End of Season

SusanB of Rochester
Photo: Tom Hoehn

End of season.

All good things come to an end....
And so does this great Peregrine falcon season in the northern hemisphere.
In februari I started this Blog to keep a diary and make notes of everything that happened at 22 nestsites. Mainly because I wanted acurate data about many things concerning the breeding season and behaviour of the peregrine falcon for my website http://www.falcoperegrinus.nl/.

It has become much more than this and I do want to thank everybody who is visiting my Blog and have send me so many emails. It's been an honor and a pleasure to write about these beautiful and exceptional creatures I love so deeply.

And of course it is always great to watch all the nestsites and make reports every night about every single one. Time consuming and exhausting, but well worth it.

James River Bridge juvie at New River Gorge
Photo: Cary Hartley

I've gathered an enormous amount of new data with which I will go back now to writing my main website and translate the whole website into English. So it will be available to everybody as soon as possible. I have received many requests to translate it, and of course I will do so. All of you are invited to visit http://www.falcoperegrinus.nl/ and to read about many breedingseasons, watch the video's and the pictures. And read about the peregrine falcon, it's amazing anatomy and everything you ever wanted to know about this beautiful raptor.

Susan B
Photo: Jim Pisello


In the meantime I will of course keep posting news and updates about our so beloved youngsters on this Blog. But in the upcoming weeks no more on a daily basis. There is not enough material to fill the Blog at the moment anymore.
But as soon as the season starts in Australia in about 5 weeks (end of August) I will start posting again every evening. Alcoa and Brisbane are 2 of my favorite nestsites. All my readers are invited to join me again to watch the eyases of the Falco peregrinus macropus hatch and grow up down under.

Terminal Tower juvenile
Photo: Chad and Chris

All juvies on the northern hemisphere are learning now how to take care of themselves, how to survive, how to catch prey. They will all leave their parents and birthground soon to start their own life. For all of us watching them from egg to fledge the season comes to an end, for them however life has only just begun.

We've all come to loving them very much, every single juvenile. It is inevitable not to care for these beautiful, proud and magical creatures who are far beyond just an bird. They are peregrine falcons, they all are born from the sun with warriorspirits. Full of courage and totally without fear, they are truly free spirits.

Derby youngster
Photo: Colin Pass


Go sweet ones, fly your path of life in the bright light of your pure and innocent spirit.

Fly free ..... soar high ..... live long and prosper.

May the Great Spirit guide your Path.

I think continually of those who are truly great

The names of those who in their lives will fight for life,

Who wear at their hearts the fire's center.

Born of the sun they travel a short while towards the sun.

And will leave the vivid air signed with their honor.

Stephen Spender