By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

6:00 am to 1:00 pm Watchers: Dana, Kathy O, Larry O, Lou and Carol P

I’ll start by saying that I have no pictures downloaded from my camera yet, so I’ll just write a quick Fledge Watch Report about the juvies adventures from this morning.

When we first arrived, we went on a search for our now fledged juvies. No more eyases! I was able to positively ID Anders with his blue taped USFW band. He was on the TSB on the NE wing ledge. The DEC has put different colored tape on the eyases bands for a very long time. It is very helpful to the watchers on the street to help identify the juvies.

Next up was a juvie on the small ledge just below Anders. Dana positively IDd Denali with his yellow tape. Now where was Zephyrus? The evening watchers were not sure where he ended up before it got dark. So, the search continued for Zephyrus.

We spread out hoping to find him. And we did! Dana found Zephyrus in a somewhat precarious situation. He was standing on top of a light pole above Exchange St in front of the Blue Cross Arena. He was off the ground, but over a road that was becoming more busy with people coming into work. Dana, Larry O and I set up surrounding his location to keep an eye on him. Kathy O returned to her car to set up her rescue box, just in case he got into trouble. She was also keeping watch over Denali and Anders.

Zephyrus remained on the light pole for quite awhile. He would stretch and preen and flap his wings. At one point an irate robin stooped on him a few times. Larry had to leave and would return at lunch time. Dana and I stayed vigilant, watching Zephyrus as he started to bob his head and flap his wings. He kept turning back and forth, unsure where he should go. First facing me, facing the TSB, then turning around facing Dana, away from the TSB. That’s when he took off!

He flew over Exhange, and behind the old Gannett Bldg, which is now residential. Dana saw him turn towards Broad St, then lost sight of him. I did not see him cross Broad St, but I did see Nova swoop over the Gannett building and return to the SE parapet on the TSB, so we thought he either landed on top of Gannett or a nearby building. Kathy, Dana and I walked all over trying to find him, but had no luck. We continued to search.

As I was walking along Broad St across from the Blue Cross Arena, I looked back towards the TSB and Gannett just in time to see a falcon fly towards the TSB from Gannett. This falcon was flying strong and gaining height quickly. I watched as it landed on the south side lower section at the back of the TSB. Who was that!!!

Crossing the street and heading south, I looked back and saw a juvie hanging out on the edge of the building. I took some pictures and was so very happy to see a red band. Zephyrus!

Denali joined Zephyrus for a short visit, then took off leaving him.

We relaxed a little bit after seeing Zephyrus return to his family. Lou joined us and we sat back and enjoyed some nice flying by our 3 juvies and Nova and NG. All 3 were doing great. There were some near miss landings, but they just shook it off and continued their flights, landing on a different spot. Anders and Zephyrus even made it up to the tippy top of OCSR! Just amazing!

The evening watchers are on duty, continuing to keep watch over our new fledglings. Eventhough the juvies have fledged, we’ll continue to keep watch over them for awhile.