An After Work Falcon Watch – 2/15/12
By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.
The Falcon Watchers have been thinking this Falcon was Unity ever since watching her eat on the roof in the snow storm over the weekend when I saw the Black over Red band through the scope. But without a positive ID, we have to be careful about saying for certain it was her. We’ve been wrong before. Joyce’s pics of the black over red band and the “H” definitely make it more certain that Unity is the Falcon that is currently downtown. Thanks Joyce!
I decided to go downtown right after work. We have so little daylight to work with at the end of the day. I arrived downtown at approximately 4:00 pm and drove around trying to find her. I ended up back at the Broad St Bridge and turned off my engine and listened. KAK KAK KAK! clearly sounded from above. I looked up and saw a Falcon coming in full speed towards the Times Square Bldg. She was carrying prey and a big RTH was following her. She was NOT happy. She circled back, still KAKKING! and chased the RTH back over the river. She then flew to the B&L bldg and landed on the SW corner, where she starting eating her dinner.
Unity on B&L
You can read the rest of what happened on my evening watch by checking out this KGallery Album, which includes pictures from tonite. No sign on needed.
Enjoy!
http://pix.kg/p/1156825431105%3A777971904/scl
Carol P.
February 16th, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Great pictures, Carol. Unity is a big and powerful looking gal!
Looks like she likes the B and L building.
February 16th, 2012 at 4:28 PM
Margaret – B&L is a perfect building to watch all parts of downtown from. Plus, she has options if another peregrine should enter her space. Since her mate is not back yet, I think she is getting comfortable with the city. If it is indeed Unity (as we wait to get positive ID), I’ll bet this is her first full-time experience being a city peregrine. She was hatched in 2009, showed up at KP late 2010, had 2 unsucessful clutches at KP 2011, and we believe she is trying to establish territory downtown 2012.
February 17th, 2012 at 8:18 AM
Fascinated by all these developments, and very grateful to The Watchers for all they do. How will we be sure the falcon is Unity? A good photo of her bands? Just wondering…
February 17th, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Today – Friday – is a nice clear, sunny day, so I’m hoping one of the watchers will get a clear shot of the falcon’s bands.
February 17th, 2012 at 8:47 PM
@Bobbie – Yes! A nice clear shot of her bands showing the numbers will tell us for sure that this is Unity. 🙂
February 17th, 2012 at 9:58 PM
“B&L is a perfect building to watch all parts of downtown from”
We will all be pretty miffed if she decides that is where she wants to make her scrape, far away from all those sophisticated cameras!