Monday, June 9, 2008
Derby Cathedral Peregrines: wings all over
The juvies are exercising their wings a lot. One of them has started training for the Olympics in gymnatics so it seems. She is climbing up and down the support beam of the nextbox. On some moment she didn't seem to know how to get off again. Just wiggling around. You could see her deliberating. It was hilarious. I thought one moment she was going to fall off. Flapping her wings to keep her balance. Once she knew how to turn and get off, she was having real fun doing it over and over again. So she has found her new spot, high above her brothers and parents being beautiful. It sure makes great shots, having her so close.
They all love flapping their wings a lot and I do love that as well, cause it makes beautiful pics...
De Mortel: New video's
From the harddisk on which we tape everything what happens live on the ledge and in the nestbox I cut some new video's. They are quite spectacular: S2 brings in a fresh caught pigeon. The juvies are extatic and grab it from her and start plucking and eating!
Terminal Tower: meet the parents
Bobby from Cleveland reports all 4 juvies are airborne. 2 Of them fly like adults! Great news. Way to go dear juvies. Chad and Chris are busy and had no time to visit Cleveland today.
So lets take a look at the legendary parents: Buckeye and SW. Buckeye is the resident male for many years already. He was born on the Rhodes Tower in 1996. First he mated with Zenith for 4 years who was killed by the young SW in 2002.
Ever since he forms a couple with the beautiful SW, who was born in 1999. They are a very succesful breedingpair. They fledge every year 3 or 4 juvies. This year we have 4 great young peregrine falcons.
Indianapolis: adventure goes on
Val On One America Building:
Magee On Traffic Light:
KathyQ Threatening Wouldbe Rescuers:
Laura James-Reim: on theFalcon Blog:
http://blogs.indystar.com/falconblog/
Magee must have a falcon guardian angel on his shoulder. I didn't see any of the events unfold personally but essentially what ended up happening about an hour after I left was this: Val took off from the atrium and went down Illinois Street. Not too long after that, Magee apparently had had enough of directing traffic, monitoring the bus stop not thirty feet from where he was and couldn't take the jingling cup of the panhandler sitting right underneath him. He took off too only he did not go up - he went down.
Now here's where the miraculous part happens. You have to know that the intersection where he had parked himself is a particularly busy one and cars go barreling down Illinois Street, plus tons of buses rumble past continously as they make their way to the bus stop. What were the odds that Magee would land in the street with no traffic in sight? But that is exactly what happened and our intrepid and invaluable volunteers were there and ready to stop traffic if any were to come along.
But Magee didn't wait for any cars to come along and according to the observers he took off from the street and landed on the 7th floor of a nearby parking garage. THAT is quite a remarkable effort - sincerely, that is just immense because of the lift it takes a bird of that size to gain any height.
When I returned downtown with Phyllis for the evening shift, folks who had remained there pointed out where they thought Val was - on a rooftop of a building facing the Circle. Magee had moved on from the parking garage roof and we eventually located him on a window sill ledge on Chase Tower - but only four floors up. That is where we left him tonight. We are pretty darn certain we know the location of the other two also - one on the platform of the Soldiers and Sailors' Monument and one on the 13th floor ledge of Chase Tower on the north side of the building.
Magee On Traffic Light:
KathyQ Threatening Wouldbe Rescuers:
Laura James-Reim: on theFalcon Blog:
http://blogs.indystar.com/falconblog/
Magee must have a falcon guardian angel on his shoulder. I didn't see any of the events unfold personally but essentially what ended up happening about an hour after I left was this: Val took off from the atrium and went down Illinois Street. Not too long after that, Magee apparently had had enough of directing traffic, monitoring the bus stop not thirty feet from where he was and couldn't take the jingling cup of the panhandler sitting right underneath him. He took off too only he did not go up - he went down.
Now here's where the miraculous part happens. You have to know that the intersection where he had parked himself is a particularly busy one and cars go barreling down Illinois Street, plus tons of buses rumble past continously as they make their way to the bus stop. What were the odds that Magee would land in the street with no traffic in sight? But that is exactly what happened and our intrepid and invaluable volunteers were there and ready to stop traffic if any were to come along.
But Magee didn't wait for any cars to come along and according to the observers he took off from the street and landed on the 7th floor of a nearby parking garage. THAT is quite a remarkable effort - sincerely, that is just immense because of the lift it takes a bird of that size to gain any height.
When I returned downtown with Phyllis for the evening shift, folks who had remained there pointed out where they thought Val was - on a rooftop of a building facing the Circle. Magee had moved on from the parking garage roof and we eventually located him on a window sill ledge on Chase Tower - but only four floors up. That is where we left him tonight. We are pretty darn certain we know the location of the other two also - one on the platform of the Soldiers and Sailors' Monument and one on the 13th floor ledge of Chase Tower on the north side of the building.
Nijmegen: all 3 back
All 3 juvies where back at the nestsite today. And that makes me happy, knowing they are all three alright. They do use the nestsite and their home to come back to in teh evening. So we will not have to say goodbye to these 3 beautiful creatures yet.
Zwolle: all fledged
On March 18 the first egg was laid of this fresh Peregrine couple. The first ever clutch had started. On March 20, 22 and 25 the next 3 eggs where laid. The first and second egg hatched on April 26, the third the day after that. The fourth did not hatch.
The eyases grew up without any problems. The first 2 fledged yesterday June 8 and the third left the nestsite this morning at 7:45.
We all hope and wish these 3 marvelous juveniles a long, healthy and prosper life. May they conquer the sky, soar on the winds, climb the highest mountains of clouds and touch the heavens. We love them and will never forget these 3 special souls!
Xcell King Plant
Cam is restored and repaired, but we have a different angle now. The chicks are not very visable, but as soon as they grow a bit bigger they will no doubt start to explore the ledge.
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