Falcon Watch – 7/15/09 (7-9 pm) – The Perils of Pigeons
From Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P:
After the noon hour Watch with Lisa McK, Shaky, Sue(Bess) and I, with only one Falcon sighting on the old Changing Scenes Restaurant, I decided to head downtown for an evening Watch. It seems that Mariah is much more active at this time.
When I arrived around 7:00 pm, I drove around the Kodak Tower and finally spotted Mariah on the North side of the catwalk on the High Falls Smoke Stack. I parked near the BeeBee Plant where I had a good view of Mariah. The RG&E guard approached me from the other side of the fence. He told me that I couldn’t take pictures there. I pointed out Mariah’s position and told him I would only take pictures of her.
A Robin landed about a foot away from Mariah on the catwalk railing and started “chatting”. Over and over and over and over again, it went on for a long time. Finally, Mariah had enough. She spread her wings and moved towards the Robin. It flew off and Mariah remained on the catwalk. There was quiet for a few moments and then the Robin returned.
Around 8 pm, Mariah spread her wings and took off, heading east over the river. I quickly jumped into my car and drove to the east end of the pedestrian bridge.
Just as I was parking my car, a pigeon fell to the ground and fluttered towards the end of the pedestrian bridge. Hmmmm, what was that all about?
I looked up at the older section of the old Cataract brewery building that we now call Skye’s Bldg and saw that Mariah had successfully hunted. She was standing on another pigeon. After a few moments, Mariah took off with her catch and landed on the Genessee Brewery roof, just out of sight.
I quickly checked on the downed pigeon and found a very frightened, youngster. Puffs of fuzzy down still stuck to his/her head. Definitely a nestling that was very near to taking it’s first flight. Mariah’s hunt scared the little one into an early fledge. I found a rehabber that would take it and gently picked it up in a towel and put it into a box I carried in my car for this purpose. I hope s/he’ll be ok. (7/18 update – the young Pigeon is doing well. 🙂
Back to Mariah. Just before I left, I noticed that about 7 Crows had gathered around where I knew Mariah had taken the pigeon. They cawed over and over, very loudly. I left Mariah with her meal and her gang of Crows to take the pigeon to the rehabber.
I made a quick trip around the Kodak Tower on my way home and found Mariah back on the north side of the High Falls smoke stack Catwalk with her little bird friend chattering away. LOL That was a little after 9 pm.
Another enjoyable Watch!
Carol P.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:20 PM
That would’ve been a great picture – Mariah and the robin having a little conversation! Good thing she wasn’t hungry or things could’ve taken a nasty turn for the robin. 🙁
July 19th, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Thats true..glad it didn’t. Sounds like M is doing okay..and thank you for rescuing the baby pigeon, glad it is alright.
July 19th, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Jeesh Carol – you’re going to win some humanitarian of the year award this year for certain with all the rescues you’ve done!
July 19th, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Thanks for the update on Mariah! Pretty bold little must not
of known who s/he was dealing with! And yeah for the baby
pigeon rescue!
July 19th, 2009 at 5:29 PM
” . . . I noticed that about 7 Crows had gathered around where I knew Mariah had taken the pigeon.”
Probably waiting around so they can raid her cache, the little bandits! No wonder they call them a murder of crows. 🙂
BTW, does Mariah chache prey on the kodak tower? If so, will the workers remove it?
July 19th, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Sounds like a very enjoyable – enviable – watch! That youngster pigeon was very lucky to have you around so it could fly again another day… hopefully in the opposite direction of Mariah, or any other predator for that matter! 😀
July 19th, 2009 at 10:21 PM
just curious Carol do you know was the pigeon Mariah caught another baby or one of the parents?
July 19th, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Jeesh Carol – you’re going to win some humanitarian of the year award this year for certain with all the rescues you’ve done!
July 20th, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Carol P has twittered a battle in progress. 🙁
http://twitter.com/WanderingFalcon
July 20th, 2009 at 7:26 AM
Any more news on the battle??
July 20th, 2009 at 7:48 AM
Just a quick update –
On Sunday morning, 7/19, both Archer and Beauty were on the Kodak Tower. Mariah returned and (we believe) chased A&B off. Both A&B ended up in the gorge. Archer on the gorge wall, below the observation deck and Beauty in the Shady Tree (also on the east side gorge wall).
All was calm for a quite a long time. Then according to Brian, Beauty flew out of the gorge towards the K-Tower, Mariah came off and an aerial battle was begun. Mariah was doing all the chasing and Beauty would go talons up.
It all changed when Archer joined in. Once she was double teamed, Mariah flew off towards the North. Smart girl! Beauty returned to the K-Tower and landed on the Launch Pad.
Beauty then flew downtown and both she and Archer entered the Times Square nest box.
When we left last night, Archer and Beauty were still at the Times Square nest box and we weren’t sure where Mariah was. As far as we know, no Peregrines were hurt.
@Barb – I believe that the Pigeon Mariah caught was an adult. Not sure if it was the young one’s parent.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Carol, You need a SUPER HERO’s CAPE with the rescuing you do LOL Glad you’re a dedicated person!
July 20th, 2009 at 10:49 AM
The rehabbers who accept these helpless creatures and care for them are the real heroes! 🙂
July 20th, 2009 at 1:05 PM
@Joan McC – I actually do have a picture of Mariah and her chatty friend. LOL 😉
July 20th, 2009 at 1:06 PM
@Chrissy – You asked if Mariah caches food on the Kodak Tower. We’ve seen her eating up there, and I’m sure that there are remains on the ledges. Nice surprise for the workers. 🙂