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Morning watch 9-12-11

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK

I was hard pressed to find a falcon this morning. While parked on the Broad St. bridge I took a good look at the jail tower with my trusty binocs and I could just barely make out the top half of a falcon.

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I drove over to Troup St. to get a closer look so I could ID it but when I arrived it was gone. One and a half hours later as I pulled up on to the Andrews St. bridge I spotted a falcon on the 2nd ibeam of the OCSR building on the north side.

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I clicked off one pic and then I saw flashing lights behind me. An officer got out of his SUV and walked up to the truck. I thought to myself what’s this about I know he doesn’t have the lights on just to give me a parking ticket. (You have to pay for parking after 8:00am and it was 8:20am) I asked what the problem was as he stood outside my window. He said I’m not a city cop I’m from Homeland Security and I saw you parked here last week pointing your camera at the Federal building. He went on to say that I had left before he could get down here to check me out. I told him I was taking pics of falcons,etc and showed him the pic I had just taken, He said you have to understand with 9-11 yesterday and all they can’t have people taking pics of the federal building. I assured him I did not take any pics of the federal building and that I understood completely. I then thanked him for keeping us safe and offered him one of the business cards for rfalconcam that Joyce made up and gave me to handout to people. He took it and gave me his card, He left and I drove over to Bragdon St. next to the Radisson Hotel to get a closer view of this falcon. It didn’t look like Beauty or Archer to me. I thought it looked alot like the one that was with Beauty last week hanging around Xerox. The sun was shining bright on the building and I couldn’t get a good shot of it before it flew off. Right now with migrating falcons coming through the area and our Rochester falcons having no distinct routine, it makes our job as watchers challenging to say the least. I didn’t have any more sightings before I had to end my watch. Until next time keep smiling and have a great day! 🙂

6 Responses to “Morning watch 9-12-11”

  1. margaret Says:

    Wow! Homeland Security keeping that close an eye on little old Rochester. You keep having all these adventures, MAK! Hope you directed him to this rfalconcam.!

  2. mkurtz Says:

    Yeah I directed him alright! I’ve been questioned by cops and all kinds of security guards but this was the first time by Homeland Security! I had visions of being hauled off in handcuffs this morning… 🙂

  3. Larry O Says:

    I’d like to know what he meant, as there are no “Homeland Security” police.
    He may have been from Federal Protective Service which, under GSA, are the guard force for federal buildings, but there are not police in the traditional sense.

  4. mkurtz Says:

    You’re right Larry. His card says Department of Homeland Security National Protection and Programs Directorate-Federal Protective Service. It has his name and the Federal building address on it. 🙂

  5. Carol Says:

    This same thing happened to Lisa McK a couple of years ago on the Andrew St Bridge. Except, if I remember right, a couple cars approached her. They are definitely out there and very touchy when you are anywhere near the Federal Building. Brian and I were also approached and told to not take pics of the Federal Bldg when we were on foot, approaching the OCSR. I think Dana was approached once also. I’m afraid this is what we have to put up with post 9/11. 🙁

  6. Debbie H. Says:

    OMG MAK!!!!


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