By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was a partly cloudy morning with a temperature of 63 (F) 17 (C)

Make sure to click on the pics to see the full version

Fledge Watch 2017 officially started today as I arrived downtown at 5:30am.  I saw Dan over on the Court St. Bridge as I crossed the Broad St. Bridge. It was still a little on the dark side when I got down to the hole (Aqueduct St.) and the moon greeted me as I began my first watch since mid March. Dot.ca (DC) was under the northeast wing of the Times Square building (TSB), Beauty was on cam 1, also known as pan cam and I could see Ontario on the wall.

I joined Dan about 20 minutes later after Beauty flew down to the nest box, then back up to cam 1. From there I cold see all three of the eyasses.

<Click>

Beauty flew off and returned to the TSB landing on the ledge above the nest box.

<Click it

Soon after, the Beautyful one flew off over the Blue Cross Arena chasing a pigeon back towards Dan and I up river and eventually aborted near the South Ave. garage. DC caught up with her at that point and they both went back to the TSB landing in the same spots they had vacated. At this point I watched a Great Blue Heron fly over the BSB coming to rest on the north side of it on a flat rock. I also noticed a pair of ducks on the flats below the CSB.

Dan left so I went back to the hole where Carol joined me a few minutes later at 7am.  Rachel showed herself to me from the deck as Ontario perched on the wall bump. Beauty and DC watched while Ontario did some wing flapping on the bump and ran the wall back and forth a couple times. That kid is quick on his feet! KathyO joined us at 8am.

All was quiet until around 8:30am when Charlotte decided to join her brother on the wall. It always makes me nervous when there’s more than one out there because they could knock each other off so easily and the only way to go is down! Beauty was right above them keeping close watch of their movements on the wall bump while Rachel stuck to the deck area where it was safe and secure. She has the most white fluff left so we believe she must be the youngest. Lisa joined the watch a little after 9am.

<Click>

Ontario ran to the north end of the wall and Charlotte joined him for a bit. Beauty and DC flew off back and forth going from TSB to OCSR and the Mercury money bag more than once and that was all the action there was until a Turkey Vulture flew through prompting them to clear it out of the area. I spotted DC on the metal grating between the northeast and northwest wings of Times Square at one point.

<Charlotte

All was quiet with Beauty joining her kids on the deck and DC on watch above his family under the northeast wing when I decided to leave. When I got home to Seneca Towers I checked the perimeter of the building and could see no falcons but there was a kettle of Turkey Vultures circling above the river. I suspect I will be seeing Billie and Seth’s little ones soon. I ended my watch just before noon with a big old smile on my face after seeing our downtown Rochester Peregrine Falcon family! 🙂

Click on the links below to see today’s videos

https://youtu.be/6l9jvBHXoZw

https://youtu.be/Gpnx5RMFlUU

https://youtu.be/rBBV6webeVo

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

When I woke up Wednesday morning, I turned on my tablet and tuned in to the Rochester Falcon live stream.  My first view was of the eyases on the platform.  I counted; 1 – 2 – 3 – where was #4?  As I was asking, pan cam was moving around, looking for the missing eyas.  Had one gone out on the wall?  Was it in the well?  The eyas was nowhere to be found.  I knew I had to get downtown quick.  While I was getting ready, it was determined that one eyas fell off the end of the platform at about 5:15 am.  It was Seabreeze.

When I arrived downtown, I was met by fellow watcher Larry O.  He was on his way to work and couldn’t stay long.  I walked over to a group of three police officers and explained what happened.  They took down my phone # and said they would keep an eye out for the young falcon.  I also told the parking lot attendants.  No one had seen what happened.

Because Beauty was up on the corner of the Wilder Bldg and looking towards the north, I started on that side of the Times Square Bldg, checking every nook and cranny along the way.  Nothing!

I was just on my way over to the south side, walking in front of the Times Square Bldg., when a woman came around the corner and spotted me holding a towel.  She yelled out, Carol!?  I said yes.  She told me her name was Debbie and that she worked in the Times Square Bldg.  She knew where Seabreeze was and she took me to a doorway on the south side of the building.

