The service provider has contacted us and has escalated the problem to a high priority. There is a chance that the missing content will be restored.

We should know more tomorrow morning.

A hardware problem of unknown origin struck the Rfalconcam website yesterday morning causing it to go offline for nearly 12 hours.  When it was restored,  the last 2 months worth of modifications to the site including Forum posts and membership applications, FalconWatch and Imprints reports, and pictures in the archive were missing.

We are trying to get some answers from our service provider, but have not received any replies to our queries. In the meantime, we have locked the Forum in order to prevent additional losses.

An update will be posted as soon as we know more.

From Barbara Loucks, NYS, DEC

“Beauty was put in the flight cage yesterday am (2/29). She is doing fine, flew from perch to perch several times. The wound area continues to heal with feathers growing in. She needs a bit more time however to stretch her wings and build up her muscles before release; hopefully not too much longer.”

Sounds like Beauty continues to heal and get stronger. Thanks Barbara for these weekly updates. We all appreciate hearing how Beauty is doing.

We actually received this update yesterday, but due to the RFalconcam Website being incommunicado, this is a day late. Sorry about that.

Weekly Update from Barbara Loucks, NYS DEC:

“Beauty is doing very well. The blood work came back normal and her eyes are fine. The wing is looking good, but there is still a bit of healing to be done on the inside of the wing where there is an irritation. She will be put in a larger 18 foot flight cage some time next week to see how she does. Hopefully she will be releasable in the next couple of weeks.”

This is great news! All of your lighted candles and thoughts and prayers are working. Thank you!

So what will happen when she is released? No one knows what will happen. She may return to Rochester, like Mariah did. Or she may not. We will all just have to wait and see.

Many thanks to Barbara Loucks for keeping us updated on Beauty’s progress and all the other folks caring for Beauty.

Thanks to all of you too!

Well, the results are in. ROC the Day was a huge success for the Rochester Falconcam and GVAS.

Because of all of you, the Rochester Falconcam raised nearly $1,500! Plus GVAS & Rfalconcam were one of four nonprofit groups chosen to receive an extra $5,000 from the Rochester Area Community Foundation. 80% ($4,000) of this will go to the Rochester Falconcam to help keep the cameras running, bringing our total from ROC the Day up to $5,500!

Remember that the next ROC the Day will be held on December 12, 2012. 🙂

Thanks everyone!

Update on Beauty from Barbara Loucks, NYS DEC

The peregrine is doing pretty well, and still eating on its own.

The blood work reveals that the kidneys are showing some effects of possible dehydration, which needs to be looked into further. They are repeating the blood work on Monday and we should know more after those results come in.

Our thanks to Barbara Loucks of the NYS DEC for this update on Beauty’s condition.

“Based on a conversation I had with the vet staff this morning. The bird is doing fine, eating well on day old chicks, pheasants, etc.

Hopefully this bird will be releasable. It will be moved to a larger aviary as a first step; not sure when, probably soon. We haven’t decided where it would be released yet.”

Many thanks to Barbara for sharing this update on Beauty’s condition.

As we receive updates, we will share them with you.

June Summer’s has been in contact with the rehabber that is currently caring for Beauty and the DEC today.

Beauty is in stable condition and the Vet here in Rochester is conferring with the DEC’s Falcon expert in Albany. So, she is getting very good care.

At this time, we do not have any specifics of what her injuries are. As soon as we learn anything more, we will let you know.

All of us here at Rochester Falconcam are very concerned for Beauty’s welfare and hope that she heals quickly. We know how hard it is to wait for news of Beauty’s progress. Thank you for your patience.

We are sorry to report that Beauty, the resident female nesting on the Times Square Bldg in Downtown Rochester, was found on the ground near the Xerox Tower. She was taken to a local rehabber, where she is being checked over and will receive the care she needs.

The DEC has been notified as well as June Summers of the Genesee Valley Audubon. Since Beauty is an endangered species in New York State, she is under the protection of the DEC.

At this time, we do not know the extent of her injuries.

As soon as we hear anything, we will post it here.

