I finally managed to identify my bird, and have submitted the information to the Bird Banding Laboratory!  Thanks to Steve Faccio of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and Margaret Fowle of Vermont Audubon, I confirmed that my local peregrine is 9/C, hatched in 1997 on a wild cliff face overlooking the Connecticut River on the Fairlee Palisades in Vermont.  In August of 2001, she traveled to Lac Lyster, Quebec, where she was trapped and released by a bander. Within the 20-year database of banded PEFAs that they have been working with, there are 2 records of 14 yo birds, one of which was recovered dead and the other was confirmed breeding in NH.  Curiously, another VT-banded bird was sighted at the same bridge in March 2007.  This one, V/0 (black/green), also a female, was banded at Mt Horrid in central VT in 2002.  Also, as of 2009, 9/C's sister 8/Y was nesting in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Band identifications are surprisingly difficult.  Out of many hundreds of images, only one picture showed the band clearly enough to read. 

Paul

Great job, MAK!  Imagine what you will be able to do with the camera and no cane -- won't be long.

Paul

Thanks, Shaky (and other rfalconcammers)!

If we didn't have the tracking data, we would all think that Quest was spending all her time at the nest box and simply not being spotted on some days.  I wonder where Beauty is on the days nobody sees her?

Paul

Looks like we may have some good stories to look forward to.

Paul

Thanks!

It's great to see Beauty again.

Paul

Nona and Squacker visit the beach!  What a great series.

Paul

Great job!

Paul

We got to see some interesting migrants and wonderful sunrises.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=8605484340103%3A1849938308&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharee-_-Top

Paul

I wonder if Karen's bear was the shooter.

right, excuse me; I misspoke. If more bears carried tranquilizer guns those deputies would be alive.

Is this going to turn into another one of those debates over the constitutional right to arm bears?

Island Girl is off the coast of Mexico, roosting on oil platforms.  Strong headwinds seem to have discouraged her from making a direct crossing this year.
http://www.frg.org/track_pefa12.htm

Paul

MAK,

It is so strange to start my day without your watch report.  Between your vivid descriptions and exciting photographs, I've felt that I've always had one foot in Rochester.  I hope you have a quick rehab and an early release.  In the meantime, even though it will have to be done through a window for a while, keep your eyes to the skies!

Paul

Happy Bird-Day, Jeanne!

Paul

That's a great picture, MAK!

Paul

Thanks!
You can follow Island Girl here:
http://www.frg.org/track_pefa12.htm

Paul

http://boingboing.net/2011/09/28/taxonomy-of-big-bird.html

Small, isolated New York population; possible Whooping Crane ancestry.

Paul