A Very Late Monday Afternoon Falcon Watch – 3/25/13
By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.
I got a really late start to my afternoon watch today, arriving downtown at about 6:00 pm. I was only going to do a quick sweep of the two peregrine falcon locations, but ended up staying out for close to 2 hours.
At 6:00 pm, from the Broad St Bridge I could see that Beauty was in the nest box on the Times Square Bldg. She was facing out, looking over her territory. I checked around the city and could not find Dot.ca anywhere. Everything was quiet and peaceful. Even the Broad St Bridge was empty, unlike how busy it was all weekend. Clouds were moving in and covering the setting sun.
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Since everything was quiet downtown, I drove over to the BS location to check things out over there. Both Pigott and Dot.ca were home. Pigott was softly vocalizing from the south side vent and Dot.ca was flying around, landing in different spots. He ended up next to Pigott on the vent. Both had food and they were eating side-by-side.
Dot.ca on the left and Pigott on the right.
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After finishing their meal, they both did some flying, both chasing off the Crows that came too close to the building. Hopefully the Crows will learn that they should stay away from the building now. No more steeling cached food with these two on alert.
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Lisa McK joined me on the watch for awhile before she had to leave. Just after Lisa left (of course!), both Pigott and DC flew to the cubbyhole on the west side of the building, where it looks like they may nest this year. Much better selection than last year’s choice! This is a large flat ledge that is covered on three sides.
I could hear their loud ee-chupping and vocalizations fill the air. When I drove around for a better view, they were both deep inside the nook. I could hear them, but I couldn’t see them. Finally Dot.ca flew out and headed north. Pigott then came into view. She was looking north and she was quiet. She flew out and landed on the NW ledge of the west extension, looking north. North it was!
By the time I arrived downtown, Beauty was up on top of the Wilder Bldg on the SW corner. She was softly vocalizing. I looked around for Dot.ca, but could not find him. I had to wonder if he and Beauty had copulated before I got there.
It was getting dark at 7:50 pm and it was time for me to end my watch. As I pulled out of the parking lot next to the Wilder Bldg, I could clearly see Beauty up on the corner, keeping watch over her territory.
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Goodnight everyone!
March 26th, 2013 at 10:57 AM
The usual order of things is that the female decides where she wants her scrape (of the several the male has on offer) so it does not surprise me that DC is trying for the best scrape for Pigott (by displacing Beauty) but I am also surprised that he seems to be trying to discourage Ms P from using her choice of last year and go to a spot he finds (and so do the watchers) more suitable. As having offspring is the most important job, I guess that is why DC alternately tries to drive Beauty away and make eggs with her.
I do wonder at the “tameness” of Pigott, letting DC call the shots. If Pigott, now all grown up, really wanted Times Square, it would be she attacking Beauty, not he.
March 26th, 2013 at 11:08 PM
Whatever the reason for the change in scrape location at the BS location, it’s a good change. Pigott was very young last year. She still had a lot of her juvenile plumage. This year, it’s all gone. Thankfully, she seems content to claim the BS location as her territory. But, as we’ve all learned over the last few years, nothing is certain in the world of peregrine falcons. Change happens as swiftly as the peregrine flies.
Thanks for your comments Alison. 🙂