Rfalconcam Forum

I just posted the CT news on the Offspring thread.

At UB, BB and Yankee are being seen, here BB is on her perch and Yankee way up top.

 

At the waterfront/grain elevator area, Carl just saw two adult pefas stooping on pigeons and Jacquie recently had to retrieve a Cooper's Hawk with its throat torn out, in the very same area. It could easly be Statler birds but it also could be the elusive Jean and we need to discover where they have been nesting.

The female from the Grand Island North Bridge has been spotted recently. 

Two sightings of a juvie pefa at Squaw Island also, with a red band, but Buffalo would not have a juvie with a red band right now.   Possibly an Ohio bird. 

The title of this thread includes "2012".  If we should continue on with this thread, can that reference be removed or should a 2013 thread be started?

Thanks Sage! Things are going to start picking up before we know it!  :wave:

So recently, Jacquie retrieved a Coopers with its throat torn out from someone's front lawn, obviously from an encounter with a Peregrine,
Then Carl spotted two pefas in the very same area, flushing pigeons!
Today, Roger and I went to the spot and sure enough, large numbers of pigeons were being flushed from an ADM site.  Two pefas were spotted again and again, though sometimes they all went down on the opposite side of the elevators, so we couldn't be sure if any were caught over there but we didn't see them get lucky from our vantage point.
This could be the Statler pair, OR, it could be the grain elevator pair, whose female was ID'd as Jean from Syracuse by Joyce!
I haven't looked at my pix yet, but most were shot towards the sun so probably just a bunch of silhouettes.
For anyone who may be thinking of making a visit, there are many good spots to view from, but don't come alone.  Let me know and we can likely meet up.  It's in the Old First Ward, Ohio St and St Clair.  Bison Rod and Gun Club parking lot is a good starting point.  Really need to ID this pair!

http://www.buffalo.edu/falconcam.html (http://www.buffalo.edu/falconcam.html) Live cam

Joyce and I went to Buffalo on Monday for a falcon watch and on the way home we stopped near the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge to check out Short-eared owls. The link below is for my album from the day.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrW5g (http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3DFm0ZMWrW5g)

It's good to have the live cam back. One of the birds was on the perch today:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/February%202013/buffalofeb282a_zps002df611.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/February%202013/buffalofeb285a_zpsddf908dd.jpg)

Kitten just posted this over at BCAW...I can't believe they would do this  :crying:

State officials to place peregrine falcon in permanent care facility


BUFFALO, N.Y. – State wildlife officials today safely captured a female peregrine falcon that had been nesting in MacKay Tower on the University at Buffalo’s South Campus.

The capture came after the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), determined it was in the best interest of the falcon, as well as UB and the surrounding community, to place the bird in a federally-permitted facility for permanent care.

Since 2010, the falcon has exhibited aggressive behavior by swooping down on people working on rooftops, as well as pedestrians on and near South Campus. The incidents occurred during late spring and early summer when the bird had newly hatched chicks.

Two such incidents - one in which a UB employee suffered lacerations to the head - were reported this month, marking the first time the falcon exhibited the behavior before May. The potential for more incidents led DEC officials to decide to relocate the falcon.

“This type of behavior among peregrine falcons is unprecedented,” said Mark Kandel, DEC regional wildlife manager, who led the capture effort. “By placing the bird with a rehabilitator, we will have prevented it from potentially harming someone and vice versa.”

The male falcon will likely find another mate and remain in MacKay Tower or it could be displaced by another pair of peregrine falcons, Kandel said.

Threatened by pesticides, peregrine falcons were considered an endangered species by the federal government until 1999 when recovery efforts prompted their removal from the list.

They are still listed as endangered by New York, which works to boost the state’s population of the bird. The effort is working, especially in Western New York which has seven nesting pairs, up from one 20 years ago, Kandel said.

UB supports the state’s effort. For example, university officials installed a nesting box that the falcons used to rear some of the 15 birds that they produced. UB also featured the nest on a web cam to promote understanding of the birds, a practice it plans to continue after the male finds a new mate or a new pair moves in.

Editors note: A previous version of this article stated the bird would be placed in a rehabilitation facility, which could imply that it will be released. The bird will be placed in permanent care facility.




http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2013/03/017.html (http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2013/03/017.html)

Can't believe this! Was she that aggressive? I know she swooped a few times at people when she had babies. So sad! She attacked someone?  :(

Yes Donna, she was aggressive.

DEC was called to a meeting at UB about an attack BB made on a man walking to his car, 1600 ft from the nest. The man was quite bloodied and the incident was captured on the UB security cam and played for the DEC.

It was UB's decision which the DEC had to go along with, that BB must be removed from the site. The DEC managed to safely get her in a mist? net on the roof.  Yankee was on hand, screaming. BB was not injured and was surprisingly good on being handled.  She was transported to a safe site. Her future is uncertain but she cannot be released anywhere because of her extreme aggressiveness.

Many attacks by BB have been reported in the past, but they were usually during fledge times.  She has put UB at too much risk now with her strange behavior.  I have always pleaded that she of course attacks during that few weeks around fledge time. I have personally told neighborhood people walking their dogs through the area to leave, and walk close to buildings as they  do so.

UB is okay with having Peregrines on site and Yankee will stay. It is hoped that he can yet attract a mate migrating through the area in time for this season.

BB gave us fifteen chicks and she is in our hearts forever.

Ahh, so sorry! I guess they did what they had to! Poor BB.

Sage, I'm so very sorry for you - I know how much time and effort you put in watching over her and to everyone else who loved and followed her...my heart goes out to you all and to her.   She will never fly free again and that makes me want to cry and it makes me ashamed to be a part of the human race.   :(

BB was one of my favorites and I'll miss her. I hope Yankee can find another mate. Sad all the way around... :heart:

There wasn't much else that could be done after she attacked someone a quarter mile from the scrape without apparent cause. Hopefully she will become an educational bird and/or be allowed to raise eyases that will released into the wild.

That would be nice!

It's now up to US Fish & Wildlife. It's totally their call.  BB's mom was aggressive also. BB's actions are unprecedented and unexpected, even in urban settings. We love her so much and it hurts so bad.

I cannot imagine her in a captive setting. It's unlikely she would ever be allowed to produce more chicks  as they are not sure where that aggressive streak came from.  I hope it hasn't been passed on.

The cam is back online. http://www.buffalo.edu/falconcam.html (http://www.buffalo.edu/falconcam.html) Maybe Yankee can lure a new migrating falcon to his heated condo.  It's also possible a new pair could take over the site and force Yankee out. We'll have to watch and see.

And there are extra pefas here. Two days ago we arrived at CT to find pefas chasing pefas away from the tower. We're still trying to figure out which birds came back and who is there today. I'm pretty sure Gleig is there but we cannot see any black over green bands. I haven't posted any of those pix yet.

UGH!  :(

What a sad and unfortunate situation all around.   Sad also that Yankee had to witness it.  I hope everything works out for the best for BB and Yankee.