Seabreeze was standing on the ground, in front of the door.  There was blood on the ground next to him, which later I found out was from broken blood feathers on his tail.  He was bright-eyed and very aware of his surroundings.  I approached him and gently wrapped him in the towel I brought with me.  Debbie and I carried him back to my car and I placed him in a rescue box.  It was time to visit the vet.

Seabreeze was checked out at the vet and it was determined that he had lost five tail feathers and broken some blood feathers.  Other than that, he seemed to be ok.  He was a very lucky young falcon!  Fellow watcher Kathy O joined me at the vet.  The DEC was contacted and updated on the situation.  Seabreeze was safe and in good hands.  Kathy and I returned downtown.

Both Beauty and Dot.ca were very active, caring for their remaining three eyases.  Here are some pictures from our watch.

An update on Seabreeze was just posted today on Imprints.  He will need to go to a rehabber so that his tail feathers can grow back.  But, he’s safe and being well cared for.  I hope to hear someday soon that he has healed and has been released.

I plan on starting my fledge watch tomorrow.  Ontario has made it out to the well wall and is doing a lot of running and flapping.  It probably won’t be long before he fledges!

I want to end my report with special thanks to Debbie and Jimmy (who originally found Seabreeze) at the Times Square Bldg.  Thanks for watching over Seabreeze until I arrived.  You and others that help wildlife in trouble are very special people.  Also, I’d like to thank Tom, a Rochester Police Officer, who cared enough to call me at the end of the day to see how Seabreeze was.  Lastly, Bruce, the vet tech, who so gently examined Seabreeze and cleaned him up.  Thank you all for caring!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

Joyce and I took a trip to Toronto,Ontario, Canada yesterday to witness the banding of Quests’ offspring with a new male. He has been nicknamed Mystery because he has no bands. We got to hang out with good friend, Ann Brokelman (photographer extraordinaire/wildlife rescuer/lover). There were 3 boys and 1 girl banded:

Female named Aurora band Z 05 red tape

Male named Nemo band Y 39 blue tape

Male named Ndawendang (Hunter) named by Toronto First Nation School band Y 40 yellow tape

Male named Archimedes band Y 41 Green tape

Afterwards, Ann took us to check out the nest site of a Red-tailed Hawk family. There were 3 offspring that were just about ready to fledge. After that we parted ways as Ann had to go help with a deer situation, so Joyce and I went to Rosetta Gardens Park where we enjoyed some peaceful time with the flowers and wildlife. And we got to see the bench that was dedicated to the late, great “Big” Frank Butson, another of our good Canadian friends.

Last, but not least we met up with yet another good friend, Patty Gale. She treated us to dinner and then the 3 of us visited the Yellow Pages nest site where Rochester born Linn and her mate, George greeted us with some flying when we arrived. We were able to figure out where their nest is but could see no eyasses. They don’t use a man made scrape at this location-she lays her eggs in different spots of the building ledges and roof each year.

We had a fabulous day with falcons and friends and I’d like to thank Ann, Patty and especially Joyce! Until next time keep smiling everyone! 🙂

Below is the link to check out pics from the day

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWqkhy

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Hello everyone!  Happy Mother’s Day to Beauty and all you mother’s out there!  I have to also mention the lovely Rhea Mae, who had two of her three eyases hatch yesterday.  <3

Now that we have four eyases at the nest box and the weather is getting a bit more spring-like, with temps near 60 degrees, it was time to head downtown for a late morning, early afternoon watch.  It was tough finding a parking spot on Broad St due to graduations at the Blue Cross Arena aka Rochester War Memorial.  But, I was lucky and found one today.  I set-up my watch at the area we call Falcon Watch Central.  They are still working on the Broad St Bridge, so we can’t watch from there.

At first it was very quiet.  Then I spotted a falcon flying out of the nest box, heading towards the Powers Bldg.  I believe it was Beauty.  She flew by the Powers Bldg, heading northwest.  We’ve been hearing Kestrels over in that area, so she might have been warning them away from the Times Square Bldg (TSB).

Soon a falcon returned, flew around the TSB and then landed on Mercury’s foot.  I’m pretty sure it was Dot.ca.

<— Beauty on Patrol.

<— Dot.ca on Mercury’s Foot.

