Buffalo Falcon News 2012

[Kris G.]

A great report about our 2010 hatch Statler at her nest in Waterloo CPF-Statler

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Wonderful news about Statler!  Wonder who her mate is? 

[~Sage~]

Kris, you can read more about this site HERE.  It seems the male is from the US, but not yet ID'd.  Another pefa mystery! 

[~Sage~]

Today is the first day of official fledge-watching at Central Terminal!  Alfreda and Wagner are still hunkered down on the ledge below the nestbox.  As you can see, the nestbox is a big jump up from the ledge, so they haven't made it back in.  I don't remember any previous ledglings at this site ever getting back into the box either.  At least it offers some shade for them.

Yesterday, at least one parent, usually dad, stayed close, watching them mostly from atop the clock.  It seemed  the girls were trying to attract his attention by coming out and flapping, "Look at me!"  But today, the parents stayed more hidden from their view on higher corners, occasionally coming to visit or doing fly-bys, to entice and encourage the kids.

[Kris G.]

Today is the first day of official fledge-watching at Central Terminal!  Alfreda and Wagner are still hunkered down on the ledge below the nestbox.  As you can see, the nestbox is a big jump up from the ledge, so they haven't made it back in.  I don't remember any previous ledglings at this site ever getting back into the box either.  At least it offers some shade for them.

Yesterday, at least one parent, usually dad, stayed close, watching them mostly from atop the clock.  It seemed  the girls were trying to attract his attention by coming out and flapping, "Look at me!"  But today, the parents stayed more hidden from their view on higher corners, occasionally coming to visit or doing fly-bys, to entice and encourage the kids.

Good luck with fledge watch and may they stay safe!

[Donna]

Any time now Sage!! YIKES!!

[~Sage~]

Here are the beautiful girls, Alfreda and Wagner, trying to decide whether to leave the ledge today or tomorrow!  Maybe one of them will meet up with Zeke in a year or two!   

[Kris G.]

Here are the beautiful girls, Alfreda and Wagner, trying to decide whether to leave the ledge today or tomorrow!  Maybe one of them will meet up with Zeke in a year or two!   

2 beautiful girls, Sage!

[carly]

Here are the beautiful girls, Alfreda and Wagner, trying to decide whether to leave the ledge today or tomorrow!  Maybe one of them will meet up with Zeke in a year or two!   

They are gorgeous Sage!  May they stay high and safe!

[MAK]

Will be meeting them tomorrow! 

[~Sage~]

Saturday fledge Watch: Carol P, Dana, Joyce and Brian from Rochester joined us, also Michele from Dunkirk, Jan from GI. This evening, Joyce and Brian were joined by Michelle and Enrique, but so far, our pefa babies have steadfastly refused to fledge!

By late morning, the only shade, from the car, disappeared. We got out umbrellas. Hot hot hot!

Occasionally the parents would take to the air to chase turkey vultures or hawks away, do some fun flying, going up very high, or coming lower and circling the tower and flying in front of the screaming girls. Once the adults would land and perch out of sight again the girls would be quiet.

At times we would get treated to demonstrations of extreme wing-flapping to the point of exhaustion when the wings would just hang down. There was virtually no breeze for them catch air and maybe lift off.

Pefa parents are withholding food, so maybe tomorrow Alfreda and Wagner will realize they have practiced enough and it's time for them to go, or maybe, just maybe, they will wait til Carl returns!

Stay tuned..

[Carol P.]

Today's Fledge Watch (Saturday 7/14/12) at Central Terminal was a lot of fun.  No fledges, but they are getting really close.  My guess is at least one will go tomorrow.  

Dana and I arrived early this morning and ended up staying until after dark tonite with just a quick lunch break.   The two girls flapped wildly on and off all day long.  We only saw them get fed once, but that's usual for pre-fledge.  The parents will start holding back on the feedings at this point.  The girls look to be in great form.  They're ready to fly!

The day was extremely warm and shade was at a premium, but I do love watching falcons at this location.  The architecture of the old train terminal is incredibly beautiful and most of the folks there are very inviting and friendly.  We met some really nice people today.  

During our watch, we were joined by Sage, Roger, Michelle, Jan, Joyce, Brian, Michelle & Enrique.

The yellow tape on the silver USFW band of one of the eyases has already come off.  So there is a silver banded and blue banded eyas ready to fledge.  Just to stop any confusion.

The highlight of the watch was when the silver banded eyas made her way back up to the nest box.  It was comical to see both of them looking at each other like "hey! how'd you get up there!"  The eyas in the nest box walked out onto one of the perches and started flapping her wings like crazy.  We thought for sure, we might witness a fledge, but it didn't happen.  Instead she ended up dropping down on top of her sister and joining her below the nest box again.  Just proof that yes, they can make it back up to the nest box if they want to.  

Good luck to the Buffalo Watchers that go out tomorrow. I hope that Alfreda and Wagner fledge safely.

p.s. Michelle & Enrique - There was no video!     Very nice seeing you both again!

[grannywood]

Below is a link to view an album of pics from our Falcon Watch at Buffalo Central Terminal yesterday.

http://tinyurl.com/covxeuz

[Kris G.]

Below is a link to view an album of pics from our Falcon Watch at Buffalo Central Terminal yesterday.

http://tinyurl.com/covxeuz

Beautiful family!

[Carol P.]

Nice pics Dana!  Thanks for sharing.   

[jeanne]

These are beautiful, Dana!