So sorry about BB, Sage.  I know how much you loved her and hope she will be alright in her new place.  I feel so sorry for Yankee being witness to everything but hopefully he'll find another mate. Tough day.
I hope Diamanté is OK.

I'm so sorry, Sage!  And feel sorry for BB.  I can understand why they had to do it-- it is a liability if someone is injured and that has happened but it is unfortunate. 

OH NO!!! Hope he's seen soon! Can't lose another!  :(

Wow  :(  I could see her attacking closer to the nest, that would be understandable, but that sounds like awfully far away.  Darn.

We're again heading for CT in hopes of seeing Diamante.

I really hope you see him today!

Me too!

CT?

Central Terminal building in Buffalo where Gleig(Pigott's sister) and Diamanté nest.

Ahhhh! Ta!

We saw only one bird at CT, very high, and it looked more like G than D. Nest was empty.  We are going back now.

Also, Yankee not seen this morning around campus or neighborhood. :(

         
 :(

 :( :'(

Oh boy-not good!  :(

I sure hope Diamante & Yankee are around and OK. This is so sad, the whole deal!

On second visit, it looked as it one pefa, then two more flew from the opposite side, where we had already checked, but they looked to have been in the air, not on the bldg. After about 15 minutes one flew back and perched high on tower (pix later) but it did not look like Diamante. :( Cannot detect D's bands and bird too big and fluffy.

Nothing at grain elevators or Holcim. A recheck around UB but Yankee was not seen in the vicinity.

 We're desperately trying to find D. On a positive note, we did not see any fight the other day. It seemed to be just a chase but we did not see the beginning of the event.

I'm so bummed and so tired...

http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/featured-stories.host.html/content/shared/university/news/ub-reporter-articles/stories/2013/falcon_relocation.detail.html (http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/featured-stories.host.html/content/shared/university/news/ub-reporter-articles/stories/2013/falcon_relocation.detail.html)

Did Diamante migrate?  When was he last seen?

That is unbelievable!! What utter stupidity.

BB is so beautiful.   :(

He was last seen over the weekend I believe. I have faith that he's fine.

He might be puffed up to keep warm, I know some days our birds look totally different.  Don't give up hope!  Get some rest and thank you for all your efforts, I'm sure everyone here appreciates it Sage.

 :wave: So sorry Sage-I hope you get some rest and are able to find Diamante and Yankee next time out. We all appreciate your efforts in an obviously sad situation at both sites.   :pray:

I do not believe Diamante or Gleig migrated. They fought hard for this site a year ago and have been seen here over the winter. Stash and Stella did not migrate either. The UB pair overwinters here too.

Oh this is so sad. Poor BB.  :(

Check the album below

Peregrines at CT Mar 10-14 (https://plus.google.com/photos/100645862660585187015/albums/5855323972636926129?banner=pwa&authkey=COq-zMuMxYC0Jw)

Impossible to tell...facing the wrong way and bad light.

Our cameras are just not enough to get better shots so the bands can be seen.  Even with my binocs I can't call it.

It seems we've "lost" two birds here this week. BB taken and Diamante can't be ID'd the last couple days. I feel like crap...

I won't give up on Diamante just yet! He comes from some fierce loins!! I know that doesn't matter but in my simple mind, it does!

Diamante was at CT throughout the winter.  He did not migrate.

Sage - We ALL appreciate your efforts.  Rest.

I don't think any camera would have caught bands-just bad positioning & light.  And remember, Diamante was there for almost a year without being ID'd.

Thank you Sage...hope you are rested up by the time you read this...

In Sage's album, pic 8 of 16 taken on Mon 3/11 is definitely Diamante in the nestbox. Note the solid white chest with no intruding marks, large heart-shaped white auricular patch with no smudge, narrow mustache (malar stripe), and Mariah's look-alike white above cere.

In more recent pics of falcon with side view, I see a smudge above auricular patch. Difficult to see other markings.

For comparison of Diamante & Gleig markings, you can check out my 2012 CT falcon watch album at picasaweb.google.com/wnyfalconfan

Joyce, you think then D is there Mar 12,13 14?

Joyce knows her mustache's!  :2thumbsup:

Sage - there are no distinctive markings for me to make a positive ID. The pic with the falcon on perch has the head blocked. In others, I saw smudge, and it is hard to tell a front head view without seeing cere. He would have to be looking down. He could be puffed up with the return of the cold windy temps.

Now I have the time to help and physically can't get there. I'm bummed!

They have removed a perch of the nestbox in UB, the one of the right.

No, Pen, the perch is still there. It was always shorter than the other perch.  But interesting is the fact that the scraping looks different!

I am so sad about what has happened with BB. I wonder if there was some reason why she apparently became aggressive recently. I don't think this justifies removing her from her nest and her mate (and just before the breeding season, too) and putting her into captivity for the rest of her life. Poot BB, and poor Yankee.

There was one peregrine on the perch at the UB nest a little while ago. Sage, do you know if this is Yankee?

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch151a_zpse0925b58.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch153a_zpsb925bf2f.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch154a_zpsbc31774b.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch155a_zps66abde66.jpg)

Gone within seconds of the last pic.

I hope you have managed to find Diamante, and that he is safe and well.

I compared my own pics of Yankee to these and I believe this is Yankee. So sad that he's lost his mate and that she will never fly free again.  :(

Thanks, MAK! I thought it looked like Yankee, but couldn't be sure without a glimpse of the bands. I feel so bad for him, and for BB. This whole situation is just completely wrong . . .

It looks like Yankee. He has blk/blk band. We did not get out today but will check tomorrow. If anyone see any activity in or  out of the box, I hope you can grab some screencaps or at least tell us what you witnessed. Without his mate, Yankee could just leave the vicinity. I'm hoping he can find a loose falcon flying through the area and will appreciate his nice heated condo!

Too bad we couldn't send Pigott over to him.  She have a nice condo and she'd be close to her sister too  :handshake:  Maybe MAK could have a chat with her tomorrow and put the idea in her head  :lol:  :pray:

Funny but I had the same thoughts!

Too late to send Pigott...new female has arrived already at UB.

Sage sent a tweet...Joyce sent a text...I hit the recorder...

Yankee confirmed and an unbanded female bowing & chupping at the nest box. I have video-will upload it tonight, but here's some screen shots...

   

I'm still so sad for BB but happy for Yankee-his life must go on.

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/Buf2_zpsf3e8e282.jpg)  UF at UB

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/Buffalo_zpsf8df008e.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/Buf3_zpse58eaa4c.jpg) She's a biggun

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/Buf4_zpsfee8707e.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/Buf5_zpse1579b60.jpg)  UF taking off

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/Buf9_zpsa31fd574.jpg)  She's mammoth!!  :o

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/Buf8_zps616f904c.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/Bufboth_zps4f97161e.jpg)

I'm amazed how many floaters are out there, waiting for an available territory and potential mate. They must be lurking all over, waiting for a chance to make a move. It must be a very good sign for peregrine recovery.

One other example - two years ago, apparently attracted by the disturbance at my local site due to a banding, a peregrine from Vermont briefly showed up.  I photographed her (and her bands for ID) while my territorial pair were in the box and not visible to her.  On my next visit to the site, I ID'ed my female, so the intruder must have cleared out as soon as she realized that both parents were still around.



Paul

Wow...just came in the door to this news!  Awww..I'm so glad he's got some company.  It will never be the same without BB but as you say life must go on and at least now he's got a mate for nesting season and will stay at the site for all his fans to enjoy.

Wow, it would seem there's a revolving door for falcons! Yankee didn't waste any time eh!? Onward and upward as they say!  :surprise:

I wonder, as we watch the recovery unfolding now, if we'll see a change in our beliefs about pair fidelity.

That's what I was thinking Ei. I wonder if Yankee had this girl at another site while with BB. Another episode of "As the Falcon Turns"!  :rolleyes:

And maybe why BB got so aggressive so early...

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

So far this afternoon, I haven't seen Yankee, but I have seen four separate visits by the unbanded female.

I am glad for Yankee that another female has shown up, but it doesn't make it right that BB was removed. I thought it was illegal to disturb peregrines during the nesting season.

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch161a_zps83dc758d.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch165a_zpsb627885f.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch166a_zps7c8860e2.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1610a_zpsf7726ba3.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1614a_zps6ce501a4.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1615a_zpsc6b5d908.jpg)

Two more visits:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1618a_zps4460401e.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1619a_zpsc8a73820.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1620a_zps16a9e3e9.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1621a_zps70c46271.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1622a_zpsb06aafa8.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1623a_zps0c9f3b0b.jpg)

http://youtu.be/Ovf3GkhD84o (http://youtu.be/Ovf3GkhD84o)

Thanks for catching the screencaps! I was watching then too but my laptop has the hiccups today, I guess I'm giving it too many things to do!

Here's Yankee's bride!  

She showed up early this morning and things heated up fast! What a wonderful show they put on!

Maybe migrating through the area, she may have thought, "hmmm, what's that tower over there?" I bet she thought she died and went to heaven! A beautiful heated condo, a wonderful attentive guy, so she winks at Yankee!

She flew over to the water tower, which BB only did when the fledges went there. He followed. Then they both flew back to MacKay and both entered the nest box! He brought her prey, of course.  He did everything he was supposed to!  He was wearing himself out circling around the tower as she sat on the perch, and sometimes she joined him and they both would circle the tower. What a beautiful sight!

Lots of eechupping! Yankee was clearly ecstatic!

We did check CT and saw two pefas, both quite high on the tower, and on the front side, opposite the nest side. We could not get leg shots, sorry. We're all looking for verification of who these birds are. The problem from my perspective is that Gleig had been sitting on the perch ALL THE TIME until earlier this week. After which, we haven't seen her there. I'll post that pic soon, of both of the tower.

Fantastic vid, Ei! Thank you!

I do not know how to capture a vid.  :'(

I use a program called Snagit by Techsmith.

Thanks! I'll try that.

Here is a CT shot from today and the FBPP post

Could the work being done there be upsetting to them? Not being seen much? Not perching in usual places?

It's likely. Contractors are working on both sides and expect to be doing roof work. But there was that chase earlier in the week and some pefas got chased out of town. We still haven't got positive IDs on the birds here now, and these two are not acting like Gleig and Diamante. We spent a lot of time on UB today. We'll keep trying.

Any kind of human interference/disturbance or other falcons coming through can have them perching in different places.  I've certainly seen that at Etobicoke many times.

I don't know what kind of work is being done but if humans are around, our guys avoid the nest ledge because their view is limited to one direction from there.  They tend to perch in a more open space  where they get a better view of the territory from all directions and make a quick getaway if need be or if it's an intruder so they don't cornered.

Back in November, both O'connor and Jack spent over a week perched on a building we very rarely see them on and staring North - it was the strangest thing and they didn't go near the nest ledge during that time.  Tracy thought they likely had a challenge for the territory and she certainly knows falcon behaviour from her many years of experience.  And then one day, everything was back to normal as if nothing had happened.

I'm surprised they're allowed to work around an active nest-especially at this time of year.

carly, yes, that was odd. But coming into nesting season, Gleig had been hanging out at her nestbox, and Diamante would usually perch above where he had a good view. The nest side of the tower also protect them from the fierce winds that roar through the spot, in that the tower stands alone and on considerably higher ground than anything else in the vicinity.

With migrating pefas which would be likely to check out this high spot, they may well be on high alert, but this is mating/nesting season now, not November, which makes me suspicious. We have to confirm the bands, then I'll relax!  ;)

To make matters worse, work in being done on the building, today, on the nest side. which is likely adding to the problem, but this may be a bad year for CT because they will be retiling the whole roof. It may almost be better if they don't nest there this year, yeh, right, because roofing and fledging will not be a good mix.

Kris, the building owners can do what they want, and they lose a lot of time waiting for winter to pass! It would be Aug/Sept if they waited for the fledges to go away, because this particular set-up at CT is just a fantastic training base for the kids! So many ledges and nothing to crash into!

Here is the view today at CT. I'm not posting in the Diamante thread til I'm sure he's here.

A lot of "housecleaning" today - pebbles rearranged, tasting the walls and left perch block. This female has a tendency to hold her folded left wing very high - like a plane vertical stabilizer.  I'm wondering of someone who's more connected to the watcher community could pass along the pic, maybe someone else noted this characteristic?  Anyone else see an identifying characteristic or mark?

Carl

Also - from around 1pm.  After housekeeping - it looks like she left a wet spot where she was working and scraping.  Is this a post mating or pre-egg delivery "signature"?  Or is it a optical illusion? Not up on my falcon mating and gestation biology.   It's also in next to a dead zone for the cam so you can't see much else.

Carl

It's a deep hole.  Evaporation would have dried it out by now. I'm calling it an optical illusion.   :surprise:

Sorry for the previous post.

Carl

If eggs are at the site, i don't think they can continue work on the building

Jeanne-Sage told me the building owners can do whatever they want, even if Peregrines are nesting there.

when Kodak removed the nestbox, I think they could have removed the eggs.  However, that might be a case by case basis because I think it becomes a protected area with eggs.

Snow Falcon Prints - female.

More Photos on Facebook -  Peregrine Place Group.

Carl

Look at the foot size difference.

At UB this morning, UF was perched on a ledge with Y above, on opposite side from nest. UF likes to go to water tower and sometimes Y is seen on nestbox perch looking in direction of WT. Later today they were in box bowing to each other. :)

At CT, this is the only bird we could get though at one point, I saw two fly off. This pefa appears to have black bands, but I had to drop to 3mp to get it so it's not very good.

Yankee and the new, unbanded female both visited the nest box today:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch191a_zps54e91386.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch194a_zps3ad1ead7.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch196a_zps9b76ce36.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch197a_zpsd0962c16.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch198a_zpsfc8c6052.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch199a_zps9b5667ce.jpg)

Both were in the nest box briefly:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1911b_zps0990b230.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1915a_zpse87d396d.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1916a_zps515aaae2.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1917a_zps09548f83.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1918a_zps644a7df2.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch1919a_zps4851187d.jpg)

Uneventful day today 3.20.13 was. The new female didn't frequent the box as often today.  Yankee took care of the apartment most of the day calling for her - with no response to visit the box. Not sure what type of indicator that may be. 

Did the snow in the nesting box put her off?  Is she not interested and will be moving on?  Stay tuned folks. It's been 5 days since she first showed up.  Maybe her vacation is over?

All I know is we need another cam and audio. Will be working on this this coming year.

Carl

Cams were up and down all day. Visited Mackay around 6pm today. Female on top tier of stack facing Winspear keeping warm in the heat coming off the chimney.

Introduced several UB MBA students to the UB Cam and peregrines. They had no idea the nestbox and falcons were there. What do they teach in that school anyway? ;)

Since the cams have been down a few times lately, I haven't seen much activity at the nest, but I just caught a fleeting visit.

The nest was empty, until suddenly there were two:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch241a_zps07fc38c0.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch242a_zpsf0314ab3.jpg)

The female took off towards the left:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch243a_zpsba44ed0c.jpg)

Yankee followed in the same direction.

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffalomarch244a_zps4bdd17e1.jpg)

Three items:

1. Statler Falcons (Buffalo) - For several trips to Downtown Buffalo and the Statler, pefas did not reveal themselves - I glassed all around the Statler, City Hall, and Liberty Buildings.  Yesterday 3/26 after returning from some business at City Hall I walked to my car via Niagara Square and looked down to find a perfectly picked over bird wing case intact - minus the head and body.  Neatly picked over and fresh - I thought - good sign as they are near by.

2. Statler (later in the afternoon 3/26) I returned to attend a function at the Convention Center - upon exiting I chatted with two Erie County Sheriffs were on mounted horseback. As I looked up to the Statler nesting platform, a Pefa came by and landed on the perch and started calling out loudly.  The Sheriffs were knowledgable about the falcons and said they fly all around the area.

3. UB Mackay (Buffalo) - This morning the new unbanded female and Yankee were in the nest box and bowing for a very long time.  Much longer than other observations.  She was clearly submissive to Yankee, who appeared to be running the show.  At time she froze and didn't move a muscle for a minute or two at a time. Some times they both froze for a minute. But she was clearly submission to him.  It's interesting watching and learning.

Carl

Thanks, Carl! I read on FB yesterday that Diamanté is no longer at CT-another male is there with Gleig.  That's sad news if true.  Any idea who the new male is?

No idea who replaced Diamante. When I went there a few days ago I only saw Glieg. I need a good scope or camera - I'm just using 10x50 binocs.

Interesting development as the pair of Pefas near the waterfront and found often at the ADM elevators near the Buffalo Bison Rod and Gun Club (Ohio and St. Claire Sts.) have not been seen in a few weeks.  Wondering if they broke up and the female found Yankee and the male found Glieg.

Carl

UB Falcon Update:  Caught Yankee and "Dusty" (unbanded female) attempting to mate today twice - between 1:57 and 2pm today (3/27)

She's real submissive around Yankee and she wants to mate.

Carl

Diamante! :(  Hope he's OK

Just caught a glimpse of the first egg at Buffalo. Pics to come.

Pic of UB egg #1

I thought there might be an egg; when he left, she stayed in the nest.

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffaloapril32a_zps51ffe272.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffaloapril33a_zps5c67fc6a.jpg)

First glimpse:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffaloapril39a_zps841cc8e8.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/buffaloapril312a_zps56c36174.jpg)

 :star:

Egg-citing! Good job, Yankee!

UB Falcon - She laid a 2nd egg.

She did some scooting around last night around 10pm like she was trying to gather up more than one egg. She made a 360 slow turn that looked like she was rounding something up and then sat on them. All the time she never showed what was up. Then she went into a deep slumber.

Was watching also, she was fidgety!! Knew an egg was coming.  :clap:

Yes! I was watching Dixie for about an hour as she fidgeted and squirmed, kept turning in circles, but it was too dark to even catch a glimpse. Knew there would an egg this morning!
Yea Yankee and Dixie!

Dixie?? Is that her name?

I thought it was Dusty.

Yankee seen mating again....  More eggs!  let's hope.

Yankee and Dixie! Isn't that cute? Maybe their kids will be Mason and Dixon!

I love the name Dixie for her!  :heart:

Potential new egg (4th) - 8:13a.  Clear shot of all eggs still needs to take place.

Will there be five?  :whistle: Friday should tell us!

Buffalo News article about Yankee and his new mate:

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130426/CITYANDREGION/130429244 (http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130426/CITYANDREGION/130429244)

Nice little article-it's just too bad about BB not flying free anymore.  :thanx:

I just got a report from Jacquie which is exciting! And hatches are expected this week!

If this is Diamanté, it would be wonderful news! It was so disappointing to think he wasn't still at CT with Gleig.

I so hope it is Diamante...

oh me two or is that three

How many members are there?

Eggs will be hatching soon and there will be more opportunities to get band shots, so hang on!

Put me down as hoping it's Diamante!  :yes:

Count me in for Diamante, too; that would be great!!

I'm down for the count too! DIAMANTE!!!!

Popular number! You have four! We have four at UB, CT, Statler and North Bridge! Counts unknown at the gorge and the grain elevator/Holcim. Let all the eggs hatch into lively little Pefas!
  :falcon:

If you meant Holcim in Mississauga - 4 eggs have been confirmed as of Tuesday!  Also..photos' coming soon of Burlington Lift Bridge's 4..count em..4 hatches!!!    

!!! 4 eggs confirmed!
April 30, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
CPF Postmaster Reports:
April 30th - 2013

We have just received word from Holcim that they have confirmed that there is 4 eggs in the nest bowl! This is great news.
Congratulations Holcim!

ps:  And Yay for Diamante - I hope it's him too  :wub:

There's another Holcim in Buffalo ...grain elevators near the lake shore. There have been reports of pefas near there for a while including Juliet (I think) from Syracuse

Thanks Kitty!  I wasn't sure....I'll go back to my cave now  :paperbag:

No silly, come back out!  :handshake:

I didn't know it was another Holcim either until a few days ago when I realized the reports were for what I knew as the grain elevators.  :handshake:

Sort of like ADM-lots of pefas like ADM mills LOL!

OMG..I just realized...well that I need more coffee but this:

There have been reports of pefas near there for a while including Juliet (I think) from Syracuse

Juliet!!  She used to be at William Osler!!  She was injured and rehabbed twice and we never heard of her again after the second release!  ...OMG that would be wonderful if it was her.  Fans of hers had asked about her just last year - if we had had any sightings of her!

No, the BuffalocHolcim. No eggs. They just found the box.

Crossing my fingers that those black over green bands say 21 over R for Diamante! 

Ei, you got the "J" initial right...it was Jean, b/g 98/V from Syracuse 2008. Actually, Holcim in Buffalo has a nestbox, but it was only investigated by peregrines once or twice, but no egg laying residents. Jean and mate were using the Cargill grain elevator. Last year I had 2 there, but not working in Buffalo, I have slacked on my watch duties there.

Sage - are you saying that a pair of falcons have found the nestbox at Buffalo Holcim?

Yes, but apparently NOT the same female seen the last couple years. I don't know if it may be the same we think may have had a nest failure at old Cargill grain elevators so closeby. Holcim and DEC are in contact.

Another mystery Tracy Simpson, Roger, I, Carl and Jacquie are trying to figure out is at Niagara Falls.

Central terminal has three hatches and one egg on nest check today?
Jacquie via Sage   :clap:

If that is still Diamante, he is keeping up with his sisters.
Have we had any more news about who is at Central Terminal??

At last report Joyce felt it might be Diamante. But we're reluctant to say for sure until the band has been clearly read. Which might be easier now that there will be food deliveries.

I very much hope it turns out to be Diamante . . .

Is there any news of Yankee and Dixie? I was able to get the cam for a while, but recently it doesn't work for me.

8) We went twice and saw him! Just got home, have to upload pix but have to go right out for granddaughter/prom! Will be back!

Hooray for Dixie and Yankee! I saw Mama munching on egg shell at 3:45pm.

Yea! The first hatch for the new UB pair, Dixie and Yankee!

Well done, Dixie and Yankee! What a beautiful little chick.

Any suggestions on getting this cam to work would be appreciated; I miss seeing this pair.

Cam is working! Has been. What is the problem you're having?

I seem to recall having to update something when it first went online. Windows media player maybe? It wasn't flash...that updates automatically...

Happy Mother's Day, Dixie!

                  :wub:

Awww, so happy for them!  :heart:

Updated Videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/WNYPeregrinePlace (http://www.youtube.com/user/WNYPeregrinePlace)

   :clap:

Three precious little ones...so cute!



You can tell the youngest (on it's back)...

There's always one who won't stop until food is all gone...



After-meal hugs...

Yankee - "They're mine, all mine!"

Thanks for the updates, Joyce! Here is more, mostly from Jacquie!

 Statler - Four 3-day old chicks this morning

 
Central Terminal - Food delivery for Three chicks, one egg on Sunday

 UB - Three chicks Saturday, one unhatched egg today

North GI Bridge - chicks seen by Thruway Authority on nest check Friday, unknown number but there were four eggs

 Holcim - Recent female has green on band; was there for a week, male for one day, then gone; now returned

Old Cargill grain elevators being auctioned in early June. There may have been a failed nest there with the pefa pair going to Holcim. I do not know if the elevator can be checked for evidence prior to auction.


Niagara Falls - Jacquie has spotted where Diamond and Onyx are nesting this year, behind a pink panel in a window of the old power plant. No signs of a feeding yet, but a hand-off witness today!

It's going to be freezing here tonight so extra hugs to all the little hatches out there!

Spotted one more noggin' at UB.  We now have four eyases.  Verified by another watcher.  All good.

Carl

YAY for Dixie and Yankee!   :hatch1: :hatch1: :hatch1: :hatch1: And best wishes to all the Buffalo watchers!

 :congrats:

BREAKING NEWS! WE HAVE AN EGG IN THE HOLCIM NESTBOX in Buffalo!!!  :scaredblue:

CT 3
UB 4
ST 4
HC 1
NB 2 maybe 4
NF ? Incubating unknown number

 :clap:

Fabulous!  :clap:

SWEET!!  :thumbsup:

Sorry! I meant to put HATCHES after UB,ST,CT,NB!

Great news Sage!   :happy:

Hatches at CT, by Marty.

posted on fb

SweeeeeT!  ;D

Here is the nestbox at the North Grand Island Bridge, pic taken 5/8 but just received, shows hatching in progress!

Reminds me of the Mariah & Linn pics...all floofed up

   

A Request:

Efforts are underway to gently support the Statler City owners to re-connect the dormant pefa nest cam that was removed from the hotel a number of years ago.  The cam is on a boom and is most likely usable if the cable was not cut short.  Regardless - I'm asking for support in the form of "liking" the Statler City facebook page and posting periodic requests and thank yous for the pictures that they post.  As of this post - they have three - the next one and most likely last will come at banding time.  Please consider liking and commenting - "great pic - we would like to see the cam come back.... blah, blah, blah...."  so they can see the number of posts and shares increase. 

When I met with the Statler Management they stated bluntly that the falcons are great for their social media PR campaign. I agree.  We spoke of HD cams with sound which they are in favor of.  So any encouragement would help. 

Also, regarding the Central Terminal.  Please consider liking the "Central Terminal Restoration Corporation"  on Facebook as well and "gently" ask for peregrine pictures to be posted.  Especially if you know watchers from outside WNY.  Getting requests for pictures, will soften them up for more pefa support, from there the ask can be for a cam (when consistent power and Internet access can be established).   

Thanks for considering my request - Please pass it along to fellow watchers outside of WNY.

Some unfortunate news at Holcim, the female has apparently abandoned the one egg. That's all we have about that situation. Let's hope the pefas stay and defend the nest, and we will see them be successful next year.

At UB, we saw Yankee and Dixie on MacKay Tower and I uploaded some pix on a web album here (https://picasaweb.google.com/100645862660585187015/PeregrinesYankeeAndDixieAtUB#slideshow/5880904327269119650).

Album doesn't open Sage, say's sorry!

Gee, Donna, I just clicked on the link in my post and it opened. :::scratching head:::

Won't open for me either. Check that it's set as a public album. If it's private you can get in but no one else can.

Ahhhhh, you're absolutely right, Ei! Sorry about that! I just changed it to Public. Please let me if it still doesn't work.

TRY THIS (https://picasaweb.google.com/100645862660585187015/PeregrinesYankeeAndDixieAtUB#slideshow/5880904327269119650)

That works! Thanks!

I can see the falcon pictures.

Ok, damn Google! I put the pix on Picasa Web Album but then google forces them into Google+ and it isn't a slide show. Maybe I'll try YouTube or who has better suggestions?

We can just click to the next picture-no need to go to extra trouble as far as I'm concerned

I saw your pics fine-don't worry.

UB - Carl saw one baby, the big girl, get blown off nest. Carl, roger, Sage met there retrieved body.
If you ever think one is missing, or see something happen, please notify us ASAP.

The big one got blown off the nest ledge this am!  :crying:  :heart:  Fly Free!

Fly free, little one.  :crying:

She was the biggest eyas in the nest, out at the edge of the flight deck. It happened about 7:30 am. Her little body was retrieved shortly thereafter.  She was just 20 days old.  :crying:

Poor girl!  :crying:

So sad.  Fly free, little girl falcon. :angel:

Such sad news... :sorrow:

Especially sad because last year, Athena with the transmitter, fledged right to her death from the same place. :(

I was just thinking of Athena yesterday and how really sad that this had to happen.  I'm so sorry, Sage.  :(

So sad.   :(

UB kids got their jewelry today! Two more girls and a boy.

Bailey - female - yellow tape
Mackay - female - red tape
Winspear - male - blue tape







More pix on FBPP!

Local news media will report on Statler banding where two boys and two girls were banded today! Names won't be determined til later in the week.

North GI Bridge banding tomorrow morning.

Apparently the Niagara Falls eyasses will not be banded this year because the old power plant roof is deemed unsafe!  :(

I like the names! Thanks. So in general, it would have been 3 girls!  :crying: How was Dixie with her first banding, pics tell some of the story. Too bad about Niagara!

Dixie was great! She and Yankee flew circles around the tower as they could hear their babies screaming, but Dixie was not as crazy as BB used to get, trying to force herself over the board and ripping her feathers apart!   We didn't leave til everything was calmed down and the kids were hunkered down and comparing notes about their abduction by aliens!

When the cam finally came on later today, Dixie was in there giving the kids a fresh meal.

Thanks for posting sage. Those are a couple of names I already thought of too. Appropriate for the location.

As for Niagara, it will help CPF.  There are so many peregrine pairs in Ontario that they can't band them all. Many to be done this week. Timing is so hard when they overlap, and can't get everything coordinated with MNR and the facilities. They don't have a lot of watchers to cover all the territories either. That's the price of reintroduction success.

Love the names, Sage, and glad all went well.  I know it's Bailey for Bailey Ave., Mackay for Mackay Tower but what's Winspear for?

Windspear Avenue is the road that the tower and maintenance area is next to.

Thanks! I just looked it up and saw what it was although I had a feeling it was a street name-think I've heard it on the Buffalo news before. 

Thank you, glad she was being as good as she could! Now she knows!!   :devil:

Winspear Avenue is next to UB's MacKay Tower.

At the Statler - Mark and Mike banding the eyasses. 

Will that name be spelled MacKay or Mackay?  It says Mackay on the FB page.  Just wondering..

Cute eyas!  Big!

I don't know for sure how the name will be sent to Albany. DEC said Mackay, though the tower is MacKay.

Here is a pic of the Statler dad, Ojibwa, on the left, and the unbanded mama at the Statler today while the kids were inside getting banded. More pix on FBPP too.



Nitety-nite..........................

Tonight's news report about the Statler banding!

http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/Peregrine-Falcon-Chicks-209999901.html (http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/Peregrine-Falcon-Chicks-209999901.html)

I like these names.  :2thumbsup:

THE LIST YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!! Straight from the DEC!

UB:
Bailey - F - yellow(missing) -> silver
MacKay - F - red
Winspear - M - blue
 
Statler:
The guys at Statler chose traditional Polish and Irish names.
Zbigniew - M - white (ZBIG-nev. Joe's Polish name. It is a common male name. Nickname is often "Ziggy", so we can call him that.)
Antrim - M - blue (The county in Ireland where Conner is from.)
Saoirse - F - green (SEER-sha. Gaelic for "Freedom".)
Celestyna - F - red (Sel-es-TEEN-a. Polish name meaning "Heavenly".)
 
CT:
Virginia - F - yellow
Billy - F - red
Edward - M - green
 
North Bridge:
George - M - no tape silver

Ooo, I love the name Saoirse.  And of course her band should be green! :2thumbsup:

Me too!!   (http://www.picgifs.com/graphics/i/ireland/graphics-ireland-165976.gif) (http://www.picgifs.com/graphics/)     They are all nice names!!

Joyce, thanks for the excellent edit!

Photos from UB Watch on 6/14/13 (shared on ~Peregrine Place~ (https://www.facebook.com/PeregrinePlaceWNY)) of Windspear/blue, Bailey/yellow & MacKay/red (left to right)...





Photos from CT Watch on 6/14/13 (shared on ~Peregrine Place~ (https://www.facebook.com/PeregrinePlaceWNY)) of first fledge Edward/green...

Great shots, Joyce! Thanks for coming to Bflo! We will be having fledges ALL WEEK!

DEC projected Buffalo fledge dates


CT girls still hanging tight! If they wait much longer, they should be able to fledge all the way to Rochester!

                    :2funny:

CT-Carl says Edw ok, one girl in box but he cannot see other girl

ST-Carl did not see any pefas there but Jacquie and the new intern will check all the sites today

(Sage) CT All kids have fledged! It's a beautiful day for flying lessons and they are paying attention, and fly very well! One at BACK corner of rear arch flew to front, walked up and down arch, then flew to join another atop the back clock. Another was on a tower ledge, took off and flew with parent!
Afternoons are generally more quiet, nap times, but come out for a good show this evening! Pix coming...

Wonderful news!  Thanks, Sage.

                             :ditto:

Phew!! Man, those kids can freak the daylights out of a person!!  :clap:  Great news!!

 :phew:  :wave:

Awesome news!  Thanks Sage!

This  morning, UB then CT then UB! 

At CT, saw Billy eating, Edward nearby flew off and went far circling around and returning, Virginia on small ledge under lamp on lower roof.  All good there so we went back to UB.

Dixie needs to stop feeding those kids so much! Maybe she is new at this. These kids have no fluff left, they have no excuses, they need to take off!



Photo ops galore this weekend at UB, fledging, CT watching fledges and ST, both! What's not to love?   :heart:

Taking a break in the hot middle of day, then get stitches out, then back to UB. Tomorrow, everywhere. See you there?

I guess she is new, those kids will never leave!!     :knifeFork:             Good luck Sage!!

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130622/CITYANDREGION/130629681/1003 (http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130622/CITYANDREGION/130629681/1003)

Western New York’s fledgling falcons are ready to take flight

Winspear fledges...(watch screen on left)

http://youtu.be/nJE5VSNyDqE (http://youtu.be/nJE5VSNyDqE)

OMG, looks like he hopped right off! WOW

He made it around the corner where he perched on a north side ledge. On his way to Rochester!

Don't believe everything you read. I've been to watch the falcons 2 times in the past week. I can't make those every day trips anymore...even for the birds. They interviewed me that day, and the only thing they got right was the 2008 year Diamante was born

Shazam!! Don't you love the news??? LOL

UB Bailey apparently fledged into trouble today, and was found on top of a van. She had a noticeable limp and went to the SPCA for evaluation. I hope she comes home quickly!

Ah gee, I hope there's nothing seriously wrong! Maybe just a sprain or less! Thanks and good luck.  :(

Heavy sigh... :pray:

Bailey is found on roof of a UB maintenance van. PP-WNY Fledge watchers work with the NYSDEC to rescue Bailey after it takes off and tried to land on a rooftop. It misses the landing and injures its leg/foot and it's clearly hobbled. A second attempt to fly to a slightly higher roof fails after it misses to clear the edge by an inch or so. Bailey is captured and take to the SPCA for assessment and observation.

 

From fb

Trying to get update on Bailey.

Thanks, hope all is well!

Their FB page says- Bailey is okay and will be home by tomorrow! Yea!

Woohoo!  :2thumbsup:

goodnews:

Roger and I went first to UB, then CT, then Joyce texted she had arrived at UB. We went back to meet her, not knowing yet when Bailey was being returned. How cool is this? We 3 arrived just as the SPCA was taking Bailey out of the car, and Ken right there too!

After release, Bailey flew over to Clark where she practiced wing-flapping for a few hours before returning to MacKay Tower. She then took off across the campus, across Bailey Avenue, and perched atop the water tower next to the VA Hospital.

At the same time, the last little girl who the parents had been over-feeding, came straight down from the perch, landing on an awning below.  We went to the base of the tower, a tight little area of facilities buildings, and the guys were all pulling in and out at shift end, vans and trucks passing within a few feet of Mackay, nervous enough as it was. Then all the workers starting coming around and trying to go closer to the baby for pictures! Noise, commotion, poor little frightened Pefa, not knowing how to escape! She was surrounded by buildings higher than where she was and they were way to close.

I called the DEC and Jacquie was dispatched to the scene. While I was still on the phone, Mackay came to ground among all the vehicles, and she started running around. Many garage bay doors were open and as she headed for them we tried to block her from one after another.  Joyce grabbed a towel and we eventually got her cornered and Joyce was able to get her, then to the rescue box in our Prius. Joyce got the towel separated from Mackay and I gave her a few spritzes. She had a rough afternoon so far!

More on next post and maybe Joyce will continue!  Meanwhile, lots of pix on FBPP~

Quite a day for all of you!  :phew:

  She has feet like Rosetta! Guess it is pretty common!  Thanks for all your rescue efforts!

Can someone explain the blue foot thing we are seeing this year?  I've been following  (lurking?)  for a number of years, and I haven't seen this blue foot phenomenon that we are seeing this year.   And they are not changing?  Who can shed more light on this  strange thing we are seeing?

I very much respect our experts who have weighed in on this, but I just can't accept that a newly hatched eyas fresh out of it's shell is deficient in carotene or sunlight. If the feet had turned blue after hatching, yes, but not born with it. That is a documented phenomenon in adults, though.

So, I believe it's a genetic variant. It may seem more prevalent this year, but it probably happens more than we realize. M&K probably didn't have the recessive gene, so we never saw it here before. UB has a new female. This is Beauty & Dot.ca's first large group, so genetic variations would start to be expressed.

The first time I recall seeing this was quite a few years ago. It was either Dundas (who ultimately lost a foot to injury) or in his first nesting.

What I'm really curious about is what color their feet will be as adults.

Good write up kitty...you know Dundas and DotCa are related.  Dundas was Madame X's son and DotCa's dad was Madame X's son...sooooo a family gene?!  (MadameX had different mates in at the time so I'd say the gene is in her line not the males if this is indeed the case)

I didn't have time to do the full research this morning, but I thought Dundas was a Hamilton hatch.

Found this:
Has anyone an idea why they are blue, why sometimes they came out yellow and blue in the same clutch and are there other subspecies of Peregrines which have also blue hands and are 100 % pure Peregrines?
Also I have heard and I don´t know if it´s true, that in the States where made DNA tests with Peales from the wild and it turned out that they had gyrgenes inside?

As for feet coloring, so much of that is genetics, plain and simple. Its sort of like talking about eye color in adult Goshawks. Sure, a lot of them are red, but a lot are not. There are, of course, ways you can attempt to enhance the yellowing of the feet and we all that chicken heads or docs are good at bringing on color to a birds food that is less than bright or yellow, as does sunlight play a role as well in the production of carotene pigments in their feet. But sometimes these attempts simply fall on deaf ears so to speak, because the genetics of the bird will only allow them to color out in their time. Otherwise even at wild nests we would see nothing but yellow feet, which of course on Peale's and some other Peregrine subspecies we do not see this all the time.

The color of feet varies in passage tundra peregrines, I was told diet plays a role in the determining color. Some I saw were slightly greenish, others were very yellow and some were greyish.

If blue feet, genuinely blue feet, occur in certain peregrine subspecies, but not, or only very rarely in peregrinus peregrinus, I'm interested to understand why.
I'm unconvinced by the argument that it's entirely food related, and believe early stage 'blue footedness' to be a genetic trait.
Unfortunately I've never discovered the origins of Blaine's 'Bluefoot', although of course there's every chance it might have been an american import, perhaps even a peales, but it occurs to me that blue footed peregrines were noteworthy at that time.
Since Blaine's time, captive breeding has brought together peregrines of various sub-species, not to mention falcons of differing species, and it seems we might get some indication through captive breeding, of one possible origin of blue feet in peregrines, and a better understanding of the peregrine herself.

Hi Greg, I can definately help you on this one, eyass peregrines have yellow leggs. The saturation of the yellow can be different depending upon prey availability. Its the same with the cere, bright yellow. Many years ago when I was on shap I can across a falconer with a cadge of what I thought were peregrines; these bird were different in one respect, they all had blue/grey legs. I was told the birds were all hybrids but not sure of the other parent.

Saw a group of young in a nest last year in the Aleutian Islands with one blue feet, one green feet, and one yellow footed Tiercel. So there you go, it is down to the phenotype of individual bird and nothing more.

From Birds of Prey talk:

Seems no one really knows and all have their own ideas.

I'm sure Rosetta won't be discriminated against because of her blue feet.  At least we will be able to ID her, with or without a band.  She can join Blue Man Group.

And Kris found this (excerpt) from Hamilton banding day 2007

Tuesday June 5, 2007
Audrey Gamble reports: Banding Day!

The first chick was brought inside the hotel and weighed and banded. Her overall condition was fairly good and although smaller than her sister, she had a reasonable body weight. Notable were her blue feet*

*Usually by the time the chicks are banded their feet have already turned from blue to the yellow characteristic of the adults. Falcon Watchers particularly remember Harvard, one of the male chicks in 2005. Harvey still had his distinctive blue feet long after fledge

I guess Madame X is for sure the genetic key to this puzzle!

I think she has a Peales Falcon in her background. from Wikipedia

"Immature birds are overall very dark, having little to no buff colored edging to the feathers of the mantle. Nearly completely dark heads and very heavily streaked ventral markings. Retrices are usually unbarred. Feet and cere color varies from light blue to light yellow."

So is it also possible that the eyasses have different male parents?

We don't think so. One of my off season projects is to look carefully at the lineage. We have a theory Madame X may be the one passing along a blue/pale footed gene. Dot.ca has Madame X somewhere in his lineage...I can't recall the details right now. Might be his father Jack is the son of an offspring of Madame X & a prior mate. Stay tuned.

Peregrine Falcons Southeast Michigan shared ~Peregrine Place~'s album: BB's Release August 1, 2013.
Great news from New York! BB was banded in Detroit in 2007 and was the first female to nest at the University of Buffalo. From Joyce:

WONDERFUL NEWS!! "BB" our former MacKay Tower female at UB was released to the wild a week ago. She was transported to Northern NY in hopes that she will get a second chance in life as free peregrine, and meet up with one of the several tiercels known to be in the area.

As migration approaches she may be wandering many areas. As we know, peregrines know no borders. There is always the possibility of "BB" returning to the Buffalo area or even heading to Canada....

See photo album BB's Release August 1, 2013.

The wildlife rehabilitator has asked to be notified if "BB" N/58 (black over green) ID band is spotted and where she has been sighted. Please post any sightings here or contact Joyce at wnyfalconfan@gmail.com.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.654632141214388.1073741857.182371738440433&type=1 (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.654632141214388.1073741857.182371738440433&type=1) BB's release photos

 Glad she was released, she didn't need to be caged up!!   :2thumbsup:

 "Glad she was released, she didn't need to be caged up!! "

Totally agree!  :yes:

WONDERFUL NEWS for BB!!

I was just getting ready to post the news here...but Donna beat me to it.

I was so excited to receive a call from the wildlife rehabilitator who cared for "BB" the former MacKay Tower female at UB. She commented, "It was truly a privilege to care for BB. She was a good patient and her release was the highlight of my summer."

Here are the photos of BB's release I put into a Picasa Album that were shared with me by the wildlife rehabilitator:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103506887401231004704/BBN58ReleaseAUG12013 (https://picasaweb.google.com/103506887401231004704/BBN58ReleaseAUG12013)

If BB is spotted (ID band N/58 black over green), sightings can be posted on https://www.facebook.com/PeregrinePlaceWNY (https://www.facebook.com/PeregrinePlaceWNY) or contact Joyce at wnyfalconfan@gmail.com.

I am so happy that BB has been released after the UB Reporter said she would be relocated to a permanent care facility. :clap:  :yahoo:  :clap:

I'm glad they did the right thing - she is a wild bird and deserves to be free.   :clap:   :yahoo:

Excellent news!  I'm so happy for BB-flying free once again!  :clap:

Oops, sorry! Saw it on FB but not here, I waited!!

Carly posted this previously:

Good write up kitty...you know Dundas and DotCa are related.  Dundas was Madame X's son and DotCa's dad was Madame X's son...sooooo a family gene?!  (MadameX had different mates in at the time so I'd say the gene is in her line not the males if this is indeed the case)

So Rosetta gets the blue feet from her great-grannie, Madame X.  Cool!

Just read the news about BB being released. I am so happy for her; she deserves to be free. I wish her a new home, a new mate, and a long life with many more chicks.

I wonder what they did to her in rehab that they decided she could be released-behavior modification???

I think they're trying WAY far away release hoping she won't head for Buffalo. Or will find a place to her liking before she finds her way back.

Mariah & Beauty were both released at Montezuma which is barely any distance at all.

also hasn't she already been replaced? probably hoping the new female can hold the territory and since its not breeding season no one will get hurt, and BB will find somewhere else.

I HOPE HOPE HOPE she finds a great spot also that it is in a natural setting!

Dixie, the female who Yankee talked into staying at MacKay is a very big girl and I would not wish to see a territorial battle between the two!

I am so grateful that BB was in such good hands, and had a wonderful advocate for her release. The following was posted to  http://blessthebeastsinc.webs.com/: (http://blessthebeastsinc.webs.com/:)

The Secret is Out

Several months ago I was asked by the New York State DEC to help care for a certain problematic Peregrine Falcon from Buffalo. She came to stay with me until her final disposition could be determined. While in Buffalo she developed a penchant for attacking men in a parking lot near her nest. She'd fly 1500-1700 feet to warn off any unsuspecting man getting out of his car. What was so unusual about this little lady is that there was a day-care center just below her nest, but she never attacked a woman or a child. Now you can make several humorous inferences from this (and over the months we certainly did) but it was becoming a problem and the DEC was asked to deal with it.

I am happy to report that, last week, Peregrine Falcon BB was released back to the wild in Northern NY. And while not a great solution, it was probably the best scenario for her situation. It was done with the understanding that, it is probably easier to ask a Peregrine Falcon to relocate and hopefully find a new mate in a different habitat than it is to educate a human populace that, for the most part, does not possess the attention span required to learn how to live peacefully with a very beautiful and territorial bird. In order to understand wildlife you must first appreciate it. Unfortunately this appreciation is sorely lacking in the general public.

Thanks to everyone who expressed concern for BB while she was with me and thanks to the DEC for entrusting her to my care. It was a little intimidating to know that all eyes were on me while caring for her, even though I've been doing wildlife rehabilitation for over 25 years. Many people would question my qualifications and methods over the past several months. From the photos on our photo page you can see how strong and beautiful she was on the day of her release. It truly was a privilege to care for her and to spend time with her. Her release was the highlight of my summer.

Thanks for sharing Wendi's post!

some man did something, we'll never know who or what but you can bet it happened

it is probably easier to ask a Peregrine Falcon to relocate and hopefully find a new mate in a different habitat than it is to educate a human populace that, for the most part, does not possess the attention span required to learn how to live peacefully with a very beautiful and territorial bird. In order to understand wildlife you must first appreciate it. Unfortunately this appreciation is sorely lacking in the general public.

Amen!  Great post, sounds like she had the best care possible.

Wonderful post! Thanks for sharing!  I'm also glad that BB was in the care of this person and that she realized she needed to fly free! Kudos to her!

I'm very grateful that BB was set free to fly the skies again. Thank you!  :clap:

I wonder if she attacked all men, or just the ones wearing hard-hats.......you know......like the babynappers that came around every year??  Women and children in dayschool playgrounds don't usually wear hard-hats.

I know the one guy was just getting out of his car and I believe no hard hat

These were med and dental students, people going to work at UB and the VA, and people from the neighborhood, none of whom wear hard hats.

Roof workers at UB and VA of course wore hard hats

Truly a mystery..........hope she finds a natural cliff nest site like Bobbin did.

Are Rosetta's feet still blue?

I just caught this on the UB cam, she appears unbanded and is probably Dixie. Earlier this afternoon, Barb B caught a different banded falcon in the box, not BB though.

Yes Sage, Rosetta's feet are still blue and YIKES another falcon!! I'm sure soon lots will be passing through, especially juvies!! Look for our 3!

Totally agree, Carly! I am so glad that BB received such good care. I particularly noticed the part of the post which you quoted above; sad, but true. It is obvious that the person who cared for BB does appreciate these beautiful birds.

I love the photos of BB being released. I wonder if there have been any sightings of her since then.

http://blessthebeastsinc.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=15024019 (http://blessthebeastsinc.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=15024019)  Photos of BB's release. Not sure if anyone saw these!

1 of 9 pics.  She's expressing herself!

Unhand me hooman!!   :wub: :wub:

 ;D It's a beautiful thing-freedom!  :yes: :thumbsup: