A huge thanks to Kodak, who has given the Watchers permission to watch from one of their vacant parking lots.

We have rules to follow, but that's ok.  The viewing from this location is perfect for viewing the KP pair.  I've shared the "rules" with the other Watchers.

A few of us showed up Tuesday night, but the pair was not there when we first arrived.  First the female and then the male flew in and landed on the "rockets" (a name picked by Dan for the large, silver tubular structures).  It seems an appropriate name, since there were rockets on the Kodak Tower.

This pair is quite active, but by the time they came in and we were able to get the scope on them, it was already getting dark.  When the male stood up to take off, I'm pretty sure I saw an all black band.  But, I can't be 100% sure because of the lighting.

Now that we have a viewing area, we hope to get an ID on these two beauties.  Stay tuned!

Mary Ann reminds me of Alkyonis.  and we know Alkyonis made it!  Let's hope Mary Ann is still out there flying free.

From 2000.

http://www.birdguides.com/html/links/link_con.htm

Well, if you fancy watching 'Peregrines in Cyberspace', check out:

Four cameras have been monitoring a breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons named Mariah and Cabot-Sirocco at their nest site on top of the Kodak building in Rochester, New York, USA. The webcam's pics are virtually real-time, being updated every five minutes and expanded on through a 'recent highlights' section. Admirably adaptable, the Peregrines have replaced their usual cliff-face habitat with a lofty, city-slicker lifestyle on top of a man-made mountain. The latest news is that four eggs had hatched by May 7th 2000 and the chicks were not camera shy, indeed they showed very well! This was the pair's 3rd brood at the site, and of the four chicks that hatched two have survived. One, a female named Mary Ann, was fitted with a Global Satellite Positioning device, the other - a male - is yet to be identified as either Mr Money or McKeever. The GPS currently reports Mary Ann's location every 96 hours, while the live webcams are shut down during the Peregrine's annual migration (they will be reactivated next spring). Meanwhile. if you visit the website, the Peregrine's Family Tree page is an impressive body of work, a well-researched must. Indeed the whole site is well designed and informative, with many interesting features including the Peregrine Postcard facility, which offers you the opportunity to e-mail an image and personalised message gratis...nice touch and no doubt an effective way to promote the project! Obviously, they are a shrewd pair of Peregrines that selected the Kodak building, knowing full well that Kodak's executives would snap up the eco-friendly publicity, guaranteeing website fame and an 'all mod-cons' nest box. It's an imaginative example of the modern approach to nature management/conservation, working with industry to benefit all parties involved, as opposed to being at odds (which can sometimes be counterproductive). I am reminded of the RSPB Reserve at Dungeness (where I have been treated to superb Peregrine sightings). Positioned adjacent to a bleak nuclear power station, the reserve reclaims neighbouring land after the ARC gravel companies' endeavours have scarred the landscape (producing vast watery quarries). Nature is then allowed to regenerate new habitat, turning the shingle excavations into precious wildlife sanctuaries. Do visit the Peregrine Kodak website, and in particular click on to the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) as it offers lots of valuable Peregrine info, whilst we await their return to the nest box sometime in spring 2001.

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/magazine/transcripts/5-9-2001.1-1.shtml

Click on this link to see a wealth of pics of Cabot-Sirocco, Mariah and their young.  Just click on the pictures for a larger view.

I've been going through my old stuff, looking for information for Ei and l'm now going through 2006, reliving the sadness of Mariah's injury and the joy of watching three beautiful eyases; Rhea Mae, Aura and Sabrina.  and who could forget Kaver becoming a super dad, taking care of Mariah and his three young ones.  I'm posting this here, because I came across a poem written by my friend Dale P for Rhea Mae when she was a young fledgling here in Rochester.  I love this.  Thank you Dale.   

Sabrina's been a rapier and a saber:
Early able as a blade to stoop or stab at prey and play.

Aural Aura's howling for a feral fowl,
Rare and feathered, rouses, blares in weather fair or foul.

But I am Rhea Mae;
Like my ma Mariah,
Marauding, massive, regal.
Dark as Kaver!
And here, from the black stack roaming back.   

Thought for Today (and since it's raining here in Rochester, very appropriate)

"Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

I'm trying to fill in some history blanks.  Is there anyone around who might have-or know someone who might have-banding information from the Cabot-Sirocco & Mariah years?  Any pictures from those days would be greatly appreciated too!

Thanks in advance for any help or hints you can give me!

I don't have much from the C-S/M era, but I'll look to see what I have.  I don't believe anyone has banding information (except for the DEC).  I'll also check with Tom H.

Two already purchased over on the Ebay site!  I've seen the whole set of these postcards and you will not be sorry you purchased them.  Lou did a wonderful job picking out beautiful quotes for each of "our" falcons, to go along with his pictures.

Thanks everyone!

[QTP2T]

I would have loved to see Mariah and Kaver as eyases.  Was Mariah born with her fierce look and was Kaver a QTP2T from day one?

They are all cute but Kaver had to be a QTP2T right from the get go! 

If QTP2T were a word in the dictionary, Kaver's picture would be right next to it.   

Your dern tootin! I love him and miss him. (What else is new, right)?

We all do Donna.

I'll check into it and get back to you.

[QTP2T]

I would have loved to see Mariah and Kaver as eyases.  Was Mariah born with her fierce look and was Kaver a QTP2T from day one?

They are all cute but Kaver had to be a QTP2T right from the get go! 

If QTP2T were a word in the dictionary, Kaver's picture would be right next to it.   

I just read Frank's news...you know the area he's in is around where Quest's last tracking shows her at the start of September.  Wonder if she's run into her nephew at all  

Here's the link to his video of Stormin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x7dx0T35ZA

Wow, that is so cool, thanks Carly! Now why don't the Canadian Falcons come here? 

At least Archer decided to come here!!!!

and Cabot Sirocco and Tybropa Cree!   

Mark Nash always says that we have a Falcon Exchange Program (FEP) between Rochester and the Toronto area and that Peregrines know no borders.

And we don't know where Mariah & Kaver were hatched.  I've often wondered since so many of their offspring head for the northern shores of the Great Lakes (usually Canada).

I would have loved to see Mariah and Kaver as eyases.  Was Mariah born with her fierce look and was Kaver a QTP2T from day one?   

I just read Frank's news...you know the area he's in is around where Quest's last tracking shows her at the start of September.  Wonder if she's run into her nephew at all  

Here's the link to his video of Stormin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x7dx0T35ZA

Wow, that is so cool, thanks Carly! Now why don't the Canadian Falcons come here? 

At least Archer decided to come here!!!!

and Cabot Sirocco and Tybropa Cree!   

Mark Nash always says that we have a Falcon Exchange Program (FEP) between Rochester and the Toronto area and that Peregrines know no borders.

Thought for Today

"Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over?"

I would like to see something like these street light banners that you see everywhere in the city:




They could be put up on all street lights within 2-3 blocks of Broad and Exchange, and they could easily be swapped out during the off-season for holiday banners, etc.

EDIT: Notice that the one on the left has a peregrine color scheme.

How would banners with these strangers on them promote the Rochester Falcons?

They'd obviously have falcon images printed on them.

Ohhhh, that explains it!