<— Dot.ca on Mercury’s Foot.

<— Beauty Flyover.

<— Cached Food on the Times Square Bldg.

<— Nest Box Cameras.

<— View of the Times Square Bldg from Falcon Central.

Beauty went back to the nest box and soon after, Dot.ca flew in with food.  There was loud vocalization from both parents as Beauty charged out of the nest box and grabbed the offered meal from Dot.ca.  She flew over me and landed on the base of the Mercury statue.  Beauty cached the food there and took off heading towards the OCSR.

<— Beauty caching food and taking off.

Dot.ca remained on the nest box platform and then flew up to pan cam.

<— Dot.ca at the nest box.

Dot.ca took off on a hunt, chasing two pigeons over the Genesee River.  He missed, then headed southwest.  Beauty returned, flying high and keeping the sky above her young ones free of predators.

<— Beauty on Patrol, keeping the sky above the TSB free of predators. (Click on pic)

While Beauty was on guard duty from above, Dot.ca returned to the nest box to keep watch over his young ones.

<— Dot.ca guarding his young.

<— Dot.ca watching Beauty flying overhead.

All was quiet downtown, so I headed over to Seneca Towers for a quick look for Billie and Seth.  I did see one on the apartment building when I passed by yesterday.

Today, I saw one patrolling above, bopping a few passing Turkey Vultures.  I did not see a 2nd falcon either day.  I assume one may be at the nest, wherever that might be?

<— Looking south from Seneca Towers.  A very lush Genesee Valley River Gorge.  Hawkeye (Kodak) in the distance.

All was quiet and peaceful in our Rochester Falcons world.  Happy Mother’s Day!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

Boy!  Where does the time go?  Life just has a way of getting in the way of doing my favorite thing, FALCON WATCHING!  🙂

I’ve been trying to get out on the weekends to do a falcon head count, and to make sure all is peaceful and quiet at all our nest sites.  With eggs laid and hard incubation in full swing, thankfully there has been nothing to upset the peace here in Rochester.

A few weeks (March 25) ago my good friends and fellow watchers Kathy O, Lisa McK, Dana and I took a trip to Buffalo to check on their falcon pairs.  We especially wanted to check on the Central Terminal nest site to try to ID the new male there that took over from our Diamante.  We couldn’t get a positive ID, but we’re pretty sure he is a falcon banded in Canada with a black over black band.  Here are some pictures from our Buffalo visit.

<– Glieg (?) and new mate at Central Terminal.

<— New male at Central Terminal on a nearby church.

<— University of Buffalo Falcons.

<— Statler nest box.  No one was home.  But they were both seen the next day.  The male here is Ralphie, Rhea Mae and Tiago’s son.

<— Richardson. First time we visited this nest site.  Both falcons were home.

The next day (March 26), I went out to check our Rochester birds.  All was quiet at both locations.

<— Dot.ca was busy, prepping prey for Beauty.

<— Beauty on Pan Cam.

<— Both Billie & Seth were home at Seneca Towers.

I also checked out Irondequoit Bay, where I watched two juvie Bald Eagles talon tagging over the water.  Love seeing these beautiful birds!

<— Two juvie Bald Eagles talon tagging over Irondequoit Bay.

I also checked out the Brighton Site (BS), but saw no falcons there.

That weekend (3/25 and 3/26) I was very happy to have seen six falcons in Buffalo and four in Rochester.  It was a very good weekend!  🙂

On April 2nd, I again saw all four Rochester Falcons.  All was quiet downtown.  Beauty was in the nest box on her four eggs and Dot.ca was nearby on the OCSR building.

<— The Times Square Bldg, home of Beauty and Dot.ca’s nest box.

<— Seth on the side of the bridge and a Billie fly-over at Seneca Towers.

Easter Sunday is a day that bad things have happened in our falcon world.  That is the day that Brian H and I found Mariah on the ground injured after her battle with Beauty.  I picked up Brian for a morning watch and thankfully have nothing to report, except that all was peaceful for our Rochester falcons.

I hope that everyone enjoyed Easter with their family and friends!

