Rfalconcam Forum

http://southbendin.gov/falcam/ (http://southbendin.gov/falcam/)  4 eggs Nice Cam

The male is called Zephyr!!

 :thumbsup:  Cool!   ;D

Another falcon cam!  :clap:

SOUTH BEND -- The pair of peregrine falcons that live downtown have four eggs in their nest atop County-City Building.

Whether they will be able to support any chicks this year remains to be seen.

The male falcon, Zephyr, lost his right foot earlier this spring in an apparent trap injury, so his hunting ability is diminished. It might be difficult for him to catch enough food to support himself as well as the female falcon, Guinevere, and any chicks that hatch.

Carol Riewe, a local naturalist and raptor rehabilitator who follows the birds, said she was hoping, because of Zephyr's condition, that Guinevere would lay fewer than four eggs this year.

"I think fewer would be easier to forage for than a full clutch," Riewe said, "but we'll just have to wait and see how it plays out."

Both male and female peregrine falcons hunt and take turns incubating eggs until chicks hatch, usually in the middle of May, Riewe said. Then the female stays in the nest with the chicks and the male is responsible for hunting.

Guinevere and Zephyr have nested in a box on top of the 14-story County-City Building since 2007. The nesting box was on Tower Building for four years before that.

After 3 days of monitoring this cam just to get a view of Zephyr, he finally showed up. I watched him on the perch for a while to see how he manages on 1 foot. Well, he did just fine. He sorta hopped to turn around and was preening like there was no problem. Amazing peregrines Zephyr and Dundas.  :clap:

2 pics, 1 is just Zephyr on the perch, standing on 1 foot. Zephyr, I believe is 11 yrs old.
2nd pic is both at nest. Gwen on eggs.

Does anyone here watch this cam? Just wondering if the female ever leaves the nest. I have been monitoring this nest because I find it fascinating. The male has 1 foot, he seems to get around OK with it but does he catch prey, does he relieve the female. I have not seen him in the nest since I posted this on the 2nd. Maybe I'm just missing it all but it worries me as all I see is Gwen on the eggs. If anyone knows anything, please post it. Thanks.

http://southbendin.gov/falcam/ (http://southbendin.gov/falcam/)

Someone needs to throw that girl a quail or something. I have never seen her leave the nest or the male bring her food. Hope they are monitoring this nest.  :(

I feel so bad for this girl. She needs to eat, to take a break. Have not seen the male at all today. He doesn't even stop by. I know he's injured and maybe he needs help too.

He might be in trouble then ...I know I've seen photos on other falcon sites of him incubating and coming in with food.  I don't watch this site but I've read about it and from what I read, he seemed to be pulling his weight.

perhap a mothers' day brunch--no chanpagne necessary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL4tI7lprRA&feature=player_embedded#at=37 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL4tI7lprRA&feature=player_embedded#at=37) Found this video on one of the forums. Not bad for 1 foot. I just haven't seen him lately but I'm not watching 24/7, so he must relieve her sometimes.

Waiting for Zephyr!

The female has been panting all day too and is up off eggs a lot. Her eggs are due to hatch the same time as Beauty's.

Congrats to Gwen and Zephyr, they just had their 1st hatch. Hopefully, A & B's soon also.

 goodnews: Now comes the hard part for one-footed Zephyr catching enough to feed his babies. I suppose Gwen would help take over with those duties if need be.  ;D

Saw Zephyr come in with prey,(notice is foot is missing), then he left with prey, plucking it on nest but never brought it back for G to feed. Hmmm

I believe 2 have hatched.

SOUTH BEND -- Two peregrine falcon eggs hatched this week atop County-City Building, and a third could be on its way.

The adult pair of falcons that live downtown had four eggs this year in their nesting box on the 14-story building.

Carol Riewe, a local naturalist and raptor rehabilitator who follows the birds, said one chick hatched Thursday morning and another hatched this morning.

A third egg was damaged, she said, and they're still waiting to see what happens with the fourth egg.

Zephyr, the adult male falcon, lost his right foot earlier this spring in an apparent trap injury. Riewe is concerned about whether he will be able to catch enough food to support Guinevere, the adult female, and two or three chicks.

"I'd be just as comfortable if a third chick doesn't hatch," Riewe said, "because it'd be one less mouth to feed under the circumstances."

She said raptors typically cache extra food in their nests for times when prey aren't available, but Zephyr and Guinevere don't appear to have any leftovers in their nesting box.

"Obviously," Riewe said, "things have been a little tough."

Watch live images of Zephyr, Guinevere and their chicks inside the nesting box at www.southbendin.gov/falcam (http://www.southbendin.gov/falcam).

South Bend lost their little one. I knew last week when he wasn't getting any food and was just lying on his back when the others were fed. He was laying with his mouth open. Hard to watch.  :heart:

Zephyr looks over his chicks. He's doing well with 1 foot. Kids are hiding in the corner.

Good to hear Zephyr is able to provide for his family but how awful about the little one.  :heart:

These 2 are getting big!

http://www.fox28.com/Global/story.asp?S=14898806 (http://www.fox28.com/Global/story.asp?S=14898806) video...another aggressive mom...you can hear her hit the hard hat.

The city of South Bend had to deal with a couple of big babies on Monday.  The Department of Natural Resources banded two peregrine falcon chicks.

The two female chicks live on top of the County-City building with their parents named Zephyr and Guinevere.

It was a challenge to just get the chicks out of the nest.  Guinevere will attack to protect her young."I'm used to it," said John Castrale with the DNR.  "It was at another building once [that] I was hit 40 times before I quit counting.  She only hit me about a half-dozen times today."

Castrale says the chicks should be out flying in about two weeks and leave the nest for good in six weeks to a month.

This cam has been down for a while. Bandwidth overload! It's up and running again and they sure got big.

SOUTH BEND -- One of the two peregrine falcon chicks that hatched this spring on the County-City Building is missing, according to a volunteer who tracks the birds.

The two chicks, both of which are females, left their nesting box atop the 14-story building about 10 days ago.

Volunteers have seen one of the chicks on the roofs of smaller downtown buildings. They have been unable to locate the other chick since it was seen Thursday morning on a ledge of American Trust Place at Michigan and Washington streets, said Carol Riewe, a local naturalist and raptor rehabilitator.

Riewe said the chicks, born in mid-May, still are dependent on their mother for food. Therefore, the missing chick is at risk of dehydration and starvation as long as it's separated.  :(

Anyone who spots the bird should call South Bend Animal Care and Control at 574-235-9303, city police at 574-235-9636 or Riewe at 574-339-7913.

Darn, it doesn't sound good for the young one.  :(

The missing chick has been found. There was an article in the South Bend Tribune, which I can't access (apparently due to "inappropriate content" (?). I can only access this:

13 Jul 2011 – SOUTH BEND -- The peregrine falcon chick that went missing last week downtown ... said the chick was found Monday morning next to the AT&T ...

I'm glad the missing juvie has been found, and was returned to the nest box.

Me too Alison, I was worried about her. Not much news since.

 :yes: goodnews: :phew:

Oh, I was following them too. Thought all was well since I didn't hear in a while. Bummer for that baby! Thanks Kris.

I saw this last nite on the BCAW site.  Was sad to read it-hope it's OK to be released.

She's in good, caring hands.  Heal little one and be free.   :heart:

Earlier this month, I found a note in the database about the juvie who was in rehab:

in rehab on 7/20/11; not releasable due to eye problem

Now an update has been posted on the Indy blog: since this little juvie is not releasable, I am glad that she seems to have found a good, safe home.

Long Live the Queen!

Every so often, I get to report on Indiana birds and I am always heartened when the story has a good outcome.  This is one such report.

This year, I know many of you followed the remarkable story of the South Bend falcons, Zephyr and Guinevere.  I’ll refresh your memory if you’ve forgotten (and totally empathize with on the forgetting part) what is so remarkable about this nest.  Zephyr, the resident male for several years at this box, has only one foot.  Yes, a bird that relies on its speed, eyesight and killer talons to survive, seemingly was at a distinct disadvantage in terms of his ability to survive.  And for goodness sakes, how in the world was he going to procreate (a delicate balancing act) and if successful, provide for his family?

Well, happily we know the middle of this story via the world wide web and cameras.  He and his mate ended up with two chicks who went on to fledge.

But is that the end?  Not in the falcon world!   Much as our own lives have ups and downs, so do our feathered friends.  And thanks to the banding of these young peregrines, we sometimes know their stories.   Here’s one I can share with you thanks to the Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators  (and also courtesy of them, this wonderful picture – be sure to check out their website or like them on Facebook!):

 ”Meet Queen Wilhelmina, our new education peregrine falcon. She’ll be joining Princess Arabella in our programs, so we have some real royalty here! She hails from South Bend, and was one of two babies fledged from the nest box downtown there. Unfortunately, right after fledging, the volunteer spotters watching the nestbox noticed that she kept getting in trouble when she flew. When she was checked out, it soon became apparent that she has severely limited vision. She knows her enclosure, but she would never survive on her own. We make a point of assuring that she is handed her food so she can find it at feeding time. She eats great, has a sweet personality, and will be great for programs.”  Kathy also notes “… she and Princess Arabella, our other peregrine, have made the “bird barn”, where they are housed separately, a much noisier place. They are both really vocal at feeding time!”

As we all can probably agree, the best thing would be for her to be free and fulfilling her destiny as a wild creature.  But for me this is the second best outcome.  It makes me so proud that volunteers cared enough to monitor the young fledglings and get QW (Queen Wilhelmina) the help she needed and for her to find such an excellent home.  Thank you Kathy and Carol and everyone who was involved in making this happen for her and for us who care so much about these birds.

I had the privilege of seeing Princess Arabella a couple of weeks ago at the Raptor Rendezvous and she is such a beauty and a show-off too!  I can’t wait to see the two of them together.   Never been around so much royalty in my life!   Dang, I’ll have to practice my curtsy!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

      
And another article:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Utopia-Wildlife-Rehabilitators/120837934653133 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Utopia-Wildlife-Rehabilitators/120837934653133)

Thanks so much Alison for the info on the juvie. Was wondering about the little one. She has a good home and is well cared for. I just loved watching them this season. Zephyr is awesome.

Zephyr certainly is awesome! He is the first tiercel I know of who has been able to raise chicks after having lost a foot (although Dundas from Hamilton came very close to doing so). He is absolutely the Father of the Year! I hope this courageous little tiercel is continuing to do well.

 :clap: What a tiercel Zephyr is and the queen and princess are gorgeous! Thank you Alison!  :wave:

Update on Zephyr and Guinevere:

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-the-peregrines-banding-a-story-of-growth-and-loss-20120529,0,4248872.story (http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-the-peregrines-banding-a-story-of-growth-and-loss-20120529,0,4248872.story)

Too bad about the young male.  :(

They lost another one that died not too long after hatching.

I knew when I was watching last night, I only saw 1 out on the ledge. Not sure where the other female was but she wasn't in the cams view. So so sad for that little one that fell. They are too young to be out on that ledge, just little fluff balls.  :(

 :( :( :( :crying:

Zephyr, the 1 taloned Tiercel, attacking the banders.



From BCAW Excellent pics posted by Kittenface.

Zephyr is an exceptional tiercel!  :star:

Tragedy at South Bend, home of Zephyr, the one footed falcon. :(

Fledging – it can be a liberating and joyful time for birds and humans who watch them but it can also be sobering and sad. And so it is in South Bend. I am sorry to report that two chicks have died – high winds in South Bend apparently responsible for blowing them off the roof. This is the home of the incredible one-footed Zephyr and his mate Guinevere. It takes a lot of time and energy for falcon parents to raise their young to the fledging stage, much less if one of them has a distinct disadvantage. It seems so unfair to me that this happened but then that is my human way of expressing anger and sadness at the situation. I know rationally that Mother Nature is at work there but I also know the connection I feel to the falcon world. I can’t put that connection into words but it is deep and it is personal – wish I could spit them out but I guess it is beyond words. We hope for the best for the remaining juvenile to fledge successfully and carry on the genes of two wonderful falcon parents.

I think they need a new nest box set up but wind is wind and it happens. So sad for them again this year.

 :crying: The pictures of Zephyr have been astounding, so this is truly sad.  Poor babies.   

 :'(

Lone surviving peregrine falcon chick struggles with learning to fly.

http://www.abc57.com/news/local/Lone-surviving-peregrine-falcon-chick-struggles-with-learning-to-fly-159143955.html (http://www.abc57.com/news/local/Lone-surviving-peregrine-falcon-chick-struggles-with-learning-to-fly-159143955.html) News video

 :crying: :crying: :crying: :crying: :crying:

Male falcon Zephyr dead of head injury - Just posted to BCAW



http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-male-falcon-zephyr-found-injured-this-morning-downtown-20120619,0,4606251.story (http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-male-falcon-zephyr-found-injured-this-morning-downtown-20120619,0,4606251.story)

I was just going to post this.  This is such sad news. Fly high and free, Zephyr.  :(

 :o Oh no!  :crying: :heart:

I don't want to know this. Oh that poor guy, he was doing so well. I liked him so much too. Why do they do that, Unity did the same thing. Fly Free Zephyr, you were awesome and a survivor!  :heart:

A true champion among tiercels!  :star:

Here, here...he was a brave little warrior  :heart: 

He was Carly! One foot and all, he did well.   :clap: I'll miss him.

His caretakers think he was injured while hunting and accidentally hit a pole, ending a long run in South Bend.

"They showed up out of the blue in 2003, and they don't go away in the winter. They stay year-round. They have nested each year and raised a family and people just took them to heart. They are South Bend's birds," said Carol Riewe.

The falcon is survived by his mate, Guinevere, along with one female chick from this year's nest.   :crying:

Part of an article I was reading.

He was a wonderful father and provider to his little ones.  Fly high and free, Zephy.  You fly among the stars now. 

Posted on BCAW:

A piece of good news from South Bend: Guinevere is hunting and also giving flying lessons to her chick. It is beautiful to see them floating on air and catching updrafts !

                   :clap:

Thanks Kris for the update, still think of Zephyr!  :(

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-female-falcon-guinevere-adjusting-to-life-without-a-mate-20120713,0,5029159.story?track=rss (http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-female-falcon-guinevere-adjusting-to-life-without-a-mate-20120713,0,5029159.story?track=rss)

LOL, was just going to post this! Thanks, awesome story.

 :2thumbsup:

 :handshake:

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-guinevere-spotted-with-new-mate-20130228,0,3296364.story#sthash.JcD55t2O (http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-guinevere-spotted-with-new-mate-20130228,0,3296364.story#sthash.JcD55t2O)

Guinevere spotted with new mate!   :clap:  Poor Zephyr, was such a good dad.

I'm so happy for her! Hope everything goes well for them!

For all our wonderful falconheads in South Bend IN and the surrounding area, Guinevere FINALLY laid her first egg this morning. She's been keeping many folks on the edge of their seats waiting for this to happen!



from fb    :clap:  glad she found a new mate

http://southbendin.gov/residents/content/peregrine-falcons (http://southbendin.gov/residents/content/peregrine-falcons) Cam

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/4-11Gwen_zps31703d74.jpg) Male was just on egg then Gwen came back.
(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/4-11SBboth_zps0629df40.jpg)

 :yahoo:  :star:

Guinevere and Zeus have their first hatch!

I'm so used to Zephyr!  :clap:

Me too!  He was a great tiercel in spite of his handicap!

  Here's baby from Kathy Q's fb page

A little while ago, the chick was uncovered briefly. Pics are cropped because of extraneous information which is appearing on the live stream.

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/May%202013/sbmay193a_zps5e7a4006.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/May%202013/sbmay193a_zps5e7a4006.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/May%202013/sbmay194a_zpsa57e1838.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/May%202013/sbmay194a_zpsa57e1838.jpg.html)

I am happy for Guinevere and her new mate, but I do miss the great Zephyr. He was one of a kind.

http://www.fox28.com/story/22574544/2013/06/12/peregrine-falcon-chick-banded-in-downtown-south-bend (http://www.fox28.com/story/22574544/2013/06/12/peregrine-falcon-chick-banded-in-downtown-south-bend)

Lone chick banded!

Jeeze that guy wasn't very gentle!  :surprise:

Just read on FB:

Sad news...Guinevere has been found dead. 

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/keynews/community/second-of-south-bend-s-peregrine-falcons-dies/article_c757cd14-8463-11e3-8fc9-001a4bcf6878.html#.UuFzXjpiHDE.facebookhttp:// (http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/keynews/community/second-of-south-bend-s-peregrine-falcons-dies/article_c757cd14-8463-11e3-8fc9-001a4bcf6878.html#.UuFzXjpiHDE.facebookhttp://)

Fly free, Guinevere.   :sorrow:

Nooooooooooooooooooo  :crying: :crying: :crying:

How sad, I loved watching her! Fly Free dear girl! 

 :sorrow:

 :'(

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/New-female-peregrine-falcon-spotted-in-South-Bend-5313808.php (http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/New-female-peregrine-falcon-spotted-in-South-Bend-5313808.php)

New female peregrine falcon spotted in South Bend. Riewe said the female has a federal band on its right leg and a state band on its left leg, though no one's been able to read them yet. She said the state band is black over red.

And new girl is a juvie!

Heads up..there is a connection to the 'Beautyful' one if she's who they think she is.  Not 100% confirmed yet but close! 

http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=335&t=1718&start=200 (http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=335&t=1718&start=200)

Yes she would be Beauty's niece.  Stammy (her dad) is a son of Dorothy and Ernie (E1).  So Dorothy would be her grandma on that side & then on mom's side - Strike (her mom) is daughter of SW (Southwest at Cleveland) and the late Buckeye.  So super genes on both sides, sure hope she can hold the site.  She's a 2013 hatch - assuming it is Diva - so she's young.

Combination Dorothy and Erie, SW and Buckeye would make for really good genes!  Hope it's her!  :thumbsup:

Well we won't know now though I do think it was her.  A new female is here today.  We saw some activity last night and this morning that indicated something was going on.  This new female is an adult and also has Black/Red bands, BCAW has some photos.

Hope little Diva wasn't hurt and hope to see her again someday when she's older.

http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=335&t=1718&p=280562#p280562 (http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=335&t=1718&p=280562#p280562)

In the time it took to post that, nest box fight!  Diva is back....SGB is checking her video!

Just saw the video, worst nest box fight I've ever seen.  This isn't going to end well for someone.  Yikes.  SGB has video up for those who can stand it..no sound so at least you are spared that.

Edit to add:  Bands confirmed as 45/Y, it is Diva.

Boy that fight seemed to go on forever!!! Intense battle! I hope they are both alright!  :eeeeek:

Me too MAK.   Diva was just at the box but is back and forth, suspect it's not over yet. 

Me three!   :scaredblue:

Little Diva was back and bowing with Zeus just a bit ago! Hate fights!!  :(

Cam operator zoomed in this morning and we were able to confirm Miss Diva's bands  :handshake:

S'cap by SGB:

        :2thumbsup:

 :phew:

Adult female was just in box bowing with Zeus.   :o

Uh oh!  Where's Diva??

Not looking good, this other female has been in and out with him a few times.  May still be on going..monitoring now.  May be the same female she fought with before..same band colors anyway.

Wow!  I thought Diva drove her off...guess not! I think I read on BCAW that it might have looked like Zeus wasn't too receptive to Diva.

I think it's more he probably looked at her as a juvenile not ready for mating/breeding.  Even her coloring, she's not as mature as other sub adults seem to be.  Some mature faster than others but to me Diva looked like she just fledged.  She's a strong little bird but I think sexually she might not have been ready - based on her behaviour with Zeus.

i just hope she is okay and lives to come back another day..maybe when she's older.   We'll see, last time I thought she was gone..she came and jumped the female in the box!

Today's female has been ID"d as:

Scarlett 42/V B/R
2012 from Madison Gas and Electric
Wisconsin

Female Falcon Injured:

SOUTH BEND -- Bad news for fans of the city's peregrine falcons.
Diva, the new female that had been spotted downtown in recent days, was found injured Friday morning along Riverside Drive at Leeper Park, local raptor rehabilitator Carol Riewe said.
"She was bumped by a car, obviously," Riewe said of the 1-year-old bird from Youngstown, Ohio.
The person who found the bird took her to South Bend Animal Care and Control, Riewe said. From there, she was transported to Gilmore Park Animal Clinic, where she was diagnosed with a spinal injury
"It's a nerve problem, a spinal problem that is preventing her from using her left leg," Riewe said.
Riewe said Diva is in her care now. The bird is resting, she said, and has been given an anti-inflammatory medication.
"I have her here at my home, in my hospital," she said. "We'll just see how things go. With nerve things, you look for certain results in a certain number of days … and you keep playing it out until either the bird recovers or you hit a plateau."
Unfortunately, any possibility of she and Zeus mating this season has been dashed, she said.
"Even if she recovers from this, she'll have to have some re-conditioning first before she goes back to fly, and it's going to put her too far into the (mating) season," Riewe said.
Diva's presence downtown — she had been spotted in recent weeks hunting with Zeus and was finally identified earlier this week — had raised hopes that she and Zeus would mate. Zeus' previous mate, Guinevere, died last year.
Riewe said it's not too late for Zeus to meet another bird. In fact, a second female was actually spotted over the weekend tussling with Diva for control of the nesting box atop the County-City Building.
"It's possible," she said. "If there's somebody else out there looking around, somebody could cruise in."
Nevertheless, "It's a bummer," she said.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/female-falcon-injured/article_dd506cac-b127-11e3-86b3-001a4bcf6878.html (http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/female-falcon-injured/article_dd506cac-b127-11e3-86b3-001a4bcf6878.html)   Poor Diva, she gave it her best!

How sad for her...hope she can recover.  She had a lot of spunk.

 :(

Just home from market to read this news.  Poor sweet angel  :sorrow: :sorrow: :sorrow:

 Just read the sad news that Diva passed away last night.  Fly high and free, young Diva.  :sorrow:

:crying:

Oh man, not even a year yet! :(

 :( Not the news we wanted but at least she can fly free.  :sorrow:

 :crying:

 :( Oh how very sad!  And that's another niece of Beauty hit by a car. 

This old falconhead has been AWOL for a few days and wouldn't you know it, there was some egg-citement in Hoosier falconland. The new female at the South Bend nest site (which has seen its share of sorrow and drama) laid her very first egg on Monday around 1 pm. We believe her name is Scarlett and she was hatched in Wisconsin. She's a first time falcon mom! Yee-haw as they say!

  from fb

 :thumbsup:

Sad news...

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/female-peregrine-falcon-dies-in-south-bend/article_d6b93eba-0068-11e4-a711-0017a43b2370.html (http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/female-peregrine-falcon-dies-in-south-bend/article_d6b93eba-0068-11e4-a711-0017a43b2370.html)

Fly free, Scarlett.  :sorrow:

I can't believe this happened again  :crying: :crying:

OMG, poor birds and poor South Bend falcon watchers!  First Diva and now Scarlett.   :( :(

That was so hard to read! Fly Free Scarlett! So young and with 2 babies!

 :kleenex:

Saw this on BCAW.. :(

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/young-falcon-might-have-broken-leg/article_072d9fd0-19ca-11e4-9283-0017a43b2370.html (http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/young-falcon-might-have-broken-leg/article_072d9fd0-19ca-11e4-9283-0017a43b2370.html)

 :(

They have had their share!  :( Poor baby!

The pair at the South Bend nest are now Maltese,  banded black/red 47/V, and her unbanded mate Zeus.

They raised three chicks this year, all of whom fledged successfully. All three have continued to visit the nest.

Here is one of the chicks yesterday:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/July%202016/sb-july-9-2a_zpsklb0pq2p.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/July%202016/sb-july-9-2a_zpsklb0pq2p.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/July%202016/sb-july-9-4a_zpsyd9guvj5.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/July%202016/sb-july-9-4a_zpsyd9guvj5.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/July%202016/sb-july-9-13a_zpsi1quteok.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/July%202016/sb-july-9-13a_zpsi1quteok.jpg.html)

https://www.southbendin.gov/residents/content/peregrine-falcons (https://www.southbendin.gov/residents/content/peregrine-falcons)

Recently, the three chicks were harassed by a drone:

Drone encounter worries South Bend falcon watchers

SOUTH BEND — The city’s new peregrine falcon chicks had a nasty encounter last week with an unidentified drone.

According to local raptor rehabilitator Carol Riewe, the three chicks were flying above Washington Street downtown about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when a recreational drone suddenly appeared from the west.

“All of a sudden this object came flying in from the west, this silvery object with little red lights all over it,” Riewe said. “It was a drone, and it stopped right over us.”

The birds, less than 2 months old and still novice flyers, darted at and even chased the device, Riewe said, before it finally disappeared off to the east.

“We were most upset because we were afraid there would be an injury,” she said, adding, “I would say somebody in the area has a drone, and is doing something which is illegal.”

Riewe said this is the first such incident she is aware of since falcons began nesting here, first atop the Tower Building and now atop of the County-City Building, more than a decade ago.

“Of course that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened,” she said.

While the peregrine falcon is not an endangered species, it is protected under state law, said Linnea Petercheff, an operations staff specialist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resource, Division of Fish and Wildlife.

“So there is a state law that prohibits the take of one, and the definition of take includes to harass,” Petercheff said. “So if the drone was used in a manner in which it harassed the parents or young, it could be considered a violation.”

The same law also prohibits the use of drones for hunting purposes, Petercheff said.

A knowing or international violation of the law is a Class C misdemeanor, she said, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

It also is illegal to fly a drone just about anywhere west of the river in South Bend, including downtown, because of its proximity to the airport, according to rules adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Petercheff said state conservation officers have been contacted to investigate the incident, but admits it will be difficult to identify the owner of the drone.

Encounters between birds and drones have become increasingly common in recent years as sales of the gadgets continue to rise, with birds sometimes attacking and disabling the devices in mid-air.

Video of one such attack, involving an eagle, has been viewed on YouTube more than 6 million times.

Petercheff said she is aware of only a few such encounters in Indiana, but expects more as the devices, costing as little as $500, gain in popularity.

She said it’s important people understand the law and the potential harm to wildlife from the careless use of the devices.

“It could be upsetting to the birds to the point where it affects the parents’ ability to feed their young, or it could knock a fledgling out of the nest,” Petercheff said. “So there is an issue there of harming an animal or bird or harassing it to the point where it affects its welfare.”

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/drone-encounter-worries-south-bend-falcon-watchers/article_20cca811-3ce4-552c-8444-244c40c56223.html (http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/drone-encounter-worries-south-bend-falcon-watchers/article_20cca811-3ce4-552c-8444-244c40c56223.html)

This problem with drones is only going to escalate. They are way too dangerous to be around birds.