy said he missed finding pigeon parts on the sidewalks,one lady said she could hear one of them a lot lately,another guy said he was very excited to see a falcon fly really fast after a pigeon and couldn’t get over how hard the impact was when it hit the pigeon. Lots of people remembered us watchers  and the falcons from 2010 when Beauty,Archer and Callidora hung out on FCT all the time. It was nice to speak to everyone but it made it that much harder to keep track of  the falcons.

Anyway, I had all 3 on FCT at once as Beauty had food on the platform and Orion wanted it while DC watched them from above on the 2nd arm. Beauty flew to the brick building over by the music school where I haven’t seen her since Callidora and Jemison were around.

Debbie came by on her lunch break and with her and Donnas’ help we were able to determine that DC was on the west side of the platform and Orion popped up on the east side. Team work is key when locating falcons and we all work together pretty well I’d say. Orion got up on the west side railing at the north end before taking off toward the TSB again. So once more I walked to TSB and after not finding any pefas returned to FCT to find DC on the east side railing and Orion was singing so I knew he was up there somewhere.

Thunderstorms were on the way and my watch was til 2:00 tho I stayed a bit longer, I left for the bus so I could get home before the rains came. Brian was on his way to the South Ave. garage and Marcia was scheduled for a watch at 2 so I knew our little fledgling would be watched over. I had fun watching the antics of Orion on the platform and railings of FCT and as always he kept me smiling on a dismal day! 🙂

Links for pics and videos are below just click on and away you go

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrFCg

http://youtu.be/wxIwKZse_RA

http://youtu.be/V1mFkeMYmzw

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

After a long day at work, I could hardly wait to get downtown to watch young Orion continue to learn how to be a Peregrine under the watchful eyes of his parents Beauty & Dot.ca. I wouldn’t be disappointed. He is a joy to watch and an incredible flyer for all his youth.

I joined Jeanne at the City Hall Parking Lot a little before 4:00 pm. She had been watching Orion most of the day up on the Frontier Communication Tower. For the next few hours we watched Orion run, jump and fly around the metal frame work of the FCT like it was his own personal jungle gym. Dot.ca was there the whole time, but we could not see where Beauty had gone.

During the evening we were joined by Kathy O, Dana, Lou, Dan S and Larry O. We were also joined for a little while by a security guard on his rounds at the city hall. He told us that his brother was into falconry and that he really loved Peregrine Falcons. Well who didn’t! lol 🙂

Orion did quite a bit of flying. Sometimes short flights off and back onto the tower. Sometimes long, soaring, effortless, sky high flights. He is such a graceful flyer, soaring almost like an adult. I truly love to watch this young tiercel fly.

Near the end of my watch, Orion took off and headed southeast. Dot.ca followed him towards the Times Square Bldg. Walking out a little further into the parking lot, we could see that he landed on top of the OCSR disk on the west side. Dot.ca landed nearby on the north end of the Cross Rds Bldg. Dan was out on the pedestrian bridge at this time and he reported seeing Beauty also land on the Cross Rds. Bldg. We waited to see if they would return to the FCT, they did not.

At 8:00 pm, I called it a night and headed home, leaving Dana and Lou on Watch. At 8:07 pm, Dana tweeted that “O did some nice flying over downtown and landed under the NE wing on the Times Square Bldg”. According to Dan, when he arrived downtown for his early morning watches around 6 am, Orion was usually under one of the wings on the TSB. Seems to be his nightly roosting spot. Good to know.

During the early morning watches, both Dan and Larry report that Beauty is usually actively hunting down the river very early. They have seen some spectacular stoops by her from the top of the TSB to the river below. She has been successful on some of those hunting runs.

During the past week, both Pigott (at the BS location) and KPT (at KP) have been seen. Kathy O, Joyce and Jeanne report that Pigott is looking more and more like an adult every day. She is very dark in color, similar to Beauty’s coloring.

It was another wonderful evening for a Falcon Fledge Watch. Cooler than the past weeks, it felt really good. We are supposed to get rain tomorrow and temps in the mid-70’s (F). Nice change from the sweltering 90 plus degrees that we have had this Summer.

