One of the things many species of birds do to become less vulnerable to peregrines is to fly in tight formations.  Amazingly, the whole formation seems to turn all at once.  Evidently, the wave of movement travels from bird to bird in 17 milliseconds, twice as fast as the reaction time of a sandpiper, which is 38 milliseconds.  How do they do it?  Nobody knows Lots of interesting Red Knot information, too.

Paul

Happy birthday, Carol!

Paul

Nightcrawlers -- the other white meat.  Yum!
The only problem is how to get them home to your family.  It's easy if you just let then dangle and then toss them into the nest cavity.
Kevin Shank, of Nature Friend magazine uses his automatic camera trap to show us all how.  Look under "Owl, Screech, 2010 Nest" for photos.

Paul

The people who follow the SF Peregrines are having an exciting evening too.  One of the birds, probably Paladin, has just fledged and made it safely to the 33rd floor of the PG&E building and then flew again.

Latest news:

"I just heard from the canyon...he flew again and is on the roof of PG7E on the
Mission Street side. here we go!!!!!!!!!! -- Roy"

They lost all three of last year's birds and everyone has been hoping this year's brood will "fledge up", rather than "fledge down."  It looks like a good start.

Paul

I've always been partial to peregrines nesting on wild cliffs, and San Francisco's Glenn Nevill has taken a picture that shows falcons as I like to imagine them.  This is how they are in my dreams.

Paul

Paul, how far is local? Is it close enough for some frequent visits and more pics? Thanks.

It's a half hour drive plus a half hour hike.  I'll probably be going there every weekend I'm free. until the offspring have dispersed.  As you can see, it's a beautiful area.

Paul

Happy (belated) birthday, Patti!

Paul

I went down to my local peregrine territory early this morning.  I was not disappointed.  There was one bird standing guard next to the nestbox.  Based on last year's photos, I think it is the male.  We watched one another for an our, during which he flew to the far side of the river and returned.

I think he is guarding something.  I wonder whether it is eggs or eyases?  Last year, I saw a fledgeling on June 14, so there could have been a hatch already if they are on the same schedule.

Paul

Glenn Nevill took a lot of pictures of the banding   a few days ago.  I've visited this nest site several times in the past while seeing the San Francisco branch of my family, so it has always been special to me.

Paul

Happy Birthday, Lisa!
Thanks again for all you do for us.

Paul

Joyce,

Thanks to Kodak for putting this back on line and to you for posting the link to it.  This webcast was one of the high points in the history of the Rochester Falcons, and I will never forget being a part of it nine years ago.  It may have also been the beginning of the falconcam community.  Certainly, we all talked about it for months afterward.

Some things really changed.  In the webcast, Dennis Money remarked that, " At Kodak, the falcons are very mild-mannered falcons."  A few years later, hard hats were being knocked off and shirts ripped when chicks were removed on banding day.  Perhaps M&K were, in effect, taught that a stout defence resulted in the return of their offspring!

As they say, "Thanks for the memories!"

Paul

They now have one hatch.  A few minutes ago, there were some vocalizations that showed why Red Tailed Hawks do voiceovers for Bald Eagles in "B" movies.  Just now, I saw one of the parents swoop in with a fish.  It's all in full motion video with sound.

Paul

While we are all waiting for the eggs to hatch, here is a movie of a Common Loon (Gavia immer)  family on Lake Winnipesaukee, in New Hampshire.  Loons, sometimes calld Divers are goose-size swimming birds.  We often wake up to their cries when we are on Sandy Island.  If we are lucky, we get a good look, but it does not happen often because they are very shy birds.  Let's go to the lake for a quiet summer morning.

Paul

Happy Birthday, Donna!

Paul

Anne,

My deepest sympathies to you and your family.

Paul