Happy Birthday Aafke!  Thanks for all you do for this group!

 

[wnyfalconfan (Joyce):]

wnyfalconfan (Joyce): Ring-billed transmitter gull came to visit.

What was the story about this transmitter gull Carol P. was going to share?

I will Kris.  I promise.  Just got super busy.

Peregrine Visits Queens
February 04, 2011 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:

Recently a posting was made to The Weather Channel ( www.theweathernetwork.com ) with the photo included taken by Richard Huang on Feb 2,2011 in Kingston, Ontario Canada. The Peregrine Falcon was  perched on Botterell Hall, at Queen’s University, during a recent snow storm.

Too bad we can't see if s/he is banded or not.

Get down birdie!

to all-- Will, Shaky, Carol and Joyce!!!!

and Kathy O and Lisa McK for bringing it to my attention!   

Glad everything was ok

Thanks so much for posting about this Will.

Part 2 - My Theory

This is what I think happened and it's only my opinion.

There were Starlings all over the roof of the restaurant.  Someone threw out bread to feed the birds, The pile of bread was right outside the door.  There was probably a whole lot of Starlings eating the bread, when a Red-tail Hawk (RTH) spotted them.  His normal diet of rodent is a little harder to get now because of the deep snow, so he decided to try for one of the unsuspecting Starlings.  In he flew, grabbed one of the Starlings and enjoyed dinner on the snow nearby, evidenced by the plucked feathers and blood spots.

I think he then walked up to the door, leaving his big foot prints, looking for seconds.  That's when I think the person inside the restaurant took the picture.  The glass on the door was dark.  We could not see inside, but the people inside could probably see us.  The hawk never knew he was the center of attention.

By the time Joyce and I arrived, he was gone, but the evidence remained.  We did check the surrounding area and couldn't see him.

So, all ended well.  Well, except for the Starling.

Part #1 - The Clues

Thanks so much Will for posting about this bird.  I'd rather check out a situation like this, just in case a rescue needs to be done.  Thankfully, all was well.

Talk about teamwork!  Starting with Will's post to Kathy O and Lisa McK calling me to Shaky sending out a Rfalconcam tweet, which most Rochester Falcon Watchers receive to Joyce sending a tweet saying she was on her way.  Wow!

I drove out to Henrietta and found the restaurant where the hawk had been seen.  From the picture, I was sure it was a Red-tail Hawk (RTH).  I slowly circled the restaurant 3 times, checking all the doorways.  I was pretty sure I had found the right one, and thankfully, there were no hawks in sight.  As I circled my last time, Joyce arrived with Casey and Abbey.  We decided to get out of our cars and walk around the restaurant, starting at the door where I thought the hawk may have been.  I was right.

We went into CSI mode.  Clue #1:  Pile of bread in front of the door.  Clue #2:  Large birdy foot prints from the sidewalk to the pile of bread.  Hmmm, further investigation was needed.  We put a quarter down by one of the foot prints for a comparison.  Yep, it was BIG!  There was a line-up on the roof of little feather faces looking down at us.  They wanted justice!  We continued to look over the crime scene.  Clue #3:  About three feet to the left on a pile of snow laid approximately 15 black feathers.  They were about 1/1/2 to 2 inches long and narrow.  Hmmmmmmm.  I think we were close to an answer.  Clue #4:  Two small drops of blood.  Has everyone figured it out yet?  Here's what I believe happened.

I'm on my way too.

Message from Brian H:  Please tell Dale and Patty from Kentucky I said batten down the hatches and stay safe.  Spring is almost here. lol

Everybody be safe and keep warm.  It's going to get really nasty tonite here in Rochester, NY.  Over a foot of snow by tomorrow evening.  Yuck!  Can't wait for Spring!

Let us hear from you if you're in the path of this storm.

Forgive my ignorance, but why/how would a gull have a transmitter?   Do we have any information from the transmitter, or who would have fitted the gull with it? 
Carol, did the PEFA you saw with the ducks, get both of them?

Imagine how surprised Kathy O, Dana, MAK and I were when a Ring-billed Gull flew over us and I yelled out "Hey, she has a transmitter!"   Hahahaha!  Stay tuned.  I have info to share with you soon.

No, the Pefa did not get either duck, although I believe the female Long tailed (Old Squaw) Duck was injured.  I went looking for it, but could not find it.  So, hopefully she escaped.  I hope be best for her.  The other duck was larger and was knocked down to the ice where it remained motionless.  So to answer your question, the Pefa did not get either of these ducks.

Carol

Piano stairs - TheFunTheory.com - Rolighetsteorin.se

Very cool!
Carol P.

It is absolutely gorgeous Mirta!  Thanks so much for sharing this with us.   

[WanderingFalcon (Carol P.):]

WanderingFalcon (Carol P.): B chased a juvie out of her territory and returned to Mercury's money bag. Still no tiercel.

Link:
http://twitter.com/WanderingFalcon/statuses/29908450083340289

Maybe she sent Mr. t packing too!

I watched for over 3 hours, and I never saw the Tiercel.  Curious.