da Indi:
June 03, 2007
"Falcon Tumbling 101
Posted by Laura James-Reim
That's what it seemed like two of the juveniles were trying out today - an introductory falcon tumbling course. Let me just assure everyone that all birds were okay when we left late this morning, but we did have some drama. I honestly can't remember the exact times it all happened so I'll just relay what happened.
After our 5:30 am arrival time, we identified two juveniles on the nest box perch, an adult on the red key of Market Tower and a juvenile on the southeast corner of the 31st floor ledge - one of the ones who ventured out yesterday. He or she decided to take a stroll around to the south side of the building and successfully made the tricky turn around the corner from the east side to the south side of the building. But we couldn't find the fourth juvenile.
I told Richard I would walk south and look back at the building to see if it was hiding behind one of the stanchions. Well, I didn't find it there but I did find it in a more precarious position. It was hugging tight to the windowsill above the 30th floor windows right below the first stanchion. I know I'm probably not describing it very well, but that's the best my tired brain can do. Suffice it to say, it was a less than ideal location. The windowsill is only about 1 inch in width. Both Richard and I said over the radio that the best thing it could do would be to drop to the 29th floor ledge where it would have room to walk, flap and eat.
So a couple of us were stationed just south of the Circle keeping our eyes on that bird and the one juvenile who had crawled to the south side of MT on the 31st floor ledge. I knew to keep my eyes on the one on the windowsill because if an adult brought food in to the two in the nest box it would get very agitated. And that is precisely what happened, which led to its short tumble from the windowsill to the ledge on 29. Just a few minutes later, we could see wing flapping and a little head pop up so we knew it was okay.
Back to the falcon on the 31st floor southside ledge. He or she had continued to walk all the way to the southwest corner of Market Tower, while we on the street were urging it to head back the other way. It's easier on the observers if they stay together, but I guess he or she didn't hear us down on the street or chose not to listen to us. It didn't seem to have any balance issues up there and did some wing flapping so I wasn't too concerned.
Silly me. It suddenly did a tumble and we held our breath as it descended - but safely landed on the 29th floor ledge on the south side of the building. We saw it's head pop up shortly after that.
The only other excitement of the day was that a third juvenile came out of the box and was safely parked behind the first stanchion on the east side of the building when we left at 11 am. If the fourth and last juvenile came out, he or she did so after we left. KathyQ and Kinney were in the air a lot more today and they definitely know where all the juveniles are - KathyQ made a visit to both of the juveniles on the ledges. If both birds are in those same locations tomorrow, those Market Tower residents with offices on 29 (east and south side) should have some good views of them.
A volunteer spotter with the Peregrine Patrol is going downtown this afternoon and Market Tower security has Richard's number in case a bird gets down on the ground. I don't think they are really ready to fly yet, but, well, as I've said, never try to outguess them. I think tomorrow will be very, very, VERY interesting.
As to the "wave", well it didn't happen today because the above events had us scattered on different parts of the Circle and concentrating on birds.
And one last thing. A big thank you to Barbara -- I will share that time with you any day!"
Quando avete un attimo,per favore Roxy e Gio, fate un riassuntino? 
con google è uscita una "schifezza" stavolta...
Comunque, mi sembra tutto abbastanza sotto controllo... :roll:
L'ultimo è ancora nel nido...e fa bene...se deve cacciarsi nei guai.
Grazie
