Rfalconcam Forum

@countrygal25 -- you didn't miss me on the bridge, I was watching from my desk in the Times Square Building. Though right now there's some guy with sunglasses and 'noculars eating a sandwich on the bridge looking for birds.

Who watches the watchers? I guess that's me.

You're a Watcher Watcher!   :2funny:

That description sounds a lot like Larry O.


You should point a a web cam out your office window.

rfalconwatchercam.com?

Definitely sounds like Larry O. 

Had the pleasure of meeting Mark and Stella this past weekend.  Happy to have a Watcher in the Times Square Bldg.   :wave:

80 degrees in Rochester on Friday and Saturday!  WooHoo!  Heatwave!!!   :clap:

Can't wait to wear no coat!  Larry O - that's what I thought too. The sandwich was the give away.

Hey Mark - I know this is Easter weekend, so I hope you don't have to come into the office.  But there will be a few of us on watch.  Especially this weekend because Easter Sunday has been "battle of the peregrines" day in Rochester, 2 years in a row.  Casey and Abby would like to meet Stella too.  We have a group of canine falcon watchers.  Here is pic Dawn took last weekend when we all went to Durand beach after our watch. Mine are the smaller two.

~Joyce

That and the 7/N7 band on his left leg.

I thought that was his watch.

 :2funny: :hysterical: :laugh:

If we have falcon babies, Mark, you will be watching wild and crazy watchers!!!

Falcon Watcher Watcher Report:

There's a guy with a baseball cap, a camera with a big lens and binoculars pointing at the Times Square Building and chatting with a guy carrying a bag and a microphone from WXXI at the corner of Exchange and Broad.

No sightings of any meatball subs yet.

Hmmm...possibly wearing a vest with many pockets?  Sounds like we might have a rare Lord G sighting!

No vest, but short brown hair under the baseball cap, with glasses.

There's an interview going on.

Quick question: am I daft and can't figure out how to do it or do I not have clearance to start a post topic?

Hmmm...it's a mystery, then-I don't believe Lord G (AKA Jim P) wears glasses any more-unless that's changed recently.

No, you're not daft...there are several categories with special features like this one.  Falcon watch topics can only be started by the Yarak bot in response to a new Falcon Watch blog posting.  Average users can then reply, but not start a new topic.  We do that in the Rochester Falcon Discussion (http://rfalconcam.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0) category.   (edit) I will note, though, that most of the running commentary seems to happen as replies to the Pictures from the Rfalconcam cameras  (http://rfalconcam.com/forum/index.php?topic=1096.0) thread.

Others-like Rfalconcam Now-send a tweet to watchers on the ground every time a new topic is posted, though replies don't generate a tweet...

Which, of course, brings up a memory...so many after all these years...

Banding day 2004-Jim was assisting in the playpen...Mariah swooped down on him and his glasses...well, as with many memories, it's best immortalized by Shaky...



 :hysterical:

Love it!  Falcon Watcher Watcher Report  :laugh:

Lord G could have been wearing sunglasses.

I split off this "watcher watching" subtopic and made it its own topic.

HA! This is hilarious! Thanks for my own corner where I can describe the behavioral habits of the native Rochester Falcon Stalkers!

My guess is it is Lord G! 

That picture of Mariah with Jim's glasses is hysterical!  Where is that girl? 

Lets see if you can find some of the other hang outs that us Falcon Stalkers use?  What floor are you on?  I maybe able to see in your window.  I've been accused of being a peeping Tomesina in the past. :foxbinocs:

Lisa McK.

Falcon Stalkers!  I love it!   :2funny:

Reminds me of stalking the cat for a urine sample  ::)

It was 70 degrees out, so the vest stayed in the car.  I didn't see any falcons at lunchtime, but I did have a nice long conversation/interview with Peter Iglinski from WXXI radio (he's been a fan since the Mariah/Cabot-Sirocco days).  I imagine his story will be on the news tomorrow morning (and maybe the afternoon too).  It's 1370AM, 88.5FM, or you can find them online at wxxi.org.

