By falconwatcher Joyce

There have been several attempts to try and ID the female peregrine at Kodak Park (KP) by many Rochester watchers, including Kodak employees. Last September, our KP falcon was very happy to show us her purple band (a sign that she was from the Midwest), but we couldn’t distinguish anything on the black/red bi-colored band. Lady Pefa eluded us many times, and the weather was not cooperative when we did find her. As we went through the fall and into winter, it was obvious that Lady Pefa wasn’t migrating, and stayed to claim the Kodak power plant and stacks as her territory.

New Years Day was a fun celebration with all the Rochester watchers downtown, in spite of the rain. As we all said our farewells, I told Carol P that I would probably be heading out to KP later. I dawdled downtown looking for Beauty and her friend. Then I stopped for a bite to eat with Casey & Abby (canine falconwatchers). I even took the long way there, checking out Kodak Research area first. As I pulled into our KP parking area, I saw Carol’s car, and in the distance she was waving and pointing up. I saw a bird on the antenna, thinking a coop or red-tail. I looked through my binoculars – a peregrine! I wasn’t expecting that, and grabbed my stuff, and slowly walked to the other end of the parking lot, and like Carol, left my phone behind. I couldn’t believe it, the KP falcon on a building near us. Just as I got to where Carol was standing, her battery went dead. Carol said she had been with Lady Pefa for almost an hour, and I thought “Why didn’t I come straight here.” I continued with the picture taking as Carol went to get her scope, hoping for an opportunity to catch markings on the bi-colored band.

Lady Pefa was posing so nicely, but her right side was facing us, the side with the FWS purple band. There was no way to see the black/red band unless she moved. Then, she stretched! “Please, oh please, let us see your other leg.” I clicked away as she finally exposed her left leg for a few seconds. Then she resumed her perch. Lady Pefa lifted her left leg again, as if to say “Can you see it now?” When she placed it back on the pole, she lost her balance, then her grip, and it looked like she fell off the antenna. Lady Pefa flew to the east.

Here are 2 photos that have been enhanced and zoomed…

Well, do we have an ID? Close, but not 100%. After canvassing several watchers, the consensus was 7 ? on black, and H on red. Some voted for 73/N, and others 71/N. We consulted the Midwest Peregrine banding database and found information on seven female band numbers. Attached are the possibilities of Midwest peregrines with 7?/H. Possible Midwest Band ID In several of my pics, the second number looked distorted (possibly from light or pixels). Because it was very cloudy, I had to use a higher ISO and the pictures get grainy when enlarged. I investigated the markings in more detail, and enhanced my best photo. I saw a blurry vertical line for the second number, but it didn’t appear to have curves or width. Bands numbers/letters are centered over each other. I typed the 70’s numbers over N. The alignment that best matched is 71/H.

Take a look for yourself. Let us know what you think. We still need more evidence that one of these two Lucas County (Toledo) falcons is our gal. Rest assured we’ll be back there again this weekend with scopes and cameras to try again.

Kodak Park Peregrine Falcon – New Year’s Day
(Click on slideshow and watch like a movie at 1 sec. You can also click on the 1st photo and run through individually. If you want to see a larger picture you can click on the magnifying glass and zoom in.)

Enjoy,
Joyce

From falcon watcher Joyce…

As mentioned in IMPRINTS, an adult peregrine was seen at one of the buildings in Kodak’s Eastman Business Park.  Kodak Park is a huge complex and the falcon could be anywhere.  One thing for sure, there is an abundance of pigeons.

Late yesterday afternoon about 5:15 pm Brian H and I were heading to check the area where we heard the mystery falcon was spotted.  We were traveling west on Ridge Road when I spotted a large bird on one of the Kodak buildings to my left.  It was slightly silhouetted, and I asked Brian if it was a red-tailed hawk.  Brian thought it could be because of the size, and got out his binoculars to check.  I saw the head moving up and down, likely eating.  We were waiting for the red light to turn, and Brain says it’s a peregrine falcon.

I immediately turned left onto a short entrance roadway to Kodak.  I stopped a cars length from the gate, and Brian saw the purple band.  It was on a building that was close to the entrance.  It was a good size falcon and both of us were sure it was a female.   We didn’t want to spook the falcon, but we finally got out of the car.  I used the car as my tripod.  The falcon had it’s right side to us, and all we could see was the purple band.  I was hoping that I could get a shot of the black/red band when it took off, but no luck.  This is an absolutely beautiful peregrine!

After going through my photos, I thought I saw faint lettering on the black in one if the shots where the falcon had its head turned away.   I even tried using a magnifying glass.  Unless this falcon stays on a building close to Ridge Road, it will probably take a scope to ID it. One thing for sure, this is a Midwest Peregrine.

If you happen to see watcher’s tweets who are out looking for this falcon, we are using Brian’s acronym PPE (for the Purple Pigeon Eater).

Here is my Picasa Album to our Midwest visitor.

Enjoy!