By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

The title of this watch report says it all. Dana and I were ecstatic to find Artemis in the High Falls Gorge this morning. If not for a gull diving on Artemis, who was on a tree on the east side gorge wall, we would have never know she was there. Thank you gull!

Dana, Larry and I were downtown watching Nova, Neander and at least one juvie this morning. Since we were not able to positively identify the juvie or juvies we saw, it is impossible to tell if we had more than one.

There was a juvie that came in for a food transfer from Nova and flew south with the food. A little later, we saw a juvie on the Radisson that had a very full crop. This juvie hopped around for a bit and then laid down out of view.

Larry and Gimli left and Dana and I decided to head over to the observation deck at High Falls. The pedestrian bridge is now closed for one and a half years, so we could not look from there.

After arriving at the observation deck, our attention was drawn to a gull that kept diving on the tree line on the east side of the gorge. We expected to see a Red-tail Hawk there, but to our surprise it was a juvenile Peregrine Falcon!

At first, we couldn’t see a band, but eventually she did turn towards us and showed us her bright blue band. Hello Artemis!

While we were there, she took off three times and flew around the gorge, chasing gulls and pigeons, anything that flew. She was having a ball and so were we! Watching falcons in the gorge is always our dream!

On her 3rd flight around the gorge, she headed south, over the rail road tracks at the top of the falls and headed towards downtown. We believe she ended up on the Radisson.

After such a fun Saturday morning watch, Dana and I headed over to ST to check on Billie and Beau and their two juvies. We only saw Billie and Beau there. All the juvies are starting to wander a bit.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Well, what can I say? This year got away from me totally! As you have probably heard, downtown Rochester is a wreck! There are very few options on where to sit and watch or park the Rochester Falcons and certainly nowhere quiet. A few of us even got parking tickets! That was a first for me. Here’s a couple shots to show you a bit of what we have been dealing with.

Enough complaining, it is what it is. Another strange thing that happened this year is that no watcher’s actually witnessed any of our young falcons fledging. It all happened while we were not there. From Jubilee’s accidental fledge after being pushed off the wall by sister Artemis, then Artemis soon taking off after that, to Sterling waiting until later that day. Thankfully all three fledged safely to nearby buildings.

I do apologize for not leaving any watch reports this year, but things have been a little hectic. I and other watchers have been downtown to keep an eye on the young juvies as much as possible. Weekends are the best, since it’s easier to move around.

Sterling, Artemis and Jubilee have been seen hanging out together and training, under the watchful eye of Nova and Neander, to become successful Peregrine Falcons.

I’ve finally had a chance to download my picutres. There are quite a few favorites that I’d like to share. Hope you enjoy!

BE SURE TO CLICK ON EACH PICTURE TO SEE THE LARGER VERSION