Seabreeze Update – 6/9/17
As many of you already know, Seabreeze accidentally fledged early Wednesday morning. He was found on the sidewalk on the south side of the Times Square Bldg by Watcher Carol Phillips, with the help of Debbie, who works in the Times Square Bldg.
Seabreeze was checked out by a local vet, where they determined that he lost five of his tail feathers, and broke some blood feathers. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was contacted.
We just received this update from June Summers, President, Genesee Valley Audubon Society.
“Due to the loss of 5 out of 12 tail feather, Seabreeze will be going to a rehabilitator to regrow his feathers, learn to fly and catch prey. Unfortunately, we will not be able to return him to his family. His feathers will take longer than three weeks to grow back and his family wouldn’t recognize him.” – June
We are very sad that Seabreeze will not be returned to his family, but happy that he was not too badly injured from his fall.
The remaining three eyases, Ontario, Charlotte and Rachel, are getting ready to fledge. Ontario made it to the well wall and is running back and forth, exercising his wings. The Fledge Watchers will be out starting this weekend, keeping an eye on our young falcons. If you are able to spare some time to help out, please come downtown to join the watch. We could sure use your help!
June 9th, 2017 at 5:27 PM
Awww…poor baby, so sad he won’t get to experience the joys of flying with his siblings but totally understandable why he can’t. I’m ecstatic that he will be taught to hunt and fly so he will have a real chance to survive once he is released.
Thank you for the update and best of luck on fledge watch!
June 9th, 2017 at 5:37 PM
Thank you for the update. I feel very badly for Seabreeze, but I am so glad he is still with us. I hope he is not in too much pain, and that his lost feathers grow back soon.
I looked at the Imprints archives for June, July and August, 2010 to help me understand what is happening and what may happen with Seabreeze. Although I didn’t start watching rfalconcam until 2011, when I first met the Rochester watchers they told me the story of Jemison, and how he (or she?) sustained a shoulder injury soon after fledging and had to be rehabbed. He had a little experience with flight, but had no experience hunting or catching prey. Reading Imprints from those months and learning of how Jemison progressed and was able to learn what he needed to in order to survive, and then reading of his successful release at Montezuma, gave me hope that Seabreeze will recover quickly and be able to learn survival skills without the help of his parents.
Big thanks to all involved with Seabreeze’s rescue, treatment, recovery and training. Go Seabreeze!
June 9th, 2017 at 5:46 PM
So glad he is alright. Sorry he can’t come back to his siblings-but he will fly free soon!!! We’ll be looking for you when your out there!!!!!!!!!!!
June 9th, 2017 at 7:02 PM
A big loss for Seabreeze, but i am happy to know he’ll spend time with a rehabber until he is able to fly fully feathered. My question: will Seabreeze grow new feathers immediately, or will his tail feathers grow back in during his next year’s annual molt?
June 9th, 2017 at 7:11 PM
Mary – I was told they should grow back fairly quickly. Wish I knew more about it.
June 9th, 2017 at 8:16 PM
So very glad Seabreeze survived his fall and was rescued so quickly! What a great team effort from the cam watchers to the ground watchers to the local Vet to the DEC! I hope we can get some updates on him while he’s in care and I look forward to the day when we hear he’s doing well as an adult!
June 10th, 2017 at 1:33 AM
Poor SeBreeze. This must hwve been so stressful for everyone.
June 10th, 2017 at 3:02 AM
Carol, I found one reference that may be useful: allaboutbirds.org, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Briefly, molting (growing new feathers) is complicated. Hawks (I assume falcons are in this group) molt once a year. “However, if a bird loses an entire feather, that feather will begin growing back immediately rather than waiting for the next molt.” And “It takes a lot of energy to build new feathers.” So If I am reading this correctly, and Seabreeze is well-fed while at the rehabber, he just might grow his new feathers while doing his rehab stint. And refine his flying skills.
June 10th, 2017 at 3:17 AM
That sounds very promising Mary! Thanks for looking that up! 🙂
June 17th, 2017 at 2:31 PM
Will he be released at the nest box that he’s familiar with? Or another location?
June 20th, 2017 at 4:36 PM
Kimberly – He will not be returned to Rochester. The rehabbers and the DEC will determine when and where he will be released.
June 22nd, 2017 at 1:14 PM
Thanks for the info on Seabreeze,I hope rehab is going well and that you can keep us updated.Thanks so much