By Rochester Falcon Watch Carol P.

Memorial Day is a time to remember those we’ve lost. Never forget.

This is actually my watch report from yesterday, Sunday, 5/24/20. My good friends Kathy O and Lisa McK joined me on the Court St Bridge (CSB). We set up our chairs more than 6 feet apart (that’s 2 falcon wingspans apart). It was a gorgeous Sunday morning.

When I first arrived, Beauty was on pan cam, keeping watch over the three eyases in the nest box. Dot.ca was on top of Mercury.

From the Court St Bridge, we could see an eyas inside the nest box.

It was so enjoyable being out in the fresh air and sunshine. Others had the same idea. Lots of joggers, bike riders and people just enjoying the beautiful day. The sky was bright blue with wispy clouds. The sound of running water from the river below filled the air. We did spot one Great Blue Heron, fishing on the river near the library.

The streets were mostly empty of cars, still from this corona virus. Such sad days. I do hope that some day, we will be able to return to how it was before.

Dot.ca flew in with a small package of food and landed on the nest box platform. Beauty met him there and took it into the hungry eyases.

After handing off the meal, Dot.ca (DC) flew out to the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT) and landed on the top arm.

Beauty finished feeding the eyases and we could see her in front of the nest box. Dot.ca flew over to the TSB and landed on the ledge under the northeast wing.

After awhile, Beauty moved up to the nest box roof. From there, she could keep watch over the eyases without them seeing her.

The morning grew warmer and the clouds began to move out, leaving a most beautiful blue sky. More people were out and about. Most moved out into the street to pass us. The wonderful smell from the Dinosaur BBQ reached us. Can I tell you, it smelled so delicious!

Back to the falcons… First Dot.ca and then Beauty took off.

Both took to the sky! Dot.ca landed in front of the nest box, his turn to guard the eyases, and Beauty flew above us, higher and higher. One of my favorite things to do is to watch a falcon fly, soaring with hardly a wing beat. Using the winds to rise up. Now that the eyases are larger, she does not have to be with them all the time. Dot.ca is more than capable to baby sit. 🙂

Kathy, Lisa and I just sat back and enjoyed the show.

This was our view from the Court St Bridge.

This is when we ended our Sunday Morning Falcon Watch. Three hours flew by, almost as fast as a Peregrine Falcon!

We were all saddened by the loss of our fourth eyas. Life goes on and we will watch over the three remaining eyases, but will never, ever forget the one we lost. Fly Free little one.

I’ll leave you with one last picture I took during Beauty’s flight. It just seemed appropriate to post on this Memorial Day. Take care everyone!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Well here we are. It’s Spring, but it feels like Winter. The sun was out, but the air was frigid!

I started my watch on Aqueduct St. aka “the hole”. Due to our city being pretty much closed due to Covid19, the streets were close to empty. Thankfully, Beauty and Dot.ca continue to do their falcon duties. They have 4 young eyases to feed!

The pigeons in the hole immediately flew down for their Sunday morning seed. After that, I spotted Dot.ca (DC) on the Times Square Bldg (TSB), on the ledge below the SE wing.

Dot.ca was busy preening while I watched. Then he went still and all his attention was on the birds flying below him. It was time to hunt. He took off in a stoop, towards the street below.

I lost sight of him when he went behind the building between me and the TSB. I didn’t see him come out either side.

A couple minutes later, DC returned carrying prey towards the nest box. His hunt was a success.

He landed on the nest box platform, and brought the meal to Beauty and the eyases.

He stayed in the nest box for awhile, helping to feed the eyases. While I waited for him to come out, a Great Blue Heron flew overhead.

Finally Dot.ca flew out of the nest box and landed above on the NE wing ledge.

All was quiet, so I headed over to the Court St Bridge, where I ran into fellow falcon watcher Larry O and his dog Zeke.

From there we could see Beauty in the nest box and Dot.ca above under the NE wing.

Larry had to leave, so I made my way over to the library, where they are redoing the terrace on the north side of the Rundel Library, next to the river. For those folks that are watching the live streaming video, this is where the loud sounds are coming from.

It was time for me to end my Sunday morning watch. A quick check of our cameras showed Beauty and the eyases sleeping in the nest box. Dot.ca was above them, keeping watch over his little family.

I hope that all you moms had a wonderful Mother’s Day and that everyone is doing well and staying healthy!

Oh, and if you’ve been wondering, I have seen Billie and Beau at Seneca Towers over the last few weeks. They are still together and doing well.