Morning watch 3-29-15
By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK
Another 19(F) -8(C) degree start to my watch but today there was sun and blue skies instead of snow and clouds
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I can think of no better way to start my day than with the sight of Beauty and Dot.ca (DC) on the Times Square building (TSB) as the sun comes up and that’s exactly how this day started. She was on the nest box ledge and he was on the southeast wing ring.
I left the Broad St. bridge (BSB) for the hole parking lot and DC flew over to the Mercury money bag (MMB) while I was en route. DC took off soon after I arrived in the hole and flew over to cam 1 as the sun came up.
A minute later DC was off again heading southwest. I went back up on the BSB to see if Beauty was still at the nest box and have a look around for DC. 10-15 minutes later DC returned with food and started plucking feathers under the northeast wing.
Back down to the hole I went to get closer with my falcon friends. DC continued preparing his catch and some 5 minutes or so later flew off with it.
I was taping him at the time and thought for sure he was going down to the nest box to deliver it to Beauty so I fixed the camera on the nest area. He fooled me and Beauty as she flew out and met him over the Philipone building. There was lots of vocalization and when all was said and done DC left with the goods and Beauty flew to cam 1.
A minute later at 7:31am the Beautyful one flew over to the Wilder green strip (WGS) leading me right to DC who was up there eating. She said a few things to him then left to return to the nest box.
DC continued eating and I thought he would eat it all but he finally stopped himself and went over to the deck to deliver a small package to his mate. There was a little vocalization as the exchange was made.
Beauty took the food to the north corner next to the main cam to eat and DC went to cover their egg.
Beauty polished off that meager morsel in less than 10 minutes then she cleaned up a bit and turned around to face DC and their egg in the nest box.
I left them at 8am to tend to their egg and went to Seneca Towers to look for Billie and 99. I found 99 on his spot at the north end of the building on the top window ledge. He appeared to have some food in his crop but he was alone the entire hour and a half I was on watch there. While I was taping 99, the pastor of the Northridge Church, where I park to watch the north and east sides of Seneca Towers came out to ask what I was doing. I explained to her about all of our Rochester Peregrine Falcons and gave her a business card with the Rfalconcam website on it so she could check us out.
In my opinion, I feel that the absence of Billie could very well mean that she has laid an egg or more and is covering them somewhere. Remember, I witnessed a couple mating attempts by 99 that she didn’t except just like Beauty when she was eggy and wouldn’t mate with DC. Stay tuned! I called it a watch at 9:45am with a smile as I day dreamed about fledglings downtown and at Seneca Towers! 🙂
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March 29th, 2015 at 2:43 PM
They will be easier to find now, since the scrape with eggs will be the center of their attention.
I think 99 could give us a clue about Billie’s whereabouts if she has laid an egg or eggs, either spending time looking in her direction or flying some food in for her. Of course, that may take a week or so to become apparent.
March 29th, 2015 at 3:26 PM
Alison, 99 was looking mainly toward the northwest corner which makes me wonder if the scrape is up on the roof close to that corner. It’s always been their preferred spot on the building. Sure wish the Seneca Towers management had said yes to my request to place a nest box. 🙂
March 29th, 2015 at 7:48 PM
MAK Will management look on the roof for signs of eggs or a scrape !!??
March 29th, 2015 at 9:19 PM
I don’t know Lynne and I think the DEC would frown upon anyone getting near a possible nest sight-they are still a protected species. 🙂
March 30th, 2015 at 2:42 PM
Hey, Do you check that nest on Hawkeye? Maybe Billie is there?
March 30th, 2015 at 4:47 PM
Yes Ciuciek, I check Hawkeye at least twice a day and sometimes more. I haven’t seen Billie or 99 there since last fall. That doesn’t mean they don’t go there as I’m only checking a fraction of the day. 🙂