Looks like the cameras froze just before 8:00 pm catching both Rhea Mae and Tiago bowing to each other.

The Sheraton cams are back today. Haven't seen anyone at the nest yet . . .

Thank you for the link, Kris! I hope Harriet and M15 will have a very safe and successful year.

Do you know if there have been any sightings of E8 since his release?

I am sorry to read of the loss of yet another of the Decorah eagles. It is very sad to lose one so young. Poor little guy. 

Morning bonding:

     

Nice videos, Kris! Thank you for posting them.

One of this year's juvies, Bolt, was found injured at Detroit Metro Airport earlier this month.

“I am a biologist at Detroit Metro Airport and this weekend we had a bird strike involving a peregrine falcon with a USGS band on the right leg number 1156-26181 and on the left leg it had a dual colored band with black 11 on top and blue "C" on the bottom. This bird was not killed so I took it to a rehab facility. I thought this may be a bird the DNR was observing so I wanted to let you know�

UPDATE : Bolt is nearing a full recovery, appeared to have an injured eye/swollen right side of face, but sounds like is up and ready to get back out there! Was found on the ground at the airport and when approached didn't flinch, only blinked to show he was alive.

I am very grateful to the person who found him for helping him and taking him to rehab. I hope he will be okay; eye injuries are always a major concern.

Several months after the tragic loss of Viper, a new female has shown up at the nest.

She was born at the Jackson, Michigan nest in 2010, and her name is Ella. She is banded black/red 79/Y. Her parents are Big Red (banded black/red 33/K) and Chayton (banded black/green C/57).

Recently her younger brother, Justice (born in 2012, banded black/red 08/P, and listed as a female) took up residence at the Detroit Zoo water tower with an unbanded female. A nest box is planned for next year.

The webcam was down through the entire breeding season. It came back on line two days ago, but the cam is aimed at the yacht club instead of the nest, as it has been for the past few winters.

Buckee's siblings from this year are Rose Anne, Len and Karen.

Rose Anne is banded black/blue 54/M
Len is banded black/blue 67/A
Karen is banded black/blue 53/M



The current view from the cam:



http://racinecounty.com/visiting/falcon-cam

As of September 8, Lady has been incubating three eggs.

A few hours ago:

I think we may have our first chick. Pappa has been on the rooftop hooting loudly for ages. I can't see into the pot with Lady there but she seems more alert. If there's a gap when / if she gets off the nest, I'll confirm if we have a new arrival.

I am happy for Pappa and Lady. It is good that he was able to convince her to accept the planter as her nest. She is a beautiful owl.



I cannot watch this site without thinking of the senseless loss of PPO.

The most recent update on 19/K from Fontenelle Forest Raptor Recovery, two days ago:

Great news about the recovery of 19/K, the Lincoln capital building peregrine falcon that was injured earlier this year!

19/K has been moved to our largest flight pen and is doing very well! Watch as Betsy Finch, Manager of Raptor Rehabilitation, checks in on his progress as he flies from one end of the pen to the other.

19/K is one of the peregrine falcons that lives at the state capital building in Lincoln. He was found on the ground with a dislocated elbow earlier this year. The injury was repaired and he has been recovering at our rehabilitation center. Barring any setbacks, our Raptor Recovery staff is hopeful that he will be released in the near future.



Video of Papa flying at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/FFRaptorRecovery/posts/1422464714449460

Alley and 19/K incubated five eggs this year. However, only one of the eggs hatched, on May 16.

On June 6, 19/K was found on the ground, unable to fly. He was rescued by Lincoln Animal Control and taken to Fontenelle Forest Raptor Recovery, where X-rays showed that he had a dislocated elbow.

The following day, the lone chick was banded and found to be a male.



After a naming contest was held, he was named Dinan to honor John J. Dinan, former Nongame Bird Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, who initiated the Peregrine Falcon projects at the Nebraska Capitol and WoodmenLife Tower.

Left on her own to care for Dinan, Alley did an outstanding job of raising her only chick. She taught him all the flight skills and life skills that he will need as an independent peregrine, flying with him for countless hours each day.

Dinan spent the night of August 20-21 on a ledge below the nest box. This is the last time he was seen in the area around the Capitol. I think that he moved farther afield to begin life on his own.

Alley remains at the nest site, and 19/K, aka Papa, is still in care at Fontenelle Forest Raptor Recovery. However, he has been making steady progress.

[Incredible news about bald eagle Lily]

Incredible news about bald eagle Lily

September 23, 2016



AMAZING NEWS!

After more than 9 months in our care, Bald Eagle "Lily" has been released!

This Bald Eagle, found in Hunterdon County, NJ after being shot, has been released back into the wild at the Walkill River National Wildlife Refuge in Sussex, NJ. The bird suffered lead poisoning, broken bones and significant tissue and nerve damage as a result of the shooting. After 9 months of rehabilitation and multiple surgeries, the eagle has been released along the Appalachian Mountain flyway, just in time for fall migration season.

“Lily� was first noticed hanging around a Pittstown, NJ neighborhood by residents in Dec, 2015. When the bird did not move from the tree it was in for several days, residents became concerned and wildlife rehabilitation experts from The Raptor Trust were called in to investigate. With the help of staff members from the Avian Wildlife Center in Wantage, NJ, the exhausted and injured bird was captured and brought to The Raptor Trust for care.

Named by a young girl in the Pittstown area where the bird was found, “Lily� is actually a 4 year old male Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Multiple rounds of lead poisoning treatment – or “chelation� – were performed, and several surgeries to treat the damaged tissue and broken bones were also performed. “Lily� has been recuperating in a large flight cage at The Raptor Trust and has now been evaluated and cleared for take-off.

Raptor Trust director, Chris Soucy commented, “This bird has some challenges to face when it returns to the wild, for sure. While its leg has healed fairly well, there is some lingering nerve damage. However, it is an experienced adult bird. It has survived in the wild for several years already, it flies really well and it knows what it has to do to hunt, scavenge and live in the wild. Both of his other options – a life in captivity or euthanasia – are really lousy options. He’s ready to go and now and we have an obligation to give him his chance.�

 "It took a team effort to get this bird back on his feet," said Avian Wildlife Center Director, Giselle Smisko, who helped capture the eagle. "Returning him to the wild is the result of everybody's (including the eagle's) determination to succeed. We chose the protected habitat of the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge to give him a good start of what we hope will be a long life. It was a beautiful sight to see him spread his wings and fly free again."

Bald Eagles are protected by both state and federal laws, including the Migratory Bird treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. It is an Endangered Species in NJ and the shooting of such a bird is punishable both by significant fines and imprisonment. The US Fish and Wildlife service has been conducting an investigation into “Lily’s� shooting, but as of this time, no arrests have been made. A reward of $8,000 is offered for any information leading to a conviction in “Lily’s� shooting. Anyone with information regarding this crime can contact a local US Fish and Wildlife Service office.



There is a short video of Lily's release at the link:

https://www.facebook.com/theraptortrust/posts/1104048366351156

Great story, Shaky. Thank you!

Although the goose did imprint, she is also living a free life, so I think this can work. It is not the same situation at all as with geese or ducks who are raised as pets and then dumped, unable to fend for themselves.

Bonding this afternoon:

         

         
 

Bonding at the nest on September 21:

       

     

Apologies for not having been around lately due to ongoing computer problems and virtually useless Internet.