Rfalconcam Forum

Can't find current topic, really bad nest box fight going on now..they panned the cam during fight and came back and both gone now.  I hope Spirit is ok, I expect its' that other mate again trying to oust her.  Darn it!!

They are checking roof tops now... 

Oh, no!  Poor Spirit!  They have a couple eggs too!  :(

Spirit is gone.  Unbanded female in box and he brought her food, she's stuffing her face in box.  The male stood right next to them an 'ate' while his mate was getting beat up  :'( :crying:

Thankfully Chad was recording, my cam lagged but he saw where they both fell too out of the box - both survived from what he saw. He saw ground watchers too so hopefully if she's injured down there, they will get her!

I know he/she doesn't know but that's her son..how sad for her.  Like Titan with GG..both 13 yrs old, with eggs and losing their territories.   :crying:

Yes end of an era.  The new girl is quite beautiful and strong too.  Hopefully Spirit isn't too badly hurt and can live out her life in peace somewhere. 

Video of the battle (very graphic, so beware..no blood though)  :crying:

http://youtu.be/NdGdXEIvXNo

Is this Eve?  That's what they're saying. That was his mate a couple yrs ago, if I remember right but wasn't Eve banded?

No, Eve isn't banded. She was the mate of Eole last year and the year before. She has tried to take the nestbox last year but Spirit has been able to keep it, but not this time, it seems.

Ok, I thought she was banded. Did he have 2 mates last year? I thought he was with Eve 2 yrs ago then just Spirit last yr..guess I missed that part.

Yes he had two mates last year as well, I can't remember but I think he may have had hatches with eve last year as well or maybe it was the year before...  She was named by watchers there but no she didn't have bands.  Given how familiar they seemed with each other after the battle, I expect it is her.

Not another take over, not watching the video, nope! Hate those fights. Poor Spirit, we watched her for years! It happens!  :crying:

Yes Eole has had hatches with Eve last year.

Spirit is back, doesn't look too good though. But man is she tough as nails!  Don't know if this is over or not but holy cow...stunned to see her back.

https://www.facebook.com/fauconsudem/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED (https://www.facebook.com/fauconsudem/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED)

WHOA!!! That's the Spirit!!! Good luck girl!

       :o

 :wow:

I wonder if Eve isn't on eggs at her site and maybe she went back home?  I think she fought over here last year as well and then went home - she's obviously not fond of 'sharing'.  Will have to wait and see what they say...

Edit to add:  had an answer to this question from someone in Montreal - Eve is not sitting on eggs and they are concerned that this is not over as well.  The male has been on eggs for over an hour they said.

Sounds like the battle continues.  Male on eggs atm but mw saw Spirit being attacked and heard yelling out of cam view.

            :(

It was quiet most of the day, Montreal FB said no sign of that other female earlier today.  Just have to wait and see how it plays out.  Might be like when Cady took over Union County.  Apparently this female was seen around here on the 23rd as well.

6.29 pm - well all I hear is Spirit calling for mating...otherwise all quiet...so far.

          :thumbsup:

Just when you think they're gone and BAM, they show up again!! I hope not!!

From Montreal FB confirming what we saw on cam tonight:

Indeed the intruder was back in force tonight. Spirit stood mainly on the tower while the other multiplied the passages rapids near her.

Breaking News - Spirit has been found and rescued! She's in rough shape, she wasn't able to hunt due to her wounds but she's alive and now she will be cared for!

https://www.facebook.com/fauconsudem/?hc_ref=ARTSspEyi8Ua3Dy2UC77uXT8yH8Yi3bGPrHclrEwVXRccVu0u7oFROKt9GuS6BBvPbU (https://www.facebook.com/fauconsudem/?hc_ref=ARTSspEyi8Ua3Dy2UC77uXT8yH8Yi3bGPrHclrEwVXRccVu0u7oFROKt9GuS6BBvPbU)

 :wow:

Wonderful news..she's been missing a long time!  So happy she's getting the care she needs!  I see they removed her 3 eggs a while ago and none were fertile.

Amazing!  She's in bad shape, though.  I hope she can recover.  She needs lots of good food and rest. 

She's been gone a while right? How did shesurvive so long without food? Incredible story and so glad she was found. I wish her a good recovery!  :heart:

I think, in reading their FB page, she's been missing since around June 10th or so.

Get well Spirit! So happy they found her.  :heart:

Spirit update from FB.  :clap:

A big thank you to all the staff of the bird s' clinic for care for our dear spirit. I had a chance to hear from her today, she's getting better and better, her elbow is getting better. She eats well for herself, giving her pain meds twice a day. Drugs are in his food, so the stress caused by human contact is at a minimum. We don't know if she can fly one more day, but she's in very good hands. We can't wait to see what progress she'll make in the next few weeks under your care...

 :heart: You go girl!!  :heart:  That's the Spirit!!  :wub:

Thank you for posting this update, Kris! I had been checking daily for updates, but there had been none.

I am so happy that Spirit is doing well. It is very encouraging that she has a good appetite and is eating on her own, that she is being given pain meds, and that her elbow is improving.

She is a very special falcon, with so much strength, fortitude and endless courage. I don't know whether or not she will be releasable in time, but for now she is in a very good place and receiving the best of care.  :heart:  :heart:

It kind of sounded like she might not be able to fly again..don't know, but she is a very special Falcon, for sure.

Handsome Éole at the nest today:

(https://picload.org/image/rwpplwwl/montreal-sept-1-2a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rwpplwwi/montreal-sept-1-4a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rwpplwww/montreal-sept-1-13a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/rwppcggr/montreal-sept-1-17a.jpg)

Eve has also been at the nest frequently.

I keep checking for new updates on Spirit, but so far have found none.

A short update on Spirit today, posted by Eve Belisle:

And in passing, I have had news of Spirit. She is doing well, the swelling in her elbow remains a problem, but everything else has come along very well, the range of motion in her wing is good according to the report from Dr. Fitzgerald. It is still too soon to know if she will be able to return to the wild.

We must take the good with the bad and hope for the best. Thanks Alison!  :wave:

Good news so far for Spirit.  :pray:

Thanks for the Spirit update, Alison!

I love a little good news! Thank you!!

A new update on Spirit from Fritz Fritschi:

I had the opportunity to participate in the distribution of her meal during my trip to Chouette à Voir on September 15. She was perched in her private flight enclosure and she attacked her daily meal, which consisted of chickens. She looks very much in shape and has a good appetite, since there was nothing left of her meal from the day before. I had the opportunity to see her again on September 26, during another visit. Still with a voracious appetite. On Sunday, October 8, the same thing. One would very much like to see the staff introduce her into the large flight enclosure, in order to provide her with all the space necessary to properly assess her recovery. I believe that the future is promising. This particular Spirit has very much earned her name. An avian example of resilience if there ever was one.

Very encouraging update, thank you Alison!  :2thumbsup:

                         :ditto:

WOW, the will to survive! Thanks

That's the Spirit!  :star:

Spirit is ready for release.  Release is happening this coming Sunday!

Union québécoise de réhabilitation des oiseaux de proie - UQROP
9 hrs ·
You Know Spirit, the famous female peregrine falcon observed for years in Montreal? You know she was found injured last July and we're treating her? It will be released on Sunday morning (19 November) to great to see! At St. Jude's about 9 an auction is open. The person who has made the highest bet (to cover the costs of his care) will have the chance to release her. Follow the news on this page in the next few days and you will know more about its story.

https://www.facebook.com/UQROP/?hc_ref=ARQypAEjDvD2WRf_CoLoaD7O_Qw36-6A_SEnPz4fp-AteHQMHyT6ike6KQVP7FQDR64&fref=gs&hc_location=group (https://www.facebook.com/UQROP/?hc_ref=ARQypAEjDvD2WRf_CoLoaD7O_Qw36-6A_SEnPz4fp-AteHQMHyT6ike6KQVP7FQDR64&fref=gs&hc_location=group)

This is wonderful news! Go Spirit!  :heart:

Spirit has been released. She looks very beautiful and in great condition. It is clear that she has received the very best of care at UQROP. Stay safe, beloved Spirit.

