Rfalconcam Forum

Tuesday evening at Kodak Park (9/21), I was standing behind Carol with my camera braced on a pole, and she was in front of me looking through her scope. We were both looking at the male Silver (banded) Pigeon Eater (SPE) from the same angle.

Carol yelled he is moving. I snapped some shots. When the falcon flew, Carol told the watchers (Dana, Mak, Brian, Shaky, Carrie & me) she thought SPE had an all black band. Since it was a 50-50 chance of being either black/black or black/green, she was strongly leaning towards black/black.

Being that it was dusk, she couldn't be 100% positive. I went through all of my photos this evening, and one photo looks like the falcon has an all-dark band. Because of the lighting and picture graininess when enlarged, I can't tell any colors. See photo below.

So, do we have a Canadian tiercel with a Midwest female (possibly from Illinois)?

I searched the Midwest Peregrie Database (purple USFWS band) for female peregrines with black over red (b/r) band on left leg.  Since PPE has adult plumage, she would have to be born 2008 or earlier. Generally most peregrines stay within a certain radius from the original nestsite. Most of our falcons travel around the Great Lakes.  Based on the numbers, PPE might be from Illinois.

11 possible b/r females hatched in 2008 were from Illinois; 4 from Iowa (not likely)
No b/r banded females in 2007
2 b/r females from Kentucky in 2006
No b/r females in 2001-2005
3 b/r females in 2000 from Illinois
1 b/r female in 1999 from Michigan; 13 other possibilities were from Indiana, Missouri, Iowa (not likely)

Hope we get to confirm the IDs soon.

Joyce

That's some research, Joyce. Another reason for me to be so impressed at the knowledge and dedication of The Watchers.

Joyce, Where exactly are you watching from at Kodak Park?  ???

 :sherlock:  I think Joyce needs to add the title of Super Sluth  :sherlock: to her signature!   :clap:

Great sleuthing Joyce, I'll be watching to see if he's one of ours  :2thumbsup:

Joyce, I'm impressed with your investigations, although, I knew you had it in you to be a great (http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o284/mistytigergirl/Faces%20And%20Smileys/Spy.gif) Your going to have that ID yet. Good job.  :clap:

A huge thanks to Kodak, who has given the Watchers permission to watch from one of their vacant parking lots.

We have rules to follow, but that's ok.  The viewing from this location is perfect for viewing the KP pair.  I've shared the "rules" with the other Watchers.

A few of us showed up Tuesday night, but the pair was not there when we first arrived.  First the female and then the male flew in and landed on the "rockets" (a name picked by Dan for the large, silver tubular structures).  It seems an appropriate name, since there were rockets on the Kodak Tower.

This pair is quite active, but by the time they came in and we were able to get the scope on them, it was already getting dark.  When the male stood up to take off, I'm pretty sure I saw an all black band.  But, I can't be 100% sure because of the lighting.

Now that we have a viewing area, we hope to get an ID on these two beauties.  Stay tuned!

visiting Roch. Gen. Hosp. today and saw what I think was female  p. falcon not close enough to see any bands etc.

Mariah maybe?! :pfalcon:

I wish she would show herself!

Not sure if we can rule out a 2009 bird.  Stormin hatched in 2009 and he's in full adult plumage.  Just a thought...

Good grief Ei, you could be right.  That would put 113 more females into the mix.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.  I was using the 2-year theory (2008) because this peregrine was truly all gray, and I didn't see any brown in the feathers.

What makes some peregrines grow up faster than others?

Joyce

Carol, would you share the Kodak location with me ??

I've been trying to find out the exact location, too, but I guess no one wants to say.  :(

Of course!  I'll forward the info to you tonite.  Does anyone else need it?

I'll forward it to you also Dawn.

Joyce:  I've read that juveniles under stress will actually mature faster - by stress I'm assuming they mean maybe a tough migration, weather related issues, etc...  

Last year we got photos of Master Caster from TR site taken at 6 months old when he was spotted North of Toronto - although he was clearly still a juvie, he had a lot more white on him than I  would have expected to see at such a young age.  His breast was already black/white with bits of brown on it.  And on his back, only the bottoms of his feathers had a little band of brown on them.

