Rfalconcam Forum

Cadence, after a 2 day battle may have defeated a female at Union County and looks to be taking over.  Didn't know it was her until she entered the nest box and mwplay saw her bands!!

Appears to have won a 2 day battle against resident female.

Where and when?? OMG, hope no injuries to either!!

Where is this nest??? Cam? WOW, that's crazy! Union County NJ????

New Jersey and yes resident female was badly injured yesterday, bleeding out of her chest.  It's been hell watching it and I had no idea it was our Cadence!!

Other female laid her second egg last night while injured, male is on eggs now.

Here is cam liink:  http://ucnj.org/falcon/ (http://ucnj.org/falcon/)

http://ucnj.org/falcon/ (http://ucnj.org/falcon/)

She just appeared on cam.

Check out BCAW - Jersey City/Union County.  It's the courthouse.

And on BCAW,  there's a beautiful picture of her posted by Carolyn.  She looks like a combo of DC & B. Big girl.

http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=2198&start=240 (http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=2198&start=240)

Betty Ann Kelly · Environmental Specialist at County of Union Dept Parks & Community Renewal
Our falcons have been involved in a battle over territory and mate with another falcon. It looks as though our female has been attacked in the chest area. This stressful situation could have an impact on egg laying and incubation but all we can really do is wait and see what happens next. This is unfortunately how nature is. We are simply observers. Let's hope for the best.
Like · Reply · 15 hrs

Betty Ann Kelly · Environmental Specialist at County of Union Dept Parks & Community Renewal
2nd egg laid last night in spite of the continuing saga being played out on the Union County Courthouse roof! Male & female both continue to battle the 3rd bird in an effort to defend territory. The female, in spite of her wound, seems to be holding up. Stay tuned.

Let's see if this works - links to photos:

Here is better look at her bands to confirm:

Elizabeth is not too far from me, closer to Jersey City!

I don't like these battles when eggs are involved, I don't like battles at all for that matter!  :(

Me either Donna and this one has been particularly tough to watch.  Cadence has been relentless on her. If you had seen the resident female last night it would have broke your heart, she was bleeding so badly and struggling to lay an egg.  She looked better today but she was exhausted.  She hasn't been seen for a few hours now and then we saw Cadence march into the box.. no idea if it's over but I expect the mom must be injured again if she didn't come back to her eggs.

Interestingly a few hours ago I described the male as having an very orange cere and feet like DotCa...who knew~!

Came over earlier to post a pic with bands, but since I cannot start a new topic under offspring, could not find a good place to post.

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrrorw/eliz-nj-mar-25-37a-bands.jpg)

The two eggs belong to the other female, the current resident female at the nest. The first egg was laid on March 23, and the second only this morning. With her injury, I don't know how she managed to make it back to the nest and lay her second egg.

The resident female, who is unbanded, took this nest from the previous resident female in January of this year. She is unbanded. The male is also unbanded.

I don't know if this battle is over, or just on pause. No matter what the outcome, there are no winners here.

How sad is this Carly, I feel so bad for both. I know they do this but it still breaks my heart! They are just brutal battles! Thanks for all the info!

The best place to start a topic related to Rochester falcons is in Rochester Falcon Discussion.

The resident female this morning:

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrdglw/eliz-nj-mar-25-18a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrdgll/eliz-nj-mar-25-16a.jpg)

The male, who incubated the eggs for a while:

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrdrii/eliz-nj-mar-25-32a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrdgli/eliz-nj-mar-25-17a.jpg)

http://youtu.be/O_Tsu5s04nE (http://youtu.be/O_Tsu5s04nE)

February 2017: The falcon pair continues to bond at the nest site.
Late February: A second female is spotted on the falcon cam. Drama ensues as she attempts to claim the nest site. This distraction could possibly cause a delay in mating and breeding.

(Has this been going on that long??)

Don't know Donna if that female at the start of month was Cadence or another female.  

I just saw this

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhHYDKYws-w#)

I expect if it was Cadence early on this month she was just doing recon work because watching how relentless she has been the past 24 hours - honestly she is one strong female and I doubt anyone would survive weeks given how hard she's been attacking.  Seriously anytime the resident female took to the air you'd see Cadence just swoop down on her.  The resident female spent most of the morning crouching down in in front of the nestbox posturing with her head down low and her wings out around her body.

The injured female:

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrdada/eliz-nj-mar-25-5a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrdadl/eliz-nj-mar-25-7a.jpg)

The male:

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrdadi/eliz-nj-mar-25-31a.jpg)

I am glad that Cadence is alive and well, but I also feel really bad for the resident female, injured just as she is laying her eggs.

Agreed Alison, it's never a happy time when someone is injured.  All their lives are important and special. It is bittersweet for sure.

Male left for a few minutes and flew back in at 4.38.  I saw a larger female in the distance at the same time, she flew to, I'm assuming, the top of the building and he went back into the igloo and on eggs.

Resident female is back in front of box!  Cadence in the air, resident female is bleeding again from same wound..

(http://i63.tinypic.com/bi9ue1.jpg) I feel so bad!!  :crying:

(http://i68.tinypic.com/2n6506p.jpg) Tired and beat up!

Yeah she looks exhausted Donna.  She did the same thing last night, came to the box towards dusk where it's somewhat safe for her.  I expect she knows Cadence will need to eat and rest and darkness will fall soon and she can rest up for another day.

Wonder if the male is being cordial or could he be helping his mate? No, he looks too clean!!  I'm having a hard time watching so I'm shutting the cam down. Too sad for me and I don't sleep well with this buzzing around in my head!

I hate to see any bird injured, and she does not deserve this. She wanted this nest so much.

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrlwdl/eliz-nj-mar-25-42a.jpg)

The eggs are okay so far:

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrcgpw/eliz-nj-mar-25-41a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrlwdi/eliz-nj-mar-25-43a.jpg)

She came out of the nest, and left again.

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrcdpi/eliz-mar-25-44a.jpg)

I'm with Donna-I can't watch when a challenge like this is happening. I just hope both survive...

Internet connection keeps dropping. Grrr...might go down again. 

Doing the same thing here. I thought it was just my deathly slow Internet, combined with ever-crashing Firefox.

We were down early this morning for 6 hours.  I actually went into the office to call them as my phone is IP as well..they said at the time it was an area outage.  Must be storms somewhere maybe?!

Looks quiet now.  Cadence may be done for the day and gone off to eat and rest.  I hope she doesn't hurt herself in this attempt either. 

I hope her mate will bring her some food, and maybe stand guard while she eats.

He brought in food a few hours ago and she took it.  At the time we weren't sure who took the food as she hadn't been seen for a few hours but likely it was her now that we know she is safe.  He seems more concerned about 'his' eggs at the moment. 

Good to know, Carly, thanks.

The male does seem to want the eggs, but if he is continuing to bring his mate food, he wants her there too.

Both came back again; the male in the nest, and his mate outside. I know it's her since I had a momentary front view just as everything went down again.

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrcocr/eliz-nj-mar-25-46a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrcoca/eliz-nj-mar-25-47a.jpg)

Yes she just walked out of cam view.  Maybe he'll have some food for her there, they likely have an eating area nearby but away from the nest to keep it clean.

This is hard for me as well. I'm glad to know that Cadence is alive and well, but her hormones are raging to be a Mom for the first time, and she apparently likes this location.  I feel bad for the resident female. It brings back ill memories of when Beauty took over at Midtown. Interesting that Cadence would choose a 14 story building similar to nestbox in Rochester. I wish for this year to bring good news, not sad news.

I thought of Beauty too Joyce, very reminiscent of that time.  Every time I've seen Cadence she's looked strong and no injuries, praying it stays that way.  If push comes to shove, I'm hoping they both chose to live another day.

Cadence seems to be perched on the building above mom.  Dark out now ....  I don't like that, I wonder if she has eaten at all herself. 

Lost internet again.  Assuming it holds I'll keep watch on the situation tonight and tomorrow.  If I vanish it's because we're down again.

Just caught up with this sad situation. I've seen territorial battles before and hoped to never witness another. It is not easy to watch, but it is the way things are now that there are many more Peregrines out there looking for mates and territories of their own.

I truly hope that neither female is injured too badly. Looking at the injuries the resident female has received remind me of Mariah's injuries. I feel so bad for her and Cadence who is only doing what she was born to do.   :heart:

I'm just catching up too, Carol.  So sad to see this battle, especially because it involves eggs.  Cadence comes from a couple of lines of strong females, however, and she now carries the mantel of her clutch brothers, Bronx and Genesee.  I am hoping and praying she comes out of this okay, and that the resident female heals, but I know that may be a vain hope. 

On an interesting side note, we now have 100% proof that the blue feet turn yellow, as Cadence was a true blue foot. 

Can't stay awake anymore.  Going to sign off and hope the morning brings a status quo and no further injuries.  Assuming internet isn't down again - that might be a pipe dream - I'll be up early to check in on the site.

I know it is nature but it is heartbreaking to see this.  I hope both will be safe.  This poor mama bird :(

And Cadence is in danger too :(

Some late night pics:

She is so tired, but she is not allowed to rest.

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrwwir/eliz-nj-mar-25-53a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrwwia/eliz-nj-mar-25-54a.jpg)

She has not eaten, and Cadence has not left her in peace during the night.

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrwwil/eliz-nj-mar-25-58a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrwwii/eliz-nj-mar-25-61a.jpg)

This poor girl has been through far too much, and needs to be taken into care. She is so courageous, and I do not want to see her lose her life. It is obvious that she will not survive without help.  :(

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrwwiw/eliz-nj-mar-25-63a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rlwrwwpa/eliz-nj-mar-25-66a.jpg)

4:32 a.m.

No birds visible on any of the three cams at the moment.

6.01 am and falcon perched outside with back to me, likely mom (for lack of a better name).  Eggs are not destroyed,, not sure why that lady posted that int he comments.  I can see them both this morning and could last nite as well after she said that, perhaps she was just upset.

6.19 am and mom sleeping with her head tucked into her wing.

6.32 am and she woke up and flew out.  No one else in sight that I can see on cam.

6.46 am and male is in and on eggs now.

I don't know why people were saying that about the eggs either, Carly. It seemed strange to me too.

(https://picload.org/image/rlwdddii/eliz-nj-mar-26-1a.jpg)

Someone was incubating just a little while ago:

(https://picload.org/image/rlwdddiw/eliz-nj-mar-26-4a.jpg)

7.35 am and male just got up and ran out of box down ledge out of sight.  No one else in view on cams.

7.49 am and female just came in vocalizing and posturing.  Looks like peace is over.

7.50 she was looking up and just jumped up to ledge by nestbox and is facing outwards vocalizing.

7.53 and male back into igloo.  No one else in sight, female out of view.

7.56 and two females in air, aerial battle and one chasing other.  Female back on platform, male escaped.  Cadence in the air around building..mom jumped up to ledge..getting intense again.

I will post only if something happens now instead of play by play..  Stuff happening too fast.  I don't know how much longer these 2 can keep this up.

I won't watch, it's too hard for me! Cadence, as much as we all love her, needs to find a new home and new 1st  mate! So many out there.....where are the singles??? I wish all 3 well and yes, I agree with Alison, the female who is injured needs some care, she's weak but strong and is willing to do anything to protect her eggs. The male needs to get involved like DC did with Pigott!! Oh why did I have to fall in love with birds that battle brutal??  :(

I hope someone​ is there watching in case one of the falcons come to the ground. :(

Cam is panning again Carol so they are watching again this morning.

Are any watchers on the ground at the nest site?

I don't know Carol, I don't know much about this site to be honest.  I tuned in Friday night because some of the girls that follow it reported what was going on so I wanted to help out by watching.  

I should also add that in the comments under the cams, it is the 'Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ' that is posting about what is going on and answering comments so I'm thinking they must have people there?  They've been responding to people who are asking questions about what is going on.

I didn't even know this site existed and I live here! I know Elizabeth is a rough area, not a place I'd like to go watch on a corner! It's near the Newark airport! You can see the planes on cam!! I got lost in Elizabeth once, never again!!

Nothing seen on cam for awhile now..so nothing to report.  

9.17 am and both male and female arrive.  he's into the eggs, she jumps up to ledge and I see a large falcon in the distance fly off.  Male on eggs, female out of view so could be her that flew out.

I posted a photo under Rfalcon FB Cadence article that shows the top of this building where nest box is.  Chad from Ohio got it for me - it shows how close Cadence must have been to them last night when she was on the building.  Either on the poles or the railings that run between them.  

(feel free to bring it over as I couldnt figure out to link it here properly)

FB is very odd...every picture seems to have its address in a different place. Hope this works.

Nope-off to try a different method...

Thanks Kitty, that's what happened when I tried it too.  You might have to download it then upload?

Just going to attach it...

Dad brought in food for mom and she was eating at far end of ledge.  She is quietly perched on ledge down there now.

Hopefully Cadence is somewhere safe eating and resting too.

All seems quiet, mom actually went into nest box and is resting on eggs.  Perhaps Cadence has left the area, she must be exhausted as well.  Hopefully she chooses to err on the side of caution and move on.  This female, in spite of her injury, is quite strong.

The Conserve Wildlife Foundation posted this reassuring message about 45 minutes ago:

While it might be hard to watch the drama unfold, we have to remind ourselves that peregrine falcons are wild animals and these battles over established eyries are quite common. New Jersey is not only a densely populated state for humans, but it also is for peregrine falcons. At another well established eyrie (Jersey City), in 2015 the 20 year old female and 11 year old male were replaced with new birds (female banded 41/AX and male unbanded). Then in 2016, after the female laid one egg, then new male was replaced. We're unsure of what will happen this year, but we know that many battles have occurred there as they are here now. Of course the fate of these eggs hang in the delicate balance of survival here where only the fittest will survive. We can only watch and admire the shear beauty and power of these amazing predatory birds. You can rest assured that if an injured bird were found on the ground or on a ledge of the building then someone would respond and help the bird in need of care. BW

I def feel better knowing they are on it, in case one comes down!! THX!!

It might be over Donna.  She's sound asleep on her eggs.  First time since Friday she's been in there like that and not running around dodging attacks.  The male also seemed to fly in with her a few times earlier so perhaps he helped her and Cadence retreated...hopefully to safety and without injury.  The fact that Cadence didn't come into the box after her gives me hope that she was smart enough not to want to engage directly to avoid injury.

I'll keep an eye on the board to see if there are any messages or reports.  

I love the fact the juvies have so much room to walk around, get lost,  :D and get a good take off for first flights!! I pray all goes well here, for all!

Thanks Carly, just turned on the cam and see her finally resting!!  :heart:

Male came in and female hopped out to greet him, she is visibly hopping and favoring her right leg.  Would be consistent with a talon lock and may indicate there was a decisive battle this morning.  Or maybe she feels she can show her injuries now that it's safe.

Uh oh, male came in for a quick chat, she started kacking after he left and quick poop shoot and off she went. And he's back into the igloo... we spoke too soon?

Just saw a falcon fly around the building..and another!

