Fledge Watch – Joyce Miller, Friday June 22, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
When I arrived, chairs were lined up facing the tower. Susan C, Jim P, Carol P, and Jeanne were on watch. Others that showed up during my watch: Paul R (newbie), Barb, Brian H, Larry O, Claudia and her daughter.
It was a quiet watch, nothing heart-pounding or nerve racking. Sacajawea was on Building 9 roof (south/left of the tower). Grace was on the 11th floor window ledge south side. I was told two juvies (Linn and Ananta) were in the playpen. At 2:15, Sacajawea flew from the roof to the 11th floor window ledge at the opposite end from Grace. Mariah and Kaver were on the Tower.
At 2:30 Kaver flew around the stacks and Bee Bee Station. The winds were averaging 15-20 mph, but up there they were probably greater. When he flew straight on against the wind, it looked as if he was standing still sometimes. Kaver looked like he was just floating. It is so beautiful to watch them soaring.
At 2:52 Mariah circled the tower and back to the launch pad. Assumed she was stretching her wings and checking on her girls. She did the same at 3:50 PM. You could hear kakking and occasionally see one on a flood light flapping wings and jumping down to the playpen.
Finally, some fledgling action around 4:20. Mariah and Kaver flew off the Tower together. One of the adults had food, because Sacajawea came off the building and started to follow, flapping away. Kaver landed on the 17th floor SE end and Sacajawea followed grabbing onto whatever Kaver left behind.
At 4:50 Kaver took flight around the Tower. He was trying to encourage the young ones to come fly with him, landing on the SE 16th floor corner. At the end of my watch, Mariah was on the launch pad, Grace was still on the 11th floor window ledge, Sacajawea on 17, and a juvie could be seen on the floodlight in the playpen.
June 23rd, 2007 at 5:24 PM
Thanks for the report Joyce
June 23rd, 2007 at 6:33 PM
This has been an exciting adventure for sure. I feel like these beautiful babies and mom and dad belong to all of us..It is kind of sad to know that we can’t look here each day after they leave but we do have next year to look forward to more exciting news..We just need to pray that Karver, Mariah and their new babies all stay safe ..Thankyou all for doing this site it is awesome…
June 26th, 2007 at 6:35 AM
it was nice to make your acquaintance joyce. i must say, i DID end up with zoom lens envy. LOL…….the most eventful thing my daughter and i had happen was the gusty wind picking up our wegmans’ salads and making them fly…….sigh. good salads too. but with your help we did see one of the girls and we CERTAINLY heard Mariah i believe when she circled in at 2:52. it is a most incredible thing to even be near the girls…and i hope to be back very soon…..i just don’t know if i can take it that they will fly off one day and be gone. such symbolism with feeding MY daughter there on friday, the youngest, the one who is having “exit turbulence”, learning to fly, to leave the nest……it’s all beautifully symbolic and much more than my tender heart can bear!!!! but i love it. this has been a grand experience.