She's beautiful!   

OK, If I must......

Mariah and the School Children

One Spring day, there was a whole bunch of kids that made the trip downtown to see Mariah and Kaver.  It was a Falcon Field Trip.  

The teacher had contacted Lisa and I and we met them out on the bridge during our lunch hour.  The teachers had made Mariah and Kaver T-Shirts for the kids to wear.  The boys wore Kaver and the girls wore Mariah.  They were so excited to see their favorite Falcon pair.  They had been watching them on the Falconcam at their school and knew there were 5 eggs in the nest box.  

After a few photo ops with the beautiful High Falls and gorge in the background, the children eagerly watched the Kodak Tower hoping for just a glimpse of their favorite falcons.  They wouldn't be disappointed.

Kaver flew in and entered the nest box to take his turn on the eggs.  Mariah flew out and circled the tower, landing on the launch pad above the nest box.  The kids whooped in delight!  Is that Kaver!  Is that Mariah!  Lisa and I assured them that yes, it was them.  Mariah was preening and the kids settled down.  Some were getting bored and some were looking at the animals and birds on the gorge floor.  I had my eye on Mariah the whole time, just in case she took flight.

As I watched, Mariah stretched her wings and I yelled out "she's off!"  I pointed up at the tower and the children watched with growing excitement.  Mariah headed out towards the smoke stacks and towards us.  As she approached, she picked up speed.  She was picking up speed and she was coming our way!

As she passed over the west end of the pedestrian bridge, she folded her wings and went into a STOOP!  The kids were all watching, eyes wide.  They were silent as SWOOSH!  Mariah stooped within a few feet of us into the gorge.  She pulled up, just missing a pigeon that she had spotted from above.  She gained altitude and passed us on her way back to the tower.

Before this, there was silence and then whooping and hollering by all that had witnessed that awesome stoop.  WOOHOO!  The kids were so excited.  Was that Mariah?!  Yep, that was Mariah.  The fastest creature on the planet.

They went back to their classroom that afternoon with a wonderful story to tell their friends and family.

Mariah seemed to always know when to make an appearance.  

Hello everyone!  It's December.  Temperatures are falling.  Snow is flying.  Houses are lit with beautiful lights.  Christmas Carols are being sung.  The Falcon Flakes are gearing up for their long Winter Watch.  Yep.  You guessed it.  It's time for everyone to share their Holiday greetings with all the members of the Rochester Falconcam Forum.

Donna has volunteered to collect all the greetings and she will post them here for all to see.

So, send your greetings to Donna at:

weed356 @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Please make sure to put "RFalconcam Holiday Greeting" in the subject line.

Afterwards, I will post a KGallery Album containing all of them for all to enjoy.

Take care everyone and have a safe and happy holiday season!

Carol P.

 

I LOVE Puffins!  Poor little guy.  Hope they are able to help him get back to where he belongs.   

So nice to know that Stormin is still hanging out with Haven.  Hoping he has babies of his own next year (with Haven's help of course!).   

Yeah, I remember it too. 

Hmmmm, Suzy Snowflake huh?   

Happy Birthday Diana!  Miss seeing you on Watches.  Hope you're doing well.

 

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

   You certainly do! 

 

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

Wow!  Awesome! 

Lovely album Paul.  Thanks for sharing your trip with us.   

Happy Bird-day Kris!

 

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.   

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

It wasn't then Jeanne.  It was later in the Summer I believe.

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.   

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.