Nova entered the Times Square nest box a few minutes before 8:00 pm, just as the winds were starting to strengthen. A few moments later, after shimmying a bit, an egg appeared beneath her at 8:00 pm. It was an amazing sight for those lucky enough to have been viewing the Rfalconcam streaming video just at that moment.

DT falcon rpt- from cam pic.twitter.com/AW2zo89Zun

— Dana Mulhern (@auntiewood) March 26, 2023

It was time for the Rochester Falcon Watchers to raise their glasses for their annual toast for a successful 2023 Season for the Rochester Falcons!

Fourteen watchers gathered on Broad St. in front of the Rochester War Memorial aka the Blue Cross Arena. From there we had a wonderful view of the falcon nest box on the Times Square Bldg and the surrounding area. One of the Rochester Falcons was even in attendance on the Wilder Chimney.

Just a quick aside, due to this being a new pair, we are unsure of their habits. So, is it Nova and Neander we’re still seeing during the Winter months? We all believe that Nova is still here, but that Neander may have migrated, and a new guy is hanging out. Both are unbanded, so it’s impossible to be 100% sure.

It was a cool morning, but not as bitter cold as it has been in the past. Temps in the 30’s and overcast. By the time we left, it was lightly raining and much colder.

Fourteen watchers came downtown for the 2023 falcon toast. Joyce, Brian H, Lynda, Carrie, Carla P, Jeanne, Pat, Dana, Lou, Shaky, Sue, Linda, Kathy O and Carol P. Rochester Falcon Fan Bob also joined us. Nice to meet you, Bob! Susan and MAK were on the phone.

Lynda brought special grapes; Carla P brought blue star cookies (from her son John Carlos) and I brought the toasting beverage. Shaky was our emcee. He walked around the group collecting Happy New Year wishes

After spending time catching up with each other, it was time for the toast. But the falcon on the Wilder chimney had other ideas. It wasn’t paying any attention to us. It took off, flew past the Times Square Bldg heading south. It wasn’t long before the falcon headed back carrying a pigeon. We all watched as s/he flew behind the Wilder bldg and out of sight. The watchers found the falcon eating on the lower roof of the Powers bldg. After taking a few pictures, we returned to complete our toast.

We all raised our glasses and wished our falcons good health and luck, hopefully adding many falcon babies to the Rochester family.

Here are some pictures I took and wanted to share with all of you. Happy New Year to all the Rochester Falcon Fans!

Carol P.

Thank you to everyone who ordered the Rfalconcam 2023 Calendar. Many buyers have already received their calendars or will receive then soon. Be sure to check your calendar for any errors in printing. We have been notified by one buyer who received a calendar with photos of people instead of our falcons.

If you find an error, contact Zazzle directly. They promise 100% satisfaction.

Once again, we thank you for supporting Rfalconcam through Zazzle purchases.

Rfalconcam 2023 Calendar

Thanks once again to the generosity of our dedicated falcon supporters, we raised over $2,300 yesterday, including a $500 bonus for the outstanding teamwork demonstrated by those who stayed up late to make their pledges at just the right time. Well done, folks!

ROC the Day officials will send us a financial statement and donor list sometime in the next few weeks, at which point we will know who to thank individually. Until then, thank you to everyone who donated. Your contributions will be used to fund Rfalconcam operations and improvements throughout 2023.

ROC the Day is November 29 !

Join us tonight at midnight to ROC the Day for Rfalconcam.

Get the latest news on ROC the Day activities at our Forum.

Let’s ROC the Day together!

ROC the Day is November 29!

Are you as ready to ROC as we are? Join us on Tuesday, November 29 starting at midnight to ROC the Day for Rfalconcam.

Get the latest news on ROC the Day activities at our Forum.

Let’s ROC the Day together!

Just in time for the holiday season, we now have available on our Zazzle page, the new 2023 Calendar. Click on link below.

Rfalconcam 2023 Calendar

Also available are ornaments for Rochester Falcons Nova, Neander, Zara, Kanfai Malachim and Blaze. Click on links below.

Rfalconcam 2022 Nova Ornament

Rfalconcam 2022 Neander Ornament

Rfalconcam 2022 Zara Ornament

Rfalconcam 2022 Kanfai Malachim Ornament

Rfalconcam 2022 Blaze Ornament

We couldn’t forget our beloved Beauty and Dot.ca. Sadly, both left us this year. We’ve included a Beauty and Dot.ca memorial ornament in two styles. Forever in our hearts. Never forgotten. Click on links below.

Rfalconcam 2022 Beauty & Dot.ca Memorial Square Ornament

Rfalconcam 2022 Beauty & Dot.ca Memorial Snowflake Ornament

Zara was released yesterday afternoon (8/25/22) at approximately 2:45 pm at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. It was determined that she would be able to feed herself and survive.

Amy Mahar, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) sent us a video of Zara’s release which was very successful. Please click on the link below to see Zara’s flight to freedom!

We hope to receive some more pictures of Zara’s release. When we do, we’ll share them.

Here is a collage of still pictures from the video. Thanks Joyce!

Thanks to all that contributed to Zara’s second chance at a life as a free Peregrine Falcon! Who knows, we may hear about her again in the future, raising a family of her own.

Farewell Zara!

Zara is improving nicely. The soft tissue injury to her right shoulder is healing and she’s looking much better, eating well and fattening up. Zara also received her first West Nile vaccine. She’s VERY feisty, according to June Summers, President, Genesee Valley Audubon. June was able to share a couple pictures of Zara in her flight cage. She’s flying well and gaining height.

Now for some very good news! We are happy to report that Zara has started the next stage of her journey.

On Friday, August 19th, the DEC transferred Zara to a facility that can teach her to catch food in flight. She will be released as soon as she can do that.

We want to thank Gary Zimmerman from Black Creek Wildlife Station for all his hard work in caring for Zara. Over the years, we have brought many of our falcons to him, including Mariah and a few of our young ones. Please consider donating to the Black Creek Wildlife Station.

Black Creek Wildlife Station, Inc.

169 Burnt Mill Rd.

Churchville, NY. 14428

Here are a few more Zara pictures shared by our watchers.

June Summers, President, Genesee Valley Audubon Society, visited Zara today. She’s been in a smaller cage resting, due to her soft tissue injury and she’s put on weight.

Zara will get vaccinated tomorrow against West Nile. Then, depending on how she looks, she will be moved into a larger cage.

It’s so wonderful to see her doing well.