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

As we wait for Beauty and Dot.ca’s first egg….. 🙂

You may have heard that Rochester and the surrounding area has had some pretty nasty weather.  First a wind storm with a recorded gust of 81 mph, that caused power outages to over 100,000 homes in the area.  Then a snow storm that dumped close to 30 inches of snow.  Needless to say, it’s been a little crazy around here.

So, when I heard the sun was coming out this afternoon and the temps were soaring into the 40’s (F), it was time to head out for a falcon head count.

I first checked out the BS and DSS locations.  No falcons were found in either location.  Could our unbanded female and her friend have headed out to nesting territories of their own?  Time will tell.

Downtown I found Beauty on the base of the Mercury statue.  She had a full crop, but it didn’t look like she had any food.  Dot.ca was on the west corner of the top Ibeam on OCSR.  I was hoping to see them mate and I was really hoping to get a video.  I was lucky, after patiently waiting for about an hour.

<— Beauty on the base of Mercury.

<— Dot.ca on OCSR

I found a spot to park my car on Aqueduct St (aka “the hole”), where I had a good view of Beauty and could wait for Dot.ca to take off from OCSR.  It was a long, cold wait.  But finally, he took off and headed our way.  Beauty was ready for him and so was I!  Here’s the link to the video I was able to get.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnAy16ilOIU&feature=youtu.be

Afterwards Dot.ca headed west towards the Times Square Bldg.

I had to leave for a short while to help out a friend and fellow watcher Brian H.  He said to say hello to everyone!  When I returned, Beauty was up at the Times Square Bldg nest box and Dot.ca had returned to the west corner on the top IBeam of OCSR.

<— Beauty at the Times Square Bldg Nest Box.

<— Dot.ca on OCSR.

This is where I left them as I ended my downtown, Rochester Falcon Watch.  I wanted to check on Billie and Seth at Seneca Towers (ST).  From the parking lot at Maplewood Park, I was able to see two falcons on the building.  I assumed that it had to be Billie and Seth and I was very happy to see them after all the bad weather we’ve had.

<— Billie and Seth at Seneca Towers (ST).

It was nice to get out for a falcon watch today.  Especially with the sun shining!  Spring will be here very soon!

I’ll leave you with a couple of pictures I took of Beauty and Dot.ca last Sunday.  Enjoy!

<— Beauty on Wilder Bldg.

<— Beauty and Dot.ca mating on the Wilder Bldg.

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was quite breezy and sunny with a temperature of 51 (F) 11 (C)

When I left Seneca Towers (ST) there were no falcons on the building. When I arrived downtown I found Beauty on the deck and Dot.ca (DC) on the top I-beam of OCSR near the south corner. I parked at the Radisson Hotel by Main St. where I could see both of them.

They both had their backs to me and after a few minutes I left to walk Bella (watcher Jeanne’s dog) and to check the Brighton location(BS) and DSS. We found the unbanded female on the south face of the east extension 2 windows down in the corner at BS. She was napping on and off. We left there and found no falcons at DSS.

I returned to downtown after dropping Bella off at home and found the Beautyful one and DC  still in the same spots as when I left them earlier. I went home to ST and spotted Billie and Seth on the northwest corner quite close to each other.

The sun was right behind them so all I could get were silhouetted pics, therefore I decided to cross the river and see if I could get better pics from Bridgeview Dr. While I was crossing the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge Seth flew off, so when I found a spot to check from only Buffalo Billie remained. I could see that she had food in her crop.

I ended my watch soon after at 4pm with a smile after seeing 5 Peregrine Falcons on my watch! 🙂

Click on the link below to see today’s snippet video

https://youtu.be/FJTvJiQ12dg

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

The weather was delightfully warm and windy a February day in Rochester that was a mild 63 (F) 17 (C) degrees

KathyO picked me up for a falcon watch late this afternoon. Billie and Seth were nowhere to be found at Seneca Towers when we left for downtown. We first checked the north end of downtown from the Andrews St. bridge. We saw nothing from there so we headed for the hole (Aqueduct St.). We spotted Beauty immediately on the top I-beam of OCSR near the south corner.

I then turned my head and spotted Dot.ca (DC) on the deck of the Times Square building nest box. He was on the southeast corner  and kept looking toward the nest box and then over at the Beautyful one-switching back and forth. It was pretty comical really-he always cracks me up.

