Falcon observation log 2006 page 1

pages 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... 5 ... 6 (hatching) ... 7 ... 8 ... 9 (Banding Day) ... 10 ... 11 ...

Meet the parents ~

Dec. 13, 2005 ~ Below is mom SW on the snowy ledge at Terminal Tower, Cleveland, Ohio.
Peregrine Falcons typically "fly south" for the winter, but not these two. Year after year they have braved the cold winters of Cleveland and stay in town.
Thanks to Scott Wright, ODNR nest observer, for these beautiful photos and granting permission to post them on
this site.

The same day Mr. Wright caught SW playing in the snow, he got this close-up of her. Notice her beak - a recent injury of unknown origin. According to experts on the forum it is not too serious and should grow back in several months. The "break" shouldn't interfere with hunting, but it might be a little difficult to tear into her food. Knowing Buckeye, below, he will make sure she is provided for!

Thanks to Heidi, one of the many forum's falcon fans and supporter of our project, for this picture of Buckeye.

1/19/06 1:02 pm looking up....same shot, different angle, looking right into the web cam

1/19/06 4:44 pm Sometimes looking at the birds' expressions makes you wonder what is going through their minds? ~ Here, Buckeye appears to be looking below him thinking, "Humm, pigeon..."

At this time of year Buckeye can be seen spending time trying to lure SW to the nest box as the beginning of the 2006 courtship and nesting season is drawing near. A typical behavior is the male standing on the side of the box calling to his mate, as demonstrated by Buckeye below.

1/27 9:00 am
2 indentations in scrape ... Which side will SW lay her eggs in this season?

1/28 7:35 am
Buckeye stops by for a little early morning preening

1/30 3:19 pm
Together in the nest

2/2 2:05 pm
Buckeye

2/8 7:34 am
Buckeye is looking lonely

2/9 7:28 am
watching rush hour traffic around the square

2/10 5:15 pm Buckeye

2/10 5:16 pm SW

In these two pictures, taken one minute apart, you can see the difference in both size and color. SW, the female, is obviously larger and darker than Buckeye, here mate. The size difference between male and female Peregrine Falcons is typical ~ the females are usually larger. This is one way the nest observers tell who is on the nest at a given time.

SW and Buckeye spend a lot of time at the nest 2/15/06 ... SW's beak is looking better too!

2/14 7:08 am Buckeye waiting for his valentine	2/14 12:49 pm Together in the nest	2/15 2:02 pm Buckeye "bowing" to SW ~ a courtship behavior
2/15 3:17 pm	2/15 3:49 pm "Whatcha lookin' at?"	2/15 4:00 pm
2/15 4:18 pm	2/15 4:39 pm Buckeye finishing dinner	2/15 5:00 pm Leftovers!
2/16 4:49 pm Buckeye inviting SW to check out the nest	Both birds spent most of the afternoon around the nest. Buckeye tried to get SW to join him in the next box but she stayed on the outside edge. Later in the day she left Buckeye standing alone ...	2/16 5:05 pm
2/18 7:54 am Too cold for eggs!	2/20 7:43 am SW - looks like she blow dried her feathers this morning	2/20 4:02 pm Buckeye is begging SW to check out the scrape
2/22 8:06 am SW ready to dive-bomb breakfast below	2/23 10:13 am Buckeye is showing SW where the eggs will go	2/24 12:05 pm SW's beak looking good
2/24 12:56 pm Buckeye still interested in nest box, SW ignoring him	2/26 3:31 pm Buckeye is STILL trying to attract SW to that corner...	2/28 3:09 pm SW perched to dive

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January 13th, Mr. Wright caught both parents with his camera again ~ on the left is SW, flying toward him. Buckeye, on the right, looks like he is playing peek-a-boo around the corner of the building with Mr. Wright, or telling him he is close enough ... Both pictures show just how beautiful these birds are.