Wednesday Afternoon Falcon Watch – 4/29/15
By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.
2:45 – 4:15 pm
When I left work, Dot.ca was in the nest box on the eggs. When I arrived downtown on the Broad St Bridge, I found Beauty on the Times Square Bldg on the lower SE corner.
Soon after I arrived, there was a switch in the nest box. I didn’t realize it at the time. Thanks Kathy O and Pat for letting me know that there had been a changing of the guard. Beauty went into the nest box and Dot.ca came out, landing on the 2nd IBeam down on OCSR.
My view from the Broad St Bridge.
It was a gorgeous afternoon, with sunshine, blue skies and temps in the 60’s. Dot.ca walked down the Ibeam to the west corner. From there he took off heading west.
I drove over to the Andrews St Bridge and found Dot.ca on the top arm of the Frontier Communication Tower.
While I was watching Dot.ca there was a drone buzzing over the river.
Soon after I returned to the Broad St Bridge, Dot.ca arrived, landing on the OCSR’s top IBeam.
Dot.ca then flew over to the top of the Mercury statue.
Dot.ca was constantly moving his head, watching everything. At first I thought he was in hunt mode. He took off, flying fast towards the Times Square Bldg then turning left. He wasn’t hunting, he was clearing out his territory. He was chasing a Crow that had come too close. I lost sight of them as they flew down Exchange St heading south.
It wasn’t long before Dot.ca returned to the top IBeam on OCSR to continue to keep guard over his family.
All was peaceful and quiet at the end of my watch.
April 29th, 2015 at 8:36 PM
Beautiful day! DC is such a good Dad! Thanks for the report, Carol- won’t be long now! whoo hoo 😀
April 29th, 2015 at 9:06 PM
Thanks Pat! It was a beautiful afternoon. 🙂
April 30th, 2015 at 6:42 AM
Beautiful day,beautiful report, beautiful pictures..What was that drone doing? Hmm-m? Thanks, Carol.
April 30th, 2015 at 6:49 AM
Thanks June! There were two young men controlling the drone. It was a very short flight, maybe about 10 minutes and then they were gone. Maybe just testing it out? I think we’ll be seeing more and more of these drones.
April 30th, 2015 at 8:25 AM
Nice shot of my workplace, Carol! Also, I know DC was occupied with the crow, but did he pay any attention to the drone? I’m curious as to how birds are reacting to these small flying machines.
April 30th, 2015 at 9:27 AM
Thanks Pat! The drone was low over the river on the north side of the Andrews St Bridge. Dot.ca was on the top arm of the Frontier Communication Tower. They had just brought out the drone for its’ short flight, while I was there. Not sure if DC even noticed it. There were Turkey Vultures floating over the High Falls area. That may have gotten his attention when he took off from the west corner of OCSR. He is in hyper-protective mode right now.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:57 PM
Good for DC,he is a protector and good to Beauty.
That drone kind of gave me the creeps,I just hope people won’t overdo on the drone activity.It seems people just have to try out all the recent”toys” No wonder we live in a rapid pace and anxious society. The birds.I hope will remain safe from any injury.Thanks again for great pictures.Diane
May 1st, 2015 at 7:23 AM
Thank you Diane. I’ve been seeing more and more drone activity downtown, only once near the falcons. Nothing happened thankfully. Soon we will have small white fluffy eyases to watch in the nest box to watch! 🙂