I'd also be interested in knowing where the site is, what lot we can go in to watch and what the rules of using the parking lot are in.

Thank You Kodak


 :wave:

Yes Please

We had a very nice evening of watching the KP Falcons last night.  When I first arrived, they were both sitting on their favored blue building.  The male was on the black strip and the female was below him on the little I-Beam.  I immediately got the scope out and watched them for about an hour, especially the male.  I still think his band is all black, but the distance is too great to be 100% sure.

The female took off when I was studying the male, so I'm not sure where she went.  I went back to watching the male, who also took off and landed on the tallest of the "rockets".  He wasn't alone.  About 10 Starlings shared his perch.  He watched them and they watched him.  He took a step towards them, then another, then he ran towards them!  All 10 Starlings stooped!  Hahahaha!  It was pretty funny.   :laugh:

Eventually he took off flying off to the west.  We did see them both fly back in.  One headed west and one flew over us heading south.  We didn't see them again after that.

Dana, MAK, Joyce, Brian H, Shaky and Carrie joined me.  At 7:30 pm, it was too dark to see anything and the bugs were coming out, so we all left.

I was wondering but think I am right when I say that this pair is far enough away from A & B territory that they could have another nest at KP with no territory issues. That would be awesome to have 2  different pairs here.

I don't want to say this too loud, but...   :secret2:

there may have been a juvie at KP tonite.  Just saying.  OK, gotta go.   :o

 :yes:

 :happy:  :2thumbsup:

A juvie !!!!!!!! Could it be J or C - Oh my !!!!!  :2thumbsup:

After seeing the Falcon at KP yesterday afternoon, I was curious if I would be able to see the blue building and stacks from Kodak Office.  I went up to the 9th floor Cafeteria in the building just north of the Kodak Tower to get some coffee.  From the north facing windows, I can easily see the blue building and the two smoke stacks off in the distance. 

If I can see it, you can be sure that Mariah and Kaver would have easily seen any Falcon activity at KP.  Just found that to be interesting.

Have a nice day everyone.

And Kaver used to hunt north.  Not to mention that is where Mariah has been.  Familiar territory!  Interesting!

Maybe that's why Beauty was spotted flying north past Kodak Office...to get a view of who is is hanging around Kodak Park.  I'm sure the falcons are keeping an eye on each other. 

It will get interesting in the Spring, but wait...we are likely to have wintering falcons too.  I'm still checking the abandoned Med building on Elmwood Ave.  Nothing spotted yet.

Joyce

On Saturday, one of the workers (John) stopped by while Brain, Mak and I were there.  His shift was over and he wanted to see where the falcon was.  Unfortunately our Midwest female had taken off before he arrived. 

John said the word is out inside and and they often check their cameras, but don't see anything.  They get a big kick out of seeing us sitting in our chairs watching.  Brian explained where the KP falcon can usually be found if the workers happen to look out on the south side.  He referred to what we called the rockets as stills.  I kind of like calling them that better, since that is what they are, and it is shorter to text.

We gave him a card so he could check out the rfalconcam website.  It sure sounds like they are excited to have a peregrine falcon at their power plant.

Joyce

Way to go watcher's, keep them all in the loop! Glad they like PPE on their plant.  :2thumbsup:

and  :D, your on Candid Camera! (http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp347/sirikit2/Smileys/camera.gif)

 :thumbsup:

wouldn't it be nice if the powers that be would let a nest box be put up for the PPE

Ya never know BC, I think they took one down from over there a while ago, (if I'm not mistaken). I read online somewhere they had a nest box over there for years and no falcons showed up. Figures now they like it.  :notworthy:

Maybe it wasn't in the right location.  The watchers have some suggestions on where a good location might be from our viewpoint based on the activity and walkways at the plant. 

We will probably have to wait until Spring to confirm an actual pair has chosen this site.  Then DEC will become involved. 

We don't know if the male that was here for a short time will return, or if PPE will find a new mate.  We're confident our Midwest falcon likes it here. Because of the areas of warmth, it is possible she will stay all winter to lay claim to the territory.

The DEC has been notified of a possible pair at KP and we'll keep them updated on what's going on through the Fall and Winter. 

There were two nest boxes at KP at one time, both on buildings on the east end of the plant on Lake Ave.  They were both taken down by Kodak.

I'm really glad to hear that the Kodakers are excited about having the falcons there.  Last weekend one of the guards stopped and asked us about the falcons.  Word is spreading. 

It would be wonderful if the Midwest female stays on and finds a mate and another nest box was put up...These birds are precious and should be encouraged to stay!  :happy:

So perhaps one of the reasons Peregrines pick power plants to hang out at is for the warmth they produce. I'm down with calling them stills. Joyce, whatever speeds up your texting I'm all for it! :harhar: :lol:

Such good news, Carol P. And another huge "thank you" to the Watchers for spreading the word on behalf of all of us! I will be watching anxiously re more nest boxes.
 :clap:

Yeah, yeah :poke: ...I know my texting is the slowest.  If anyone could see me trying to get out a quick watch report  :tired: - it takes forever!  My cell keys are so small that I have to type with a finger nail.  And it's hard to concentrate when you're being asked "Are you done yet?" :aaarggh:

Your better than me, I abbreviate everything...ask MAK...she writes back.. HUH!!!

at least you'all know how to text I have no idea if my phone can even do that?  :lol:

why did Kodak take down the nest boxes? wondering if someone in upper management is anti falcon (if they are I hope every pigeon in Rochester poops on them)  ;D

I think basically because the nests stood empty for so many years. Isn't the one from TS from Kodak? Not sure. I forget the story on that nest.

I think it was Jim P. that had all the details, but if I recall correctly the Boy Scouts built a bunch of boxes that were installed at KP & other places.  I think the weather got to most of them-since they weren't occupied, no one did any maintenance.  The Times Square box was one of those built by BSA, but was never installed anywhere-I don't remember if it was in storage or on display.  Then RFC needed it, so it was pressed into service.

There was one picture I caught earlier this year where a poop shot REALLY made it look like B&A carved on the wall!

:2funny:  Believe me a person could grow old waiting for one of your texts!   :harhar:  Just having fun with you my friend.  ;D   :wave:

Yes Donna is the queen of short text messages! For the most part I understand but every once in awhile I have to "huh" her!!! ;) :gum:

Your learning!

M&K's nest box from the Kodak Tower is now located on the Powers Building.  A&B's nest box was built by the Boyscouts and in storage at June's house.  When we needed two nest boxes, it was brought out of storage to be placed on the Times Square bldg.

These two building are very close together, so we weren't sure which (if either) would be chosen.  The falcons chose the Times Square location.

Will the Powers nest be removed this Winter so no stragglers decide to claim it. Then we'll have a territory battle brewin!

Good question Donna.  We'll have to ask the DEC about that. 

after seeing the TS building I can understand why they picked that one. It has so many ledges and stuff. Like a real cliff.

That's close but not quite correct.  The box at Times Square was built for display.  It was in the Kodak Community Information Center at Building 28 in Kodak Park for many years.  I picked it up from there when we were moving the nest box off Kodak Tower, since the DEC was even at that time thinking about the possibility of putting up multiple nest boxes downtown.

There were 2 other nest boxes at KP.  One was on Building 59 which was demolished, so it got taken down and presumably destroyed. The other was on Building 83 in the Research Labs complex.  I wrote about both of these boxes in a 2005 post at Peregrinations (http://birdblog.marchlords.com/2005/04/kp-nestbox-update-some-yard-birds.html).

The nest box is gone, but B-59 is still standing.

There is speculation that the B-83 and B-59 nest boxes were taken down as part of the preparation for the demolition of several nearby buildings in 2006-7. If falcons had moved into either of the nest boxes, they would have been inside the blast zone.

As for the two nest boxes, someone should walk up to the top of the stairwells of B-59 and B-83. I wouldn't be surprised if the nest boxes were still there tucked into a corner.

There is yet another nest box at the top of the stairway at the HSBC bldg (Downtown).  We saw it when we went up to the roof to get a look at the Midtown Plaza rain gutter where Archer and Mariah were exhibiting nesting behaviour.

Sheesh, so many....I'll put one on my house!  :wave: :sparrow:

I think that would only work if you had the tallest house in the neighborhood taller than the trees too.

I know BC but it would make some nice cover for the Winter birds!