Spirit was indeed returned to freedom today, November 19, 2017, as the first snowflakes of winter arrived at Chouette à voir! It was a hard working volunteer who assists in the transport of injured birds of prey, Roger Rousselle, who carried out this release after having made a donation to UQROP to help pay for the cost of her care. We reached almost 20,000 people with the announcement of this release. Imagine how much this would help UQROP to save other birds of prey if each one had donated $1! A summary of Spirit's story will soon be published on this page and on our Internet site. Continue to follow us . . .

Beautiful photos by Christian Fritschi, who is also the person who rescued Spirit in July.

(https://picload.org/image/drlaripi/spirit-release-nov-19-5a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/drlaripw/spirit-release-nov-19-6a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/drlaaraa/spirit-release-nov-19-8a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/drlariwr/spirit-release-nov-19-7a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/drlariwl/spirit-release-nov-19-9a.jpg)

Amazing recovery.  :heart:  Fare well Spirit!

 goodnews: Wonderful photos-Thanks!  :clap:

Saw this on FB yesterday..wonderful news and awesome pics by the photographer! Stay safe, Spirit!  :heart:

Here is the trailer of a documentary about Polly and Algo at Echangeur Turcot.
Hoping you can see it...

https://vimeo.com/240714992

When can we see the whole documentary? That is very interesting, thanks Pen!!  :wave:

It's an independant film presented during a festival in Montreal now... maybe it will be accessible later.
I will keep an eye on.

Very interesting trailer, with beautiful images of the falcons. Thank you, Penelope!

Here is a link to the documentary. The site comes up, but the documentary does not play for me. Since I have the world's worst Internet, I hope the link will work for others.

http://watch.cbc.ca/short-docs/-/algo--polly--turcot/38e815a-00d61d463ed (http://watch.cbc.ca/short-docs/-/algo--polly--turcot/38e815a-00d61d463ed)

The photos of Spirit's release are stunning.  :heart:

You can see it on youtube, I hope you will be able to see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7C17tqpMOo&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7C17tqpMOo&feature=youtu.be)

Merci Penelope!  :wave:

 :thanx:

Saving Spirit..short documentary

http://www.cbc.ca/shortdocs/m/blog/saving-spirit (http://www.cbc.ca/shortdocs/m/blog/saving-spirit)

Just an FYI:  The nest box fight is shown on the video so proceed with caution when viewing .

Thank you, Penelope! I was able to watch the documentary on the YouTube link you provided. It is an excellent documentary, very interesting, and the views of Polly and Algo are beautiful.

I hope they will stay safe, and will be able to find a suitable place to nest.

Thank you, Kris! I was not able to see the video on CBC, but was finally able to see it on Opera, which is not a browser I normally use.

I wonder where Spirit is now, and can only hope she is safe.

I had not seen much of Eve recently, but since the day after Spirit was released, Eve has been spending more time at the nest.

Yesterday:

(https://picload.org/image/drlpwrll/montreal-nov-22-8a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/drlpwrlw/montreal-nov-22-17a.jpg)

Today:

(https://picload.org/image/drlpwrcr/montreal-nov-23-9a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/drlpwrca/montreal-nov-23-10a.jpg)

These photos are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing, Alison. I hope neither Eve nor Spirit gets hurt. No territorial battles, please!

Great pics!  :thankyou:

Eve and Éole bonding at the nest:

(https://picload.org/image/drilalow/montreal-dec-3-2a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/drilallr/montreal-dec-3-3a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/drilalla/montreal-dec-3-5a.jpg)

So far, I have seen no sign of Spirit on cam, and I have heard no news of her. I just hope she is okay, wherever she may be.

 :2thumbsup:

There is additional information on Spirit from Union québécoise de réhabilitation des oiseaux de proie (UQROP), posted today:

Did you know that Spirit, the female peregrine falcon star, was a survivor? Learn more about her story of rehabilitation by visiting https://uqrop.qc.ca/fr/actualite/31-l-histoire-du-faucon-spirit (https://uqrop.qc.ca/fr/actualite/31-l-histoire-du-faucon-spirit). You will learn there, among other things, that she was shot with lead ammunition from a rifle at some time in her life! Our educational work still has a lot more to be done.

Here is the article, which I translated from the French.

