A Welcome Arrival Signals Spring’s Return
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Rochester Falconcam’s cameras, the FalconWatch blog or our recently enhanced Forums (all easily available thanks to our new and improved menu bar at the top of the page), you’d know that while Beauty has been spotted throughout the winter, we’d had no sign of Archer. A few weeks ago Beauty was seen at the nest box in the company of another male, but he left the area after only a short stay, and the best guess from our volunteer watchers is that the tiercel was probably one half of a pair that was just passing through town.
Truth be told, we were all starting to wonder how 2010 was going to shake out. It’s getting pretty late, and in years gone by we’d have expected courtship and even mating activity to be well under way. So I’m sure you’ll be able to appreciate the excitement we’re all feeling here at the Rochester Falconcam to see that on this inuaugural day of Spring, Archer has returned home!
The picture at the top of the page was captured by our super high-resolution Main Camera, another brand new feature that we’re happy to bring you. That’s Beauty in the middle, bowing. And on the left is Archer, his 25/V ID band clearly visible.
His return is fantastic news! We’re hopeful that this year will prove to be more bountiful than Beauty and Archer’s rookie season in 2009. Of course nothing is certain (Specto Subitus, as we like to say), but seeing Rochester’s resident Peregrines back together is a wonderful way to welcome Spring back to Western New York!
We have watchers on the ground today so keep your eyes on the FalconWatch Blog for all the latest updates.
March 21st, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Here’s hoping for eyases this year…and the M&K Legacy lives on!
March 21st, 2010 at 11:30 AM
Aw, that’s wonderful. : D But have we pretty much given up hope for Mariah? Her outlook seems pretty bleak from here on out.
March 21st, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Woo hooooooo!! 😀 Great to hear that Archer has returned safe and sound. I do find it sad that Mariah has been pretty much pushed out of the picture (no pun intended), but I hope she is safe some place enjoying her retirement. Now the wait and see for eyases at the nest box, and on Quest’s spring journey. Thanks for update!!
March 21st, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Great to see Archer back safe and sound! My hope for Mariah is that with all the new nesting territories in New York the past year – she has found herself a nice new home and will continue her legacy! Hopefully we will hear something about her soon as nesting begins.
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:33 AM
Great picture and great news!!
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:45 AM
So glad to see your pair intact and active at nestbox! May this be a wonderful year!
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:19 PM
@Ashira- Never say never where Peregrines are concerned. Even though we haven’t seen Mariah for a few months, she could always turn up when we least expect it. Or maybe she’s left the area in search of a new territory of her own. It’s possible we’ll hear from some other nest site someday that they have a new female with blue and yellow racing stripes on her leg band!
March 23rd, 2010 at 7:52 AM
From Jess’ lips!!! 😀
March 28th, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Happy for Archer and Beauty, I will be even happier when (if) we hear that Mariah has made another conquest and is content with her new situation. In other words, ditto Jess and Maureen!!!!;-0)