Sailing through the air.


Paul

Jemison likes to pancake at the very edge of the platform.  When I first saw this, I thought she had disappeared over the edge.



Paul

As I emerged from the deer trail that wound down through the thick woods to the Potomac, I was greeted by the kakking of the resident female perched beneath the bridge.  She's there for a reason, I thought. When you look for a peregrine, it's the peregrine that finds you.  There were two juveniles on the concrete pylon that has the nest box.  I took out my binoculars and searched for the male.  He was about a half mile (1 km) across the river in Virginia   Not surprisingly, he was looking straight at me.

An hour later, I heard wail calls.  Up on the bridge abutment, not far from me, was a juvenile begging for food.  That's why the female met me there.  According to my fellow falcon watcher Ricardo, nobody had fledged as of Saturday evening.  That means that one and possibly two falcons fledged today. Before long it was noon -- time for me to leave.  I started up the narrow, overgrown trail, watched by falcons, both visible and hidden

I just screened my videoo footage and it looks OK.


Paul

This is the first time I have seen ledging. I'm used to the broods at Kodak getting into the playpen just before they fledge.  It happens at other nest sites, but had not happened here.  For example, the San Francisco birds ran all over the builfing for days before they flew. 

Every day brings it home to me that everything is unknown this season.  We have a new box, a new location, and a new pair.  How will fledging go?  Will they start flying in the gorge?  Where will they roost?

The good news is that Archer and Beauty have quickly learned to be good parents.  I've always been amazed watching the eyasses develop, but this year I've seen the patents develop as well.

Paul

Last Saturdays's visit to the nest site showed me what was being guarded -- three eyasses.  I've put together a short film of what I saw.  No thought required -- just zone out, listen to a popular international pop hit from the 16th century, and watch the reflections from the water shine on the peregrine pair and their offspring.  It may take a a little time to load, but that's still much shorter than my hike to the site.  This weekend's visit may be a fledge watch.

Paul

I was able to confirm three eyasses at the nest box today.  Comparing them with Freedom and Isis, they look to be about 33 days old   -- probably within a week of fledging.  

Both parents have become much more protective.  This morning, right after the male came back with food, the pair kakked at me and circled over the river.  After I moved further back to some foliage that I have been using as a blind, the female flew over to the near side of the bridge to verify that I was still there, although hidden.  After about ten minutes, she flew back to the box, seemingly convinced that I was not a threat.  They also kakked at some Turkey Vultures who passed over the nest, but did not attack them.

All this is a big change from last week, when they seemed very tolerant.    Perhaps it is because the eyasses are about to leave the nest.  Mostly, I shot video, but I also took some stills.  Look  below for pictures of the male, female, and one of the offspring.  Videos to come.

Paul

Thanks, Gayle -- I really enjoyed this!
By some strange coincidence, this video  appeared in today's Washington Post.

Paul

Happy Anniversary, and enjoy the pizzas!

Paul

After a half day spent at my local falcon territory, I think there are almost certainly chicks.  To begin with, I saw both the male and the female today.  For another, both were spending a lot of time looking into the nest box, and I heard some wail calls over the roar of the traffic on the bridge.  Finally, the male brought back some food, only to be urged of his perch, presumable for another hunting expedition.  Here are some pictures of the pair.  Notice how the wings are slightly spread as a reaction to the high (91 F/31 C) temperatures.

It's been interesting to watch this pair and compare them with Mariah and Kaver and Archer and Beauty.  M&K shared all parenting duties and every shift change seemed to require a few minutes of negotiation.  A&B have more of a division of labor with Archer doing nearly all of the hunting and Beauty doing the childcare.  They also seem to be figuring everything out as they go along, but manage to be quick learners.  My pair, on the other hand, conduct themselves with the efficiency of a NASCAR pit crew.  One bird arives and the other instantly zips off.  If the male hangs around a bit and gives some wail calls after a food drop, the female shoves him off the perch.  He guards the Virginia side of the river and she guards the box and the Maryland side. 

Both of my pair ignore the constant stream of Turkey Vultures and Great Blue Herons that travel up and down the Potomac, although the occasional Double Crested Cormorant gets wacked if it comes too close to the box. That's very different from A&B and M&K attacking anything that flew into their territory.  On the other hand, I found a very dead Black Vulture about a quarter mile (400 M) from the nest box, and Black Vultures are known to eat eggs, so maybe my falcons are just selective, not  peaceful.

Paul

Last weekend, we flew down to Ocracoke for our traditional Memorial Day Weekend excursion.  The first time was seventeen years ago when Mary and I got engaged.  Nothing that exciting happened this year, but the beach was beautiful and the marshes were filled with secrets.

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Paul

We are booked for July 16-18 at the Radisson. The other nearby hotels are full that weekend, so it may be a good idea to get a reservation now and cancel it later if you can't come.

Paul

This has been an exceptional year for Horseshoe Crabs and shorebirds in Delaware. DE-Birds reported an estimated 15,000 RED KNOTS in Delaware Bay the past week and an estimated 5,000 RED KNOTS at Mispillion Harbor Preserve, Sussex Co, DE.

Paul

Jim,

Outstanding!  Now I know how to do a food transfer.

Paul

All four birds have fledged successfully in San Francisco!  One of the falconwatchers reports what it was like:

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After the frantic chase around the neighborhood looking for Ziva, everyone, all 6 birds included, seemed to "flock" to the PGE building.They put on a spectacular flying display going back & forward toward 123 Mission, over the Mission/Main intersection and back to PGE. They erupted off the roof repeatedly, came back and did it again. it looked like a fireworks display- a cascading fountain of Peregrines. Truly an awesome sight. As darkness started to settle we took the days final head count. Satisfied that all were present and snuggled into their roosts for the night, we retreated to Fledge Watch HQ to retrieve our gear. It was dark by the time we exited the building.  A job well done by both humans and the birds. The last light had left but the sky and our hearts were filled with a sense of well being. Sleep well our feathered family

Good night George........Good night Gracie...........

Roy
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Read the whole story here.

Paul

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Happy Birthday!

Paul