The story of the falcon named Spirit

Posted December 15 2017

A falcon with a great deal of "Spirit"

In May 2004, in Cleveland, Ohio, biologists banded young peregrine falcons at a nest installed on a bridge structure. Several years later, one of these birds was observed in Montreal on one of the buildings of l’Université de Montréal. It was thanks to the numbers on the bands on her legs that she was identified, and she was named Spirit. Then, in 2009, began a long history of following the reproduction of peregrine falcons in Montreal by means of webcam images on the Internet. You can see Spirit's family tree at this link here (https://uqrop.qc.ca/Symfony/web/upload/files/g%C3%A9n%C3%A9alogie%20Spirit.pdf), or follow the activities of these magnificent birds live at http://www.ornithologie.ca/faucons (http://www.ornithologie.ca/faucons).

In April 2017, webcam surveillance allowed the observation of a fight between two female peregrine falcons at the nest. In July 2017, UQROP received a call from a trucker in Montreal concerning a bird of prey who appeared to be injured. He sent us a photo on his cellphone, which allowed us to recognize an adult peregrine falcon. One of our most valued volunteer transporters, Christian Fritschi, agreed to go and catch the bird and bring her to us at the Birds of Prey Clinic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

During the general examination of Spirit at the Birds of Prey Clinic injuries were observed on the cere and the beak, covered by dry scabs, as well as a major, hot swelling of the right elbow. X-rays confirmed a septic arthritis of the elbow, and we also found an old fracture on the right side of the pelvis (synsacrum). All these injuries were compatible with the famous battle of about 30 minutes duration which took place in April and in June with another female. The X-rays also told us that Spirit had been shot with lead ammunition from a rifle (lead shot) at some point in her life. What a survivor!

(https://picload.org/image/drwwawdl/spirit-x-rays-dec-15-1a.jpg)

Radiography of Spirit where the arrows indicate the swelling of the right elbow (septic arthritis), the fracture of the right hip and the lead shot in the keel bone.

After several weeks of treatment with antibiotics, wound care and physiotherapy, Spirit was able to be transferred into a rehabilitation flight at Chouette à voir! at Saint-Jude. The final stage of her rehabilitation took place in the large flight. Then
the great moment arrived on November 19. Spirit reclaimed her freedom at the site of Chouette à voir! at Saint-Jude. We are waitimg to hear news of her when she will be seen and recognized by her bands.

Photo of Spirit taken by the trucker who found her:

(https://picload.org/image/drwwogca/spiritdec154a.jpg)

Photos of Spirit in care at l'Union québécoise de réhabilitation des oiseaux de proie by Guy Fitzgerald.

(https://picload.org/image/drwwawwl/spirit-dec-15-1a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/drwwawwi/spirit-dec-15-2a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/drwwawww/spirit-dec-15-3a.jpg)

Photo by Christian Fritschi of the beautiful moment of Spirit's release:

(https://picload.org/image/drwworll/spirit-dec-15-5a.jpg)

Wow..I had no idea that Spirit had been shot in the past, holy moly...survivor indeed.  Thank you for posting all this info and the photos Alison.  I hope she is doing well and flying high and that we hear of a positive sighting of her in the future.

One small correction to the article:

Spirit was not named after she arrived in Montreal; she and her siblings were all named at banding in 2004.

Buckeye and Hillary had four chicks in 2004:

Spirit, banded black/green 93/E, female

Mystic, banded black/green 92/E, female

Turbo, banded black/green 50/P, male

Pulse, banded black/green 61/P, male

Turbo disappeared shortly after fledging. Searches were done, and searchers found his body on the ground.

Mystic was found at a later date with a fractured wing. She had surgery for the injury, but very sadly died during the surgery.

Pulse, at three years old in 2007, attempted to take over the Cathedral of Learning nest in Pittsburgh, which at that time was owned by Erie and Dorothy. There was an extremely fierce territorial battle at the nest box between Pulse and Erie, and very sadly, Pulse was killed in that battle.

So for ten years now, Spirit has been the only survivor of these four chicks.

Still no sightings of her that I know of, but I continue to hope that she is doing well. Having looked at her X-rays, I am somewhat surprised that she was able to be released, but I have a great deal of confidence in Spirit.

Two little fluffy for Eve and Eole... next to come
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwMvm90-ufs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwMvm90-ufs)

        :2thumbsup: