Today at 10 a.m., the NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) came into Rochester to band the four eyases in the nest box at the top of the Times Square Bldg. They all received two bands each, the USFWS band and the NY band. Colored tape was placed over the silver USFWS band to make it easier for the Rochester Falcon Watchers to keep track of the young falcons when they fledge, taking their first flights.

First banded was a male named Mercury. Mercury was the Roman god of commerce and was carried by the north wind as messenger of the gods. He is depicted on a Rochester landmark, the statue atop the Aqueduct Building, upon which our falcons love to watch, eat and mate. Submitted by Erin Aumick of Caledonia, NY; Linda Barker or Watervliet, NY; and Patricia Cary of Rochester, NY.

Second banded was a female given the name Nettie. In honor of our friends at Netsville for providing five years of free internet access for Rfalconcam’s cameras at the Times Square Building in Rochester, NY.

The third, a male eyas, was named Nor’easter. Nor’easter is a powerful storm that affects the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada. It is named Nor’easter because the storm travels to the Northeast while the winds come from the Northeast of the coastal areas of the United States and the Atlantic Canada. Nor’easter causes flooding and erosion of the coastal areas, hurricane winds and heavy snow. Submitted by Dana Mulhern.

The last and forth eyas banded was a female. She was given the name Tesh. In honor of Qetesh, a peregrine falcon and the first feathered member of the educational team of our friends at the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. She came to CPF in March of 1999 and has since passed away. The Canadian Peregrine Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting the recovery of the Peregrine Falcon and other raptors at risk. Submitted by Kathy Olney.

The eyases were quickly returned to the nest box. For awhile, the eyases did not move or make a sound. One, Tesh, was lying on her back. Finally, about 30 minutes later, Beauty (the mom) returned to the nest box and all was well. The eyases all moved towards her, including Tesh!

Here are a few more pictures from the 2014 Rochester Falcons Banding Day.

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