Above, meet Woodsie & Maddie - the last two brothers to fledge (preceded by
brother Hank, and sister Xander who accidentally fledged when she fell off
the edge a few days too early when exercising her wings - but thankfully
was rescued from the parking lot below, rehabbed and is fine).
Confession time! Much of the last couple of weeks, and this weekend,
were spent glued to my laptop screen.
I've been addicted/watching the hatching, growing, and then fledging of the four
precious Peregrine falcon chicks from their nesting area on a 13th floor
window ledge of an office building in Manchester, NH.
This building was actually where my husband worked for a few years early
in his career - and visited many times on business for his company in the years
following when we moved away from Manchester, first to Massachusetts and
then in 1977 here to Raleigh, NC.
This pair of handsome falcons have raised chicks on the ledge with the sheltering
box, perch, cameras etc., for many years and the annual springtime process has
a large following of birders and bird lovers from all over.
Watching those tiny balls of white fluff grow and thrive, and with such caring
parents, has helped me with the stress of being self-quarantined during all
the sadness of the current time in our country and around the world.
were spent glued to my laptop screen.
I've been addicted/watching the hatching, growing, and then fledging of the four
precious Peregrine falcon chicks from their nesting area on a 13th floor
window ledge of an office building in Manchester, NH.
This building was actually where my husband worked for a few years early
in his career - and visited many times on business for his company in the years
following when we moved away from Manchester, first to Massachusetts and
then in 1977 here to Raleigh, NC.
This pair of handsome falcons have raised chicks on the ledge with the sheltering
box, perch, cameras etc., for many years and the annual springtime process has
a large following of birders and bird lovers from all over.
Watching those tiny balls of white fluff grow and thrive, and with such caring
parents, has helped me with the stress of being self-quarantined during all
the sadness of the current time in our country and around the world.
Maddie & Woodsie enjoying their time together - they were
exceptionally loving toward each other, once even lying next to each other
and Maddie putting his wing over Woodsie, which was very sweet to see.
Woodsie - last to fledge on Sunday evening. . . . . . . .
. . . . . after several hours of mom and dad bringing food, dangling it
before him but flying off with it and not allowing him to eat - cajoling him to
fledge and meet back up with his siblings on a lower roof where the real
training in flying and feeding would begin - Woodsie, flapped his wings and
took a leap of faith from the perch!
Parents assist their youngsters with finding food for another month or so,
then the babies are on their own and fly away to find a home elsewhere.
Apparently these parents will return to this nesting site throughout
the year. . . . . hopefully they'll have another family next spring.
Mom telling Woodsie last evening, "it's time to fly away baby boy."
Second confession - I took hundreds of screen shots and videos of the
falcons - just sharing a few here before I head off to work on learning
how to use new Blogger today. It's pouring rain and dark and dreary so
no garden chores required - a good day to stay in and focus on
something I've been putting off for too long!
Here's to a good week ahead. . . .I'll be watching my garden birds only.
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Watching the falcons has given you much joy, and you share that in these wonderful screen shot photos. So fascinating to watch the progress of the little family.
ReplyDeleteToday I am working on marking my students' work. I should get most of it finished today. I dislike marking online work - am much better with a pen in my hand. It's raining outside, so I'm not tempted to go into the garden.
Have a good week, Mary. Your garden birds are also interesting to watch.
Talking of rain Lorrie - we have an entire week ahead with heavy rainstorms day and night - not a bit like June should be! We're holding off on bird feeder filling for a while as the squirrels have become such a problem this spring - hoping they will move on to greener pastures!!!!
DeleteWhat a privilege to see their growth and development, such superb birds.
ReplyDeleteThey are magnificent and the parents are so caring of the little ones.
DeleteI understand how addictive this can become! We've had peregrines nesting on high buildings in the industrial area where I used to work, no webcam there, but we always tried to spot them and their comings and goings.
ReplyDeleteYes, really addictive! But hey, with the way the world is now we need some semblance of order and nature seems to provide that when humans don't!
DeleteGreat shots Mary - I have been doing similar, but watching storks nests on various rooftops and treetops around several countries in Europe.
ReplyDeleteStorks in European cities, also in Africa, are really interesting to see - they often build gigantic nests in odd places!
DeleteThis was such a great post! We enjoy watching our bluebird parents encourage their young to fly.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the falcons Penny. Hope your beautiful bluebirds do well - ours didn't nest in the birdhouse this year - other birds did though!
DeleteWatching those webcams can become very addictive, I spent too much time watching one a couple of years back. Good luck with Blogger!
ReplyDeleteThanks John - like so many of us I wonder why change has to come and upset the apple cart so to speak!
DeleteI have never seen those type of birds before. They are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThey are just about everywhere - hope you see them flying, they are the speediest raptors in the skies Betty.
DeleteI have spent hours watching nature cams myself. My favorite is the falls somewhere in Alaska where the bears go to catch salmon.
ReplyDeleteYes, I've watched those bears also Vee - amazing creatures!
DeleteI have done the same a few times! Those webcams are mesmerizing!! ...and calming. Thank God for birds. It's such a privilege to be able to secretly watch them.
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not alone re: watching the webcams - I watched the Decorah eagles one year, was scared to go to bed and leave them when the snow and strong winds hit the nest at night! They made it though - and they are there again this year with 3 babies! Nature is amazing!
ReplyDelete