I really missed Donna at today’s watch. Hope you come back soon!

I had to share this video with all of you. It’s of Orion “playing” or practicing on the balance beam for the Olympics (you be the judge!) on the FCT. Very interesting to see how he is learning to use his talons for gripping and turning and how he manipulates the feathers on his body as he turns this way and that. Love watching him! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOAth2ZDfLs&feature=youtu.be

and here are a few pics from the evening watch:

Today Donna returned to NJ so it was sad to have a watch without her. Come back soon, Donna! Mak put out a call for watchers and I was able to spend the day! I went to Frontier Communication Tower (FCT) first and saw him on the edge of the platform. He looked like he was nibbling on something. Thankfully, I saw him because the second I reached for my camera, he walked in to the platform and I couldn’t see him! For the next couple of hours, nothing. I began to doubt that he was there but I knew I hadn’t seen anyone fly. Sure enough, just as I was getting worried, he popped up! The FCT has many railings, some discs and a couple of platforms so it is like a jungle jim. Orion uses the railings to fly/walk fast and then goes to different areas. I “thought” he had gone down to a railing and convinced myself that his resemblance to an adult was just my imagination. Then I heard screaming and realized it was Beauty who was on the railing and Orion was above her. I love that sound (because it is from him and it also lets watchers know he is around) but Beauty did not look enthusiastic. She either looked at him or slept! Orion did his share of flapping or just extending his wings. It is an awesome sight. At one point, he just circled around the FCT and then went out a bit farther toward the Widow’s Walk. It was breathtaking. He rode on the wind– flying slowly or just hovering atop the wind current. It was hard to believe I was seeing a juvie who just fledged a week ago. I still keep fingers crossed that he will be safe but I also am in awe watching him. Carol P joined me and we were able to see him make short but dynamic flights. Through the late afternoon, we had Beauty and Dotca come in. And we had a very screechy young falcon! Many city employees stopped by to ask what was happening since FCT is across from City Hall. People are very interested in the falcons. One woman said she had seen a falcon flying earlier today and heard screaming:) One of the security guards is particularly interested and would stop by on his rounds and take a look at our falcon family.

It was nice to see both parents with our young falcon and to see him negotiate the winds. Nice to have watchers out tonight– Kathy O, Larry, Dana, Lou and Dan were out.

After some car trouble yesterday Donna and I were able to get back downtown for a fledge watch in the evening. Also watching were CarolP,Dana,Jeanne and KathyO. The entire watch was spent in the City Hall parking lot watching  Orion play on the Frontier Communications tower(FCT). He could also be heard singing! What a voice on this kid!!! lol

And what a set of wings as well! He played on the platform, did some running on the railing and flap,flap,flapping all over the place. Dot.Ca was hanging out with Orion giving him a clinic on stooping as he made at least 7 attempts bringing food back with him after the last known stoop and Orion ended up eating on the platform too! Beauty spent the whole time over on the Kodak Office tower leaving Dot in charge of their son on this night.

We parted ways just before dusk ending another fledge watch on a high note as Orion is doing exceptionally well.

Fast forward to this morning as it would be the last look Donna would have before catching the train home. We found Orion on the north side railing of the Widows Walk.

After a few minutes there he went over to the west side of the railing before flying to FCT where we found him on the railing east side. Time was winding down before we would have to go to the train station and to send Donna off with a smile Orion started to sing as we were getting ready to leave. 🙂

For a few more pics click on the link below

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrE9A

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Today when I arrived downtown at 4:00 pm, I was on my own. Brian had texted that he was ducking for cover from the approaching T-storm into the library and Donna & MAK had some mechanical trouble. I parked on the Broad St Bridge and waited for the dark clouds to approach. There were intermittent strikes of lightning and loud booms. Just before it started to rain, I found Orion up on the TSB at the base of the SE wing. Brian reported seeing him do some high flying with his mom, Beauty, over the Chase Lincoln building that afternoon. Brian was quite impressed, even seeing Orion do some small stoops. Before going into the library, Brian reported that this was where Orion had landed after his awesome flight.

The rain moved in, but it didn’t last long. When it stopped, I saw that Orion was gone. I drove down to Aqueduct St to get a different view of the TSB. Nothing there or on Wilder or on the Widow’s Walk. Brian texted from the top of the South Ave ramp garage that he could not find any of the falcons. My next stop was the Andrew St Bridge. From there, I could see the Kodak Tower, the Frontier Communication Tower and the north side of OCSR. I was in luck. Orion was sitting on the top arm of the Frontier Communication Tower and Beauty was on the Kodak Tower. I quickly drove down to KO and verified that it was indeed Beauty. Yep! Next stop the Frontier Communication Tower.

From the City Hall Parking Lot, I had a great view of the FCT and KO. Dot.ca flew in and landed on the same level as Orion on a different arm.

I was joined by Dana, Kathy O, Donna, MAK and Jeanne. For the next couple hours, we watched Dot.ca stoop off of FCT, only to return empty taloned. Like Dan, I started counting his attempts. He got up to 0 for 6, when he took off for the 7th time, heading NW. This time he did not return quickly, much to Orion’s dismay. He had been screaming encouragement to his dad pretty much constantly for the whole time we were there. When dad didn’t return quick enough for his liking, he took off, heading south towards the Times Square Bldg.

Of course after Orion left, Dot.ca came in with prey. Woohoo, the 7th attempt was successful! Now where was Orion! Dot.ca landed on the 2nd arm down on the FCT and started to pluck, feathers flying. While he plucked, he looked around. We were wondering if he would go in search of Orion or not, that’s when we could all hear a screaming sound coming in from the south. It got louder and louder until finally, Orion arrived in all his glory! 🙂

Dot.ca landed on the south side of the FCT platform and so did Orion. It was on the opposite side of the tower and we did not see exactly what happened, but boy was it loud! I walked down and saw DC sitting up on the railing of the platform with Orion below him. As I watched, Orion clutched the prey in his right talon and drag it across the grating of the platform. I could see him through the grating from below. He took it to the edge of the platform on the SE corner, where it was really hard to see him. But, we could see his head every now and then definitely enjoying his evening meal. It was a perfect ending to my evening watch.

I returned to the others and explained what I saw. We were losing light at 8:00 pm, so I decided to end my watch.

I learned that today would be Donna’s last day on the fledge watch. She would be returning home tomorrow. Thanks so much for helping out with the fledge watch Donna! I am sure that you will be keeping your eyes on the Rochester sky again soon. Safe trip!

Here are a few pictures from tonite’s fledge watch in a Shutterfly Album.  No sign on needed.  Enjoy!

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By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Donna and I arrived on the Broad St. Bridge(BSB) where Dan and Larry were sitting in their chairs. Larry had forgotten his phone so he couldn’t tweet what he and Dan were seeing. They let us know that Beauty was under the southeast wing  of the Times Square building and over by City Hall Orion and Dot.Ca(DC) were hanging out on the Frontier Communications Tower(FCT).

After Larry and Dan left Donna and I headed straight to FCT so we could share space with the handsome DC and his young fledgling son Orion. I remember Archer hanging out on FCT with Callidora back in 2010. The platform makes a good playpen for juvies to run around,flap their wings and eat meals.

DC was hiding under the platform watching the antics of his boy.

Around noon they both left and after searching for them with no luck I took Donna over to the high falls pedestrian bridge. She had wanted to see the old stomping grounds of Mariah and Kaver before returning home. I was able to see a falcon on the top ibeam northeast side of OCSR. We would find out when we checked from the Andrews St bridge that it was Beauty. This is a place she and Archer liked to go to for shade in the afternoon. Unfortunately our watch was cut short at around 1:30 by vehicle problems but we were able to go out and join Kathy,Carol,Dana and Jeanne at the end of the night over by city hall where we spent most of the morning. We all were smiling throughout the last week that Donna has been here because she is just plain FUN and she has a keen eye for the falcons! 🙂

Click the links below for pics and videos taken by yours truly today

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrE1g

http://youtu.be/i93IWjl7prA

http://youtu.be/dUXRsZJL-BE

http://youtu.be/PKmPdZlliao