Morning watch 1-23-15
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
It was an overcast morning with light wind and a temperature of 26 (F) -3 (C) to start
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No birds seen at Seneca Towers this morning so I got downtown a little earlier than I have been lately. I went straight to Bragdon Place to check the elevator shaft but I didn’t see any birds there either. As I was coming down Main St. I spotted Beauty on the base of Mercury so I went down to Aqueduct St. in the hole to share space with her.
I could see that she didn’t have anything in her crop so she was in hunt mode as she was watching something below Mercury.
Right around the 8 o’clock hour Beauty flew off the other side of the base out of sight, so I wasn’t able to see what direction she took off to and I could only get her tail and the tip of one wing as she left.
So, I made the rounds checking from the bridges and driving around to the east side without success-no Beauty or Dot.ca (DC). As I was checking the elevator shaft from the Radisson Hotel near Main St. I did spot a falcon on the northeast corner of the Kodak Office launchpad, so off I went down State St. I was able to identify it as the Beautyful one arriving around 8:20am.
She was actively looking around at her territory for about 15-20 minutes before she turned toward the south and flew off headed in the direction of OCSR.
I took off right behind her and when I reached Bragdon St. I found who I believe was DC because of the bright white I was seeing on the head and neck.
I then went down to the south end of the Radisson Hotel to check the north side ledge and there was one tucked up in on that ledge as well with its back to me-so I tweeted that was Beauty but it could have been the other way around.
At any rate, both Beauty and DC were up in the OCSR elevator shaft safe and sound. It was just about 9am so I opted for ending my watch and getting on with my day. I left downtown smiling and content for having seen both of our beloved downtown falcons! 🙂
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http://youtu.be/Z3TW3aeIwAc
January 23rd, 2015 at 2:43 PM
All is right with the world! Thanks, MAK !!! J.
January 23rd, 2015 at 2:59 PM
What is the elevator shaft? I’m looking to see the Falcons this year. Best bet is early in the morning on building of nest box? Thanks
January 23rd, 2015 at 3:11 PM
And I exit the website smiling because of your report and pictures every day, MAK.
January 23rd, 2015 at 3:39 PM
Jay, best bet is right here on this site with MAK or on the weekends with Carol.. Nest building is a few months away… I’m betting on Beauty and DotC..
January 23rd, 2015 at 6:34 PM
You’re welcome June! Thanks for commenting!! 🙂
January 23rd, 2015 at 6:35 PM
I’m happy to hear that Alison!! 🙂
January 23rd, 2015 at 6:41 PM
Jay, the elevator shaft is on the east side of the First Federal building downtown-we call it the OCSR building which stands for Old Changing Scenes Restaurant, which is what used to be in the top round part of the building. It has an elevator on the outside of the building and the falcons go up to the top of it where there are ledges for them to get out of the weather. Their favorite spots to hang out are the ibeams on OCSR, the statue of Mercury by the river which is on the Thomson Reuters building, the Kodak Office Tower, the Frontier communications tower and of course the Times Square building where the nest box is located. Those are some of the main spots but they can be seen many other places downtown as well. Beauty and Dot.ca (DC for short) have already begun the season by visiting the nest site in the last week to renew their bond. Courtship will begin next month and continue thru March-April will bring eggs and incubation thru the latter part of May when the chicks will hatch. I am out early every morning, 7 days a week, monitoring the falcons and would be happy to join up with you and show you the ropes on where to look. I hope this answer has been helpful. 🙂
January 23rd, 2015 at 7:57 PM
Love these pics of our dear falcons and I am so glad every day that I read they are safe and sound!
Thank you MAK! 🙂
January 23rd, 2015 at 8:16 PM
Glad to do it Ginny! 🙂