They're still around. Maybe we'll get to keep them for the winter?

People are keeping a respectful distance but there are lots of big lenses out there and some very wild photos being posted on ebird!

A very happy Thanksgiving to you too!!!

dale

Hi, All!

We've had a pair of Snowy Owls on/off Montrose Beach in Chicago all week. We can get a couple per winter -- or none -- but never so early. There have been terrific photos in the ebird checklists every day

https://ebird.org/checklist/S285652302

Some kind of disassembled-looking owls in a couple of those shots, but anyone who's spent time around birds knows that they periodically take themselves apart for inspection/maintenance (often in the shower). Some of those threat poses were apparently in response to one of our local Peregrines dive-bombing them:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S285659065

...so I'll drop this here.
First of all, hi to all my old friends!

Then, a pair of falcons in the Chicago Loop has been attacking people!
I hope you can use this link without hitting a paywall:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/6/1/23745660/perigrine-falcon-loop-building-commuter-wacker

If not, try searching "falcon chicago loop commuter" or something. It's an article from yesterday.

Thanks, Dale. This is excellent!

It really is, isn't it? So much going on!

Hi, all -

I was just sent a link to a fantastic Youtube film documenting Tawny Owls (on a webcam) fostering rescued chicks. I couldn't find it on the forum, although I may have missed it. I enjoyed it a lot.

http://youtu.be/LG0y9swWgm4

Very best wishes!!

Dale

I'm sorry to have to let you all know that Linda Schlaffer passed away this last weekend at her home in Rochester.

She had been mostly in the hospital and in rehab since last December and just wanted to get home to her house.

She was so dedicated to the Rochester falcons. She had been upset about being so hung up in the hospital that she missed ordering her Falconcam calendar -- I made sure she got it. Last time we talked was about a week and a half ago.

I will so miss funny, generous, outspoken, one-of-a-kind Linda.

Fly free

Thank you, Kat!!! 


 

Hi, Dale.
I'd forgotten how beautiful your artwork is.
Thanks for reminding us!
Kat in Rochester

Hi, Carol, Nora!!

Thanks for looking - I really ought to stop by here more often...!

Oh the snowy owl captures the spirit so perfectly!

You mean that supercilious attitude?  ;-))))

Dot and Shaky, thanks so much for looking!

Have a good day, all.

It's messy and about to be cold in Chicago, and Rochester weather tends to be similar, right?

If anyone on Instagram wants to be in touch, I'm dale_pesmen and will follow back! Just started putting some of the drawing and other pictures there. The birds are by far the most popular, for sure.

Hello, old Falconcam friends!

I wanted to say that I've just updated my (1-year-old, newish) art website at www.pesmen.com and that there's a ton of bird art there (in certain galleries). Lots of silly owls and stuff. And a Mariah drawing. I don't have the full Rochester falcons series up anymore, but I ought to arrange that ;-))

Let me know what you think, if you have the interest and time!

A happy, healthy 2020 to all!!

dale

Good to see YOU! Hi!

Hi! The Evanston Library had its banding of two eyases yesterday. As always, it was very well attended, with Mary Hennen of the Field Museum doing the banding, with her assistant bearing a broom and a Field researcher taking blood samples for DNA work. I hope you all are well. Mary also promised to clean the windows when she returned the birds to the ledge, so that the cam would show a clearer image.
https://www.epl.org/attend/special-events/falcon-cam/

Hi, all.

Most of this information isn't new to most of us, although, as the video goes on, there is discussion of physiological details that I had forgotten or never focused on.

https://twitter.com/voxdotcom/status/1101923880086712321

Have a good weekend!

I just found out that Craig, Linda S's husband, passed away on the 11th. 
I have such terrific memories of him driving the inimitable Scratch over to the bridge on Watcher's Weekend, and of his and Linda's hospitality. Sending love and thoughts to Linda, a wonderful, wonderful human being.