Rochester

These 4 photo's are made by mr Tom Hoehn of Kodak and show beautiful Susan B. Isn't she absolutely magnificent!

http://tomhoehn.1000words.kodak.com/default.asp?item=2216071

Part of a Fledge Watch report by Kat B. on Imprints:

When I arrived there wasn’t much activity, all where settled down to relax from the afternoon warmth. Just around 6:00 the little boys decided to have a great game of catch me if you can until Mom came home with a pigeon. Zephyr, of course, came in and stole it and spent quite a bit of time enjoying his snack. A while later Zephyr and Quest had another game of tag, she is so much bigger than her “little” brother, and she is getting to be a great flyer!

Kaver later came in with a small snack and Diamante made sure he had his turn; actually he did it a second time later too.

All during this time Seneca was snuggled down on the launch pad and sister Susan B. was hanging around the playpen area. Just when we thought Susan B. had decided that the great big world wasn’t a place for falcons, she spotted Mariah coming in. She took off like a shot out toward the gorge and we started running, who knew what she was doing and how far she was headed. Just as quickly, Mom flew over head with a big pigeon and Susan B. hot on her tail. Mariah landed on one of the not so deep corner ledges and Susan B. quickly stole it and sat there precariously perched mantling the pigeon. Once she got her bearings and a good hold she took off and landed on one of the lower roofs on the south of the tower. A bit later Mariah flew down to help her clean it and Zephyr decided to help. After some squabbling over pigeon, Zephyr flew off and Susan B. got to enjoy her well earned meal.

Seneca did do a little flying and seems to be doing pretty good for her first day. When it was time for me to leave, all where accounted for, except Dad, earlier he got tired of being knocked off his perch by Zephyr and headed down town for some rest!!!

Read the whole report and that of other fledge watchers on Imprints:

http://www.rfalconcam.com/falconwatch/

And do visit the Blog of Jim Pisello:

http://marchlords.com/birdblog/2008/06/morning-fun-for-fledglings.html

Derby Cathedral

Goodmorning dear juvies. It's when I wish the 3 little guys a very nice day. They will probably ahve breakfast somewhere else because it has not been served up the pud. So sorry for that, it's usually great to watch ( sorry pigeons).
They spent the morning preening on their perches. What else.











Very sweet look at them, the first photo's. They do have strong bonds these 3 chaps. Juvies always find eachother very beautiful and very interesting. We have seen the very same behaviour in Rochester and Columbus in the last days.











The day was spent with some flying no doubt, preening, perching and meditating about the Derbyshire skies. Right into a great and beautiful summerevening with azur skies over Derby. Wonderful indeed!











It looks so easy but it is not. Life of a juvenile is pure survival. The greatest dangers are in the first 2-3 weeks after fledging. There are so many things that can become fatal. Like crashing at landing, unable to gain height, and been killed. When weak attacked by other raptors. Flying into glas, or wire. They are not skilled flyers yet. The remiges and retrices are not yet fully grown or hardened out. They are still very vulnerable.

Facts are, even though we'd rather not know that only 1 in 4 will live to reproduce. We watch them hatch and they are so very sweet, we get attached to them. Almost as if they where pets. But they are not, these are raptors to be. Who have to kill on a daily basis to eat. Juveniles have to prove that they are worth the gift of the life which was giffen to them. Only very view can. The others have had the chance to taste live for a short while. Feel the wind under their wings, have seen our earth and the splendor of it. Their spirit takes the very experience back into the collectiveness. Untill next time. Nothing goes to waste and nothing is invane in this infinite universe we are part of. The essence stays the same, only form changes. Never forget.

I write these words because we are missing juvi 003. She has not been seen for a week now. Every day we can see 3 juvies close together, not 4. I think her wings took her back over the rainbowbridge.

De Mortel: lots of juvies and S2

The beautiful and already legendary S2, Queen of the Tower in De Mortel. Isn't she the most impressive falcon ever. Last year she did the impossible, and this year she gave us 4 magnificent juvies, all as strong, powerful and impressive as both she and the tiercel Pa are. We have had a great and very succesful season. And are very happy to be able to still enjoy the action on the Tower.

Ohio Columbus: 2 back

Well well, what a suprise. After Justice was brought back yesterday , our Little Boomer managed to fly all the way up to the ledge to join his sister. They both are in fine health and are running up and down the ledge.
By taping hours of video I was able to catch those special moments. Eyases bond from teh moment the pip the aircell in the egg before hatching. By vocalizing they make contact with their siblings, After hatching they cuddle up to keep their temp up. The bonding is intens and is very well visable during the time they are in the scrape. They love to nibble on eachothers toes and bills They do preen each other. We call that grooming.
And when they leave the nest the bond stays. We can see how they protect and keep an eye on eachother. Prey is being shared, normally. Unless there is not much food around.
And on one of the video we can see how they preen eachothers feathers here, Justice and Boomer. It is very sweet.
I have watched so many nests.l There are allways real pairs in a nest. 2 how like eachother that much that they stay together, cuddle up, and stay doing that after fledge. They often leave together and spent the winter helping to survive. The bond will vanish eventually. They do not remember. If they would ever meet they will see the other as a threath. So it is not a livelong bond, but nevertheless very special to watch.

In other raptor species they even start fighting in the nest, so it is special.

Xcell Allen S. King Plant

Nijmegen

Xcell Black Dog

Well our 4 Black Dog cuties are really growing up now. They've started flapping with their wings and look how the primaries are coming through. When you watch closely you can see we have 2 females and 2 males here. The size difference is obvious.