About a half hour of that until Beauty decided to tease her little man when she flew over to the TSB above him and then went east toward the river out of view. 5 minutes later DC flew over to OCSR and landed where Beauty had been on the top I-beam and she ended up on the deck where he had just been. Falcon games are a lot of fun to watch!

<DC    Beauty>

20 minutes of watching each other then Beauty went in the nest box while DC flew to the west in a hurry past Widows Walk out of view for a minute or so before returning to Times Square to join Beauty at the nest box. They were together for about 10 minutes when DC flew to the Mercury money bag as his mate remained at the nest box.

DC was fidgeting a lot as he fought the 15-20 MPH winds up there. Half hour after he arrived on Mercury he flew back to the nest box and some conversations with Beauty until she went up to cam 1 (pan cam). DC ended up back on OCSR and that’s where Kathy and I left downtown. When I got home to Seneca Towers there was a falcon (I believe Seth) on the top window ledge north end of the building. As always, our downtown Rochester pair of Peregrine Falcons put a smile on this watchers’ face! 🙂

By Rochester Falcon Watcher MAK

It was quite blustery and overcast with a temperature of 28 (F) -2 (C)

I spent more time looking for falcons today than actually watching them. There was no sign of Billie or Seth when I left or when I returned home to Seneca Towers. I found Beauty from the hole on the top I-beam southeast side of OCSR on my way through downtown to go walk Bella. She flew off when I was tweeting so I moved on.

After walking my canine buddy, Bella I went in search of the 2 falcons that have been seen in Brighton. No luck finding them at the Brighton Site (BS), DSS or the apartment building on Plymouth Ave. at Genesee St. It’s called Brooks Crossing on google maps but the stone wall out front of it says Brooks Landing. I returned to downtown hoping to find Dot.ca (DC) this time and I wasn’t disappointed. I spotted both he and the Beautyful one on OCSR, top I-Beam southeast side.

I watched them first from the hole, then over on Graves St. next to Aqueduct Park and finally from the Radisson Hotel by Main St.

<Beauty <DC

They both flew off to the west out of view and a few seconds later Beauty returned to circle above the river and Radisson Hotel a few times before settling on the same I-beam of OCSR she had just vacated. Soon after, DC joined his Beautyful mate landing just 3 windows across from her.

<Beauty

DC was napping on and off when I left them.

<Click it to see the full version

When I got home and didn’t find Billie or Seth I took a ride down to Seneca Park to check out the water birds to kill some time, hoping they would be there when I returned but no such luck.

I ended my watch around 3:30pm after sharing space with our downtown pair of Peregrine Falcons, Beauty and DC who always put a smile on my face! 🙂

Click on the links below to check out today’s videos

https://youtu.be/Hd2dVX5qGPk

https://youtu.be/jdv-Tpmq_M0

https://youtu.be/iEUm0H1JTXU

By Rochester Falcon Watcher Carol P.

It was a very cold day with temps in the 20’s (F).  Some sun, some light snow.  A good day to go out for a falcon watch, as long as you stayed in your car.  Brrrr!

It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to get out.  I badly needed fresh air and to see a falcon or two or three or……  🙂

I decided to check on the falcons that have been seen at the Brighton Site (BS) and a nearby building.  There was a falcon on one of the windows of this building.  Based on size, I believe it is a male.  Most of the time I was there, he had his back to me.  Finally he stood up, showing me his legs and letting me know he had no bands.  That was very kind of him.  lol

Here are a couple pictures of this handsome tiercel.

My next stop was the BS location, where I found the unbanded female we have been seeing there.  She too had her back to me and she was napping.

Are these two just visiting for the winter?  Do they have mates and territories of their own that they’ll return to?  We’ll keep watching!

It was time to head downtown to look for Beauty and Dot.ca.  I found them both side-by-side on the north side of OCSR on the top Ibeam.

They were both settled in and all was peaceful and quiet downtown.

On my way home, I stopped at Maplewood Park to check out Seneca Towers.  Sadly, Billie and Seth were not home.  It was time for me to end my watch.

I was very happy to have seen 4 falcons today!  🙂