We here at Rochester Falconcam hope that Beauty heals quickly and soon graces the sky above Rochester once again.

Sadly, we have to report the loss of another Rochester Falcon. On Monday, January 23, 2012, a falcon was found dead on top of a school in East Aurora, close to Buffalo, NY. The DEC was notified and they confirmed that it was Valiant, a Rochester Falcon hatched on top of the Kodak Tower in 2006. It is assumed that he hit the building.

Valiant aka Sabrina was one of three falcons that hatched in 2006. As many of you know, that was the year that Mariah badly injured her leg and Kaver became a super dad. Rochester Falconcam Watchers, anxiously watched Mariah’s struggle to brood, feed and raise three young eyases. We were in awe when we saw Kaver bring food to Mariah at the nestbox to feed her and the eyases. Out of what could have been a tragic year for the Rochester Falcons, three young falcons grew and flourished on top of the Kodak Tower in Rochester, NY. Rhea Mae, Aura and a tiercel named Sabrina.

On banding day, the DEC collected the three eyases. Second to be banded was the smallest eyas. After careful measuring of the leg and further examination, it was determined that this was a small female. Long time Rochester Falcon Watcher Dan Stiehler had been given the honor of naming this eyas. He had submitted two names, Sabrina for a female and Valiant for a male. That day the name Sabrina was given to this small eyas. This was the name submission from Dan. Sabrina – Latin: Vibrant, Full of Life. These are just two characteristics so highly evident in matriarch Mariah.

As time went on, it was more and more obvious that our Sabrina was actually a male. He was much smaller than his two sisters. But, until it could be proven that she was a he, the name Sabrina would remain for this handsome tiercel.

Sabrina, Rhea Mae and Aura thrived under the care of their doting parents and fledging was near. Mariah healed and Kaver continued to hunt and care for his family. Falcon fans around the world nervously watched the camera at the nest box on top of the Kodak Tower. Three young eyases flapped their wings furiously, strengthening them for that first flight. Sabrina was more advanced than his bigger sisters. Smaller, he was after all a tiercel and would take flight first. He did!

The Rochester Falcon Fledge Watchers were down below, waiting. Flap, flap, flap, flap! Flap, flap, flap, flap! He’s off!!!!! Sabrina was first to fledge that year and he flew strong and sure.

That Spring/Summer of 2006 was a very special year for all of us. Six eggs were laid, three survived to fledge. Two of these three went on to nest in areas where they were seen and reported. We have had no word of Aura, but Rhea Mae is currently nesting on the 43rd floor of the Sheraton in downtown Toronto with her mate Tiago and Sabrina was nesting at the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge over the St. Lawrence River.

But wait! Sabrina was observed that first year and guess what? We had our first “official” proof that Sabrina was in fact Valiant!!! Yes, Valiant was definitely a tiercel. During the years that he and his mate Zanar from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada nested there, it has been reported that they laid 7 eggs and 2 young falcons fledged. This is not a very safe nesting area since it is under a bridge over water. Rochester Falcon Watchers Dan Stiehler and Lisa McKeown had actually visited this nest site but were unable to see Valiant or Zanar.

RFalconcam Forum member Janet, a first time Rochester Falconcam watcher in 2006, told me that had been the first time she watched. She only viewed the cameras, never visited the discussion board, so she had no idea what this small falcon’s name was. She called him “Red”, because the DEC had wrapped Sabrina’s USFW silver band in red tape, to make it easier for the watchers to ID them.

2012 has started with the loss of two of our Rochester Falcons, Callidora and Valiant. With the celebration of sending new Peregrine Falcons out into the world, we must also deal with their loss. Fly Free Valiant and Callidora. It is with sadness and fond memories that we say goodbye.

We here at the Rochester Falconcam, hope that 2012 will be successful and that Beauty, Archer and Unity will raise young that will continue the legacy of the Rochester Falcons and help to raise awareness of an endangered species. We learn something new every day about these beautiful birds. Thanks everyone for continuing to watch and support the Rochester Falcons.