Easter Sunday Morning Falcon Watch 4/1/18 – Plus a Visit with Pigott & George!
By Rochester Falcon Watch Carol P.
*Click on any pictures to enlarge them.*
It was a very cold Easter morning. This is a day I always like to check on our falcons. Bad things have happened in past years. Thankfully, all was peaceful and quiet this morning.
When I first arrived downtown in the hole, aka Aqueduct St, I spotted a falcon up on the Wilder green strip. The bird was facing away from me and I thought it was Dot.ca. It wasn’t until the falcon turned around that I was able to see the black over green band. It was Beauty.
<— View from the hole aka Aqueduct St.
<— Beauty on Wilder green stip.
<— Beauty on green strip.
Beauty took off, first heading east, over the river. She looped around and landed on the nest box platform.
<— Beauty on the nest box platform.
She entered the nest box and Dot.ca left. It was her turn to be on the eggs.
Dot.ca flew overhead and landed on the top Ibeam on OCSR. He did a hunting stoop over the river and returned. It was time to preen.
<— Dot.ca on OCSR.
It was time to end my Easter morning watch. At 11:oo am, I texted that I was leaving. Just as I was pulling out, Dot.ca took off and flew over to the Times Square Bldg. He landed under the northeast wing. Directly above the nest box.
<— Dot.ca on the NE wing ledge of the TSB.
As I was leaving, I could hear him softly wailing from above. Letting Beauty know he was nearby. Everything was peaceful and quiet for our downtown falcons this Easter sunday.
On my way home, I quickly scanned the Seneca Towers area, but could find no falcons there.
Yesterday, Kathy, Lisa and I drove to Syracuse to spend the day with Pigott and George. I hadn’t seen them since last year. Their nest box was relocated due to renovations on the State Bldg. They have not been see at the new location. We found them over on an abandoned apartment bldg. They were hanging out on different balconies, hunting the neighboring pigeons. We did not see them mate. Due to their behavior, we don’t believe they have laid any eggs. Here are some pictures from our visit. Enjoy!
<— The State Bldg, Pigott and George’s relocated nest box.
<— Pigott
<— Black over Black Banded Pigott
<— Unbanded George.
<— Pigott, George and the Neighbors.
April 1st, 2018 at 9:47 PM
Nice to have another quiet Easter! That’s so sad about Pigott and George not using that nest box..it looks like it would be hard for them to find? Nice report..great pics! What kind of camera did you end up with for a replacement? We’re looking.
April 2nd, 2018 at 8:26 AM
Hi Kris! Thanks! I think they’re able to see the nest box. For some reason they don’t like the location. My new camera is a refurbished Canon PowerShot SX60 HS. So far I really love it. Still learning though, so I mostly do everything on auto. 🙂
April 2nd, 2018 at 9:40 AM
Yes, too bad about the box, it looks like a likely place in the eyes of humans. It faces east, which is a plus, but if the falcons had not already been hanging out right up there, it was not a good choice of positions. Building renovations do cause problems for falcon families, as we have seen in Rochester. Taking away her scrape on the Kodak Tower was the end of the reign of Maria.:-(
An empty apartment building would make a good scrape. No neighbors to be disturbed.
Thank-you for the report from your road trip!
April 2nd, 2018 at 9:48 AM
You’re very welcome Alison.
April 2nd, 2018 at 9:18 PM
You got some nice shots, Carol! Glad to hear you’re liking your SX60. Do you use the viewfinder, or flip-out screen?
There are a couple features I preferred on the SX50, but am pleased overall with my SX60. Even named him “Otto-60!” ;^)
I hope that you also give videos a try.
Thank you for your report. Glad you saw Pigott and George, too! I hope that one day they adapt to their new situation.
April 2nd, 2018 at 10:41 PM
Hi Barb! Thanks! I mostly use the screen, but I’ll probably use the view finder more when the falcons are flying. Easier for me to follow them. Haven’t tried video yet, but I will. 🙂
April 2nd, 2018 at 11:22 PM
That’s funny, Carol, because that’s the same camera we have…lol! I also use the “auto” feature mostly and have never really branched beyond that setting. One of these days I might read the instructions on what it can do.
April 4th, 2018 at 2:31 PM
lol Kris! 🙂