Cabin John, MD, Peregrines, 2011

[valhalla]

That's falconwatching!

Paul

Hmmm....
A very different perspective from that point of view 

[Donna]

That's falconwatching!

Paul

Hmmm....
A very different perspective from that point of view 

It sure is!! 

[Paul Hamilton]

Banding Day!

Craig Koppie, of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service visited my local nestsite today.  Out of five eggs laid, the Cabin John Peregrines produced one male chick, estimated at 24 days old.  Last year, there were three chicks, so this is a bit of a surprise.  Thinking of Mark's comments regarding Ontario falcons, I wonder whether fertility will turn out to be statistically lower this year over the East coast.

Lots of kakking and flying around by the parents, as you can see.  I don't think either bird actually made contact, but the female came very close, sometimes within an inch. It looked like she was deliberately trying to intimidate while avoiding the risks of actually coming to blows.  Surprisingly, the female spent a lot of time perched close to the intruder, yelling at him.  Quite a difference from both Mariah and Kaver and Beauty and Archer, who always remained airborne.  Craig has so many peregrine sites that he no longer has them all memorised, but thinks that the female is from New York City and the male from a bridge between New York and Pennsylvania.  He said he would look up the bands and email me the info.

Afterwards, Craig told me some great peregrine banding stories while he was packing up his climbing gear.  He has been involved with peregrines for at least thirty years, going back to the time of the reintroduction. The common theme was 400 foot towers and angry, swooping birds. The New Jersey and New York females seem to be particularly aggressive, with the second female at the Legg Mason tower in Baltimore being the most memorable.  His assistant, Randy, who was documenting the banding, had some good tales of his own.  He is a very good falcon photographer, frequently getting flight shots good enough for a band reading.

It was my first banding day, and an unforgettable experience.  Craig was impressed that my binocular strap was adorned with a GVAS Rochester Fledgewatch tag.  This shows the importance of wearing Rfalconcam gear whenever possible.

Paul

[Dumpsterkitty]

It's interesting that Rhea Mae uses the perch and yell technique of getting her babies back too. I wonder if whatever they do their first nesting season that succeeds in getting the humans to leave is what they do the rest of their lives?

[Kris G.]

Wow!  5 eggs and one hatched.  Makes one really wonder what's going on.  Happy for you that you got to go to your first banding!  Thanks for posting your experience and great pictures-love the one of the guy with the hard hat!

[valhalla]

Saw that white cere on Mama and thought, "Mariah"!  Yeah, I know, but I wonder if this is a great grand-something!

As for females from NJ/NY being a bit agressive, I'm proud of them!   

Thanks for sharing and sticking with this Paul.

[Donna]

What great pics Paul! Lucky you and congrats. Thank you.

[dale]

Great photos, Paul - I'm so glad there was at least one and you got to see it banded!

[Paul Hamilton]

Come along with me for last week's Banding Day!

Bring your sunscreen.

Paul

[Donna]

Come along with me for last week's Banding Day!

Bring your sunscreen.

Paul

Why is it when I click on the link, it brings up MAK's Toronto album. 3x's in a row!!

[Kris G.]

Come along with me for last week's Banding Day!

Bring your sunscreen.

Paul

Why is it when I click on the link, it brings up MAK's Toronto album. 3x's in a row!!

The link didn't work for me either.

[dale]

I'm just getting a blank screen...

[Paul Hamilton]

Try this link:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=3655826100103%3A1443366000&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

[Donna]

It worked and what great PICS!!! Too bad about the other eggs though. Thank you. Love the area they picked.

[margaret]

Beautiful pictures of the nest site under the bridge.  The pefa is   beautiful.  In one of the pictures it appears that she is sitting on the hard hat of Craig -- she's not -- but it looks like it at first glance. 
Sad that only one of five eggs hatched.  Seems to be the story this season.  It has to be the cold and very wet spring. 
Thanks for sharing the pictures.