Probably not one of those birds, as my female has red and black bands, indicating an older bird, and she ans been at the bridge since 2008 or 2009.

Meanwhile, another birder just reported that:

I heard a Great Blue Heron squawking as it flew down the Potomac River.  I then noticed that it was being chased by an adult Peregrine Falcon.  The heron got away and I watched the falcon fly back and perch on a bridge abutment to be greeted by two juvenile Peregrine Falcons.

Normally, Great Blue Herons, Turkey Vultures, and other large birds are ignored by my pair.  It sounds as if my local chicks are venturing out of the nest, the parents are on high alert, and it is time to start watching for fledges!

Paul

Great catch, Annette!

Paul

This is truly fine!  Thanks!
Also, it's good to know that there is a band called The Eels.

Paul

OH BOY!! Fun times now!!

Gonna need more cameras!! LOL

Ha ha: FIVE ledges over now. Wondering what's going to happen if s/he turns the corner and sees the men working on the side of the building. Yikes....

Evidently, a proud Harlequin/Don Mills tradition.

Harlie was ledge hopper too, she drove us mad!!

But if the birds were trapped and bands up close why can't they ID?  I am perplexed. All these banders know each other.  

Getting this information would require that Mr. Koppie go back to his files and extract it.   Right now is the height of the raptor season, so I don't expect him to find time to do this.  I've asked him several times over the past year or two, but, realistically, he is a very busy guy. I'm glad that he has sent me the information that I've gotten.

I've also emailed Barbara Loucks regarding the New York bird.  She sent a reply, but has not gotten back to me with any information yet. Raptor people are very busy, particularly now. I've checked several databases and nobody has a V/0.  If you have any suggestions on how I can learn more about my birds, I'd be very happy.

As much as I would like the info,  I  also enjoy the mystery.  Such is life with peregrines.  For now, the good news is two chicks.  That means talon tag is finally possible.

Paul

Here is all I know about the pair, from Craig Koppie:

The female, as always, landed on the box over my head or lands on the anchor pier within 5 feet of me. She is V/0. She is from NY. He is the same male, banded in PA. He is without a color band because the bander ran out of auxillary bands at the time of banding. Her color band created tons of problems because we could not discern if the the "0" (zero) was actually a zero or an "O". I trapped both adults during the second nesting season, whereby I was able to record the FWS migratory bird band from each bird and tracked those numbers with the USGS Banding Lab.

As you can see, both birds carry with them a certain amount of mystery.  On top of that, just an hour or so after last year's banding,  9/C, a nine-year-old female from Vermont, made a low-key visit.  My site is not a dull place!

There's no mosquito problem down under the bridge, probably because the Potomac flows quite rapidly.  Here's a picture of the nest box from one of my viewing locations and another of the male.

Paul

Craig Koppie, the USFWS Eagle Coordinator/Raptor Biologist with the Chesapeake Bay Field Office just emailed me with confirmation:

Hi Paul. Yes, the same pair is present this year which produced two chicks this year. I banded one male and one female last week; ages were between 18-20 days. They probably will not venture out of the box until an additional 2 weeks or so. Craig

The male is from Pennsylvania and the female is from New York.  I'm still trying to find out the exact nest sites of origin.

Paul

I didn't see any peregrines on my last visit to my local site.  Had the nest failed?  Today was a different story, as both birds were at the nest box, seemingly guarding something.  Will there be chicks this year?

Paul

Happy Birthday!

It looks like you and Tracy called it right!

Paul

Who would have guessed it -- Dot.ca as Super Dad.

Paul

The three fledgelings had a brief reunion at their sest site.
5/18/12 7:35 am: All three fledglings back at the nest; SCPBRG Falcons: SF PG&E peregrines

Paul

http://www.parahawkusa.com/Home.html

Bravo!  This made my day.

Paul

Charging her battery while watching the neighbors (and one fluffball) watch her!

 :heart:Love to see Quest and hear of her adventures.  Does Quest hold the record as far as being a transmitter falcon?  It's been four years this year that she was fitted with that transmitter. 
I think it's fascinating.   

bev. can give us the details, but she follows a female in Alberta who has been wearing a transmitter for many years now. And the birds in the Southern Cross project may have some longer transmitter duration.

Such as Island Girl, who certainly has Quest beat on mileage.
http://www.frg.org/track_pefa12.htm

Paul