He got a big kick out of the stories about A&B mating on Mercury's foot.

Hey Lola - Definitely a Lou design.  You can go into the Rfalconcam stores and see this design on a lot of different products.   ;)

So it WAS you!  The glasses faked me out, but I guess Shaky was right...I didn't think sunglasses, being in a windowless office at the time  ;)  Hope they post it online!

Quick question following the "Am I daft...." I don't know about that, but are you English? "Daft" is a very Brit word.

My office is the second and third windows from the left of the top row of windows on the east face of the Times Square Building (I hope that makes sense). My desk chair is just inside the second window from the left, so as I sit at my desk I can see Mercury through one window and Archer's perch on the First Federal Building through the other.

A note to my "target" audience: Broad Street Bridge, beginning Monday, will be under construction through September. There will be no parking on the bridge and they'll start on the south side of the bridge, routing all traffic on the north side. No more convenient parking for you watchers!

You could park in the lot immediately to the north of the Times Square Building. The guys there are great: tell them I sent you and they'll look at you with confusion, then tell them "House" sent you and they'll understand. Probably won't give you a break on the parking fees, though.

 :hahaha:

  Mark, you are an absolute delight!!!    :clap:

Absolutely..a great asset to watching both the falcons and the "watchers"...pretty funny! Now we can have a falcon watch and a "watcher's watch". Be careful what you do down there.   :2thumbsup:

How to confound a watcher:

Walk out of the Times Square Building in a suit, on your way to court. Notice Lord G. across the street with his glasses, baseball cap, 'noculars and camera. Stop, make eye contact, wave, then head off.

Yup, confused him I did.

Love it!!!! Thanks, Mark!!!!  You are fun!

 :rofl: :2funny: :hysterical:
Oh, this is going to be a fun season, if nothing else!   :clap:

Again, I was in stealth mode (those lessons from Kaver have really paid off).   :2funny:

Oh, no!  Already!  This is going to make it so hard for watching Falcons at this new location.  Thanks for the heads up Mark.   :o

It may be a blessing to have the Broad Street Bridge closed with A&B's first brood of fledglings.  If they come down in the street, there won't be any traffic.  Plus we might be able to get to them easier.  Just hope we will still be able to watch from the bridge.

~Joyce

Nah, I figured there couldn't be too many well-tailored people who'd want to wave at me.  Nice to meet you Mark, from across the street, as it were.  Hope your court date went well.

You guys are very handy to have around. If I look out my window or at my computer and don't see where A&B are, I just look down to the bridge and see where the watchers are looking.

I'm off for a week. Somebody else has to watch the watchers while I'm gone. There better be some eggs when I get back.

 :secret2: Psst...who's gonna sneak up to the 10th floor & take possession of that office with TWO windows?  I can be there on Thursday to relieve you...  :secret:

Oh...Mark!  Hi!  Have a nice vacation!  No need to rush back...  :happy:  :foxbinocs:

Yesterday we had a smaller watcher contingent, despite the arrival of a second egg. They seemed to be congregating closer to Exchange Street rather than over the river, and a TV camera appeared to mark the interview of Lord G (though I left my binoculars at home, so I couldn't read his leg bands and make a positive ID).

 :2funny:

We caught a glimpse of you too, through your open office window...

Gotta love office windows that open! It helps me hear the comings, goings and general chatter of my upstairs neighbors and offers a nice breeze on a beautiful spring day.

Did you see the car fire around 2pm.  Pretty intense!   :scaredblue:

 :hysterical: :goodone:

I hope the eggs hatch soon and the watchers start returning, as there's not much activity outside lately.

Mark, wait until the babies start to fledge.  There will be a lot of activity out there :scaredblue:

Perhaps, while we wait, you could enlighten us as to whether the apparent recent preference for Mercury's foot (other than fond memories) over Mercury's money bag is, in fact, the case.   :angel:

For Lord G? :scaredblue: How does he get up there? Or is it just for watchers in general? ;)

I knew that would be confusing once I hit enter then got sidetracked before I could modify it )I need a do not disturb-falcon posting sign for my office door)...as we used to say in Brooklyn...   DO OVER!

So, perhaps while we wait you could answer a question...Has Beauty actually been showing a preference for Mercury's foot over his money bag lately?  If so, any speculation why...other than fond memories?

The view is quite nice from Mercury's foot and it's much more comfortable than the money bag.   :2funny:

I imagine to would be...more contoured and all that  :rofl:

Still trying to get a picture in my head...can Beauty see into the nestbox from Mercury?  Or is he down lower?

I think she can, but I'll have to check that out.

It's definitely lower than the nestbox.

Thanks...though she can keep an eye on it and watch the sky at the same time...probably all she needs from a favorite perch.

Big excitement! Window washer guy is doing our windows and is getting buzzed by a very irate Archer who is making a racket and dive bombing the guy. Only one more window to do.

I really wish I had my camera for this show.

Archer.........whatta guy!    bguitar

(http://rfalconcam.com/gallery/processed/MainCamera_LowRes/20100421/MainCamera_LowRes_20100421-082500.jpg) (http://rfalconcam.com/rfc-main/archiveViewer/clipper.html?4bceee9c0c01) (movie)

Looks like Beauty got in on the action...

This has me thinking, when the eyasses fledge, and I have my window open and one happens to fly in, can I keep it as a pet? I always wanted a pet falcon. I can train it to keep the starlings out of my feeders, scare away the squirrels, keep my cats in line . . . oh the possibilities!

I dunno.  Do they allow pets in JAIL??     :nono:  ;D

Haha! Does the Birdman of Alcatraz come to mind???

Is that window-washer guy like the one in the Diet Coke commercial? So... where's your office???

(I think what we have here is the Silly Season... that seemingly endless period between egg-laying and hatching...)

Slainte!
Bobbie

I just want to add that my productivity is WAY down. Every time Archer or Beauty fly by my window I turn to the web cam to see what's going on.

Not much to report on watching the watchers; everybody appears glued to their computers and not hanging out downtown.

The entire building is shaking right now. They're jackhammering the sidewalk in front of the building with a big skid-steer thing. My 10th floor office, just below the next box, is vibrating and thudding, it feels like some kid is behind me kicking my chair. The next box must be shaking too.

One can quite clearly hear the jackhammer on the stream. Larry O

Some of the media is supposed to rapel the 21 floors of OCS today

Today in the lobby of the Times Square Building, Frank, the owner of the little shop down there, had a cake to celebrate the hatching of the eyasses. I took four of the watchers up to my office and after a bit Beauty flew in and out a few times, giving a nice show. She saved a couple closer squawking flybys until minutes after everybody left, though. It was very nice having some watchers drop by rather than peering down at them from my window.

And we enjoyed it as well Mark.  Thanks for the tour.  You have a spectacular view!

Yes! You're office view is wonderful Mark.  Thank you so much for the invite.   :clap:

The Watchers that were honored to visit Mark were Jim P, Marcia L, Shaky and Carol P.   :wave:

Cool!  And nice to hear others are celebrating as well!  Did anyone take a picture of the cake?  ;D

Yep!  I think everyone but Shaky took a picture of the cake.  It was 1/2 chocolate and 1/2 white cake.   ;) :hungry:

Yum!

Here's a picture of the cake...

How sweet!  I am so touched that the folks at the Times Square are so welcoming to the falcons.   :thumbsup:

That's so sweet!  :clap:

Frank at the Times Square Bldg threw a Hatching Day Party for the tenants of the building to become acquainted with the Peregrines that were now nesting on top of their building.  Here's the cake that he provided.   :happy:

Wonderful, I wish I could have gone. :mbanana: bguitar

Jersey City was not too happy about us naming the peregrines.  What in the world would they say if we brought a cake to celebrate the hatchlings?  LOL  Love the cake and the hoopla.  More places need to personalize these birds.  Yes, they are wild creatures, but what the heck....

It was a good way to make the tenants aware of what was happening on their building.  That was the main purpose of the meet and greet.   :happy: 

Now how awesome is that? Great caring people. Thanks Frank & Times Square tenants.  :hatch1: :hatch1:

Wow,  what a great view. Mercury is right there....and the foot. Thanks Marcia and Mark.

:ditto:  :clap:

Double ditto!!! :thumbsup:

:heart: :heart: :heart:I think it's absolutely heartwarming to read about Frank making the cake, and Mark inviting the watchers up to his office.   Mark has the best seat in the house for watching A and B.  It's part of what makes Rochester Falcons so special, along with all the dedicated watchers  who have kept us all informed   for all these years.
I got a chance to visit the bridge in 2008 and watch and hear M and K and the 2008 fledglings.  I will never forget it, and I hope to this year during the fledge weekend.   :2thumbsup:

You watchers have given this watcher watcher little to watch, but A&B have been more than making up for it.

Walking back from court, I heard our pair and looked up; A&B were exchanging prey on the wing. Beauty took a snack from Archer and headed back to the nest.

About 15 minutes ago a few buzzards were headed south above the river when A&B stepped in. The maneuverability of a falcon is much greater than that of a vulture. I felt really bad for the vultures. They just wanted out of there, but A&B were relentless in their attacks, bashing into them and making them dodge, lose altitude and turn so they didn't know where they were going, much less which direction they should avoid!

Very cool, Mark!  Wait till banding when they are dive bombing the banders:)

Anybody know what was so upsetting to A&B this morning? Walking back from court at 9:30-ish A&B were flying around the top of the Times Square Building, squawking up a storm. This continued for quite some time after I got back to my office. Though I got some wonderful views of they flying right outside my window, it was upsetting to see them so bothered.

I thought it was banding day with how they were carrying on.

Good to see some watchers out on Monday (Lord G and others), but they seemed more interested in the Memorial Day parade!

No banding today.

When is banding? I want to clear my schedule . . .

Hopefully not with Columbus together.

We're working out the details with all the important players (DEC, building owner, etc.) Expect an announcement of the date soon.

Well, I was able to clear my calendar for 10:00 Thursday -- I didn't see how I could meet with a client with all that commotion outside my window -- so that means it's time to sell TICKETS! Front row! Grab 'em while you can!

Not really. I'm not selling tickets, but if you ask really nice, and maybe bring me a cookie, I'll have some folks up to my office during the banding. Should be quite the show.

Wow!  That's worth driving to Rochester!  I'd bring cookies for a year!!!

Lynne in New Hampshire :tease: :tease:

That is very nice, Mark.  :clap:  Actually, that is REALLY Nice, so let's hear it for Mark!   :clap: :clap: :clap:

I have been remiss in my duties as the Watcher Watcher. Predictably, things have been hopping down here. There's been a contingent of watchers at the top of the stairs on the northwest corner of the Broad Street bridge for some days now, including folding chairs and dogs. Every once in a while they send off a contingent to watch elsewhere, including one sortie to my office to peer at the top of the Hall of Justice yesterday.

Hi Mark, Were you with us over the weekend?  If not, Saturday we were a colorful and wet bunch!  Come down this coming weekend...there should be lots of watchers there :happy:

There is a second type of watcher - the remote watcher.  The remote watcher sends text messages to other remote watchers on the road in different states.  The remote watcher is a new species this year - a direct result of technology.  The remote watcher reports events far and wide to those of us who can watch locally or directly.  Team tag is also part of the remote watcher's skill sets. :thanx:  Thanks MAK for keeping me in the loop today and Thanks Donna for your efforts all this week.   :notworthy:

Go MAK!! I'm enjoying this. Thanks Janet

It's my privilege to keep my friends in the loop. We really should thank our Rochester falcon family for the privilege of watching them.  For many good friends we have made and will make I salute this forum and everyone and everything connected with it. Thanks from my :heart:   MAK

It has been quite a season...so far...it's far from over!  Still lots of new friends to meet in a few weeks!

Thanks for your hospitality Mark!   ;)

After a brief but noisy visit to my building today, Archer (I think, I took my binocs home) has been sitting on Mercury's heel/calf for much of the day.

It's obvious the nest box has been falcon-free, as there are more birds outside my window. I was thinking about putting out a little feeder to attract the smaller birds -- you know, the whole "circle of life" thing.

I haven't seen too many watchers around lately, though there was a pair with chairs on the bridge early Saturday morning when I headed in to the office. You guys still out there?

Hi Mark! 

We are all over the place on the weekends, but you will still see a couple watchers on the Broad St. bridge in the morning, and early evening.  Several watchers close the day at the frontier parking lot, where we can keep an eye on Beauty and Archer who perch on Xerox and HSBC...hoping Callidora meets up with Jemison and flies in to say hello before they take off for parts unknown.

Joyce

I'm not sure how to insert a link, soI hope this works: Click me. (http://mediacaffeine.com/perspectives/environmental/put-cameras-on-a-peregrine-falcon-and-a-goshawk-prepare-to-be-amazed/) Not sure whether this has been here before, but well worth watching.

This is an amazing video! Thank you for posting  :)

This is what happens when A, B and the kids aren't around. A red-tailed hawk swooped down on an unsuspecting seagull in the middle of a busy parking lot, then stayed to eat. The parking lot guy, about 20 feet away, said this is the second time in two weeks this has happened.

Interesting Mark.  That's just on the north side of the Times Square bldg, right?  Looks like a juvie RTH.  No red tail yet.  The young ones will take what they can get, even if it's not the safest spot to settle for a meal.
Carol P.

One of the lot attendants at that lot told us about Jemi hitting the building this summer. 

Yes, this is the lot across the street (Exchange); some of his red tail feathers were visible when I walked around behind him. A&B would never allow him nearby if they were around.

Good catch Mark! 

 :o that is not Buddy is it?

Buddy is much smarter than that BC!  :wave:

phew! Thanks Donna

BC

I'm thinking about getting a good pair of binoculars for my office birdwatching. Does anybody have any suggestions or recommendations? I know I've asked this before, but my forum search skills are not up to finding the earlier help you guys offered.

My bins are a zillion years old, but I still love them! They are roof-prism lenses, which I find better than the "ordinary" ones. They are Minolta. And I think 8x40, which is fine for magnification - less shake than bigger ones. Be sure you find a supplier who will let you take them outside to see how they are. No point just testing them in the store, as this does not give you an idea of how they will be in the field. Let us hear how you get on!

Hmmm, viewing from the office. Let's see...

stationary location
daylight viewing
subject at great distances (Mercury, Library, First Federal are not very close to Times Square)
indoors with no wind or rain concerns

I'd go with 10x magnification or better. To minimize jitter, either go light-weight (smaller) use a tripod (no good if watching birds on the wing) or use image stabilization.

Canon makes a nice pair of 10x30 binocs that are both light-weight and image stabilized. Not a lot of light gathering capability with those 30mm lenses, but you don't need it for daytime viewing anyway. Price is about $400.

Want more magnification? They make a 12x36 image stabilized pair for around $600. 15x will cost you over $1000.

Note that you should go with something completely different if you want a pair for outdoors where you can get closer to your subject, and conditions could be windy, wet, or poorly lit. For that, a $250 pair of Nikon 8x42 Monarch ATBs can't be beat unless you want to spend a lot more money for a Leica or Zeiss name.

If it were me, I'd buy 2 pairs and put the Nikons in my car and keep the Canons in my desk drawer. The worst part about having only one pair is its never around when you need it.

Thanks for the advice!

Mark, whatever you buy, try them first.  Everyone's eyes are different.

Just sat in my window and watched a pair of falcons chase a hawk away from the Times Square Building. They really punished that poor hawk, chasing it at least past the Xerox building (no binoculars in the office today).