Woodman

Woodman: fifth cam switched on.

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Woodman Omaha

Woodman Omaha

Falcon present at the Woodman nestsite.

Last year tragedy struck overhere. Zeus and Hera started the season as usual, and Hera laid 5 eggs. When 2 of them hatched Hera got very seriously injured in a fight with another unbanded falcon on May 5 and was recuperating at Raptor Recovery Nebraska. Since that time Zeus was sitting on the nest, but during the following weekend his stays at the nest became less frequent. The 2 eyases and the 3 unhatched eggs were removed from the nest.

Unfortunately the two falcon chicks that hatched weren't able to survive the cold, wet weekend in Omaha. The combination of wind, rain and cold are believed to be contributing factors, as well as the fact that Zeus spent much of his time hunting for food for his new family and just wasn't able to provide adequate incubation and warmth. The remaining three eggs were incubated by Raptor Recovery

The reports on the injured female believed to be Hera is that she was slowly starting to eat on her own but still not flying. She remained at Raptor Recovery in Elmwood, Nebraska.

2 Weeks later, Woodmen Tower Management received a call from the Raptor Recovery Center in Elmwood, NE with an update on Hera, and the eggs that were removed from the nest. Unfortunately, the sad news was that none of the three remaining eggs were viable. The cold, wet weekend after Hera's injury, as well as the fact that Zeus was away from the nest hunting for lengthy periods of time, are assumed to be the main reasons the eggs didn't survive.

However, on a brighter note: the falcon that was believed to be Hera was still recovering from the injuries she sustained during a fight with an unknown falcon on May 5, but is slowly progressing her way back to a healthier status. She was recently moved to a larger flying pen, but no release date has been set at this time.

On August 12 this message was released: Recently, we received the good news that the female peregrine falcon believed to be Hera was getting stronger at the Raptor Recovery Center, and being exercised on a creance. A creance is a is a "clothesline" like device that lets her fly up, down, and around, with a weighted device on the end that won't let her fly completely away. Her eating habits are becoming more steady and her health is improving overall.

Hera was transferred to the Eagle complex, turning sharp corners! Hera'srelease from the recovery center was expected to be soon!

And on August 25: The female Peregrine Falcon that was injured last spring in an aerial fight with another falcon over the I-480 bridge was released. Within minutes of the release, the female falcon began calling for the male Zeus, confirming their belief that the female is indeed Hera. As this update is being published, the two can be seen flying together above and around the Woodmen Tower.

So Zeus and Hera were joined together again at the end of the 2008 season.
We all look forward to a succesful 2009 season at Woodman!

Woodman: rescue

These are the latest messages about the Woodman nestsite.

May 8, 2008
The female falcon, Hera, is believed to be injured and recuperating at Raptor Recovery Nebraska, Inc., following a May 5 encounter with another falcon that was presumably killed. All is “presumed,” as the two unbanded females are virtually indistinguishable. The injured falcon was left with bruises, stitches and scuffed feet.

For a few days Zeus tried to keep the hatchling warm and alive. He did bring prey but could not manage. he stopped brooding teh 2 hatchlings and the 3 eggs.

May 12, 2008
The two falcon eyas, who hatched last week, and the three remaining eggs were removed from the nest today after Zeus stopped sitting on the nest.

The biologists have removed the 2 hatchlings and the eggs. The 2 eyases will be fed and probably be hacked. The 3 eggs have to be examine dif the embryo's are still alive. If so they will be incubated until hatch.

Woodman: drama

Female Peregrine Falcon Injured; Male Tending New Chicks

There is big news outside the 28th floor of the Woodmen Tower.

As of Thursday morning, the first of five Peregrine Falcon eggs had hatched and the male Falcon Zeus was tending the nest. Falcon fans keeping an eye on “Falcon Cam” ( www.woodmen.org/falcons ) caught glimpses of the chick early Thursday morning.

The female falcon, Hera, is believed to be injured and recuperating at Raptor Recovery Nebraska, Inc., following a Monday evening encounter with another falcon that was presumably killed. All is “presumed,” as the two unbanded females are virtually indistinguishable. The injured falcon was left with bruises, stitches and scuffed feet.

Woodmen Tower Manager, Tim Sautter, said that although he could not determine with 100% accuracy whether the injured bird is Hera, his feeling is that it is, and that once the injured female recovers, in about a week, she will return to the Woodmen Tower and her new brood. If she is not Hera, most likely Zeus will run her off.

Sautter and Woodmen of the World Associates are hopeful that Zeus will continue in his single-parenting responsibilities, sitting on the unhatched eggs, making brief flights for food and feeding the new chicks. Raptor Recovery Nebraska will assist Zeus in his efforts, by supplying him with quail to shorten his time away from the nest.

“When it comes to wildlife, there is always an element of drama,” says Sautter, “but we are slow to interfere with the falcons’ natural instincts to handle the situation. As long as Zeus is incubating, and then feeding the chicks when they hatch, we will leave him alone and hope for the best.”

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the Peregrine Falcon Program at Woodmen Tower. If all five eggs hatch, it will bring the total number of chicks hatched at the Tower to more than 50.

For more information, visit www.woodmen.org/falcons.

Woodman

A visit to the nestbox.

Woodman: snow