Carol P's Blast from the Past Falcon Watch Reports

[Kris G.]

An excerpt from a 5/31/09 falcon watch report by me.  It seems that Dot.ca isn't the only falcon that likes to snatch a mate's meal.   

7:35 pm - Back to Midtown. Now this was a little crazy to watch. Archer came in with a Starling sized, headless bird clutched in his talons. He landed on Midtown and started to pluck feathers. Beauty wanted the food. She flew to him, expecting him to hand it over. Nope! Archer grabbed the food and landed on top of Midtown, plucking again. Beauty tried again, Archer took off with the food. This went on for quite awhile.

7:54 pm - Archer finally lands with the prey on the NE corner of the lower section of Midtown, very close to the nest ledge. Beauty landed next to him and FINALLY snagged her dinner.

8:02 pm - Beauty took the prey to the B&L building and enjoyed her meal. Archer took over on the nest ledge, jumping down into the gutter.

This was during the time that Archer and Beauty were hanging out on Midtown Plaza and Mariah was still at Kodak Office. - Carol P.

                       

[NoraH]

Sadly the latest blog post I could find for Jim was in the fall of 2011?  He does have the live cam on though and it almost looked like a falcon to the left side of the deck, but could have been the way the snow melted.

[Donna]

Sadly the latest blog post I could find for Jim was in the fall of 2011?  He does have the live cam on though and it almost looked like a falcon to the left side of the deck, but could have been the way the snow melted.

It is snow melt but it does look like tail feathers!!

[NoraH]

   I tried......

[Donna]

  I tried......

Yes you  did!!   

[Carol P.]

Hi Nora!  Jim has been "retired" from the falcon watches for quite a few years now.  But you can read the current Falcon Watch Blog at.....

http://rfalconcam.com/falconwatching/

 

[Carol P.]

It's been awhile since I've posted anything here.

From June 26, 2008 (5-6pm), here's a fledge watch report by Falcon Watcher Kelly W.

Another beautiful evening for fledge watching! I arrived to find a number of watchers downtown. Carol P. was also on official watch. There were a couple of falcons in view. Closest to us was Seneca who had been hanging out on one of the lower buildings for most of the day. She seemed content to stay put while an adult flew in with what Brian said was prey. Immediately we saw 3 juvies where the food drop was on the east
side of the tower.

Around 5:30 Mariah started flying around the tower and it took no time for Zephyr to launch into the air. For the next 15 minutes we were treated to a lot of fun flying and talon tag by at least 3 juvies in the air at once! Seneca kept her on eye on her family but showed no signs of moving.

Approx. 5:45 Carol P. heard one of the adults sound the kak alarm. Kaver or Mariah was off to the east above the river. We grabbed the binoculars and spotted a very large, dark bird that was not a Turkey Vulture. The consensus was that it was a juvie bald eagle and it was escorted out of the area rather peacefully.

At 6:00 I got ready to go but still had my eye on Seneca who had started to exercise her wings. She started off the building into flight and in the breeze, up she went! She was a little unsteady and I think a draft or two caught her off guard. We all held one collective breath as she went across State Street but then made her way back to the building. Her first landing did not stick so another small flight and she came in for a second attempt– she knocked her mom off her perch–but she stuck the landing! It was great to see what must have been only her second or third flight.

Kelly W.

[valhalla]

Wow!  I actually remembered this report.  2008!  Almost like yesterday.

[Carol P.]

I know Janet! Some day I'll have to tell you the story of Mariah and Sponge Bob.   

[Bobbie Ireland]

I know Janet! Some day I'll have to tell you the story of Mariah and Sponge Bob.   

The mind boggles...

[Carol P.]

I know Janet! Some day I'll have to tell you the story of Mariah and Sponge Bob.   

The mind boggles...

Not two names you would ever expect to see in one sentence.   

[Carol P.]

The Tail of Mariah and Sponge Bob

There were a few of us watchers out on the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Genesee River Gorge.  I know Lisa McK was with me, not sure who else was there.  Mariah was up on top of the Kodak Tower watching over eggs? or eyasses?  I really can't remember.  (Getting old!  hahaha!)

We were watching Mariah and she was watching over her territory.  That's when an intruder floated in on the winds.  At first, we didn't see the threat, but Mariah did.  She started first with a loud, warning kak kak kak!  Intruder alert!  We looked around, but still could not see what had her so upset.

Mariah launched herself from the tower and sped towards the gorge.  We looked up to see where the Red-tail Hawk or maybe a Turkey Vulture or Eagle might be.  Mariah gained speed!  Faster and faster!  She stooped when she reached the gorge side of the BeeBee Station!  Almost faster than the eye could follow!  She lowered her talons, reaching for the intruder. 

We were frantically trying to see what her target was!  What could have her so upset! 

Then we saw it!  Mariah screeched to a halt just before she would have grabbed a Sponge Bob Mylar balloon that was floating lazily in front of the BeeBee Station.  I swear that she looked around, hoping that no one had seen her attack on Sponge Bob, and then headed back to her tower to continue guarding her territory from ALL intruders.

That, my friends, is the tail of Mariah and Sponge Bob.  and no, I did not make this up!   

 

[Bobbie Ireland]

Good story, Carol P!

 

[jeanne]

Wonderful story!!!  Mariah

[Carol P.]

Thanks Bobbie and Jeanne!