Fledge Watch: Liza, June 20 5:00-9:30 pm
Sacajawea Makes her First Flight
I arrived at 5:00 to see Mariah sitting on the SE launchpad [a flat area above the nest box -ed.], Linn was on the nestbox perch and I saw flapping on the south spotlight in the playpen. The weather was sunny, quite windy and in the 70’s . Mariah, then, flew at full velocity to the south from the tower. She came back with another falcon who she treated very aggressively, circling around and trying to engage. When they both landed on the east side of the tower I realized that it WAS Kaver and that they were fighting over food. Kaver tried to take it to the scrape but Mariah ended up with it and it was fed to the Eyases in the playpen. At 5:40 Mariah and Kaver flew shallow loops in front of the south side of the tower, to entice the Eyases into the air. This led to a lot of kakking hopping and flapping , but nothing else. At this point I could spot Ananta and Grace in the playpen and Linn still a hold out on the nestbox perch. At 6:48 Mariah received a reluctant food transfer from Kaver and she took it to Linn at the nestbox. At 7:50 Grace flew to the top of the nest box from the spotlight, to join her sister, Linn who hopped to the top of the box after her meal.
At 9:03 Sacajawea hopped out from behind the playpen railing and was very calmly sitting on the SW corner of the playpen ledge. Usually at this point in time the fledglings are settled in for the night. Both seasoned veterans and first time watchers were out on watch knowing that the time was near for a first flight. Most watchers had left for the night, there was a good crowd in attendance earlier in the evening.
And then it happened! While Mariah was eating her own dinner on the SE corner of the building, Sacajawea walked across the outside of the playpen railing to the SE side and was flapping continuously. Suddenly she took off in a straight path for the High Falls Stack. She missed the top and slid down the side a short way. She recoiled and flew right back to the tower with little problem, her flight was true and only a bit choppy. But she missed her landing and slid down the East side of the Tower. She then looped again and landed successfully on a window ledge on the south side of the 15th floor. Mariah never saw her fly and Kavar wasn’t at the tower . This happened very late at 9:15, the latest that I have ever heard of a fledge! Mariah was in the nest box and we heard e-chupping ( the sound a falcon makes to call her young or a mate) Mariah was looking for Sacajawea . She and Kaver looped around the building calling but to no avail. They all settled in for the night, Grace and Linn on the box, Ananta in the playpen and Sacajawea on the 15th floor south ledge. It was a great night and after four years as a fledge watcher, I was excited to finally witness the first fledge of the year!
Submitted by Liza Luchterhand-Otto (Liza O)
June 21st, 2007 at 6:42 AM
Where is Linn? Can’t find her this morning.
June 21st, 2007 at 8:48 AM
How wonderful Liza!
June 21st, 2007 at 9:29 AM
Liza, congrats! Maybe Sacajawea was gathering courage for her flight while stayed out of sight so long last night. I’m so glad you were there to see her fledge. – Marcia
June 21st, 2007 at 9:32 AM
Just want to say thanks for all the great updates everyone is giving. It sounds like you guys are having a grand time up there in Rochester. I live in Florida and wish I could be there to watch, however you guys are doing just a good job of reporting I kind of feel like I know everything that going on. Thanks so much!!!
June 21st, 2007 at 9:57 AM
amazing ! just truly amazing. I know that soon enough all this will come to an end, but i heard about the winnepeg site and have been watching. Sadly and eyas fell of the ledge and perished on the 19th but there are still three more to watch. must admit, i am hooked ! Thanks for everything !
June 21st, 2007 at 10:29 AM
Wow, so is Sacajawea okay and still out on the 15th floor ledge? When do they start learning how to hunt?
June 21st, 2007 at 12:56 PM
WOW!!! What a thrill– first flight of the ’07 GALS.
Thanks so much for being there, and for a wonderful report.
June 21st, 2007 at 1:10 PM
Linn is in the playpen!
June 21st, 2007 at 1:31 PM
Is there a 12 Step Program for falcon watchers? I have a terrible case of empty nest syndrome 🙁
June 21st, 2007 at 1:33 PM
LINN was back in the nest, on the perch, on the ledge by the nest and under the nest this morning – of course when I wasn’t watching her she’s no where in sight! HURRAY, she’s probably with her sisters on the carwalk! I wish I was in Rochester but we have two in Fort Wayne that were just banded last Friday 6-15 (KING & HARRIET) and they are just now getting their brown feathers and have very few of the whitle fuffy feathers left. So, I get a couple more weeks watching them and since I work in the building, I’ll be able to see them FLYING!!! This is my first year for watching and I’ve been keeping my eyes on several sites – GOD bless them – – I’m hooked!
June 21st, 2007 at 4:01 PM
this site is truly amazing, thanks so much. I feel like I am right there to see it all. Hope all the girls make it, I love them.
June 21st, 2007 at 5:53 PM
Many thanks for all the informative posts, I feel that I have been there with you, well, I can dream can’t I…!!
June 22nd, 2007 at 3:23 AM
They start learning to hunt as soon as they know how to take off and land successfully. That is pretty quickly. But hunting successfully takes longer…
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:38 PM
Have enjoyed watching since April (first time). I check several times a day, it’s like they are my pets. I read Liza Otto’s report yesterday and realized I know her from 20yrs ago when I lived in Roch. Could you please give her my e-mail address, I would love to chat with her. Thank you Alan Fassett Athens Pa.