And here is the picture of my tattoo of Libby and Hudson, Jersey City fledglings 2011:



We are going to see Legs very soon.  He is making his first public appearance and we hope he will get his new name.  Anyone live near Wilmington, DE?  Going to Delaware Nature Society's Harvest Moon Festival Oct. 1 &2?

I may have to add a picture of Legs to my leg!!   

Absolutely riveting.

And here is the message from Chip Reynolds on the Half Moon Ship Replica that was anchored at Gravesend Bay with 12 students aboard who witnessed the whole event. Chip posted a wonderful 10 years afterward reflection that I will post here when I find it again.

http://www.halfmoon.mus.ny.us/livinghistory.htm

Here is the link to my wonderful photographer/tattoo artist friend.

http://redtailedink.com/_site/

He doesn't have his new name, yet, but that is our Legs.  He will get his name when he takes his first public flights.

Hi, All and especially Donna!  I got my Libby and Hudson tattoo today.  Picture is coming.  FYI, Libby and Hudson are the two fledglings from this year that are now on their own.  And the picture below shows their third clutchmate who had developmental problems, but was rehabilitated to the point where he is an educator bird with falconer, avian trainer, Phung Luu in Dover Delaware.

And here is a picture of the third eyas/almost fledgling taken at Phung Luu's aviary.  He is doing quite well, but still has to get more of his tail feathers before he can fly.

Thank you, Donna and Bobbie.  I couldn't edit the pictures until this morning.  It has remained painful to remember until today.

My reflections:

http://bonnietalluto.wordpress.com/

One person died on the Croton River yesterday.  Five people got into a boat and went out into the river just above where it meets the Hudson River.  I was at the boat ramp at around 5 pm photographing the birds and hoping to see our eagles enjoying the wind.  I did not see the boat or people, but even at low tide at that time the river was higher than at high tide and current was faster than I have ever seen it.  Three rescue team members tried to go out in a raft and rescue the boaters, but they got swept under the train trestle and into the Hudson.  Everybody around here knows not to go into the river under the conditions we had yesterday.  It was a tragedy that didn't need to happen.

We weathered the storm a little better than other storms.  Power stayed on and had about the usual amount of water in the basement.  I could not believe the damage farther north on the Hudson.  I don't think people up north were prepared for it.

And here is my Hurricane Irene report:

bonnietalluto.com

 Legs has been fed since he was removed from the scrape.  I am sure that has made his life much easier.  He was starving when Kathy first started feeding him during the chick check.  He has learned how to get humans to take care of him.  Other than the trip to WV, I doubt he has been stressed much.  He was only one week old when humans started taking care of him.  I think the feeling was he had imprinted.

Well, our Legs, from 101 Hudson in Jersey City, was supposed to be hacked in West Virginia but was deemed unacceptable for release into the wild.  Mike and I learned more details in July.  Normally TriState Bird Rescue and Research would have placed him with another raptor when he came in at a week and a half old, but none were available.  He was by himself.  When he was sent to West Virginia for hacking, he apparently lost his tail feathers, either from sitting on them or from stress by being with the other birds.  The final determination was that he was not relating to the other peregrines and they were shunning him.  So the prognosis for living in the wild was quite low.  He went back to TriState.  They had Phung Luu, an avian free flight specialist trainer with 65 birds, who wanted him.

We spoke with Mr Luu and watched and listened to his free flight commentary.  He makes sure the birds are hungry before training or performing.  His birds have to all be educator birds.  That's what he does.  Educates the public about raptors which includes parrots.

But at the Raptor Trust photographers day, they did not feed the birds for being on display.

I was in the car driving.  Hurricane Irene will be much worse if she hits.  But then I was born and raised in CA.  Tornados, hurricanes, thunder and lightning, big rains are far more scary to me than an earthquake.

Went to DeKorte today in search of peregrines.  Nada.  DeKorte is an absolutely spectacular place.  I found some other birds to photograph.

Bonnietalluto.com

You have such confidence in me, but I rely on others.  I'll bring my scope and digiscope if I get the chance.  Plus, I have a 500 with 2x teleconverter, but I have to manual focus. 

But all this is if I even get a chance to see the peregrines, and there are several there.  Mike has to go with me.  He has young eyes.

I guess I have to make a trip to the Meadowlands.