After spending the overnight incubating the eggs, Nova stood up at 6:06 am. Neander flew in and landed on the end of the nest box platform at 6:11 am. He made his way to the nest box, and sat down on his eggs.

Neander stayed on the eggs until 6:41 am, when he stood up and left. A couple minutes later, Nova returned.

As you’ll see in the video (link below) that Rochester Falcon team member Dana made from the stream, Neander is still very wobbly. But he does seem improved from yesterday. I was very happy to see him this morning! We’ll continue to keep an eye on him.

Here is the link to Dana’s YouTube video showing Neander coming to the nest box this morning.

cp

At 4:25 pm, Neander entered the nest box while Nova was incubating the eggs. To those watching the live stream, it wasn’t his most graceful entry. You could tell that something wasn’t right. He was leaning a bit to his left. Nova left and Neander laid down next to the eggs, not on them.

From the pictures, which I’ll post at the end, you could tell that his left leg was bothering him. He made no attempt to lay on the eggs. Thankfully it was a very warm day here in Rochester, NY, with temperatures in the 70s.

Neander slept from 4:26 – 6:08 pm. He stood up and moved to the front of the nest box where he stood for awhile. We could see him lift his left leg to attempt to scratch. He was able to put some weight on it, but you could tell it was bothering him.

He wobbled out to the end of the platform, using his wings for balance. He waited for Nova to fly in and land nearby. At 6:13 pm, she entered the nest box to continue incubating their eggs and Neander took off. In the next Rfalconcam still picture, I could see that he landed on the Wilder Chimney, where he remained for awhile before again taking off.

So we know he somehow injured his left leg, but he can move it and put a little bit of weight on it.

The DEC has been contacted and we’ll be giving them updates. At this time, because he is flying well, there is nothing we can do except keep an eye on him.

Through the years, many of our falcons have had injuries and healed well. We hope Neander will do the same!

Then there were three!

Very early this morning, when most of us were sleeping, Nova laid her and Neander’s 3rd egg at 4:32 am.

It wasn’t too long before Neander came in for his first look.

At 6:46 am, Neander brought in breakfast for Nova. She accepted his food offering and left with it while he entered the nest box to guard his eggs.

So, will Nova lay a 4th egg?

Nova has been averaging approximately 63 hrs between eggs. If she lays a 4th egg, it should arrive Thursday evening around 7:32 pm, give or take.

Many thanks to Rochester Falcon Team member Dana for making a YouTube video from our streaming video of the arrival of the 3rd egg and early morning activities!

EGGWATCH #4 begins! Keep watching!

cp

At 1:49 pm, Nova laid her (& Neander’s) 2nd egg! It was approximately 63 hrs since she laid her first egg.

This 2nd egg was very pale in color compared to the very dark red egg already in the nest box. Peregrine Falcon eggs can vary greatly in color from pale creamy to a deeper reddish-brown. They often have darker markings, including blotches or spots of brown, red or purple. We’ve had very light colored eggs before and they’ve successfully hatched.

Nova settled on the eggs and didn’t give us a good look at them until Neander entered the nest box to check on Nova and the new arrival.

If Nova lays a 3rd egg, it should be sometime early Tuesday morning. EGGWATCH #3 starts now! Keep watching!

Rochester Falcons Team member Dana made these two videos from our streaming video. Thanks so much Dana!

This first YouTube link is for the arrival of Egg #2.

This second YouTube link is for Neander’s First Visit.

cp

Once again, Earth Hour is nearly upon us. Assuming Nova isn’t in the process of laying another egg, we’ll be following our tradition of shutting off the cameras for one hour on Saturday, March 22nd at 8:30 PM EDT.

https://www.earthhour.org/

We are very happy to announce the arrival of our first egg of 2025! At approximately 10:43 pm last night (3/19), Nova laid an egg in the Times Square Bldg nest box! Let the 2025 Rochester Falcon season begin!

Both Nova and Neander are staying close to the nest box guarding their precious egg!

Rochester Falcon team member made this YouTube video of Nova, Neander and the arrival of the first egg. Thanks Dana!

If all goes well, their 2nd egg should arrive sometime Saturday morning, or later or…. well hopefully sometime Saturday! 🙂

THE EGGWATCH CONTINUES!

As you know, we have two nest boxes set up in Downtown Rochester. Both were originally installed to give the Rochester Falcons a choice after the Kodak nest box was taken down. The nest box at the Times Square Bldg was their choice!

This summer, the Powers Bldg will be doing work on their building. Due to this, netting was placed over the front of the nest box located there. This was done to make sure the falcons would not go there.

Nova and Neander haven’t shown any interest in this nest box, but as our viewers know, we’ve had a pair of pigeons that have used it by laying eggs there. One year, a couple of their eggs actually hatched. It did not end well for their young.

The DEC has been notified.

So, let’s watch the cameras at the Times Square Nest Box as EGGWATCH continues. We believe that Nova is very close to laying her and Neander’s first egg of 2025!

Our web hosting provider will be moving the server that runs our website to a new location Wednesday morning. Rfalconcam.com will be unavailable during the move. The interruption in service will start at approximately 2 AM EDT and last for 5 hours. Please note that streaming video channels will still be viewable on YouTube by entering “Rfalconcam Live” in the search box on the YouTube.com home page.

A new blog has been set up which will contain our Rochester Falcons History, Stories, Mysteries and all kinds of interesting stuff.

From 1998 to 2024, from Mariah to Beauty to Nova. 86 young Peregrine Falcons have fledged successfully from nest boxes located in Downtown Rochester.

Over time, we will share stories and information about our falcons.

So far, there are three posts. Did you ever wonder what names were given to our 86 fledglings? How did it all begin? A Rochester Falcon History – Mystery; who wrote Rhea Mae’s Rime?

Under Blogs, there is now a 3rd link that will bring you to our new Rochester Falcon Blog. Please check it out and let us know what you think. cp

Or click on the following link.

rochesterfalcons.wordpress.com

Please consider subscribing so you get notified when there is a new post. Hope you enjoy! Thank you!

Happy New Year! Happy 2025!

It’s a New Year for the Rochester Falcons. Watchers continue to see both Nova and Neander keeping watch over their territory this Winter.

It’s way overdue for us to thank our current, hard working Rochester Falcon Watchers. Many have been watchers for 20+ years! From 1998-2024, Watchers have watched over 86 successful fledglings! Amazing!

On January 1, 2025, many of the Watchers gathered for the Annual Toast to the Rochester Falcons. It was cold and rainy, but 14 hardy souls (plus Callie, Joyce’s new puppy) gathered under the awning of the Blue Cross Arena.

We toasted all our Rochester Falcons from over the years, including reading the names of our 86 fledglings.

We have 20 current Rochester Falcon Watchers. Over the 26 year history of the Rochester Falcons, there have been many Watchers, too many to remember them all. We have sadly lost many over the years too. Here are our current Rochester Falcon Watchers! Thanks Lou for taking these pictures.

From left to right. Including the year they began watching.

Dan (1999), June (2000), Carla (2008), Ei (2003)

Brian H (2002), Lou (2003), Dana (2003), Shaky (2002)

Jeanne (2005), Carrie (2005), Linda (2010), Joyce (2005)

Kathy O (2003), Larry O (2001), Pat (2012), Lisa (2001)

Carol P (2003), Tim (2003), Lynda (2003), Lukka (2012)

As you can see, we have many long time Watchers and we’re always looking for more! Please consider joining us in 2025 to watch the first flights of Nova and Neander’s young. It can be quite exciting! cp

Thanks Watchers and Happy New Year!