Cadence has upped her game, intense aerial type battle going on right now...female came in for a landing and fell and C was right on her tail.  She just took to air again.  Will keep you posted but Cadence is getting risky she's coming awfully close to the building..

Just saw a female fly up from lower levels up high and around the building.  Otherwise only dad in view at the moment.

2.19 and mom landed back in front of nest box, good landing this time..she's vocalizing and posturing while looking up.  Cady must be up there somewhere.

The female's left wing is injured. It's impossible to get her unless she goes down. So sad.

She's flying quite well in spite of injuries Carol, I have to say she is one strong female..seriously. She was favoring that wing on Friday night when I first tuned in but it hasn't hindered her at all.   

It's hard to watch for sure, I'm more afraid now that one of them will hit the building and it will be fatal...the speed is crazy.  

It looks to be strained. She can still pull it back. I've seen battles and they can be vicious. I'm glad they don't have sound.

Oh god yes me too, sound would be scary right about now.  Mom's right foot is sore as well.  She is smart to keep coming in like this instead of risking further injury.  I don't know how she still has the stamina to keep this up.

She and Cadence both have to be exhausted.

When Pigott (we believe it was her) and Beauty battled, it was very intense for a couple days. They finally broke it off and Pigott eventually relocated to Syracuse.

Yes they seem to be pausing for a moment or two right now.  I don't know what Cadence had for lunch while she gone but it seems to have invigorated her or maybe it's hormones rising...  Hormones elevated leads to carelessness and impatience sometimes.  I just want this to end peacefully and soon.

Yes I remember that but it was out of season if I remember correctly?  So they were both thinking with their heads and not being driven by hormone rage.

True. We've had battles during egg laying too.

Holy ...again mom came in and Cadence was right on her tail.  And mom jumped back up out of view again.

The male has joined in now, saw three in the air.  Chad saw him a few times while I missed him so he's helping by protecting her.

Ok male has retreated into igloo and back on eggs.

Mom just came in fast with Cadence on her tail. In front of box again, male on eggs still.  I've got Harry Potter on TV that my mom is watching and it's distracting. 

Tomorrow at work, this cam will likely be blocked so won't be able to watch.  Only refresh cams work at office now, they block streaming as it uses up too much bandwidth.

Cadence must be up above maybe, she's looking up and holding up her right foot..she's favoring it again.  Male saw something and took off, maybe took off after Cadence?  Or cam moving has freaked him out.

She's back again in front of box and two birds in air, male must be helping or Cadence is chasing him...hard to say. Oh...she hit her!  (Cadence hit the female just to clarify)  Male back in on eggs now.  And female in on ledge.

Just had a high speed chase around building with mom and Cadence.  Cadence swooped on mom after she landed and she ran out of view for shelter (wonder where she got those swooping skills  :rolleyes:)

Oh! mom landed on igloo and slipped off.  Male bolted out of nest box.

Thank you so much for watching and posting about it, Carly.  I can't bear to watch. 

I wonder indeed :rolleyes: From the king of the swoopers.

I can't bear to tear myself away now so I understand how you feel.  I want to step away but I'm so afraid something horrible will happen  - as if I could somehow stop that by watching.  *sigh*  I am going to take a break soon though and eat, I'm sure it's not healthy to be parked in front of my monitor watching this for 2 days steady. It's harder now that I know it's Cadence...if you know what i mean.

I sure do.

Took an hour break and missed some action it seems.  Mom on top of igloo looking pretty rough and dad inside on eggs.  Quiet for the moment.

I was off for a few hours and they are at it again??? Cadence is persistent!! Good grief, make it stop!

 :( :( :(

Cadence may have left for the night.  Mom is comfortable enough to go into the nest box with her back to entrance tonight.  But I won't call it since they keep surprising me but let's hope for a peaceful night for all falcons involved.

Let's hope it's over for tonight. Her mate needs to bring her some food. Looks like it might be raining?

Yes and I just checked the weather and rain tonight and all day tomorrow!  Might cool them off!

Poor mom, her head is tucked into her wing already.  I hope Cadence is okay too, I know she's been the aggressor but surely with all that contact she may be hurting a bit too.  So talons crossed for a peaceful night for all involved!

Morning!  5.34 am and got cams working, male on eggs.  Very foggy and wet there, no sign of anyone else that I can see.

6.17 am and no change.  Male still on eggs and no sign of females.  Off to get ready for work.  Will rely on others today to follow events.  Hopefully rain will keep things calm.

As per BCAW, looks like the fight continues this morning  :(

8:47 am. I've been watching on and off for the last hour. Haven't seen any falcons.

8:51am. They just did a sweep of the area with their pan cam. No falcons found.

9:02 am. I think it's the male that just went into the nest to cover the eggs. He was vocalizing at first. Now quiet. Still raining and foggy.

As per BCAW:  Mom is back and is okay.


Scratch my earlier comment, Chad confirmed to me he saw two females in the air early this morning.  He thinks she may have retreated as egg 3 is due.

10:24 am. No falcons in view.

All quiet since I got home from work, female on eggs.

I've been checking now and then all day. Seems quiet. Not like yesterday.

She's sound asleep right now.

I couldn't see from work but since I've been home, it has been quiet and 'normal'.  I hope our Cadence is safe and has decided to find herself a better home  :wub:   

I was so afraid to look at this thread all day but I had to! Glad not much has happened since yesterday! Both gals are most likely exhausted! Just not worth it! (I hope).

Thanks girls for the info on this nest site!  ;)

One is sitting on the railing right now. Seems to be calm. I believe this is the resident female. Looks like the male attempted to mate with her, but she wasn't ready. Be safe wherever you are Cadence.  :heart:

8:36 am. Resident female pooped and jumped down from the railing to the front of the nest box. She started to vocalize then took off. Got a good look at the wound on her chest and couldn't see any fresh blood. Her left wing seems stronger and I can't see any injuries on her head or feet.

These are just my observations.

Hope all is well here, I get so nervous when I see a new post and so afraid to click on it!!

I'm sure Cadence is well and still out there, some where. This may not be over yet but praying  :pray: it is!

Me too Donna.  :angel:

Betty Ann Kelly · Environmental Specialist at County of Union Dept Parks & Community Renewal
Resident female on railing. She has been incubating along with male. Male appears to have an injury right side/top of bill and seemed to have a slight limp. Female appears to be healing and looks better today. 2 hours ago

Thanks Donna. I haven't seen the male yet today.

Male is home now and on eggs apparently.  There have been reports of third bird in several territories over the past 24 hours - it's that time of year and there are many pefa's looking for a home.  We had a third here at Bloor Issy yesterday as well and I witnessed some interaction between another pefa and Lucky that resulted in a high speed chase out.  There is also a new female in Richmond, VA as of yesterday as well and Utica, NY had a third as well on cam that went right to nest box.  

We need to put a flashing sign on that empty box in Buffalo  :-[

10:33 am. The resident female just flew in and went to the eggs.

Betty Ann Kelly · Environmental Specialist at County of Union Dept Parks & Community Renewal
Female adult falcon perched on the corner of the building on the roof at 12:59 today.
Like · Reply · 3 · Jan 17, 2017 12:59pm

Betty Ann Kelly · Environmental Specialist at County of Union Dept Parks & Community Renewal
Pair bonding taking place at the nest site. Female in nestbox and male on railing at 1:39pm.
Like · Reply · Jan 17, 2017 12:39pm

Just curious how these m/f falcons find all these nests!! Are they just cruising along and they see a place and think, "Hey, this looks like a good place", or do they see another falcon and follow and think, "this is a good place to start a fight for the nest?" It just baffles me that usually at every nest site, you find a 3rd ready to battle it out or try!! As big as all these areas are, they find the nests!!  :crazy: :crazy:

And they don't have AAA or Michelin, or apartmentfinder.com, or anything like that! 

Obviously, they have Falcon GPS!!!

Something going on again, just got home and getting caught up. 

Large falcon in air back and forth on cam 3, female on ledge defensive.  Whoever it is means business this time.  Mom is spinning around like a top.

Betty Ann Kelly · Environmental Specialist at County of Union Dept Parks & Community Renewal
Resident female outside then inside nest box. Still acting defensive but is sitting on eggs a bit more. Male taking his turn as well. Let's see if any additional eggs will be laid. Just remember folks... "turnabout is fair play" as they say. This resident female either chased off the previous year's female or killed her. She was last seen on Christmas Day.

Resident female in nest but def on guard! Can see her wounded chest!

(http://i64.tinypic.com/9ps5kn.jpg) I hope this ends soon, battle going on 6 days!

It's really remarkable how much stamina and resolve nature can show us. Many days I watched Beauty out maneuver and out last both Pigott and DC's attempts to take over her Times Square nest. This struggle will end at some point-this IS the falcon way. Hopefully everyone survives.  :heart:

Females are talon locked fighting in gutter on roof!

Battle below the nest box ledge.  :(

Just turned on the camera to this. So sad.

Okay both sets of wings moved, they seem stuck there.  Cam operator online and moving cam to see them.

I just came back to look and now I'm sick to my stomach!!

Thank god, unlock and Cadence (assuming it's her) flew off. The one with messy, wet wings just also flew, suspect that was mom.  SGB has a good photo if you can look and if that's Cadence facing cam, don't see any injuries visible on her breast or face..she's absolutely gorgeous.  (sorry but she is, know it's a bad time to say that)

(http://i68.tinypic.com/sbm2bd.jpg)  Assuming that is Cadence, I see a band!!  Brutal is all I can say!

Video of fight posted on BCAW by tiga8    :(

http://youtu.be/LHmNWj11tMA (http://youtu.be/LHmNWj11tMA)

Wow, hard to watch!! I didn't know this cam had sound........where's the volume button? I don't have one!!

Doesn't have sound as far as I know.  I'm not watching the video, I saw the end of it live and that's enough for me.  I know Cadence is safe, I'm good.  

Mom on cam now.  Saw dad earlier so all three safe.   Can only see side of mom but she is moving well.

Had an appointment to go to. Didn't​ know what to expect when I got back. Glad they finally unlocked talons!

(http://i67.tinypic.com/2rw21le.jpg) earlier

 She's eating, I assume the male brought her food!!

http://youtu.be/onYsQlV61GM (http://youtu.be/onYsQlV61GM)


Betty Ann Kelly · Environmental Specialist at County of Union Dept Parks & Community Renewal
The battle continues between the two adult female falcons but this time the scene is caught on "tape". In this clip the intruder and the resident bird plumment from the sky, talons locked and land in the rain gutter on the courthouse roof. If you look closely, you can see the bands on the intruder falcon. Her chest is more speckled while the bib on the resident falcon is pure white. While not shown in this video, the intruder flies off leaving the resident female to tend to her wounds. Later, she is seen eating a meal. Defending territory is tough and stressful on the birds. It remains to be seen what will happen next

She's still there according to Chad, they were locked again this afternoon!!

Chad had seen a third bird fly by earlier this afternoon. It certainly seems like they were locked up again judging on how worn out resident girl is now. She was looking much perkier this morning after the first battle. I just want this to be over for her, she's fought so hard for her family.

David Edward Gates

Anytime I've checked in since the morning, it's been quiet save for mom and dad working on making egg #3.   No doubt she's tired, given it's egg time but I haven't seen a third bird around since this morning.  Mom has a full crop so she's had a good meal and all is well at the moment at least.

(http://i65.tinypic.com/2s62909.jpg) Holding her own!!  :wub:

Anyone hear anything? I can't get on the cams! :(

Hope no fighting today!

I tried earlier from home as well Donna and cams were down for me.

Webcam is down. Last pic from just before 5:30 am.

Hmm, OK, thanks! Wonder if it's technical or on purpose! I worry!!

Me too Donna! Might be on purpose. You're like me. We're both worriers.  :(

CAMS are back up!!!

I am def a WORRIER!!!!

I am a worrier too. Here's my mantra:  Cadence, Mom, Dad and eggs are okay until proven otherwise.  Now, repeat after me...

8:49 am. Resident female returned to the nest and is now on the eggs.

(http://i67.tinypic.com/20st08w.jpg)  She doesn't look any worse for what she has been through! Her eyes look a little funky! (probably exhaustion). I hope Cadence is OK!

She's gone again, male on eggs! Poor girl will never get a chance to lay another egg, if there is one! :(

(http://i68.tinypic.com/160a8zm.jpg) Female mom keeps looking up, is it that Cadence is still there, male battling something or she is just a nervous wreck?? She looks like her wounds have healed!!

She looks worn out and sad, though.   :(

Her eyes tell the whole story!  :(

Exactly.

Mom looks good, she's dozing in front of igloo.  I saw her looking up earlier but she wasn't freaking out like before so she may just be a bit sensitive after the past few days...let's hope that's all it is anyway.

Her left eye looks a bit injured, and as I was checking in during the day, noted that she didn't seem to be able to see as well with the left.

She had a few 'peck marks' around it the other day, could be swollen.  

Quick check in and dad on eggs now dozing on and off. 

Pics of Cadence that Carolyn captured on March 25th..posted on BCAW. 

(http://i65.tinypic.com/9pwdb4.jpg)

(http://i63.tinypic.com/29olhsh.png)

(http://i66.tinypic.com/35845fl.png)

 :wub: :wub: :wub:

http://youtu.be/bji54sncEZY (http://youtu.be/bji54sncEZY) from last Saturday when the resident female was attacked twice in the chest by Cadence.

(http://i65.tinypic.com/hs2x04.jpg) She seems at ease and is resting. I don't know if Cadence left the area or is taking a day or two herself to heal and have another go at it! Every morning I get nervous, wondering what today will bring!!

Just saw on TV: NY City has the most nesting Peregrine Falcons.....David Attenborough said! Been there for 40 years!!

Cadence is gorgeous!  :wub:

(http://i64.tinypic.com/90pzlx.jpg) This mum is looking a bit rugged and I think she is working on another  egg!

They heal quickly if given time.  :heart:

Hope Cadence is ok.  :heart:

It was pouring rain earlier and she was out in it too!

2:44 pm. After zooming in on a Woodpecker head floating in the gutter water, the cam pulled back just in time to catch the two resident falcons mating on top of a gutter cap.  :lol:

Intruder after mom again....i have to get ready and go out for food run but cams were panning earlier and I saw a third in the air.

I have NOT seen mom since early am! Dad on eggs most of the time!! Man, I hate this!!

Been quiet since this morning.  Could have been another pefa passing through looking for a vacancy.  Given how high the population is there, that wouldn't surprise me.

The resident female was just on the eggs, now outside the nest. She looks to be ok. 3:00 pm.

Appreciate all the updates. Gosh,hope it will calm down soon.Anyway,thanks for whatever info you have to share.

(http://i67.tinypic.com/k4xq9i.jpg) This was from this am, forgot to post! Like 7:40 ish

It's mom

Thank you for that update, Carol. I hope Cadence is also okay.

At 9 am the resident female spent a few minutes with her eggs, vocalized (no sound on site), then left.

Somethings up as the male spends more time on the eggs! Mom, very little and as Kathy O said last night, she may be sore on her chest and hard to lay fully on eggs! We also thought this male reminds us of Kaver <3

Female came into the nest at 5:03 pm. Went down tight on the eggs. Left at 5:10 pm.

Yes! He does look like our Kaver.  :wub:

(http://i64.tinypic.com/2mqvk1j.jpg) I'm assuming these are the male and female. Never really saw them together in the same frame!

http://ucnj.org/falcon/ (http://ucnj.org/falcon/) Webcam

Thought I'd start a new thread just for these two and if Cadence is still around, it can be posted under the Cadence thread, if that's OK!

I think that is a very good idea, Donna.

3rd falcon again!! Cadence???  :crying:

Thanks for the heads up Donna, cam is up and will watch while I work.  I wouldn't think she'd come back after that decisive battle but what do I know.  Hoping it's someone else. 

Ok I just had three in view, large female flying around building..doing donuts and here she comes again.

That female is HUGE whoever she is, mom went up after her.  Cam is panning.

Mom just came in with female on her tail, she smacked mom and veered off.  Well certainly Cadence's M.O.

Moms wing is kinda droopy!! I'm getting so worried!! Dad helped a bit but he's worried about the eggs!!

It's pretty intense right now, both in air. 

Another falcon is flying around with resident mom right behind her.  Please let this be a newbie that mom will be able to dispatch quickly!

This is horrible to watch!! One of them just slammed the other in air!!

The 'intruding female' is the faster one, she's one a mission it seems.  I saw her slam and/or smack mom a few times.  I can see why she tries to lure mom into the air, she's superior in the air.  And I see why mom retreats to the igloo ..woah did you see that????  She just smacked mom in the talons..mom flipped up ..oh my god!  I think mom was trying to catch her maybe??

Yup, saw all that and her wing is not good, can hurt her more in the long run!! They just tussled above the nest!!

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ
Female (and male) has been off eggs for at least the past 45 minutes with ongoing interactions with female intruder. Not likely to have an effect on the outcome of their nest attempt at this point, but anything is possible if this keeps up!

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ
Resident female tangles with another above nestbox and lands akwardly on upper ledge. Her injured (left) wing will not help in the aerial battles...

Oh dear,oh dear,this is so disturbing and sad.Wish it could be over. Poor mama.

Mom came to visit male in nest, while Cadence (I assume) still pursues in flight around the building. Mom left for more aerial confrontation. She still looks in decent condition even though wing still hanging when not flying.

Lots of flying..dad just took off!

(http://i65.tinypic.com/34h88xg.png)
(http://i65.tinypic.com/jkc5li.jpg)

Mom is at nest while male is flying with intruder.

I wonder if he knows her?  Might explain the determination over so many weeks.  Lots of places nearby for a singleton falcon to spend the off season.

And...the swooping continues. Cadence (I assume) takes after her dad DC.

I..oh and mom and intruder in chase.  Male preening while mom battles for her life and mom back with intruder right on her tail.   

All three...Mom at igloo (just returned after chasing intruder), Dad below on rail (just finished preening), and Cadence in sky.

This is confusing with two threads going on... :crazy:

Agreed. Merged.

OK! Just thought that Cadence was her own thread, since we don't know for sure it's her. When she left for a week I made a new thread for just THAT cam alone! But.....who am I???

You all started posting in both, I stayed in the NJ cam!!

I blame Cadence. She's been a troublemaker ever since she went to the Powers nest box.

        :laugh:

Banded falcon on building, cam is zoomed in on her!!  Can't see bands yet!!  Hurry!

Darn it they pulled the cam back.  Took a dinner break, something must have happened.  She's perched on corner of building.

Its Cadence!!!  Cam 3 now on her!!  Mama must have fallen to her.  I hope they find the mom  :(

She took off, god I hope this over and mom can get help and we can stop the battling.

Who is in the nestbox?  Cadence is beautiful but sheesh, poor mama falcon

Dad is on eggs as always.

Thanks, Carly.  I hope mama bird can be found.  I hate these battles

Pics captured of Caadence...

I'm sorry but males should do more for their mates! This one just flies around for a few then goes back on the eggs! Tag team the intruder until they leave!! UGH!!!!

Hope they find mom and she's alive but they better hurry, darkness falls!!  :(

Dad is out and off. 

6:44 pm Dad took off.

More pics of Cadence...

Uh oh..just saw two in air?  Male and Cadence or ???

Male back on eggs.

Dad is back and right to eggs.  Might have been him, he likely doesn't realize what has happened and is protecting his eggs from the 'intruder'.  Assuming of course it is over, we'll have to wait and see.

He keeps looking around though so something might be happening

Males will usually not take on a female due to size difference.  Kaver was a courageous Tiercel. I saw him take on intruding females more than once.  :heart:

Cadence is back on corner of building.  Dad is back on eggs.  He'll eventually realize what has happened and bow to her but he'll protect his eggs too I'm sure.

She saw something and took off...

(http://i64.tinypic.com/25jiogk.jpg) She's gorgeous as they all are but I wish they didn't fight!!

He will.

She might be gone to find dinner.  She must be tired and hungry too.

He will be with Cadence tomorrow, making babies!! No mercy!!  :-[

I believe that if Cadence does take over, she will care for these two eggs. At least I hope so.

Dad left for a few and came back, probably looking for mom.  No sign of anyone else on cam.   Haven't seen Cadence come back yet.

This is what a baby I am, I actually felt sick to my stomach over this today! Cadence must have been hiding in the wings getting ready to strike again! No wonder mom was never really at ease. I wasn't either, to be honest! She left too quick! If Cadence does take over, it will take me a while to adjust like I did with Unity and Beauty and all the others but we come to LOVE them no matter and we deal with it. Oh, I just want to jump in the cams sometimes!!!  :stupid: I want to rescue all of them....NOW!!!

I don't think you're a baby,it's human nature to want to help and to not want to see harm come to any species.  

I don't like the fights but I watch some of them because I want to learn more and I do accept that it's the way it is with them.  What I couldn't handle was watching that Pitt female kill and eat her babies - that too me was too much and not normal - I don't care what anyone says.  Those babies spent hours pecking through the shell to the point of exhaustion only to be eliminated by her, their own mother!.  

Adult females when they fight - have choice, they are old enough to chose their destiny and have the ability to also fly away if it gets to much and they change their minds, a little baby doesn't.

It's certainly hard to digest at times. Definitely not for the feint of heart to witness these battles whether it be on camera or live. I've done both and I think I'd rather be on the ground watching where I could possibly help if one comes down.   :(

Me too MAK, (Sorry, I thought I was responding to Carly), DUH, this is how messed up I am. Could be a new job, Falcon Rescue! Sad part is that this is mom's first clutch here at this site, she ousted the 6 year old Female who was hatched on the Throgs Neck Bridge. Mom's only been here since Christmas. 3 months

Well I hope Cadence has better luck now that she's here - sad about the previous female before mom as well.  I didn't see Cadence come back but she may have come round the other way and be somewhere high up on guard keeping watch.  Hopefully she gets some rest as she'll have to deal with dad tomorrow.  Maybe by then we'll hear news of moms rescue.

I'm for bed, talons crossed the night is peaceful.

It is so frustrating to watch a situation like this. If it happened here, I and ALL my fellow watchers would be downtown in a heartbeat. Of course, there would be nothing we could do unless one came down. But, we could monitor the situation and keep an eye on them. Like we did with Mariah & Beauty and Pigott & Beauty. Once you witness a Peregrine territorial battle you will never forget it. The sound is unforgettable. I'm very thankful there is no sound at the NJ site.  Are there watchers there? I don't know.

We should learn more tomorrow. I hope that both the resident female and Cadence survive this.  :pray:

4:43 am. A quick peek. The male is on the eggs. He's very alert. Foggy morning in NJ.

Been keeping watch the past hour and still the same as when you posted Carol.

6.17 am and just saw someone land in distance...could see wing on cam 2 but behind that box past igloo so can't see who it is.

She went into the nest box...it's Cadence!  She bowed to male, he to her and then he took off.  She looked down at eggs and has now left box and hopped down ledge! 

Have to log now and get ready for work :(

(http://i64.tinypic.com/14e785d.jpg) They found Cadence and boy is she gorgeous for a BA!!  :devil:

Bad/A$$

She is gorgeous indeed!  Great shot Donna, you can even see she got Beauty's salmon coloring on her chest  :heart:

8.24 am and dad is back again.  He's so devoted to those eggs and I'm sure he's a bit confused this morning. 

IMHO, Cadence's very dark, round head and auricular patch resemble that of her great great grandmother, Madame X.  I know it's a stretch, but compare the attached pic of Madame X with the pic of Cadence from yesterday at the igloo. 

Great capture Donna! What a "Beautyful" falcon.  I was up peaking at the cam on and off during the night. The male hardly slept. I saw him vocalize and come to the igloo entrance around midnight. I had a feeling Cadence would show up this morning.

I see what you mean!   :wub:

http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/protecting/projects/peregrine/ (http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/protecting/projects/peregrine/)  Just some news about the more than 25 breeding pair of Falcons in NJ!

(I know more about NY then I do my own state of NJ!!)  :stupid:

**UPDATE W/ VIDEO** Watch our resident female lock talons with the female intruder and fall from the sky during the battle that took place earlier today on top of the Union County Courthouse.
The fight between the resident female peregrine and the outsider took place both on and off camera, but this recorded moment was a testament to the power and strength of these predatory birds.
Tune in with us as we continue to monitor and hope for the success of this breeding pair and their eggs. March 29 BW at the end of a post on the cam comments is Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager:


Found this also:  http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/education/uc-falconcam/ (http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/education/uc-falconcam/) Different  Cam page

Incubation has begun and the battles seem to have ended, with the resident (unbanded) female successfully defending her eyrie (nest), despite gaining some new battle scars. Viewers have watched the male perform the majority of incubation duties, which is usually done by the female. She's obviously been under a great deal of stress from defending her eyrie and should settle down more on the eggs as they get back to their normal routine. Peregrines begin incubating after they lay a full clutch. With there being only two eggs (most lay between 3-4 eggs) this is likely due to stress from the battles this spring. The second egg should have been laid on March 26 since peregrines typically lay an egg every other day (second egg was laid in the evening of March 24). We believe that she could have "dropped" an egg, which means that she could have laid the egg during a mid-air battle with the intruding female. A reduced clutch is not a bad thing and the peregrine falcon population has been quite stable over the past several years. Nests on towers and buildings continue to be the "backbone" for the continued stability for the statewide population, while nests on natural cliff sites continue to be much less stable due to their inherent nature of being suseptible to predators and weather.
Hatching should begin during the last week of April.
March 29
Female intruder returns to nest and a battle ensues with footage of the female peregrine falcons locking talons and falling from the sky. Both resident male and female peregrine falcons are viewed on the livestream later that afternoon. Intruder has been successfully chased off for the time being.
March 25-28
Periodic sightings of intruder. Resident male and female take turns defending nest and incubating eggs.
March 24
The resident peregrine falcons defends nest against intruding female and sustains injuries to her chest and left wing. She lays 2nd egg following this altercation.
March 22
The resident female lays the first egg.
March 18
Possible juvenile red-tail hawk spotted near the nest, resident pair attempted to chase hawk away.
Late February 2017
A second female peregrine falcon is first spotted near the nest. We now know that this is Cadence (91/BA) from Rochester NY.
February 2017

9.37 am Cadence landed on railing chupping, male on eggs.  She hasn't eaten, I hope she can get something..ok here she comes... into the box to get his attention...get out here and feed me dude!!  He makes a run for it and flys off!  She's on patio now looking around and off she goes to railing, probably wondering where he ran off to. 

From their comments section at the site in reply to Carolyn:  


The great folks at Union County (at the court house and the Sheriff's Dept.) ran a search for the "resident mom" last night, and went out again this morning to search the local grounds. They also checked all the lower roofs of the court house building. No sign of her yet.

The fight between the two females started Tuesday around 1:00 PM and flyovers and fly-bys continued for about 4.5 hours. One observer reported the intruder (banded as 91/BA) hit the resident female around 5:30 PM, which may have been the most serious blow. She hasn't been seen since then. The tiercel remains committed to "his" eggs, incubating them overnight and this morning. It remains to be seen if the new female has truly won this nest site and if she will join in caring for the eggs of another falcon, or seek to lay her own eggs.

9.40 am and Cadence in the gutter drinking water  :)

I'm happy, I suppose, for Cadence but hate the idea of the resident female out there somewhere dead or injured. :'( I ask myself every season why I follow falcons that battle to death. We've seen way too much of that over the years.

Dot in PA

(http://i65.tinypic.com/34pxsg5.jpg)

I'm very happy to hear that they are out looking for the resident female. If she wasn't injured too badly, she may have taken off, giving up her territory.

Cadence took a long drink from the rain water in the gutter.

Same here Dot, I couldn't sleep last night over this!! They get to ya!! My husband say's I need professional help when it comes to animals. I love to watch every show on Animal Planet, every vet show but yet, I run out of the room every time a procedure comes up or an animal fights with another or eats one! I feed the birds out back and squirrels but when a Hawk comes in my yard, I'm out there chasing it away. Ed said stop feeding them and the Hawk will leave!  :whistle: Guess I am a messed up unit!

Guess I messed up there.Well,my thoughts are with the resident female.I wish someone would find her.Poor momma,she gave it her all, that is for sure.Thanks for all the posts on this sad event.

Natalie Gregorio
I made my rounds through the courthouse tower, looking down on the jail, admin, new annex, and prosecutors buildings - no sign of the Mom; I also looked in the cemetary...no sign. Sad

(They are looking for her)  :(

Not seeing much activity lately.

I haven't noticed any signs of injury to Cadence. At only 2 years old she seems to be quite a force to be reckoned with. Hoping the resident female survived the battle. It's so bittersweet to watch these falcons so closely.  :yes:

Cadence was talking to dad (he was on the eggs), he flew off (she wasn't happy) then she did a short walkabout near the eggs and left.

(http://i67.tinypic.com/5nrrb.png)

(http://i68.tinypic.com/28b8gth.png)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/4-5%20Cadence%20calling_zpsvwwjzwfs.jpg) (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/djweeds/media/4-5%20Cadence%20calling_zpsvwwjzwfs.jpg.html) She's demanding!! Calling for him, he wasn't in the nest!

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/4-5%20Cadence%20eggs_zpsbgsl0k4z.jpg) (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/djweeds/media/4-5%20Cadence%20eggs_zpsbgsl0k4z.jpg.html) She was in and out, yelling at dad, who was in the nest and left! She even beaked the eggs! I believe she's learning the Falcon way! When I see a young falcon at a nest and it's her 1st, I always think of S2! <3

The fate of the resident female peregrine falcon on top of the Union County Courthouse remains uncertain as Falcon Cam followers share their concern and respect online for this tireless warrior. The pair has fought since late February to defend their territory against Cadence, the relentless female from Rochester, NY, who today appears in and around the nest while the male continues to incubate the eggs. At two years old, Cadence is young to lay eggs of her own although it is possible. Only time will tell if she will adopt the nest with the male, and how the two will interact as incubation of the two eggs has already begun. CWF will provide updates if the resident female, last seen battling yesterday, reappears or is found elsewhere.

From Conserve Wildlife

Not sure why they think she can't lay eggs, she most certainly can at 2 years of age.  She wants food and a canoodle and dad just wants to incubate right now..but he'll eventually realize he's going to have to get with the new program.

I agree Carly. I'm wondering if when neither Cadence nor the resident male are on camera if they are off bonding and mating. They need boots there to watch from the ground more to see the clear picture of what's going on.  :yes:

You're right, a few volunteers to observe would be helpful.  Is it just me, or does Little Man's bright white chest look a lot like DotCA?  He is a nice looking tierce.

Not just you, I commented several days ago that he's bright and orange like DC  :lol:

And I agree with you and MAK, boots on the ground would be good right about now. 

I believe they do have people watching, a few have posted that they looked but no luck! It's a big city, lots of tall buildings, who knows where she is, if she's injured and if she will ever be found! Look at Archer!!  :crying:

Dad came out of igloo vocalizing and spinning around, just ran out of view.

7.21 pm and Cadence is in, she's on top of igloo chatting and looking up at dad I expect.  And she's off and back on railing now and then in to check out the igloo and waddle down the patio and up to the first ledge and off she goes.

7.47 pm and Cadence landed on railing.  Food on her beak and talons, thank goodness..I was worried she wasn't getting any food.  She chatted to dad a bit and he took off like a bandit.

That railing is so slippery...be scary to see juvies on there if they slip and fall.

Edit: Yay I figured it out!!  I took this of Cadence tonight, had to save a smaller version to upload it here.  Also posted to Rfalcon.

ps:  Your 'help' feature is excellent!

She is definitely old enough to lay eggs. I saw her checking out the eggs a few times today. She'll learn and her instincts will kick in.

Like everyone else, I'm conflicted. I'm glad to see Cadence's success, but I also hope that the former resident female has flown safely away, as Mariah did after losing to Beauty. Maybe her only having been at the site for a few months will have made her less determined to stay. According to one publication, only about a third of territorial battles are fatal, so I think it is more than wishful thinking.http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0159054#pone.0159054.ref008 (http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0159054#pone.0159054.ref008)

I'm  thinking dad is wondering what happened to mom.  I am still feeling sad about the whole event. Not used to this so will probably stop checking in on this one. :sorrow:

5.30 am - Dad on eggs and Cadence perched on railing in the background.
6.07 am - Dad left about 45 minutes ago, Cadence still perched on railing.

(http://i64.tinypic.com/295zq6r.jpg)

Was away from my desk but mw caught dad bringing a prey delivery to Cadence around 9.30!   :yahoo:

           :2thumbsup:

It was only a matter of time!  :yes:

All part of the process!

(http://i68.tinypic.com/ambgps.jpg) Just like home!!

Just a note from the archives because I'm sure the question will come up...

When Beauty re-took the TSB nest box back from Unity 4/6/2012 it was about 6 weeks before she laid an egg with Dot.ca

It may or may not take that long here for Cadence presuming she maintains possession of the igloo. Dad does not sound hostile to her like Dot was to Beauty.

Wow, it was five years ago today when we lost Unity and Beauty returned.  What a shock that was.  Fly free, Unity.   

Holy moly! I didn't notice when I posted that...  :sorrow:

 :sorrow:

It showed up as a memory on my fb page!! Unity!  :heart:

My best pic of Unity on Mothers Day 2011 when Joyce and I got a positive ID on her.  :heart:

Great pic MAK, I remember that!!  :(

(http://i63.tinypic.com/xp1oud.jpg) She knows what to do!

I don't see these eggs hatching, they are more exposed then incubated! Every time she shows up, he leaves. We have seen miracles!

(http://i67.tinypic.com/b3ke3d.jpg)

He brought her food just before they did this? A bit of bonding in the nest!!

OMG, I'm trying so hard not to cry looking at Donna's most recent photos.  The maternal synapses in Cadence's brain are firing! :clap:

They sure are Pat!

Cadence is sitting at the end of the building while dad is on the eggs...he sure is dedicated!

(http://i65.tinypic.com/2rh1s7n.jpg)

(http://i63.tinypic.com/alg3z5.jpg)

Yes he is, I feel bad for him and for Cadence too, her hormones are kicking in but he's kind of at another stage...we'll have to wait and see if they end up on the same page at some point.  

Wow..I'm watching her now and the wind is lifting her...it's so cool.  She just spreads her wings and lets the wind lift her..right up to the top of the igloo and then up and off!

I went back through Kate's archives - back to 2010 when Dori displaced Tasha after she had laid 2 eggs.  I had watched all that drama unfold at the time but couldn't remember the timing.  Dori laid her first egg 12 days after she won the site as per Kate's records.  I do remember Louie covering the eggs to keep them warm quite a bit but not as much as this little guy here...mind you it's much colder here than it was there at the time.  And if you remember both Dori and Tasha's eggs all hatched.

Yup, I said, we have seen Miracles....look at Orion, look at Ohio, the rotten egg hatched! Anything can happen!

I saw that!  Couldn't believe my eyes..kind of reminded me of how Albatrosses take flight!

She's been on that gutter cover for a long time now! She's giving dad time with eggs!  :heart:

My pics programs not working today, had to attach!

I've just been reminiscing in my head about Cadence's time as a juvie here in Rochester.  It was definitely memorable. 

She probably fledged a bit too soon, just a half hour or so after her brother, Bronx.  She fledged to the Powers Building, like she was looking for her own nestbox right from the beginning.  :)

She lost her balance on the corner of the Crossroads Building and ended up in "juvie jail," an almost entirely enclosed balcony at the top of the building, where she would have to either squeeze herself under a small fence or jump over it to get out. Watchers gathered, prepared to rescue her if needed.  She managed to get out on her own. 

On one fateful windy day, at the same time as Bronx received his fatal injury, Cadence most likely hit the First Federal Building (OCSR), and landed on a planter just a few feet off the ground.  There she remained for several hours, under the careful watch of MAK and others, before she took off and flew low down State Street, landing on an old yellow painted brick building across the street from the Rochester Plaza Hotel. Watchers gathered in front of the hotel, watching Cadence, who seemed to be somewhat stunned. They would stay there for some hours, until it could be determined that Cadence was okay. Now, whenever I see that building, I think of Cadence. 

Then there was the happy time when Cadence decided to join us on Watchers Weekend, perching for some time on the pedestrian bridge at High Falls.  Bonnie took some beautiful shots of her that day. 

So while I am very sad for the resident mom in Elizabeth, as well as for the dad and their eggs, we Rochester falcon fans have a lot invested in Cadence and all the other Rochester fledges, and we wish to see them all succeed in life. That has to be done in the way of the falcon, whatever that may be. 

She certainly had her moments Pat!  :yes:

UNION COUNTY NESTBOX NEWS:
April 6
What we've witnessed over the past 48 hours has been the true, unfiltered behavior of nesting peregrine falcons and evolution at work. Natural selection is the process of evolution where only the fittest survive to produce offspring. As it turns out, 91/BA "Cadence" is more fit than the resident female. We are in communication with employees of Union County, who are watching for the possibility of finding the injured resident female. If she is found and brought to a local rehabilitator then we will hear about it.
It will be interesting to watch and see how this season unfolds. With the resident female being defeated by 91/BA, the male is still trying to ensure the survival of his (and her) offspring. However, he will need to eat, so he will need to leave the eggs to forage. If the eggs are not kept warm, then the embryos will fail to develop. We're doubtful that 91/BA would incubate another birds eggs, but nothing is certain at this point. Either way, he will need to develop his relationship with her (the new female) and the chances of these eggs hatching is slim. Only time will tell what the ultimate outcome would be.


P.S (I just caught them mating on the rail where she hangs out on the gutter cap). She was screaming, which alerted him, (mating call), he popped off the eggs and went right up to the roof and did his deed! 7:26 am today

Great news about the mating Donna, we will have more eggs here :)   She was on the cap when I woke up this morning and I see she is still there.

We are so privileged to watch these magnificent creatures' daily lives on camera. I'm very sad that the resident mom lost her nest, territory and even possibly her life after such a hard fought resistance. She fought hard to take over that site and she fought even harder to keep it. We have to respect her for that, however, I'm so impressed with Cadence at only 2 years old being such a battle maiden. She will be a force to reckon with for years to come and I wish her much success!  :heart:

Or a shieldmaiden. Should her nickname be Lagertha?

Like Lagertha, Cadence is an unstoppable force. Hopefully we can continue to follow her success on camera as we do Rhea Mae and Quest. She is the first of Beauty & Dot.ca's legacy we can follow as she matures.

Same as yesterday..she's on the gutter cover and he's on the eggs.. :lol:

(http://i68.tinypic.com/s3jyix.png)
(http://i68.tinypic.com/2a4yed3.png)

There was an aborted mating attempt about 20 mins ago.

My goodness, he's cute! 

6.04 am and Cadence is hanging out quietly with the eggs in the igloo  :heart:

8.16 am and nice bonding session in box.  Dad left and Cadence in igloo standing over eggs.

(She looks sooo much like Beauty in this pose.)

Seems to be more frequent in/out activity at nestbox.

All is well here.  Cadence will usually come in and they'll have a bow session, then dad will take off.  She'll do some housekeeping and then leave.  Then a little bit later, dad will sneak back in on to the eggs.  Just now he was off the eggs doing some pebble picking and then he left and Cadence came in a few seconds later and looked around and then she followed.

He does look like DC  :wub:

(http://i68.tinypic.com/2hz4qpi.png)

Betty Ann Kelly · Stockton University
91/BA on railing and prior was in nest box picking at left talon. On close inspection, appears to have an injury to left talon. (I guess they don't like calling her by her given name).

I don't know if it's true or if she was picking at leftovers, I didn't see her and I haven't seen her in a bit, so I'm wondering if there is a 3rd again??? The way these 2 take off in a hurry, you just never know.


Carol, I don't think they name them at this nest, just band them. I read what I can on them and I saw nothing on names! Too bad, could be fun!!  :devil: I believe Kathy Clark bands them here.

I kind of thought that might be the case Donna.  I noticed that Betty Ann doesn't use Cadence's name, only her band #s when referring to her.

Too bad, it's more "FUNNER" when they have names!!!  :crazy:

 :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

Not good pics but got a couple of her left foot ?injury.

(http://i64.tinypic.com/2nvw193.png)(http://i67.tinypic.com/2w5t2dz.png)

I respect the fact that they do not name the falcons at that site, but I find it really annoying that they don't refer to Cadence by her name, or when they do, they put quotation marks around the name.  They should respect the naming traditions of people who sponsor other nests.

 So what do we think about Cadence's left foot?  My eyes are still not good enough (from recent cataract surgery) to see it clearly in the photos. 

Some people just don't believe in naming falcons.

Her talon may have been injured in the battle. I was watching when they zoomed in. She seems to be walking and gripping with it. Hopefully it will be ok.

I'm with ya on this Pat-I too, find it annoying that they don't call her Cadence. I've tried to remind them of her name but they choose to refer to her as 91/BA. And as far as the talon-I think it's leftover blood from a meal.  :gum:

Hard to tell Kris but I think she's acting weird today!! Not around so much and she does seem on edge! No more problems, I hope!

I didn't see her on that gutter guard anytime I looked today plus he acted antsy, a lot, while on the eggs. With no sound, it's hard to tell...I didn't see any flyabouts either...tough to know what's going on.  :confused0083:

5.58 am and Cadence just flew in.  Dad on eggs not moving.  She just wants to be wooed, that's normally what a male would be doing at this point, they would be getting to know each other and forming a bond.

She's standing quietly in the doorway and he's not responding to her at all.  He's facing the other way.  

6.07 am and Cady moves into the hut and is talking to him and he's just laying there listening. 'Where's my breakfast dude?"

6.11 am and it seems he has no intention of moving, Cady remains standing by him.

6.15 am and Cady gets more vocal and finally gets him off the eggs and he exits the igloo!  Sometimes a girl has to put her talon down.

6.18 am and she's still in the box doing some housework.  Have to log now and get ready for the office.

12.11 pm and on lunch and peeking in.  Cadence came in and 'encouraged' him off the eggs.  It's 71 degrees there and he's on the eggs tight - that's not good.  *sigh* 

She is outside now..holding her balance well on the railing.  She does have a few small scrapes on her feet, not doubt from mom's talons when they got into that lock but nothing looks serious and her grip on the railing was quite tight.   

She just flew off.  And sure enough, he snuck back in.  Don't be surprised if you see a new male here shortly...or at least someone trying. 

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/4-10%20Cadence_zpsep32kmg4.png) (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/djweeds/media/4-10%20Cadence_zpsep32kmg4.png.html)

Her left Talon looks nice and yellow, snagged this first thing this am. Carly, what do you mean "new male" shortly?

I mean he is incubating - so he's past the 'mating stage' - even though he gives it the old college try, he's with the eggs more than with her.  She's at the start of the breeding cycle and requires more attention.  If they were in the same place now he'd be courting her, bringing her gifts, and forming a bond with her - he's not because he's distracted by his eggs.  Somewhere out there a floater tiercel is going to hear her cries and see she's not really 'bonded' to dad as of yet and he'll see an opportunity. 

He certainly isn't interested in her, as far as I can see..too bad he won't give up those eggs to see the opportunity that's in front of him.  :(

It's a hormone thing - his are in a different place than hers.  It's sad for dad but perhaps a challenger might snap him out of it. 

Foot injury..looks ok to me

(http://i63.tinypic.com/izauyo.jpg)

That reminds me, gone are her pale blue feet and her blue tape.  Our little girl has grown up.

She was roaming around the igloo a bit ago..did some scraping, looked at eggs then left.  The 3rd camera is upside down!  :stupid:

(http://i67.tinypic.com/6du42d.png)

Eh, she's young and she's a bit whiney, he does cater to her needs, every time she screams, he's out and I have seen them mate and he brings her food. It may be good she doesn't lay eggs this year, give them time to bond and realize these eggs probably won't hatch! Let them soar around Elizabeth and see the sights together!!! :heart:

If he's getting food for her it's from his stash as he's never gone long enough to hunt..and that stash can't last forever. 

She just scared him off the eggs again and she's scraping in the igloo and looking at the eggs.

She's reminding me of Pigot, with the whining LOL!

Yes she was and so is Quest! Guess they all do to a point!!

And right on time, a few minutes after she leaves,..he skulks in and back onto the eggs.

She lowered herself over the eggs, but didn't get down enough to incubate. She's trying to figure it out. lol

I missed that, must have been sweet to see.   :happy:

It was Carly. I kept hoping she'd go all the way down.  :happy:

5.39 am and Cadence has been standing quietly outside the igloo for the past 15 minutes I've been up.  Dad sleeps on inside.

5.48 am and a little vocalizing by Cadence and dad lifts his head a few seconds and back down again...

5.52 am and Cadence finally moves in and wakes up dad and he's up and out the door he goes.  She's standing inside now.

5.56 am and she's outside and off she goes.  :heart:

1.58 pm - Dad's been off the eggs a few times today, more than past days.  His food cache must have run dry and he needs to hunt.

10:45 am - When Dad returned to nest this morning, there was evidence that he had a bite to eat - blood on beak and right leg.

12:48 pm - Cadence perched on top of igloo. Dad inside on eggs vocalizing - looks like he is e-chupping to her.

1:45 pm - Cadence at nest, both bow to each other and e-chup. Dad leaves and Cadence looks over the eggs. Twice she rolled one egg under her and crouched, but did not lay on the eggs. I think her instinct says what to do, but she can't figure it out being a young bird.

I was watching too Joyce. She gently beaked and rolled the eggs a couple times. She is very careful with them. She'll figure it out in time.  :happy:

That last photo of her with the egg is very sweet  :wub:

ps:  Thanks for the confirmation that dad ate. 

(http://i63.tinypic.com/2z7mo0o.jpg) I caught her rolling the eggs!! She was so careful!!  :angel:

(http://i67.tinypic.com/118odjt.jpg) She was hot and panting here

(http://i65.tinypic.com/24n3fbp.jpg) Earlier she was on top of nest, dad on eggs!

Thanks for the great captures, Donna, especially the one of Cadence rolling the eggs.   :heart:

I look at Dad faithfully incubating, and I sometimes get a lump in my throat.  I know Dot.ca would be doing the exact same thing if something had happened to Beauty.  I'm glad Dad got something to eat this morning, and I hope he hunted successfully today.

I saw dad panting in the nest today-must have been hot there today.  :cool-045:

Checking in on this pair and both cams are zoomed in on the igloo...grrrr.  Dad was upset over something and ran out yelling but he's back quickly so likely TV's or something he didn't like.  I wish they'd pull the cam back again.

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/4-13%20Bonding_zpsz1y1qjos.png) (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/djweeds/media/4-13%20Bonding_zpsz1y1qjos.png.html) C and Dad bonding this am
(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/4-13%20C%20flight_zpslaz0fvgu.png) (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/djweeds/media/4-13%20C%20flight_zpslaz0fvgu.png.html) Cadence flying around the building after the bonding
(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/4-13%20Eggs_zpsfl9g5j4e.png) (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/djweeds/media/4-13%20Eggs_zpsfl9g5j4e.png.html) Just when you think after she rolls the eggs, she's going to sit. Nope, she does this every day!

Long conversation going on here in the igloo that started with Cady yelling at the male...I could tell by how her mouth was moving..like she was kacking...haha...he left and she's still yacking at him..you tell him girl!

She's outside now on the porch...He was gone awhile and came back without food so I guess she wasn't impressed?!.  He tried to go in and incubate his eggs but she was having none of it..lol...she is too cute.

Cady left after about 10 minutes and sure enough, not 60 seconds later he snuck back in and onto the eggs.

I was watching her at that time..caught a quick pic

(http://i63.tinypic.com/bdshw6.png)

She's beautiful isn't she?!  :wub:  I saved some photos too  :paperbag:

            :thumbsup:

Cadence ..so close  :heart:

9:35 – 9:58 am Cadence checked out the eggs. Stood over them, preened, then did the brood patch shuffle. She laid on the dark egg for 3 seconds.  She did some pebble picking and then another brood patch shuffle and laid on the eggs again. Not for long though. I think her maternal instincts are kicking in. Maybe she is with egg?

Is it possible she has no brood patch yet, since she's laid no eggs? That might explain why she isn't incubating.

Dot in PA

Cadence has been in the igloo for about 45 minutes now...standing quietly by the eggs.  :heart:  Her eyes are opening and closing...she's getting sleepy...

And she's off, so she did an hour in there!  That's awesome!

8.22 pm and she's in the nest box again !  Usually only dad is at this time!!  She's standing over the eggs again!

She stayed awhile and then left.  Dad came in shortly after and he's back on his eggs for the night.   :handshake:

5.40 am and I find Cadence in the nest box standing over the eggs.

6.14 am and she's still in the box doing some housework.  She practiced trying to lay on the eggs for quite awhile.

6.18 and she's out and on the railing now.

8.18 am and she's back  :happy:  and gone again.

Miss Cadence was in the nest box for awhile, caught this on her way out. 

Cadence is on the ledge in front of the nest box at 9:50 pm.  You can see her head in the bottom right hand corner. She's been there for quite some time.

From 10:45 pm Monday night until 1:00 am Tuesday, Cadence remains on the level below the corner of the ledge. Reminds me of Beauty when she would sit outside the nestbox waiting to lay an egg. Jersey Dad has not returned to the igloo. I suspect he is aware that Cadence is due since he has stopped incubation. I doubt the current eggs are viable.

Cadence was in the same place you saw her last night at 5.07 am when I woke up.  Dad is home now and both are bowing in nest box at 5.44 am.

5.52 am and the chat and bow session still in progress and looks like dad has been convinced to leave the igloo.  Cadence remains in the nest box with the eggs.

6.03 am and dad sneaks back into igloo after Cadence leaves and settles on the eggs.  I hope he fed her - if she is going to lay eggs he needs to provide food.  I expect that's what she told him earlier..lol

Checking in from work:  Cadence outside igloo talking to dad who is on eggs.  :rolleyes:

8.45 am and she's moved into the box.

Thanks for the pic, carly.  Can it be that this looks like an egg butt?

It does yes but whether or not she'll have viable eggs is another thing.  She can lay eggs but he may be shooting blanks given how unresponsive he is, he goes through the motions but that's about it.  Wouldn't be the first time that happened.  The courtship rituals, including feeding, are important as they stimulate their hormones - he looks more constipated than stimulated quite frankly.  Some people say incubation shuts down the 'sperm production'.  I'm not a biologist so I can't verify if it's true or not.

She came in kacking just now and looking out at something and he just wouldn't move off the eggs and she just flew off to address whatever it is.  

True.  Thanks, carly.

9.17 am and whatever is going on out there caught his attention, he's vocalizing and out he went.

9.19 am and he's back on eggs, no sign of Cady yet.

9.36 am and thank goodness Cady is back and in igloo.  Didn't see where he went as I'm trying to get some work done..lol

1.19 pm and dad was off the eggs pebble picking when Cadence came in. Bowing and chatting going on. He's been in there a few hours now and he's out as Cadence moves in to take over. Soon as I said that she ran out too.

1.27 pm and he snuck back in and is on eggs.

2.32 pm and Cady in nest box.

2.35 pm well that was interesting, he tried to sneak back in to the box - and she jumped right in front of the eggs and he took off.

2.37 pm and she walked out and down the ledge...

2.40 pm and dad snuck back inside, dozing on eggs :)

4.39 pm and Cadence just flew in, she's outside the igloo calling for dad who is pretending he is alseep on the eggs...haha..he's flipping his head back and forth..too funny!  He reminds me of DC..lol..and off the eggs and out he goes...

4.54 pm and dad sneaks back in on the eggs.

5.44 pm and a heated conversation as Cady flew in and got male off eggs and out, she seemed upset and she stepped on both eggs for good measure as she chased him out of igloo.  He took off like a bandit and she's standing quietly by eggs now.  

5.51 pm and she's working on her scrape, she likes the side to the right of the igloo..I've seen her make a scrape there 3 times now.

5:35 pm Cadence was perched at the opposite end of the ledge while Jersey dad was on the eggs.

5:55 Cadence inside igloo.

She's expanding her scrape area now, it's massive!  :lol:

8 pm - Cadence booted male out of nest area. It looks like she is getting closer to egg laying. She has egg butt. Cadence assumes position, then moves. I think she is like her mom...it used to take her awhile for the first egg too.

Yes I see her Joyce.  She's very much like Beauty, in temperament too ... I see her yell at him sometimes and you see how her mouth is moving and even without sound you know she's taking him to task. 

And I know he'll be a good dad and I know they're just out of sync at the moment - hopefully an 'egg' will re-calibrate him and they'll be on the same page.  :happy:

5.34 am - Cadence was dozing in the box when I tuned in, went for coffee and she's gone now.

5.52 am - Dad back in on eggs.

91/BA seems to also be developing a brood patch as she was observed plucking or preening feathers from her chest as well. A brood patch in falcons develops with the help of hormones, which helps to thicken the skin and loosens the feathers on the chest that usually is bare of feathers. This happens so that the bird can have direct contact between skin and eggs, keeping the eggs and chicks warm. You might notice that the falcons will rock side to side when laying on the eggs. Rocking helps to expose area to the eggs. It may just be that she is slowly getting comfortable with the incubation process and her role. Only time will tell. Go to these links for more information: http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/.../anatomy-brood-patch/ (http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/.../anatomy-brood-patch/)
https://raptorresource.blogspot.com/.../what-is-brood... (https://raptorresource.blogspot.com/.../what-is-brood...)

Betty Ann Kelly  (Still calls her by her numbers) Sounds like a jailbird!  :devil:

7.48 am and Cady on railing chatting to male on who is on his eggs.  :baby:

7.50 am and she jumps down to porch and into box she goes, chatting away.

8.00 am and stand off continues.  He's pretending she's not there and if he does that, he doesn't have to move..lol

8.04 am and Cadence moves further into the box, male still on eggs. 

Standoff at the OK Corral aka Igloo

You can tell he's lightly peeping.....meaning, get out of here Cadence!!

She's not budging!! Funny to watch!

"Pay attention to MEEEEE"

Haha..she wins!  Dad is off and Cadence is in  :lol:

8.22 am - left my desk and came back to see dad on eggs  :rolleyes:

11.34 am and Cadence came in to the nest box, dad did a nice bow and dance for her and bolted.  

12.03 pm and dad is back in the box.  Has a bit of food on his beak so hopefully he ate and also brought Cadence some too  :happy:

Cadence reclaimed the nestbox at 1:45 pm. She has been preening, perhaps pulling feathers in preparation for her brood patch. There are a few seen on the pebbles and they are not from prey.

Thanks was in a meeting and missed it all.  Should be good viewing tonight if she's getting close  :happy:

4.30 pm - Just got home and Cadence is in the nest box at this time.

5.08 pm - Dad just flew in, bowing session going.. He just wants to get on those eggs  :lol:

5.13 pm - She held her ground and he left...and she follows, out on the porch now and out of view.

(http://i65.tinypic.com/x0pg1v.jpg) Cadence in no way wanted that guy on those eggs! She is one stubborn girl!! WOW!!! If it only had sound!!  :devil:

She spent a lot of time in the nest box, even going down tight on the eggs for a short time. She does seem to be close to laying her first egg.

I was cranky too when I was ready!!   :wub: :hyper:

 :spit:

I just her tail flip up and down ...she must be eating down there out of view. :spaghetti:

and look at that sneaky bugger, flew in and ran right onto the eggs.  I bet he brought her food just to get her out there  >:D

Great captures, ladies! 

 :lol:

6.08 pm and another stand off.  I guess she wants back in and he's gathering his eggs closer...  and in she goes...and he's out..lol   

And now she's sound asleep next to the eggs.

Uh oh dad is back...poor guy doesn't know what to do with himself.  He flew out and then back in and peeked at her and back out again.  Go hunt dad, soon hopefully you'll have another egg to keep warm.

(http://i66.tinypic.com/2u5ro5d.jpg) LOL, poor guy!!

Dad in waiting...but does he know what he's waiting for??

It seemed like she was in labor a few minutes ago, but she's not in egg laying position.  Is that a scrape she's on?

Yes she made a big scrape there where she is standing, I saw her working on it the last few nights...she kept expanding it  ;D

5.30 am and no one in igloo, still 2 eggs.

6.06 am and dad arrives and is into the igloo to settle on eggs.

6.09 am and Cadence just landed on the railing.  She seems to have a lot to say as well  ;D

6.15 am and she goes down to the igloo and moves in.  And dad is out!  Have to power down and ready for work now...hopefully an egg today, maybe ?  :paperbag:

7.43 am and at work now.  Cady sleeping in the igloo by eggs.

(http://i66.tinypic.com/nqustl.jpg) 7:54 am   :snore:

Hey! It's hard work laying your very first egg!  :happy:

8.50 am and she's gone.

9.11 and dad flies in and runs into the igloo looking behind him.  Cadence is on his tail and also runs into the igloo...conversation going on ...and he is run out..  :lol:    I saw that coming and out she goes now, demanding breakfast maybe?  Sheesh..

I saw that too!  I looked like a pretty loud argument. Cadence was probably yelling "Don't you dare sit on those eggs! Go out and get me some breakfast."

(http://i66.tinypic.com/vfxhxd.jpg) Man, she came barreling in!! LOL

She sure did!  In theory, if he didn't have those eggs from before - he would be attending to her every whim and she wouldn't have to beg for food or attention.  So you can't blame her for being aggressive, she needs to be fed regularly now that she's starting to produce eggs - it's going to take all her energy and she needs fuel!

  YUP!! He's doing what he is suppose to and so is she!! :hyper:

uh oh Trouble!!  Cadence just came in and fell off the platform, ran into the nest box and then back out and jumped up on the second level..and she's into the igloo yelling...!!!

And back out again...something is going on!

And in and out again and back up onto platform and now male is in yelling, inside igloo...what the heck is going on!

And he's going to eggs....someone flew by the ledge fast!

11.57 am - Dad on eggs, vocalizing a bit...

12.00 pm - no one else in sight.  That piece of wood holding up the igloo is dangerous, she wiped right out on it when she came in ..she was going so fast, it scared the heck out of me.  It's getting more warped as time goes on...imagine a baby falling off there.

12.27 pm and he is vocalizing and looking around...wish she'd come back so we'd know she is okay.  :(  He's still vocalizing now on and off.

I've been watching for about a 1/2 hr. Male in the nest. No sign of Cadence.

They should have replaced that plywood with a nice sturdy platform of 2 by 4s.

I have to go into a half hour meeting shortly but would appreciate it if she's seen someone posts...thank you :)

Thank god she's back.. On railing...looking around and up but not excited like before..threat she dealt with perhaps...going into meeting now! 

1 pm. Cadence flew in and landed on the railing. She looks good.

Geez, Dad sure loves to shimmy.

Back, she didn't stay?  Hmmm...

I agree.  It's going to rot out eventually and the igloo will just fall over the side..

2.14 pm - Dad standing in doorway of igloo looking around and back to the eggs he goes.

2.22 pm - Dad on eggs, something has his attention..he's looking backwards and listening.

2.57 pm - Came back to desk and dad gone now too.

3.00 pm - Dad back and onto eggs.

3.21 pm - She came back, chatted to dad and off she went again.  She went from being dozy and in egg laying mode to whatever I saw around lunch time and suddenly she's in 'huntress' mode - even dad is looking confused.

Getting ready to pack up and head home..

4:20 Dad on eggs, but someone (probably Cadence) has flown around the building at least twice.  Dad was on alert, but now he is dozing.

4.42 pm - Home now, dad watching something out there and vocalizing.

4..45 pm - Cam is panning.  Cadence on first ledge perched.  And off she went after something.  Dad jumped up too vocalizing!

4.46 pm - Dad is outside, cam is panning...

Cadence landed on the wall briefly, then took off. Dad's outside now.

4.48 pm - Bird in the air just flew around, dad in igloo doorway vocalizing and out he goes.  

4.51 pm - Dad back on eggs.

5.08 pm - Dad's head going back and forth.  Someone flew down from top of building and out.  He's vocalizing now..head down...and Cadence is back..into the igloo..conversation.

5.10 pm and dad is out.  Cadence inside.  She doesn't look panicked or anything so perhaps wasn't a serious threat?  Maybe just a migrating bird or something?

She looks good, nothing out of place.  In fact looks like she may have eaten something.  Back to scraping.  I can exhale now...maybe..

5.17 pm and she just walked out the igloo and down out of site.

5.43 pm - Dad is back and in igloo vocalizing..Cady nearby hopefully.

5.52 pm - Cam panned and Cadence perched on corner of building looking up with her mouth open like was talking...or maybe she's trying to cast a pellet...

6.07 pm - Cadence just walked into nest box, dad out...

6.20 pm - and something got her attention, she paused, turned around and went and looked out of the igloo and then walked down ledge.  Guess she'll be on alert for awhile.

7.40 pm - Dad just arrived and back on eggs.

7.52 pm - Cadence just arrived on deck, dad bowing by eggs...but, but..I just got here  :whistle:

7.53 pm -- Poor dad, booted again.  >:D

9.55 pm - Cadence dozing in the nest box, time for me to doze too.  Will check in the morning.

5.47 am - No one one eggs the past half hour.  Dad just arrived and is in igloo chatting softly.  The coast is clear and he settles in on eggs.

10.32 am tuned in to find Cadence in nest box.  Currently doing some house cleaning, food in her crop...and she could use a napkin to wipe her beak  :pray:

Cadence just accidentally moved one of the eggs while preparing the scrape, and she thoughtfully moved it back into place.

The lovely Miss Cadence this morning.

11.23 am - Cadence was hanging on the porch out of view and dad came running into the nest box seeing his chance..lol but Cadence ran up to the box...he' bowed to her and now he's getting on eggs.

Will she throw him out?  Stay tuned...

11.27 am - dad pretending he's sleeping now and Cady just standing quietly outside.

11.30 am and she's getting chatty at him now.  Still standing calmy though..

11.47 am and she's tired, she keeps closing her eyes too...he's getting off easy today

oh and there we go, in the igloo she goes...she just needed to get a second wind..lol...bye bye dad  :2funny:

11.50 and she's moved out to the porch again.  She must have been at him for lunch.

11.59 and man can dad run when he wants in on the eggs..lol..he's like a kid sneaking inside. :lol:

4.22 pm - Cadence in nest box after chasing out dad..lol   Dinner time maybe?!

4.27 pm - Darn I was to slow to get the photo but Cady was just on the eggs in 'perfect' incubation pose!  She's got it  :2thumbsup:

She stood over the eggs then attempted to brood them..for a second

(http://i68.tinypic.com/b4bvyw.png)

(http://i68.tinypic.com/dh7nk4.png)

4.33 pm - She's on the eggs!!!

Oh look at her  :wub:

I just caught it!  Wow!  :wub:

 :the_wave:

4.56 pm and she just waddled down the porch out of view. 

I keep wanting to tap my computer screen to get her attention!

         :laugh:

She's learning.  :wub:

7.06 pm and Cadence back on eggs  :heart:

7.10 pm and she's up, nice crop on her too  :heart:

Pics are precious!!  :heart: Go Cadence!!!

 :zz:  :heart:

Amazing!

8.21 am - Cadence on eggs.

Ata girl! It was just a matter of time.  :heart:

12.52 pm - Just home from food run and Cady is in the igloo.  Her stomach is contracting like crazy...anyone watching? 

EGGG!!!!!!  :yahoo: :yahoo:

I was watching! That was so cool! Go Cadence!  :wub:

I watched the contractions & she laid the egg 12:56 pm.

I have to admit, all the years I've watched falcons lay eggs I have never had a front view like that...watching her stomach contract like that was amazing.  Usually I see them from the side or the back side but never straight on like that!

And here is dad to check it out!

Sure, soon as I walk away from my PC! Congrats Dad and Cadence! Wonder how many more?  :whistle:

Congrats G'ma Joyce!!   :wub:

Terka has video of Cady right after laying and dad coming in to greet the new addition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWUb-tnvf44&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWUb-tnvf44&feature=youtu.be)

 :clap: :clap: Hurray for Cadence and Dad!  I'm sure Beauty and Dot.ca have been grandparents several times now, but it's so exciting to be able to watch one of their children (and hopefully grandchildren) on camera!  I kind of feel like we're all falcon grandparents.  :)

1.56 pm - Dad came in and jumped on eggs, Cady just came running in and is reading him the riot act.  And he's out. 

Cadence certainly taking a maternal stance over the eggs now.

She's definitely in 'mama' mode now.  She's all grown up!  :wub:

Awww..we were away and I missed it!  Go Cadence!  I'm so happy for our girl!  :wub:

According to this video, Cadence laid her egg at 12:56 pm.

http://youtu.be/1IJawk_xOfg (http://youtu.be/1IJawk_xOfg)

Oh awesome video Joyce!   :thumbsup: 

That was fascinating!

Jeeze Lueeze, that was rough stough!!

Never saw that before, never got that close before! Amazing!!

Sweet baby girl is sound asleep now.  :secret2:

Best egg-laying video I've ever seen even though it made me hurt! :o No wonder she slept afterwards.

Dot in PA

6.03 pm - not sure what is going on now but she woke up, started vocalizing and is jumping up and down and in and out of the box vocalizing.  Running in and out ....and up on top of the igloo now and down...gees and back up to ledge.

6.06 pm - and Dad is back and in on the eggs like a champ.  Maybe she was just looking for him and being impatient...hopefully.

6.09 pm - and she's back and upset and looking up, and she just took to the air like a bandit.  Dad looking around and up...

..back again vocalizing, jumped up to ledge and off she went...dad vocalizing in igloo.

Something is happening.

6.13 pm and she's back inside now yelling at dad..he's talking back...threat gone and she wants eggs back?

6.14 pm and she seems calm now, hyper first time parent?!  She'll be a protective mom that's for sure.

6.18 pm and looks like we have a proper stand off here, Dad peeping softly on eggs and she's just standing there staring at him  :happy:

That was weird. She seems calm now.

I know, totally!  She seems to be 'excitable' ... if it was serious, she wouldn't be inside giving dad the 'look'..lol.  She seems to have inherited dad's excitability and mom's fierceness  ;D

Hopefully that's all it was. Yikes!  :hyper:

New challenges - the standoff.  He echups and then he goes to sleep. What's he got to be tired about?

It's like DC and Beauty Part Deux  :lol:

Haha..she just poked him!  and she's yelling at him now.

And he's out!  Haha...daddy's girl has found the perfect mate  :wub:

She sure has.  :wub:

       :2funny:

Sunday 1.48 pm and dad's been on eggs for awhile now.  He's now picking at gravel in the doorway.  Saw Cadence earlier but she didn't hang around long.   Getting some house work done today but all seems well here for now  ;D

3.30 pm and Cadence is home napping with the eggs.

8.00 pm and Cadence is home.  Dad doing his best to find excuses as to why he shouldn't have to leave the cozy igloo.

8.02 pm and he's out.

8.07 pm and Cadence on eggs.  :handshake:

:2funny:

9.14 am - Quick check in from work.  Dad on eggs.  Cadence just landed on railing and they are chit chatting to each other, she has a nice full crop - good to see!

Will we have another egg later today or tonight?!  We will see!  :heart:

10.05 am - Cadence dozing on eggs  :heart:

3:40 pm. Changing of the guard. Male in, Cadence out.

6.26 pm and Cadence on eggs now. He brought her dinner earlier so she should be good to go for egg two ...talons crossed.

8.28 pm and she's dozing on eggs.  I'll miss egg 2 if she lays it overnight but I will check in the morning for news of it.

8.31 pm and she just stood up...back to me and she's preening  :lol: and she's back down. Kind of cool to see both Beauty and Cadence in the same position on cam at the same time.

Cadence has laid egg #2!  :clap:

I just went on to look and she sat down!!!  :clap: :thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

Yay, thanks Kris...great news to wake up too!!   :yahoo: :yahoo:  The two on the right hand side are hers  :heart: new

6.17 am - Standoff going on.  Dad on eggs and Cadence in doorway...he's not moving..lol.  Have to log for work now.  :paperbag:

Wonderful news! Congrats on egg #2 for Cadence and NJ Dad!  :heart: :wub: :heart:

Switch at about 3:05 PM.  Cadence on eggs, then dad on eggs. 

7.40 pm and switch.  Cadence in on eggs, dad out.  Nice to see them sharing duties  :wub:

Cadence all wet, must be raining there or she had a bath.

(http://i63.tinypic.com/21nefzd.jpg) Switch, dad out Mom/stepmom in!! 7:19 am

9.35 am - shift change, Cadence out and dad in.  :heart:

Cadence was incubating calmly, then her head bobbed way up and way down a few times.  Finally she left the igloo, but Dad did not come to take over.  The outside camera is zoomed in so that its view is almost identical with the inside nest cam.  Cadence just came back and settled down on the eggs again.  Something just had her attention momentarily, I guess. 

3:47 PM Cadence out, Dad in.

8.28 pm and checking in here to find Cadence on eggs.  :wub:

6.05 am and dad on duty this morning.  

6.10 am and Cadence is home, dad out.  Still 4 eggs...she's looking puffy though..will she lay another or is 2 good enough for this year.   :handshake:  

Looks like she laid another egg at 7 am, that's 5 under her!!  :o

Just got to work, will bring up cam..holy moly!  :tired:

I see the 5 eggs (photo attached) and gosh is she not beautiful!  :wub:

http://youtu.be/g-q1xi9r0tQ (http://youtu.be/g-q1xi9r0tQ) The birth   :devil:

 :clap: :2thumbsup:

 :heart: :heart: :heart: :wub:

You go girl!!!  :clap: :heart:

          :o  Lots of eggs!  Yay, Cadence!   :clap:

he was struggling trying so hard to get them all under him! Feel bad!

Poor little guy.  He's thinking 'she will really yell at me if I don't get these covered!'   :lol:

 :lol:

Poor guy has been put through the ringer!  :rolleyes:

8.00 pm switch, dad out and Cadence in.  I guess she gets to take the night shifts now  ;)

7.18 am and no one on eggs, just saw someone fly by and here is Cadence..into the igloo to settle on eggs.   Must have been a switch and dad I saw leaving.  :handshake:

She's having fun trying to get all the eggs under her, if #4 comes today...that should be interesting!

Poor Dad will be off the ground if she lays 1 more!!

5.15 pm - Just had a shift change several minutes ago and Cadence is having a heck of a time getting into the right position to get all those eggs under her today.  One of her eggs is sticking out under her.. :(

Geez, she's in a perfect position for us to see it if she lays another egg.  Unfortunately, I have to leave work now, so I'll probably miss it if it happens. 

7.09 am and dad on eggs.  He had a heck of a time readjusting but didn't get up far enough for me to do a count..

Been checking also, he is having a rough go at it! Not sure if there is a 6th or he'd really be struggling!!  :devil:

Still 5 eggs, thank goodness!

7.24 pm Cadence on eggs.  :wub:

(http://i67.tinypic.com/2yobvo2.jpg) "I have this strange feeling, I forgot something!" "No matter, it will come to me!"

Yes, you forgot your step egg!!

All is well here today, Cadence just relieved dad.

Whew! I'm relieved that apparently there will be no fourth egg for Cadence. Apparently...

Meanwhile back in Union County - Cadence awaits news of new siblings as well  :lol:

Like her mama, Cadence has a little fascinator on while incubating  :wub:

 :wub:

All is well with big sister Cadence today any time I've checked on her.

Cadence safe in her igloo tonight.  :heart:

May 6th - Cadence on eggs.  Just noticed a leg band in the box.

Hmmm...that's very strange.  Probably from prey, but it's always a bit distressing when that happens. You have good eyes, carly!

Saw that too, was going to say someone lost their wedding band!  :surprise:

All is well with Cadence today... :zz:

I checked a couple times today and things were quiet. Chatters said the other eggs are overdue so that's a good thing for Cadence's eggs even though sad for the mom.

Sad for Dad too, he tried so very hard with them.  He's sure looking at a long incubation period, too.  Double what he's used to.

Wed May 10 at Union County Courthouse. NJ Dad has difficult time covering the 5 eggs. Two from previous female will not likely hatch.  http://youtu.be/QB7iotXrp3Y (http://youtu.be/QB7iotXrp3Y)

It's possible that the other females eggs might hatch when Cadence's do as they weren't really incubated all the time when all the battling was going on. I'm not giving up on them! Miracles happen everyday!!!  :yes:

Yup. Wasn't it Dori & Louie in Pittsburgh with the same scenario and all 5 eggs hatched?

Yes it was Dori and Louie.

Our girl is panting, it must be warm inside the igloo  :confused0083:

ummmmm..... :confused0083:..cam just zoomed in as I posted this.

6.25 pm and I'm kinda sure that's a broken egg by dad's tail on the other side of him..I see two halves.  Now did an egg hatch?  or did one just collapse?  Waiting for Cady to come back or he repositions to get clarification.  No idea what that plant thing is under his tail..unless stuff is growing in there..which does happen at some sites.

I hate how cams distort things..lol..all eggs in tact and a nice plant of some sort there.  A very wet and cranky Cadence is home... :wub:

All is well with sweet Cadence today  :wub:

Betty Ann Kelly · Stockton University
Today, children at School #4 in Linden, NJ will be visited by Stephanie DAllessio of Conserve Wildlife Foundation, Union County's Falcon Cam partner. Stephanie will introduce them to our adult male and female falcons in residence atop the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth and through her, more families will get to know 91/BA, the male and soon-to-be born eyases via the falcon cam. Many thanks to Stephanie and Phillips 66 for sponsoring this educational adventure!


 :2thumbsup:

 :thumbsup:

Whomever is egg sitting right now is really warm, and panting.  Poor thing!  I'll bet that igloo is beastly hot.

It's Cadence, poor girl...sauna time.   :sunshine:

I just checked, and Cadence is again just shading the eggs.  Instinct sure is amazing. Her first incubation period, and she just knew it was too hot for the eggs, and she knew what to do. 

That's our girl  :wub:

Still shading  :heart:

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed a hint of peach on Cadence's chest feathers?

Yep, just like her mom.

Call me crazy but I may just have seen a pip in one of the eggs.  I was so shocked..she moved the egg before I could get a good shot but you can see part of it here..just the top part.  She's been fidgety and listening several times today.

Keep in mind she started incubating with 'egg 1' and it's 30 days since she laid the first egg so we're in the right time frame for a hatch.

Well maybe I am crazy, this morning I see nothing on eggs.  :stupid:  Cadence heard something and just took off.  

The eggs are due this weekend...talons crossed...

Yes, she's got a hint of peach color in the feathers lower down on her chest, like her mom, and the top of her chest is snow white, like her dad.  A perfect combination.   :heart:

Pretty girl  :wub:

2.57 pm and no one on eggs.  Dad was on them and he did yell awhile ago and left and came back.  Left a few minutes ago and no sign of anyone at the moment. :surprise:

3.02 pm and dad came back vocalizing and he's onto the eggs.  HOpe everything is okay.

8.44 pm and all is quiet and Cadence is home for the night shift.  No sign of anything on the eggs.

Hope all goes well...should be this weekend if I calculated correctly.

A little while ago the male left and Cadence took over incubation. I got a good look at the eggs and saw no visible pips.

I didn't see anything earlier either Carol.  It's 30 days since she laid the third egg but they were heavy incubating with egg 1 so we should have had one hatch by now at least.  We can hope for the last 2 but it is possible dad was shooting blanks given he was stressed out and incubating already when Cady came along. 

I have my arms and legs crossed for the last 2...!   

It's day 35 since egg 1 was laid, day 33 since egg was laid and day 30 for egg 3.  Just an FYI.

Egg 1 - April 22nd
Egg 2 - April 24th
Egg 3 - April 27th

Cadence kept standing up and preening, she'd look at the eggs a bit, preen some more and she left a few minutes ago.  Dad came in and now he's on the porch vocalizing...something going on they don't like.  He's looking up..and back in he goes.

I wish the cams there had sound so we could hear if there are any little cheeps coming from the eggs.

Me too Carly!  :pray:

The way Cadence is acting, I think she hears cheeps coming from inside an egg. It is almost as if she does not know what is happening since this is her first time. When I was watching at 6:30ish, I could have sworn I saw a pip, but when I clipped a picture, it's hard to tell for sure.

Look at the middle dark egg.

Could be Joyce, I did wonder at that and dad did the same thing too but when she just left them alone after that I thought nah...I should be more optimistic I know  :handshake:

ps: Jersey City is on track for a hatch possibly today - can hear the chick from inside the egg loud and clear this morning!

Cadence hovering over the eggs and doing a lot of listening.

Question is, is she hearing something .. we need sound.

Ok she's' shuffling the eggs now, that's new...it's warm there.

1.36 pm and Cadence just took off like a bat out of hell, I thought she bent her wing in half she turned so fast. Could be she heard dad and wanted out due to the heat as she was panting and he's in for his shift.

Ok DEF just posted this photo of what looks like a real pip to BCAW!  (Her photo and zoom in) and it's one of previous 'mom's eggs from the looks of it!!!

5.50 am shift change.  Cadence was on eggs, kind of hovering and rotating on them for about 15 minutes - nothing obvious visible on eggs that I saw.  Dad in on eggs now.

The pipped egg is Cadences I think...though in this light both are dark ...I'm looking at Beth's photo on bCAW and in this light both the front ones are dark but my gut says it's Cadences egg..we'll see.

I thought it was way past the window for the former female's eggs to hatch?

It is but everyone kept an open mind given what happened at the Gulf when Dori first took over.  At that time everyone said 'no way those eggs will hatch' and then they did..lol.  

She's getting serious now, razor back  8)

Attached is a still taken from this video shared in the discussion on the Union County cam website. A pip? (2nd egg from left)
http://youtu.be/6L-F1ukevAg (http://youtu.be/6L-F1ukevAg)

She's doing a lot of shimmying. But too dark to see much.

5.43 am - All quiet this morning.  Cadence was sound asleep when I logged on and now she's laying quietly on the eggs.  She's up now pebble picking, all eggs in tact  :(

As she moved now, I saw what could be a hole in an egg but if that's the same egg we think is pipped - it's been 2 days...

Oh darn. I was really hoping.

I was hoping she'd have at least one or two to raise - would be a good number for a first time mum.

That would be perfect.

HATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yikes...she's picking at it...and she's blocking but I saw part of it.

YAY!!!  Do we know if it was one of her eggs?  If it was the one we saw pipped, I think it was.  Now she's covering the chick and the rest of the eggs, as a good mom should. 

I haven't seen anything yet other than egg shell and part of baby...  Right before it hatched I was looking at a photo mwplay posted of the same pipped egg and it was half cracked so yes same one and it's her I'm sure.

It's a huge baby!!  Here he is:

Awesome.  Here it is!

One more..have to go into half hour meeting.

Okay now I can exhale and be excited, I was so worried...lol

 :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader:

I feel like a grandma...sooooo PROUD!  :wub:

As well you should, Joyce!

That means Seabreeze, Ontario, Charlotte and Rachel are uncles and aunts!  As are all of Beauty and Dot.ca's other living offspring.   :heart:

Hooray for Cadence and her first eyas!  :heart:  :wub: :heart:

Congrats Grandma Joyce  :D

Nadia just posted another egg is pipped, number two on the way ..she's going to post a photo on bCAW

DEF just posted a photo, another egg is chipped around!  Here is her photo:

http://youtu.be/VBxpGTp3n8Q (http://youtu.be/VBxpGTp3n8Q)

Here they are, mom and new baby!!  :heart: :wub:

Just back from the Dr to read the great news...so happy for our Cadence and NJ dad!   :yahoo:

Looks like the earlier photo I shared may be a shell wrapped around egg so not chipped?

You can see the shell wrapped around the other egg in this baby photo. Cady just brought in half a bird for lunch...gotta love the first time moms while they learn  :happy:

She's struggling with that prey! She put it on the baby a minute ago!!  :wub:

2.35 pm and feeding by Cady.  Small piece this time and she's doing really good!  Nice and close to baby...baby is wobbly of course but she's getting a piece or two in his beak.!!

I cropped the food piece out of the photo for those who are sensitive to seeing that stuff close up.

First feeding for both baby and mom!  How sweet! Has Dad been there yet?

Yes dad came in and brooded baby earlier, he was very happy!   

SGB got video of the feeding for those who missed it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TscpWvEmuv8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TscpWvEmuv8)

Thanks for the shares Carly.

I knew she could do it! YAY for Cadence, her mate and Joycie!  :congrats:

 :yahoo:  :wub:

            :clap:

mwplay posted this photo of dad meeting baby for the first time earlier  :heart:

And Nadia got this one of dad with baby  :wub:

       I'm so happy for him!  Sweet moment!  :wub:

Uh oh Cady is outside with the gigantic carcass again  :lol:  Ok she left it outside.  She might have been eating herself but dad was in and started calling for her and left so he must be on a mission.

7.14 pm and Cady went out to get the big dead thing and hauled it inside...and she's attempting to feed the baby.  Oopsie she dropped the little morsel cause the big bird prevents her from getting too close.  Dad should really be preparing that for her. 

That half shell looks like it's around one of her eggs, wish she'd get it off in case a viable baby is in there.

Jersey dad put a lot of time, patience and effort into those eggs and I'm almost happier for him than Cadence!  :wub:

Amen, he did his time, he reaps the rewards!!  :2thumbsup:

5.35 am and Cady is in with food.  Dad was babysitting when I tuned in and now mom is in feeding the baby.

5.47 am and the food is on top of baby - he's pinned under it while Cady tries to feed him.  I wish dad would prepare food for her so she wouldn't have to bring in these huge birds.  Good lord get that food off the baby Cady...

5.51 am and she moved the food off to the side, baby is a mess...looks like the time DC first tried to feed Orion  :lol:   

My concern is that eggshell on the egg.  I didn't see the second pipped egg myself but saw photos and people think the broken shell covered that egg - if so the chick won't survive as it's air hole has been covered and no way a tiny baby can chip through 2 shells. 

However - just now as I brought up the cam she was shuffling eggs and I may have seen a hole in one of the eggs..can't be certain as it was too fast..praying it is though!

Dad dragged the leftover prey over to himself by the eggs..he's snacking on it while he broods... :confused:

He can't be the same male as last year, he's acting like a newbie.  He's also not bringing prepared food to her as you would expect, that's why she's having to haul half a bird in to feed the poor kid. 

Cadence  came in, Dad left. She finished off the pigeon leg, after offering a small piece to the sleepy eyas. She is now brooding her young one. Sadly, nothing can be done about that egg.  :(

12.17 pm - Cady out, Dad in

Question is now, is the shell gone or is this another egg I've just seen.  The hole is at the far end though....

I think the shell is on first mom's 2nd egg, and this one is #2 for Cadence.  And I just saw a little beak poke through that pip!! 

Excellent, thank you Deb!  i'm at work so peeking when I can and just happened to luck out and catch her off eggs to get that shot!  So glad you saw a beak poke out..that's awesome!!

I'm at work too.  And I'm in accounting and it's month-end today, but I keep peeking at Cadence and Beauty's brood.

I just saw Cadence pull out a big piece of yolk out of a shell and eat it..no sign of any hatch that I've seen
yet.

Skybluegirl and Terka have screen captures:

http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=2294&start=0 (http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=2294&start=0)

HATCH #2

Video by skygirlblue   :yahoo:

http://youtu.be/iFiS_j97vI0 (http://youtu.be/iFiS_j97vI0)

Of course she waited until I was on the subway home..  :lol:  Great news and we have video to watch!  Woohoo!!  :yahoo:

(http://i66.tinypic.com/2qmj5hd.png)  :wub:

 :heart: :heart: :yahoo: :yahoo:

5.00 pm Babies on their own, just saw baby #1 do a little poop shoot  :lol: :wub:

5.03 pm - Where the heck is dad!!  Cady was hesitant to leave but he's not come in yet to guard the kids.

5.09 pm - And Cady is back with the babies.

 :hatch1: :hatch1: Gotta love it!!!  :heart:

Another video to watch. Cadence still showing her lack of experience. So happy there are 2.         (http://youtu.be/PkTvOPel4X4)

5.47 pm - Cady out, dad in.  One baby up for food and other fell on his back!  Dad still yacking and no wonder, Cady is back...I suspect she's wondering where is the FOOD!!  Newborn still on his back and turning sideways now I think.  

Cady did good, she got baby flipped over on his tummy  :heart:

Good for her!  Wasn't 2015 the year here when one or two of the babies was always flopping over?  Maybe she learned something from Beauty during that experience. 

6.27 pm and dad is in.  Well he came in and then left and is now back again.  I hope he got some food for Cady.  And he's back out again...strange bird.  And he came running back in, probably heard the kids crying.  Or as mw said maybe Cady saw him and yelled at him to get back in there  :laugh:

Dad visits. Eyases are hungry,

Did you see how fast he ran back in after the second time he tried to sneak out?!  :laugh:  I sure hope Cadence is not out there having to hunt for food for them.  He spent so much time wanting to be on those eggs, I'm guessing there is no cache??  :(

I thought he was experienced...he acts as clueless as she does!  I hope they get fed soon!

I don't think he is, I think he's new..either that or he's just not a bright one.  He reminds me of Maurice at Canton...he was the same way until Mystic whipped him into shape and it took a few years.  One year he got injured after the eggs hatched and had to go to rehab. When he came back, she drove him out of the territory.  She was stuck having to raise the kids and hunt on her own.  He won her back the next year though and has been a good dad since them..still skittish but he provides well for the kids.

Oh my god, she's back..so he had no food!!  He has no cache??!

She's resorted to that old leftover piece outside, it has a few little bites on if she's giving baby...it's probably dried out having sat out in the sun.  They need fresh food to stay hydrated.

Good girl, she's getting every piece on it that's good and feeding the kids.  She needs food too.

Just watched her feed both Eyases from the leftovers.

Stepped away for a few, mw said food may have came in and she fed them again.

   :thumbsup:

These kids are big and fluffy, both looking good this morning  :handshake:

5.59 am and Cady in with a fresh prepared meal for the kids.  :handshake:

Dad is in, both kids up looking for food.  Hopefully mom is out getting some.  Looks like we have a pip in her third egg.  Number three on the way  :2thumbsup:

11.07 am - Cady still out, she must be out hunting.  Gone for 2 hours now.

11.41 and dad left and he's brought back some food and is attempting to feed the kids.  Interesting...I wonder if Cady is doing the hunting and he's going to play mom.  Hope she is okay, she's been gone almost 3 hours.  :(

Cadence is back and feeding the babies now, but they've just gone into a food coma. 

I see above she's back. Probably just stretching her wings!

Thanks kitty.  I stepped outside for air too, glad she's back.   :wub:

#3 is chipping along...

Proud Mama!   :wub:

(http://i68.tinypic.com/6r7pxv.png)

5.45 am - Cady is in with a small bird not prepared, so she's plucking it in the igloo and feeding the kids as she goes.  Still 2 babies.

Looks like Cady may be dealing with an intruder, gone again for hours this morning and Carolyn has a photo of what could be a falcon shadow overhead and then Cady took off after it.  

Still not much food coming in for the kids...by Mr Mom.  

Dad just gave Cady some food for the kids, she's in there now feeding them.  I haven't seen that other egg I saw a pip in but given the lack of food here probably best we only have 2.

5.31 pm and Cady was gone for a long time and came back home with fresh food!!   :yahoo:  Both babies fed and napping on egg now.

Poor Cadence must be so tired!  Dad did contribute today, but I get the impression she's having to do a lot of hunting too.

 :wub: :wub: :wub:

I heard at the banding in Canada that one of the juvies called Luna went to Union County Courthouse and got in a battle there. They hoped she was chased away, but they never heard of her whereabouts again. I guess this site is prime real estate. I hope Cadence can hold her own.

There are two Luna's (that I know of) - Quests Luna was in Canton, Ohio and got into it with Mystic and Mo and was escorted out.  A few days later she was escorted out of the Avon Lake nest site rather aggressively by Regal and Izzy but wasn't injured - it was C&C that saw her and photos of her back then are here:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/ChadandChrisOhioPeregrinePage/photos/?tab=album&album_id=722096501149458 (https://www.facebook.com/pg/ChadandChrisOhioPeregrinePage/photos/?tab=album&album_id=722096501149458)   That was back in 2013.

William Osler's Luna was spotted and photographed quite extensively in Pennsylvania in 2015 at Presque Isle State Park.  

Unless either Luna was injured no one ever posted about one of them being in New Jersey that I saw or heard of.  Not that I hear everything but someone would have mentioned it or posted about it I'm sure?!

Hmmm...I asked are you sure it is Union County where Cadence is?  I guess that's how rumors start.  Thanks for the info.

Well in their defense..they have a lot of pefa's to keep track of and trying to remember who went where is confusing.  It could be another of ours....I know there is a male somewhere in NJ that has black bands but they've never been able to get close enough to get his bands.

Since the long time pair vanished at Union in 2015 - there have been 3 females (including Cadence) here in the last 2 years so no doubt a popular site.

That being said, MEC (Mississauga site here) had 5 females in 5 years and then along came Midnight.. and this is her third year there.  Just this past winter, 3 other females have been found near her territory either dead or injured and I have no doubt they ran into Midnight..she's the daughter of Mystic - the one Luna tangled with in Canton at the first site she visited.  

