The cards are the same as the ones from last year. They are just being packaged differently.  Here is last year's picture with larger images of each card.

http://rfalconcam.com/imprinting/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Xmas-Contact-Sheet-Image.jpg

The Merchandising Committee was very busy this year watching falcons and did not have a chance to make new cards. Also, we did not have a holiday picture contest at the end of last year because there were no eyases and there weren't many interesting pictures from the nest box. We should definitely have a contest this year just like in previous years.

I wish I had a vacuum cleaner like that. Kaver would be proud.

It looks like the wrong set of coordinates were entered. There are always two solutions to the satellite tracking equations. (Remember those quadratic equations in high school algebra?) These two solutions represent the positions on the Earth's spherical surface that intersect the line representing the direction of Quest's signal as determined by the Doppler shift of the orbiting satellites. At least that's how I understand it.

Anyway, there are always two sets of coordinates, and it is usually the first set that is correct. However,  in this case, the 2nd set was correct, but the 1st set was plotted on the map. Quest's correct position was near Prince Edward Point

Thank you, Shaky, for your prompt and informative answer!

 Is it necessary to live in Rochester, so that you can actually get together for these committees?  Surely not!  With the communication wonders available to us in this modern age...
 

Most live in Rochester. Things like assembling merchandise, packaging merchandise, mailing packages, picking up checks in the mail, depositing checks, etc. require being in Rochester. So does organizing fledge watches and attracting local sponsors. Also some committee members don't have computer access at home, and this necessitates face-to-face meetings.

The same is not true for people who work on the website. Since they don't need access to local resources, they can live just about anywhere.

Any other committees hiding out there?  

You'll have to ask the Committee Hiding Committee.

"We" refers to the members of the merchandising committee who haven't been able to raise more than $100 in the last 3 years on merchandise featuring the current logo. (In contrast, items without the logo have raised more then $10,000. I'll let you do the math.) The committee members are also regular members of this Forum.  They can speak for themselves.

Also as the chairman of the Website Operations Committee, I can say that the current logo's aspect ratio, scalability, and color scheme limit what can be done to improve the look and feel of our web pages.

Beautiful sun angles this time of year (when it is shining) from Camera 4

http://rfalconcam.com/rfc-main/archiveViewer/daily/Camera4.mov?1290701916299

    Thank you Donna for posting my pics all the time. What other website can you find someone from another state posting photos from a local watcher?!     Only here on Rfalconcam, that's where!!!

Just wait until it's possible to send the photos directly to Yarak.

Wow....cool! How does that work?

It doesn't. I haven't invented it yet.

    Thank you Donna for posting my pics all the time. What other website can you find someone from another state posting photos from a local watcher?!     Only here on Rfalconcam, that's where!!!

Just wait until it's possible to send the photos directly to Yarak.

It's an evil falcon mask with tassels.

Many more were submitted overnight. Check them out.

http://www.crowdspring.com/project/2290056_rfalconcam-logo/

Easy for Melody to say. She's not the turkey.

We can work with the Crowdspring winner to get minor changes made after their design is chosen. We have 7 days after the Nov 30 deadline to choose a winner. Once a winner is chosen, we have to pay them. At that point we will use the logo we paid for.

If we don't like any of the logos well enough to pick a winner, we simply won't choose one and keep the $300.

Perhaps the deadline could be extended?

It's a possibility.

BTW, if anyone decides to submit a logo to Crowdspring, please do it anonymously under a username other than what you normally go by. Let the submission stand on its own merit and not on your reputation.

Is everyone going to have a vote for the new logo or just the powers that be?

All input from the community is welcome and strongly encouraged. We want a logo that people truly like and don't want something that people can't stand.

FYI, we had hoped to reinstall Camera 1 before Thanksgiving, but it has been delayed due to a number of serious issues.

• The pan mechanism was damaged and needed to be repaired.
  
• The clear dome was damaged and needed to be replaced.
  
• The weatherproof housing's fans, heaters, and control circuitry were damaged and needed to be repaired.
  
• The power, network, and video cables running from the camera to the building were damaged and needed to be replaced.
  

We hedged our bets and purchased a new camera in case the pan mechanism could not be repaired in time. We also ordered a new clear dome. Both arrived in time to meet our deadline. However, we did not anticipate any damage to the low-tech housing that is built like a tank with nothing inside but a mounting bracket and an extremely low powered hair dryer to keep the clear dome from fogging. Naturally, Mr. Murphy stopped by to say hello to the housing and then stayed around for awhile to make sure that we had trouble finding parts for it. We even bit the bullet and ordered a new enclosure just in case, but it was back-ordered and didn't arrive until yesterday -- with a few missing parts and the wrong bracket installed of course. 

The good news is that repairs on the old enclosure are almost done. We just need to put it all together and test it before reinstalling Camera 1 in a week or two.