Thanks, Shaky! That reserve is just over the bridge from Manteo, NC, where we sometimes stop.

Paul

One thing about their relationship -- it develops and changes.

Paul

Meanwhile back at the farm...errr..nest box 

That's when you REALLY know that nesting season is over.

Paul

Here's a piece on how Rochester is trying to restore manufacturing:
http://www.npr.org/2014/09/29/351522788/rochester-focuses-on-a-new-picture-of-american-manufacturing

Paul

[wnyfalconfan (Joyce):]

wnyfalconfan (Joyce): Well, finally saw a bird we haven't seen in a while...2 monk parakeets sharing a cell tower with starlings in their winter spotted attire.

Link:
http://twitter.com/wnyfalconfan/statuses/510520934352969728

Monk Parakeets in Rochester?  Cool!

Paul

Thanks, Dale.
That's interesting - each starling orients to the whole mass of birds, rather than to the nearest neighbors. It's the opposite of how humans fly formation.

Happy Birthday, Dale!

I hope she was only displaced. I've followed her for twelve years, ever since she took over the site from Zenith.

Paul

Happy Birthday!

Thanks!
I'm at the blue Cross Center.

Where are the Watchers?
I just arrived

Paul

The one place where one can go to get away from the kids for a while.


Paul

Some of you may have wondered why there have been no pictures of my local falcons. That's because I've seen no signs of nesting at the site. Yesterday, my suspicions were confirmed -- I got an email from my friend Ricardo, stating that, when our local Fish and Wildlife Service raptor specialist, Craig Coppie, made his annual trip to the I-495 Bridge nestbox for banding, he found only scattered, cold eggs. This is the second test failure in a row for local pair. Perhaps the cold, wet spring is to blame. Maybe it's a fertility problem that has been getting worse -- two years ago two out of four eggs did not hatch. In any case, no fledge watch this year.

Paul

When I visit a peregrine site with chicks there is always at least one parents watching over them. At full level speed, a half mile (800 m) takes only 30 seconds, and these birds have been reported to be potentially lethal against anything up to a Golden Eagle, which is to say anything with wings.

On the positive side -- "We’re not sure when Stormin was displaced and though we will miss him, Malik comes from strong stock from one of Canada’s most prolific male peregrines, Windwhistler, who has over 100 offspring (that we know about) to his credit and is now a great, great grandfather."

Another Windwhistler offspring!