All Three Juvies are Flying High & Doing Great! – 6/30 & 7/1/18
By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.
A heatwave has started in Rochester, NY and I wanted to go out for early morning watches Saturday & Sunday. Today is going to go up to 98 degrees with a heat index of 105!
Both mornings, I met Dan on the Court St Bridge around 6:30 am. Larry O joined us Saturday morning.
Saturday, June 30, 2018
There wasn’t much to see Saturday morning for the first part of my watch. After Dan left, Larry O and I decided to check the High Falls Gorge. The only raptors we saw were three Red-tailed Hawks, an adult and two juvies. Other than that, it was very quiet. Larry and I said our goodbyes and I headed downtown for another look. I wasn’t disappointed. I soon heard that wonderful sound that juvie Peregrine Falcons make when they’re flying with each other and talon tagging. I could see three at a time flying high above Xerox and B&L. Yes, I know these buildings have new names, but I’ll continue to call them by the names I remember. lol
During my Saturday morning watch, I saw all five downtown Rochester Falcons. Here are some pictures that I took during this watch.
*Be sure to click on all the pictures to see the full image.*
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Sunday Morning Watch started with an outstanding stoop by Beauty! When I arrived on the Court St. Bridge Dan pointed out that Beauty was soaring high above the Xerox Tower. As we watched, Beauty started her stoop. Her wings folded back and swoosh! At what seemed supersonic speeds, Beauty fell from the sky, hurtling towards the river on the south side of the bridge. We lost sight of her as the pigeons took panicked flight in all different directions. When I next saw her, she was carrying a pigeon back towards the Times Square Bldg. I moved back to get a better look and saw that she brought it to the Widows Walk and she was surrounded by at least two juvies.
Dan had to leave, so I headed over to the Widows Walk. I spent an hour with Letchworth, Sundara, Mike and Beauty before it got too warm and they were hunkered down in the shade after all getting a share of the meal this morning.
All three juvies are flying high and doing great! Enjoy this 4th of July week and keep cool!
July 1st, 2018 at 8:34 PM
Great pics and nice report, Carol! I was concerned about Sundara but glad to see that all are doing well! Thanks for braving the heat!
July 1st, 2018 at 11:27 PM
Ahhhh, Carol! It is both lovely and wonderful to see the juvies flying. I can only imagine what it feels like to them– the world suddenly got a lot bigger, in three dimensions, to explore and play and find food– what a life!! And Beauty, still watching over them, feeding them, teaching them to hunt, to watch for weather changes, to take shelter when there is rain, lightning, fireworks, and to play– to talon-tag, and to navigate this world. THANKS for all YOU and THE FALCON FAITHFUL do!!
July 2nd, 2018 at 10:38 AM
Thanks Kris! Sundara and her sister and brother are doing great. 🙂
July 2nd, 2018 at 10:40 AM
You’re very welcome Mary, and thanks for the very nice comment. We can’t forget about Dot.ca’s contribution to their Peregrine education. He was teaching them how to fly high this morning. Just wait until you see the next report with all the action shots of our fearsome threesome. 🙂