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Eyes to the Skies

Memorial Day, 2020

By Rochester Falcon Watch Carol P.

Memorial Day is a time to remember those we’ve lost. Never forget.

This is actually my watch report from yesterday, Sunday, 5/24/20. My good friends Kathy O and Lisa McK joined me on the Court St Bridge (CSB). We set up our chairs more than 6 feet apart (that’s 2 falcon wingspans apart). It was a gorgeous Sunday morning.

When I first arrived, Beauty was on pan cam, keeping watch over the three eyases in the nest box. Dot.ca was on top of Mercury.

Beauty on Pan Cam on the Times Square Bldg.
Beauty on Pan Cam
Dot.ca on top of Mercury

From the Court St Bridge, we could see an eyas inside the nest box.

Eyas Keeping an Eye on Beauty

It was so enjoyable being out in the fresh air and sunshine. Others had the same idea. Lots of joggers, bike riders and people just enjoying the beautiful day. The sky was bright blue with wispy clouds. The sound of running water from the river below filled the air. We did spot one Great Blue Heron, fishing on the river near the library.

The streets were mostly empty of cars, still from this corona virus. Such sad days. I do hope that some day, we will be able to return to how it was before.

Dot.ca flew in with a small package of food and landed on the nest box platform. Beauty met him there and took it into the hungry eyases.

Dot.ca Brings in Food to the Nest Box

After handing off the meal, Dot.ca (DC) flew out to the Frontier Communication Tower (FCT) and landed on the top arm.

Dot.ca on FCT

Beauty finished feeding the eyases and we could see her in front of the nest box. Dot.ca flew over to the TSB and landed on the ledge under the northeast wing.

Beauty at the Nest Box
Dot.ca on the NE Wing Ledge of the TSB

After awhile, Beauty moved up to the nest box roof. From there, she could keep watch over the eyases without them seeing her.

Beauty on Top of the Nest Box

The morning grew warmer and the clouds began to move out, leaving a most beautiful blue sky. More people were out and about. Most moved out into the street to pass us. The wonderful smell from the Dinosaur BBQ reached us. Can I tell you, it smelled so delicious!

Back to the falcons… First Dot.ca and then Beauty took off.

Dot.ca Takes Off!
Beauty Takes Off!

Both took to the sky! Dot.ca landed in front of the nest box, his turn to guard the eyases, and Beauty flew above us, higher and higher. One of my favorite things to do is to watch a falcon fly, soaring with hardly a wing beat. Using the winds to rise up. Now that the eyases are larger, she does not have to be with them all the time. Dot.ca is more than capable to baby sit. 🙂

Dot.ca Watching the Eyases

Kathy, Lisa and I just sat back and enjoyed the show.

Beauty Above the Wings on the Times Square Bldg
Beauty with the Wind Beneath Her Wings
Beauty Soaring Above her Watchers

This was our view from the Court St Bridge.

Our View from the Court St Bridge

This is when we ended our Sunday Morning Falcon Watch. Three hours flew by, almost as fast as a Peregrine Falcon!

We were all saddened by the loss of our fourth eyas. Life goes on and we will watch over the three remaining eyases, but will never, ever forget the one we lost. Fly Free little one.

I’ll leave you with one last picture I took during Beauty’s flight. It just seemed appropriate to post on this Memorial Day. Take care everyone!

Beauty’s Memorial Day Tribute

10 Responses to “Memorial Day, 2020”

  1. Annette Says:

    Wonderful watch report!

  2. Lynne Heroux Says:

    Beautiful day!!

  3. Kris G. Says:

    Beautiful day to watch the Falcons fly! Loved the last pic…very fitting for this Memorial Day.

  4. Karen Says:

    Wonderful report and great picture of the flag and Beauty. I looked at streaming video a couple of days ago with VERY LOUD hungry eyasses being fed – fabulous!

  5. Carol P. Says:

    Thank you Annette!

  6. Carol P. Says:

    It was a gorgeous day Lynne!

  7. Carol P. Says:

    Thanks Kris! Love getting those flag pics! 🙂

  8. Carol P. Says:

    Thank you Karen! Pretty soon we’ll be able to here them from the street. lol

  9. Alison in Indiana Says:

    Every picture clear as a bell! One sees the sharp detail of the money bag, which is often just an amorphous blob in pictures from the on-line cameras.
    “Dot.ca is more than capable to baby sit.” As an advocate for gender equality, I have to say about the Rochester (home of Susan B. Anthony) tiercel is that he can competently do anything that Beauty can except lay eggs!
    One quibble. Sunday was 5/24 😉

  10. Carol P. Says:

    It was an attempt at humor. Hence the smiley face. I am a huge defender of DC’s awesomeness and his abilities to raise his young. 🙂 I’ll fix the date. Thanks.


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