I worry too but I do about all our kids.  Remember how crazy worried I was when DC came to Rochester?  Look at him now so he showed me didn't he...  :lol:

ps:  They also had to intervene here last year to powder the babies due to parasites.

It looks like Cadence likes to serve a variety.

http://youtu.be/0iioeBYEdQQ (http://youtu.be/0iioeBYEdQQ)

5.30 am and caught the very end of the feed as Cadence was taken the leftovers out.

6.10 am shift change, dad in..Cadence out.

6.24 am and Cadence with a bit of food for the kids again.

8.27 am and Cadence is feeding the kids again with the left overs.  She's determined today, just a few bites left on the stuff and the kids are still stuffed and sleepy so she's chowing down now.

Union County Courthouse is in Elizabeth, NJ.  There were reports over the years that one of the offspring from 101 Hudson in Jersey City was here.  It is prime peregrine real estate.  Elizabeth is near the Newark Airport and New York Harbor.  It is on the Elizabeth River.  It is not too far from Jersey City or DeKorte Park in Kearney.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Union+County+Courthouse/@40.6621833,-74.218239,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c24d53aa397f43:0xd07961c4d4ee5778!8m2!3d40.6621793!4d-74.2160503 (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Union+County+Courthouse/@40.6621833,-74.218239,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c24d53aa397f43:0xd07961c4d4ee5778!8m2!3d40.6621793!4d-74.2160503)

Here is the pic posted on BCAW yesterday June 2 where peeps thought intruder. Falcon? Gull?

2.49 pm and shift change.  Just got home but all reports are it's been a nice quiet day for Cadence and her babies.  Dad grabbed her little stash from outside and decided to feed while he could without mom there  :lol:

Lol...he got in trouble!  Cadence came back and caught him and grabbed the food from him  :lol:  Babies sleepy and she will try to finish the feed.  They've made up for the past few days today, feeds are regular  :thumbsup:

Thanks for the map of their location Bonnie, the building they are on is beautiful.  Looking forward to seeing some 'road trip' photos from there   ;D

http://youtu.be/UKBSTPXpQQY (http://youtu.be/UKBSTPXpQQY)

Here's what Betty Ann has to say:

Here is an interesting clip of earlier this afternoon. Unbanded male first begins to feed the two eyases (chicks) then 91/BA, female takes over. Doubtful that third unhatched egg will hatch. Possibly due to extra piece of broken egg shell from one of the eyases's eggs.

Looks like chick checks going on at Jersey City nest site and Union County today it seems..they were just at JC.  So maybe heading here (B gave a heads up on 'something' going on here today, don't want to get anyone in trouble so just using initial).

Cadence just left and dad is on the kids.

ps:  They took out the unhatched eggs at JC so maybe same here.

No chick check today in Elizabeth, NJ.  Easier to do 101 Hudson on a weekend.  I assume Union County Courthouse is not open on the weekends.  I can't wait to see how Cadence will react.  I would wear a full suit of metal armor.

Thanks Bonnie.  Maybe Monday then.

:laugh:


 

6.00 am and Cadence was outside looking for food, no sign of dad yet.  She checked where she had stashed the food yesterday - but dad had taken it yesterday and used it.  Back in covering the babies now.

6.05 am and dad delivers as small piece of food to Cadence.  One kid up and ready, the other one laying down still...not moving at all...

6.11 am and the other baby hasn't moved a muscle, still face down in the scrape...even when she dropped a piece on him and picked it up - no movement.  Maybe he got fed earlier?  and is zonked out ..I hope so as the baby that ate was very hungry so maybe he didn't get much last time.

6.51 am and I'm worried about that baby, I've seen no movement at all..Cadence has been up and outside checking for something (likely food) several times and the fed baby moves a lot but that other one still face down in the scrape.

7.00 am - Cadence got up and ran out, looks like the baby I was worried about changed position..phew!  Dad is in and obviously ate as he has feathers stuck on his talon.  One baby up looking for food...hopefully he got something and Cadence will bring it in as the earlier piece was tiny.. The other baby still zonked out.

7.03 am and Cadence baby with big food now but other baby still not lifting up for food...first baby up and ready to be fed.  And yes this is the same baby that ate the wee bit earlier, it's the bigger one and the most active.

7.06 am and still no movement by other baby, maybe it was Cadence that moved the baby during her shuffling.   :(

7.11 am and still the same, baby one getting a great feed, no movement from second baby ..not even a twitch.

7.13 am and Cadence takes food out, baby 1 moving around, baby 2 not moving at all.  Cadence back in to cover both.  I think the baby is lost, checking FB and I'm not the only who didn't see movement or response  :crying:

8.21 am and Cadence pebble picking and her tickly tail feathers got response out of baby 1, no change in second baby

Baby two just moved!!  Cadence was sitting upright so it wasn't a reflex move.  Still worried it slept through two feeds though.  Unless it had one prior to 5.30 and that's possible.

That's good! Hope #2 is ok.  :pray:

Cadence left the igloo calmly.  Baby one very active and blocking number two who is still zonked out.  I sure hope he's ok too.

9.03 am and dad is in.  Baby one up looking for food, other baby still down.

9.07 am and Cadence in with food, baby one up and eating.  Baby two not responding  :(  Ok this is feed number 3 in 3.5 hours - that's not good.

9.15 am and Cadence removing food.  Baby one has full crop.  Baby two not moving.

Oh, this is not good.  I have got a busy day today, so can't look in a lot.  I'll be thinking Cadence, Dad and their little family, though. 

I have to leave soon as well to meet up with a friend for brunch.  Cadence just ran out and she's looking around and she's off.  Baby two got moved by her talon, baby one actively moving on it's own.

9.29 am and dad is on.  Baby one drapped over the non responsive baby.  I guess neither of them have noticed that something isn't right yet.  Someone mentioned they noticed the parasites were bothering them again this year?  I didn't notice myself.

Have to leave now.  VLU on BCAW says the first chick constantly squirming is indicative of parasites as they are constantly being bitten :(

Hopefully the local authorities will be up there soon, maybe tomorrow if they can?!

Cadence fed the one eyas again. The second eyas did not move at all. So sad.  Dad is with them now.   :(

      Another sad loss.... :'(    Fly free, little one. :sorrow:

 :sorrow: :sorrow: :sorrow:

Fly free little eyas.  :crying:

4.58 pm and shift change.  Dad looks puzzled about the lost baby..baby one is up and looking for food. Baby is jumping up to him for food and of course he has none.  Hopefully he gave Cadence some and she is prepping it for a feed.  He is pretending to feed baby now.  *sigh*

Holy moly, she brought an entire bird inside, wings and all!

Yep! Pigeon for dinner.

I saw him "feed" the babies a couple nights ago..he had nothing to feed them. This guy is clueless..poor provider from what I've seen.  I wouldn't be surprised if that baby didn't starve to death.  Cadence tries but I saw a feed the other night where the smallest got hardly anything during a feed.  The bites were either too large and Cadence ate it or too small and it stuck to Cadence's beak.  She left with a lot of meat still on the bird and baby was so hungry. I haven't watched much since because I just felt something bad was going to happen.   :(

You may not want to watch now, it's dawning on her that the baby is gone and she's picking at it :(  I hope they go up tomorrow and removed those old eggs and the baby's body...

The big baby can't seem to get comfortable at all, the sooner they get up there and check on him the better.  

The egg with the double shell on it is turning black, a dead body and rotting eggs isn't good for a baby to be exposed to.

How awfully sad to hear this sad news!! She was just picking at it! :( She's kinda rough with the live one!! New mom, new everything!! Shocking news!  :crying:

I hope so too and I hope she doesn't feed the dead one to the live eyas.. might be diseased.. who knows.

She's tame compared to Durand in Columbus.  I had to stop watching her years ago cause she'd grind those babies so hard I couldn't bear it and yet they all survived hence I think the babies are tougher than they look in many ways.    

7.11 - Cadence out and dad in, picking food off his toes. Yay he's removing the baby!!  Thank goodness!! 

Rest in peace little one  :crying:

7.17 pm and Cadence is back in with supper.

 :sorrow: Sad news indeed!  :crying:

 :crying:

From the web site posted 15 minutes ago - she also put up a link to the video of the removal but I will leave it out for those that may find it difficult to watch - it is available on their site in the comments if you want to see it:

Betty Ann Kelly . Stockton University

With the dead eyas removed by the adult male, now the pair can focus more on the existing eyas. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Wildlife Biologist would likely not risk the well-being and safety of humans, the last remaining eyas & the adult falcons by going up on the courthouse roof at this time. This has been a very rough breeding and nesting season for this new female and resident male and any interference with the natural rythem of things could spell more disaster.

 

That little one never seemed quite right since hatching.  My faith is somewhat restored in the male with him removing it from the nest.  Hopeful that all will be good from here on.

Mine too, Deb.

I just checked in on the cams and Cadence was backing slowly out of the igloo.  I thought what in the world is she doing!  She got just to the entrance and took a huge poop shot, then went back in to the eyas.   :lol: 

:happy:

5.24 am and caught the tail end of a feeding.  Cadence settled on baby now  :happy:

LOL   :clap: We need a poo smiley!!

12.07 pm - dad has been in twice and no food since early morning.  *sigh*

12.20 pm - finally food.!  Cadence feeding baby.

I just keep thinking how...challenged...Dot was that first year with Orion. He'll get the hang of it.

Baby has been on his for awhile now.  That's what I don't like about loners - they have no one to hang out with and he's still so young. Looks like they've given up on the eggs finally.

Oh for the love of..dad is in now and wants on the eggs.  I wonder where Cadence went?  To do some hunting maybe.

She had the baby away from the eggs which is good and now dad has them all back together - hopefully she will get the baby away from them again..especially the one that's rotting.

Was on subway home but happy to read that Cadence brought in food for the baby.  

Dad brought in some food for Cadence...

http://youtu.be/zaok8NWU6zg (http://youtu.be/zaok8NWU6zg)

This is hard to watch but it's dads removal of the deceased eyas!! :crying:

With the dead eyas removed by the adult male, now the pair can focus more on the existing eyas. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Wildlife Biologist would likely not risk the well-being and safety of humans, the last remaining eyas & the adult falcons by going up on the courthouse roof at this time. This has been a very rough breeding and nesting season for this new female and resident male and any interference with the natural rythem of things could spell more disaster. Here is a clip of the eyas being removed from the nest but warning, some may have difficulty watching   (Betty Ann Kelly)

So, I guess no banding of this lone child! ??

6.50 pm - Cadence in with some food for baby.  :heart:

Donna - I believe that note was in response to some people asking if the NJDEP would go up and remove the body of the little one and the eggs.  No one had mentioned banding at all in the comments so perhaps that's not off the table yet. 

I've asked a couple of times about whether they band and never received an answer.

They do band there Carol.  You can find all the past years banding reports here (scroll down to the pefa section):

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/raptor_info.htm (http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/raptor_info.htm)

Ok. Thanks Carly.  I assume they are not given names.

Doesn't look like it but at least they band.  We can always name them ourselves and just match them to their band numbers  :happy:

5.40 am - Cadence feeding baby breakfast.

:lol:

12.35 and Cadence is feeding the baby lunch.  I did catch two early feeds this morning as well  :thumbsup:

2.20 pm and Cadence brought in food again. 

NJFW does not name the eyases or any other young.  The only year we had an official name was for Linn P in honor of Linn Pierson.  We had semi-official via Jim for Ivy, who I called the Shady Lady.  Ivy was the hacked chick and last young of Athena and Six, who Mike G and I named.  Athena had only a USFD band that was prior to 1995 and Six was banded from Riverside Church in NYC.

I will get to Union County Courthouse shortly to see Cadence in action.  Not sure they will band the chick this year because of the stress on Cadence.

4.27 pm and Cadence is in with food again for the baby!  So happy to finally see a normal routine here for them.  

4.35 pm and baby didn't eat much this time around, probably not used to so much food in one day!  Cadence is eating most of it  :happy:

ps: Six feedings today already that I've seen!

Thanks Bonnie, take pictures if you can!   :2thumbsup:

That's great Bonnie!  :clap:

Oh, I hope they don't.  Cadence will absolutely flip out.

6.05 am - Dad on baby warming duty this morning since I logged on at 5.30 am.

7.55 am - Dad still in with baby.  Cadence must be out hunting.  

8.19 am - Was away from desk so missed Cadence coming back.  She's brooding baby now.

8.24 am - Cadence left briefly and came back in with food.  Feeding going on.

Dad knocked baby on his baby and is trying to brood him..baby is struggling to turn over. He kept trying to pull the baby over to the eggs and knocked him over instead..baby still struggling.  

Baby got upright finally and dad moved him over to those eggs...  :crazy:

3.19 pm and just caught the end of a feed..and Cadence is back again..hehe..maybe she thinks baby needs more .   

New post on FB - looks like they will be banding the baby:

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ
2 hrs ·

Union County Falcon Cam

It has certainly been a rough season for the peregrine falcons at the Union County nest - one of the two hatched eyas did die earlier in the week. It's unlikely the third egg from 91/BA will hatch if it does not do so by this weekend. From CWF Habitat Program Manager Ben Wurst, "before the young even fledge, they need the perfect recipe to survive and thrive. This cool, wet spring has been tough on many long time successful nests along the coast of New Jersey, who are the backbone for the state population."

At the moment, one eyas remains and CWF plans to band the chick by the end of June.

Baby is up against the wall again - he's so big I think it's more comfortable to lean against the wall as there isn't much room under mom or dad anymore.  Cadence on duty..what will she do..she's looking at the baby and then back at the eggs and how to reconcile the two.  Now she's thinking...thinking... :sherlock:

...and she's found a middle ground.  Eggs in front of her near her breast and her tail end is covering baby by the wall  :paperbag:

        :lol:

And now she went to snuggle by the wall with baby..still staring at eggs from there periodically...baby looks strange standing there with his head straight up.  :surprise:

I left for a few minutes and I think she's got them all together again... :confused:..well maybe not but close enough...two eggs sticking out on the right but that's ok. 

http://youtu.be/FUlNJ0SPY3Q (http://youtu.be/FUlNJ0SPY3Q)

He wants his baby over by the eggs!!  :wub:

I don't like the looks of this at all.  :scaredblue: This nesting site has been awful from the beginning, and I just hope this remaining chick survives if he's not being allowed to move freely and develop normally.

Dot in PA

This is what they say on the site about this!

Betty Ann Kelly · Stockton University
I didn't get all of the footage but maybe tomorrow. This clip is actually quite comical. Watch as the adult male trips over the eyas who seems to want to explore, then tries to drag him over and under him. He later succeeds. Good nite all

Is this normal or not? I know Beauty did this a few times but it just hatched and it scooted!

Didn't Beauty drag one back into the nestbox that had fallen out? It was still a small fluffball like Junior.

I remember this Ei.

Cadence has been looking for dad for food no doubt for 2 hours now.  I will be at an offsite for the rest of the day with no pc access but just now I thought I saw black on the baby chest.  I am posting a note to Betty Ann to have her see if she can check - just in case of parasites.  Might be nothing, I might be seeing things.

She's trying to smoosh him under her!  :wub: