It is wonderful news that Strike has shown up again, and that she is now with Stammy. This year Stammy lost not only his beautiful long-time mate Stellar, but two of their three juvies, Jurist and Marshall.

Strike is the last daughter of SW and her former mate Buckeye. We lost this great tiercel on November 17, 2009.

Great story about Mariah, Carol P.! Thank you! More stories, please.

This is great information, Joyce! Thank you for posting it. Couldn't help remembering so many juvies from previous years when I was reading it.

We love you, Mariah (and Kaver), wherever you are.  And you are not forgotten

I agree totally! 

Hoping to see more stories about Mariah, Kaver, Isaura and the other legendary Rochester peregrines soon.

You are very welcome Alison.  I have a million of them.  Stories I mean!   

I'd love to read more of your stories, Carol P.!

Was she hit by the plane later that night or the next day?  I so hate when one of them is lost like that

To the best of my recollection, this happened on July 23, 2003. Born on May 12, Isaura's life was much too short. She deserved to have a long life and raise many chicks.

Alison & Bonnie - In my heart, I truly believe that Mariah is out there, flying free.  Everytime a new Peregrine is sighted in the area, we all get there as quickly as possible, hoping that it might be her.  I truly wish that some day we may see her again.  

I believe Mariah is out there too, Carol P. She is such a wise, strong and resourceful falcon that I think it is likely that she is still around. Thank you so much for checking on peregrines in the area. And a huge thank you for saving this magnificent falcon's life when Archer and Beauty attacked her.

That was my first fledge watch and Mariah (and Isaura) captured my heart, forever.  Isaura was a very independent young lady.  The only girl that year with 4 brothers.  She definitely had Kaver wrapped around her big yellow footed talons.     He would do anything for her and she was very demanding!  She was the Princess!  Appropriately named by Brian H.

At night all five would return to the top of the Kodak Tower.  One night, Little Miss Isaura decided to spend the night in a tree just below the pedestrian bridge in the river gorge.  While the boys settled down above her, Isaura settled in "her" tree (Isaura's Tree) and watched the people walking back and forth on the bridge.  It was a beautiful summer evening.  The falls were lit in pastel colors, undulating to the music playing softly.

Most of us headed home, knowing they were all safe.  But, Cornpoppy stayed to have dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.  He checked on her before heading home, and she was safely in her tree, head ducked under her wing sound asleep.

We were devastated when it was reported that she had been hit by a plane at the Rochester Airport.

I have so many fond memories of Isaura.   

What a wonderful story about Isaura, Carol P.! Since I am in western Canada, I never had the chance to see Isaura in person, but I followed her and her siblings Edge, Chayton, Tlohtli and Destiny closely on the webcam. There was something very special about her.

I too was devastated when she was lost in a collision with a plane.

I caught Bobbin at the nest last night:

   

A little more on Cheyenne; Chad and Chris posted this on the Cleveland forum today.

Asked Laura for an update and she said that she plans to really start pushing him in January and will aim for a late Feb/early March release. Hoping for good things for Cheyenne!

I hope Cheyenne will make a full recovery and be releasable, but since he isn't quite ready, I'm glad that he will staying at the Medina Raptor Center for the winter.

Carol P., I just read your wonderful report about Mariah assisting Isaura to make it home to the tower after she fledged. Beautiful! I can just picture the incomparable Mariah gently nudging Isaura to help her maintain altitude. I wish we could have a sighting of Mariah . . .

I remember Isaura so well. She was such a beautiful juvie, and she is not forgotten. A few photos of her:

               

[de Mortel]

S2 has now been moved into the large flight, and she is making wonderful progress.

de Mortel

Things are progressing by leaps and bounds!

Lierop, Sunday, November 27, 2011

On Saturday, November 26, the veterinarian Caroline Hommers visited the peregrine S2.

The peregrine falcon currently resides at the bird refuge at Lierop (municipality of Someren), where she continues to recover from the injuries she sustained on July 27 in the municipality of Gemert.

Caroline took some X-rays, and found that the bones are growing together very well. Once again new bone is growing around the area of the fractures. As the veterinarian Dirk Riemersma indicated previously, bone resorption will take place where the new bone is not needed, and bone will be created in those places where it is necessary. The protruding bone fragment should therefore "disappear" so probably minor surgery will not be required to remove it.

After the X-rays were taken, the peregrine was placed in the large aviary by caregiver Jarno van Bussel. Here she may make longer flights and strengthen her muscles so that she may develop more power in her wing and chest muscles and increase her fitness and endurance.

The peregrine's weight is very good; she is provided with her natural prey, which is very nutritious for her.

It takes little energy to acquire the prey which is provided, so there is a risk of becoming overweight. We have now decided to provide fewer prey, which we expect, in combination with her increased freedom of movement, will result in a better weight. This will be important later in order for the falconer to provide optimal training for her return to the wild. Caroline was so well pleased with her ​​recovery that the peregrine falcon may be allowed to go to the falconer earlier.

If her recovery continues to progress well, then perhaps she may regain her freedom before the next breeding season.

If this happens, then it is expected that she will fly directly to her familiar surroundings at the tower at De Mortel. Here, she will not only become reacquainted with her mate, but will also meet his new partner. It is common, and a natural process, for territorial conflicts to take place around the nest sites of peregrine falcons and other raptors. Moreover, these conflicts are found among all birds; who knows the the battles which take place among the blackbirds in the backyard, or those of the coots in the pond in the park. Territorial battles take place over food and to secure a nesting area, and to disseminate their own genes in order to produce future generations and to preserve the species. It does not matter whether the nest sites are natural or artificial; territorial battles can take place anywhere and everywhere. Because of the many webcams which are located at various bird and animal sites, we are now "live" witnesses. We are now aware that up close, nature can be cruel and harsh, but it is also self-regulating and self-sustaining. The strongest will survive, and in order to produce healthy and strong offspring, the laws of nature also apply around the tower at de Mortel.

It is not our place to make these choices; the peregrine S2 was deprived of this right by the actions of humans and she therefore deserves to return to the wild so that natural selection may take place.

Photographs and a video will be posted later.

VWG Gemert

The large flight:

   

Hera spent time at the nest today, and did some excavating in the scrape:

      

      

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.

[Mississauga Executive Centre]

Mississauga Executive Centre

A new update on Infinity, from the Canadian Peregrine Foundation: what an incredible recovery she has made.

Checking Up on Our Girl Infinity

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Frank and I stopped in today at the MEC site to check in on Infinity and her mate Eternity. We found Eternity on MEC 2 in his favourite spot facing the nest building but we couldn’t initially spot Infinity. As we were changing sightlines, she glided in from the northeast and swooped up beautifully to land on MEC 3. She wasn’t there long before she was off again and flew lazy recon circles around all of her buildings. She made a pass in front of Eternity and he then decided to join her in the sky for a tandem flight up to the nest box. This was followed by a great deal of vocalizations with her on top of the box and Eternity on the northern most corner of MEC 1. The male then took off on a hunt while she remained on the nest building. We were then joined by Winston who we were pleased to introduce to this site and pair. We then watched as Infinity made a very determined flight to the north but she was gone only a few minutes before returning to the nest building. It was there she stayed and relaxed through the rest of the evening.

Photos from the CPF site: