Raptor Resource Project Forum

RRP's Birds: Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, American Kestrels, Ospreys, Turkey Vultures, and More! => 2025 Peregrine Falcons => Topic started by: mrsfalcon on January 13, 2025, 12:53:30 PM

Title: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on January 13, 2025, 12:53:30 PM
Welcome to the 2025 GSB Falcons thread! Please share screencaps and information about the 2025 GSB Falcons here.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on January 13, 2025, 04:15:41 PM
Good to have the folders for 2025 set up.  Thanks.  The River is quite frozen over.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on January 17, 2025, 02:06:56 AM
Live cam
https://youtu.be/VNhBrQYIuyo

Explore
https://explore.org/livecams/falcons/falcon-nest-cam

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: MNLindaBird on January 27, 2025, 11:26:59 AM
Just wondering if anybody else has lost sound since yesterday at Great Spirit Bluff site...  Love listening for and watching the trains come and go while the falcons are soaring elsewhere.  We have such a great view of the tracks from above with a gorgeous background of river beauty that is ever-changing and ever-flowing.  Meanwhile, I guess we need to send some welcome home suggestions to those falcons :)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on January 28, 2025, 09:54:22 PM
Thanks - I'll check into it!

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: MNLindaBird on January 29, 2025, 08:26:20 AM
Thanks Amy :)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: MNLindaBird on February 01, 2025, 01:38:30 PM
An eagle was soaring by the GSB nest around noon today.  Had about four seconds of choice for finding a reasonable still shot, but thought I'd send what I got.  It was really neat in LIVE time, but difficult to find again in rewind.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on February 02, 2025, 05:27:21 PM
Nice catch of the eagle flying past the peregrine's nest box, Linda!  There's an eagle nest across the road on the island opposite the nest box.  Can't tell if it is active, but now and then the cam ops provide a good view, as in the pic from this afternoon.

Sound is back on as of 5:00 today.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: MNLindaBird on February 02, 2025, 06:09:59 PM
STLbf - Have noticed the camera checking on the island eagle nest.  A short time ago today the cam was showing one eagle on the nest.  Suspect we will know within the next few weeks if the nest will find serious occupants.  I'm still enjoying the beautiful river views and watching for trains, and I guess the occasional eagle.  The ice fishing we've seen by people on the down side of the dam near moving and open water sure makes it look dangerous from our elevated camera view, imho.  Interesting to observe, though...
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on February 03, 2025, 11:32:20 AM
We will be fixing things here, and very soon! Please post if you see Newman or any other falcons. We're seeing courtship at Xcel High Bridge and MPL Hibbard, that last as of today!

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: MNLindaBird on February 03, 2025, 11:40:37 AM
At 11:30 a.m. eagle pair are active at the GSB "island" nest (as is also occurring at the North Nest right now too).  Mid-day, and closing in on egg-laying time in next couple weeks must be inspiring final finishes on their nests.  Egg-citing for sure...  Keeping fingers crossed that we may have another (distant) viewable nest with activity on the river.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: MNLindaBird on February 03, 2025, 11:42:45 AM
...Will keep eyes open for the falcons too, Amy ;D
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on February 03, 2025, 01:51:43 PM
Thanks! Just spotted our first falcon of the year at Bay State Milling in Winona, MN.

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: MNLindaBird on February 03, 2025, 06:34:45 PM
Yay for falcon number 1 showing up in Winona!  Hope there's good chance that other falcons will follow this one's example :)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 04, 2025, 04:28:47 AM
February 4, 2025
Good news!
GSB falcons should arrive this month too.


Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 17, 2025, 03:56:49 AM
 :)  Feb 14
Valentine Sky, compliments of our Creator

bcaw
https://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewforum.php?f=494

(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/2/14/20250214T125611_23399514.ts.jpg)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on February 20, 2025, 11:55:27 AM
That was a beautiful sunrise, Shep!
Cam ops found a peregrine perched on the small ledge at daybreak today.  No idea which peregrine, but any bird gives us hope. Low clouds, low temps, frozen river.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: LORIDAVIS on February 20, 2025, 12:39:53 PM
GSB Falcons. A Peregrine Falcon has arrived!!!(https://i.gyazo.com/0c053ef2f45257dcd2fcd13aa6821569.gif)

GSB Falcons. A Peregrine Falcon has arrived - explore.org 02-20-2025 https://youtu.be/1xqU3uEVj80?feature=shared via rosieann
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 20, 2025, 02:17:34 PM
Probly NOT Newman.
His perch was RLD - not here.
One of his mates - maybe Nova - liked this perch.

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on February 21, 2025, 11:09:46 AM
Lori and Rosieann, thank you!

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 22, 2025, 06:49:00 AM
WHAT a BEAUTY!
February 22, 2025
6:45 AM


(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/2/22/20250222T124359_23744748.ts.jpg)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: Rosieann on February 22, 2025, 07:50:55 AM
The beautiful Peregrine Falcon is banded. Not possible to read the numbers.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: LORIDAVIS on February 22, 2025, 08:13:31 AM
GREAT SPIRIT BLUFFS VISITOR...
(https://i.gyazo.com/83271ebfc27c85e40294bf1fcb11dd04.jpg)

I got a couple pics of partial numbers...
(https://i.gyazo.com/0e7a4e1c0ebbe1cf5290ce7cc85e4b5d.jpg)


Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: LORIDAVIS on February 22, 2025, 08:28:38 AM
could this be it?
(https://i.gyazo.com/bb49b07f0fb629d28943b257a6f538e0.png)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: LORIDAVIS on February 22, 2025, 08:42:51 AM
Beautiful whoever he/she may be :)

(https://i.gyazo.com/8c17c0a4566daa25d73da80d9627f69f.gif)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 22, 2025, 10:08:03 AM
(https://i.postimg.cc/vmJBvpHK/Przechwytywanie-w-trybie-pe-noekranowym-22-02-2025-235225-001.jpg)

Zazu 18/U

Teerka on bcaw calls this bird - Zazu 18/U

This falcon has come 2 days in a row - to Nova's space on cliff.

Explore notes / pics

looks like 18/U

(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/2/22/20250222T125359_23745048.ts.jpg)

(https://comments-images.explore.org/_txzzonhoe/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A7%E3%83%83%E3%83%88-2025-02-22-22.06.26.png)



Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 22, 2025, 02:59:43 PM
Nova - 2020
EXPLORE Tucker13 replied to my query on Nova

Hello.. Yes, I remember Nova (not banded). Newman's mate in 2020.

She laid 4 eggs, 1 egg broke, 3rd nestling died not long after hatching and 2 chicks (Elise & Floyd) were taken by a GHOW in early June.

Nova came back in 2021, was seen mating with Newman, but other female's were around that year. She got into a big fight in the nest box with the female "Nina" and won the fight. She was seen mating with Newman later, after the fight, then wasn't seen anymore.

It seemed to me that she decided to move on and find another nest site/mate.

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 24, 2025, 02:06:49 AM
February 24, 2025  Monday
 8:11 AM  Glorious Zazu on the cliff!

Note off bcaw by Apollo
2024 summer a banded female ( U09 Elaine ) visited this nest several times and was found mating with Newman. Elaine is the granddaughter of Moxie and Jamie in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Elaine hatched 2023

Moxie and Jamie
Fort Wayne, Indiana
youtu.be/Af3ZNlSuUvo

(https://comments-images.explore.org/_f8p7u24ld/1000058440.png)

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 25, 2025, 07:16:35 AM
Feb 25
Zazu bright n early
and again around noon.


(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/2/25/20250225T124419_23874358.ts.jpg)

(https://comments-images.explore.org/_gz072tbuj/image.png)


Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on February 25, 2025, 10:41:51 AM
thanks for all of the IDs! Zazu makes a lot of sense. We also saw him over at USB just across the river. I'll be curious if Julie, who he was courting over there, follows him here. I'm going to have to keep a close eye on that nestbox!

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 26, 2025, 06:48:58 AM
(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/2/26/20250226T123742_23917359.ts.jpg)


February 26, 2025  Wednesday
6.30 am  Zazu flies to his spot - almost below cam shot.
I guess he's done at LaCrosse nest.

Is 3 year old Zazu chasing ole Newman off?
Should be an interesting year.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 26, 2025, 02:43:03 PM
(https://i.postimg.cc/6p4h2Gqj/feb26-1-2024.jpg)


bev on bcaw caught this - this 'd be where Newman's land.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 28, 2025, 08:31:16 AM
February 28, 2025
8.25 am Thot I heard a falcon -
The sound was like the female  calling for breeding

bird in nestbox!

8.28 it flew.

Cam was back too far for me to ID anything

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on February 28, 2025, 01:14:33 PM
Adult peregrine with band Black 18 over Blue U has been on the ledge and perching snag this morning.  Someone will find out the identity.  Thanks, Shep for the heads-up.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on February 28, 2025, 01:19:25 PM
Adult peregrine with band Black 18 over Blue U has been on the ledge and perching snag this morning.  Someone will find out the identity.  Thanks, Shep for the heads-up.

Zazu 18/U
He's been around all day every day.
Either Newman hasnt returned or 3 year old Zazu chased him off
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on February 28, 2025, 04:21:47 PM
Thanks Shep.  I missed the presence of Zazu in earlier posts.  So it's a male bird.  Do you know age and where from?  Newman has been the resident male for several years, I hope he returns.  On the other hand, it would be interesting to have a breeding banded male here at GSB, and even better to also have a banded female.  Top that off with a successful fledge!!  :D
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 02, 2025, 04:57:04 AM
YOOHOO aka Elaine
March 1, 2025

Yoohoo aka Elaine U/09 makes an appearance.
She may have appeared a couple times, then seen in Wisconsin.
She was here last year - 2024 - and we didnt ID her so called her Yoohoo.
She is from Indiana.


(https://comments-images.explore.org/_1fnohvihc/u09-elaine.jpg)


(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/3/1/20250301T231900_24066198.ts.jpg)


(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/3/1/20250301T232424_24066360.ts.jpg)


Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 02, 2025, 04:11:14 PM
Great to see some activity at the GSB nest box and area!  Zazu U-18, a male new to this location, and YooHoo U-09, a female from last year, perching and soaring. Pics from this morning.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 03, 2025, 03:26:08 AM
March 3, 2025

Yoohoo aka Elaine U/09 and Zazu U/18 both seen here in the last week.

They have also both been seen at Lacrosse.

Elaine is from Indiana.

Zazu 18/U hatched in 2022 at Bay State Milling, Winona.
He showed up at GSB in November, 2024, December, then again in February, 2025

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 03, 2025, 11:20:01 AM
Shep, thanks for the info on the two peregrines we are seeing these days.  I liked the nickname YooHoo, but Elaine is correct.
Are banding letters and numbers random?  Both of these have a letter U along with the number, but one is from Indiana and the other Wisconsin.

Zazu has been perching on a snag along the bluff for several hours this morning.  Great closeups from the cam ops!!
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on March 03, 2025, 02:33:05 PM
The color bands are somewhat random. Midwest Peregrine orders for everyone in the Midwest. If my assumptions are correct, each color run - black/blue, black/red, black/green - consists of 4800 bands. That's assuming that we use one-character (A-Z) two-number (00-99) combinations where either numbers or letters could be on the top, with two unused letters. For example, Y/99 and 99/Y are both band numbers in a color run. There are currently 2,927 black/blue bands recorded in the database and that is not all of the bands, so whatever the number is (and I reached out to Dr. Redig to ask), it is high.

Every year, we inventory our bands and I order whatever I think we need from Midwest Peregrine. Every other peregrine bander in our region does the same, right? So if I need 75 bands, I get a contiguous string - maybe A/00 through A/75, for example. John C. from Indiana might need 45, so he might get A/76 through B/21. Jackie from Midwest Peregrine needs 75, so she gets B/22 through B/79. And so on. This means we'll have A/N birds and B/N birds in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana, although all 'A' birds in Minnesota will be RRP birds and all 'B' birds in Minnesota will be Jackie's birds. But this isn't planned, it's just a consequence of how bands are distributed.   

The business we order from doesn't do coordinating - it just prints the bands that banders ask for. Coordinating our order through Midwest Peregrine helps make sure that we don't ask for the same sequence in the same color at the same time. If we ordered separately, RRP and MWP might both order A/00-A/99 in black over red, which means we would have two peregrines from the same region sporting the same bands at the same time. Is it our A/75 or Jackie's A/75? We wouldn't have a way to tell them apart.

Since we don't know exactly how many bands we need every year, and since some banders band a lot more falcons than other banders, we don't spilt 4800 bands into large lots for each group. From a management perspective, it makes more sense to dole them out per year, in string order. But from an outside perspective, it can seem really confusing that peregrines in Indiana and WI might both have U/number bands.

I hope this helps!

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 04, 2025, 08:06:06 AM
March 4, 2025
The ICE on the river is beginning to break up.

GOOD NEWS for us barge lovers!

Zazu has been hangin around all day every day.
Yesterday an unbanded male arrived.

Stay tuned!

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on March 04, 2025, 09:03:33 AM
We have yet another bird checking GSB out! Female Kandiyohi, a 2021 hatch from Red Wing Grain, stopped by to check things out.

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: LORIDAVIS on March 04, 2025, 09:08:50 AM
Great info guys!!!! Thanks for the detailed info on bands Mrs. Falcon.  I guess I was wrong on Jett 28U, close though! Nice to see 18U Zazu thanks for the confirmation Shep :) I heard Newman might be home, I need to catch up!  Great job everyone!

Thanks Amy!  Hi there Kandiyohi!
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 04, 2025, 10:28:59 AM
March 4, 2025
Several are saying its Newman.
Will Zazu just move on?

Females are Elaine and Kandi
Who will last?

stay tuned to
As the Nest Turns


Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 04, 2025, 12:04:57 PM
The plot thickens!!  Thanks to Amy for info on banding series, and to others for pics.

This morning, pics of two banded birds.  Elaine is easy, she's the one with the upside down band, U-09.  So even if only a partial showing, you can tell if it is she.  Also, an unbanded bird that I'm betting is Newman.  Small, fast moving, gotta be he.

And, an eagle is sitting on the island nest across from the peregrine nest box.  WhooHoo!
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: Linda M on March 04, 2025, 12:52:16 PM
Amy, thanks for the band details; that was interesting to learn.  I so hope that is Newman; he's been my favorite for many years now.

Thanks to all for the continued posting of great pictures.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: Nora in IA on March 05, 2025, 02:55:22 PM
Interesting on how the bands are distributed.  Thanks!  I hope Newman might stick it out if he's around.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 05, 2025, 02:57:54 PM
Hiya Nora!
Seems Elaine and Zazu fly between here and lacrosse.
The lacrosse box is getting SEVERAL interlopers!
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: Nora in IA on March 05, 2025, 09:35:07 PM
Great job on finding this Amy!!!  This was posted on FB about Elaine's banding!!  Sure enough the band was put on upside down.....there are more pictures there.

https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/2023/05/25/peregrine-falcon-chicks-banded-in-south-bend-as-skip-and-elaine/70251419007/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI19EBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXRy5cTsEZr9dT06WYPJwr3lchwsXdWPBAo7fFVhHMIaJefkbtXD-bW7ig_aem_aWt8_ub41c9z_RMLPlJWyA
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 06, 2025, 07:38:11 AM
ACTIVITY
7.30 am March 6
I hear kakking.

BOX cam
I see a SHADOW of falcon sitting on cam.
Shadow of falcon 2 zooms by, Cam bird flies.

kakking.
Newman and Zazu?

Cliff cam op following flying birds
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 07, 2025, 12:31:10 PM
Couple pics of Newman (unbanded male) this morning.

That's a wonderful pic of Elaine at her upside down banding!!  Thanks so much for posting it here.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 08, 2025, 08:40:58 AM
HOPE
March 8, 2025
8.30 am  4 year old Hope, a Banded Falcon perched on cliff spot Zazu liked.
 
GAbear Explore posted
E/60 Hope from Wisconsin. She visited last season

(https://comments-images.explore.org/_0em2gtyln/e-60-hope.png)

(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/3/8/20250308T133317_24351027.ts.jpg)


Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 08, 2025, 12:39:23 PM
Hope  E/60 perched on the camera housing, then accepted a food gift from Newman on the back side of the large feeding ledge about 7:00 this morning.  They are both in the nearby area.

Do we care that a red squirrrel got onto the nest box?  Do they eat bird eggs?  See about 8:00 this morning.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 08, 2025, 01:43:04 PM
Explore post said squirrels eat eggs
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 09, 2025, 06:29:24 AM
March 9, 2025
The ICE is out on the river here in S. Minnesota, but NOT up north yet.  When all ice is out the barge begin - very soon.

noon - Elaine U09 is at LaCrosse.


NEVER a DULL MOMENT!
March 8, 2025 Oliver on Explore posted.
About 5.40 pm, Newman brought a gift to the box, and was followed by Elaine - NOT Hope.

 Perhaps her young will be a mix of Ardy (Lacrosse) and Newman's offspring, and she will lay the first wherever is most convenient, and make that her home.

(https://m3.gab.com/media_attachments/04/ac/33/04ac3397204f9ab957e7241ea406e2ab.png)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 10, 2025, 04:06:09 PM
Newman and Elaine U-09 around the nest box this afternoon, pics 1:45 and 3:00.  They are very talkative and Newman is bobbing in the box.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on March 10, 2025, 05:23:34 PM
Squirrels can eat eggs, but we don't know if they have a wide enough gape for PEFA eggs and there aren't eggs in the box right now. We saw them try and fail to break bald eagle eggs in 2023, when DNF laid just one egg and didn't incubate. A squirrel came into the nest, picked up the egg, and bit at it, but didn't break it.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 11, 2025, 01:57:54 PM
March 11, 2025
per Terka, bcaw ...
Hope E/60 - 2021 - Verso Paper Mill, Wisconsin

Elaine apparantly prefers Lacrosse
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 12, 2025, 11:48:17 AM
Newman in the nest box, scraping at the gravel, about 10:30 this morning, otherwise perching and calling here and there.

Thanks for info about squirrels and egg eating behavior.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on March 12, 2025, 01:02:46 PM
Curious to see what laying looks like this year. The falcon at the Dubuque Courthouse (C/20 Finn, ID'd as male but is female) looks gravid to me. They've fooled me before, but I'm keeping a close eye on her nonetheless!

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 12, 2025, 04:59:27 PM
This afternoon from about 2:00 to 4:00, Newman was on and off the nest box about 6 times.  It was like he was showing the way.  Didn't see a female, but could be off camera.   The eagle nest on the island opposite the nest box is active, too.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 14, 2025, 12:30:21 PM
Newman perched at the nest box for a while, then on one of his favorite snags as viewed from the new camera on the back side of the bluff.  See the orange marker in the distant view.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 14, 2025, 03:58:47 PM
I'm just a lonely boy ....
lonely n blue .... uuuuuu ...
No female's staying with meeeee .....
boo hoo hoo hooooooo .....

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 15, 2025, 02:09:32 PM
March 15, 2025
A 1 year old came to nestbox

Female V/70- 2024 - Red Wing Grain, MN
Terka on bcaw got band info
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 15, 2025, 04:35:33 PM
Gorgeous young female with band Black V over Blue 70, as Shep reported.  She and Newman have been flirting today.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 16, 2025, 11:59:53 AM
V-70 back at the nest box calling about 8:00AM.  She flew away and Newman arrived with a food gift of a male red-winged blackbird, which she returned to claim with a small tussle.  He left and she ate the bird in the box.  About 8:30, V-70 was in the box when two more peregrines arrived for a very short screaming tussle. The new birds flew away and V-70 stayed at the box for a while.  Later, about 9:30AM, Newman was at the box by himself.

It's all better on the rewind, and the nest box cam views help with closeups.  No idea which birds were the two fighters.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: astrophotoguy on March 16, 2025, 03:28:50 PM
It might have been more the case that Newman was in the nest first, defending it. The intruder then flew in and V/70 followed closely behind. The intruder withdrew quickly, leaving Newman and V/70 frenzy-fighting each other. Finally Newman had the sense to withdraw, leaving V/70 as victor. The intruder was banded (blue and black, but I couldn't see any lettering) and had a white eyebrow. Elsewhere it's been suggested that the intruder was Elaine.

Just another day at GSB :)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 17, 2025, 03:24:18 AM
WRONG NAME!
Elaine's name is SNITCH!

Explore is saying it was Elaine who snatched Newmans prey.

Why didnt she chase Baby V off?


(https://comments-images.explore.org/_hhuk61gha/screenshot-208290.png)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 17, 2025, 04:42:59 PM
Good question, Shep.  Definitely competition going on at GSB these days.

This morning, Elaine, U-09, ate a black bird (probably RWBB) at the edge of the large feeding ledge, about 7:00.
Shortly after, Newman brought a black bird (RWBB) to the nest box then flew to  the large feeding ledge to eat it, about 7:15.
She perched on the camera housing, about 10:30. 
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on March 18, 2025, 01:34:42 PM
Shep, the non-RRP birds are here: https://raptorresource.org/raptorresource/forum/index.php?board=107.0 (https://raptorresource.org/raptorresource/forum/index.php?board=107.0). This thread is for the GSB Peregrines, but you can go follow the link to find the other falcons.

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 20, 2025, 03:18:22 AM
HAPPY SPRING!
March 20, 2025
Report of a new female at GSB March 19 - anyone else see it?

ODDITY
3 falcons at High Bridge Mar. 19th.
They were there for HOURS! 2 inside box, one perched box edge.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on March 20, 2025, 11:01:38 AM
Cam ops reported it, no band number when last I checked.

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 20, 2025, 11:07:14 AM
About 7:00 this morning, Newman brought a black bird food gift to the nest box and a banded bird followed. Could not see the band and that bird flew away, followed shortly by Newman with the food gift.  Newman returned to the nest box about 9:30 AM.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on March 20, 2025, 08:28:36 PM
It is seriously more Peyton Place this year than I ever remember. With the threat of HPAI still around, it's good to see so many falcons competing for nest space. :D

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 21, 2025, 12:43:02 PM
Good to have an active population here at GSB this spring! About 9:30, Newman brought a black bird food to the nest box and flew away with it shortly.  Then he returned with the partly eaten carcass, ate a bit more, flew away again.  About 11:00, the female U-09 was eating similar remains on a branch near the nest box.  Likely that Newman was enticing her.

And the river is open enough for a barge to come downriver at about noon!
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: MNLindaBird on March 23, 2025, 08:23:39 AM
Yes, it must be Spring!  Good morning to all! Came across this before-dawn passage of an illuminated barge going upriver a bit after 4 a.m. this morning.  Whether trains or barges, this river route sure provides delivery of MANY supplies to our region and beyond (did see the daytime post of likely one of the first barges going upstream).  I have been absolutely amazed at the number of trains using these rails and how many "cars" some of them are pulling.  Has been interesting and fun to watch.  Keeping fingers crossed that Newman will finally secure a mate for the upcoming falcon breeding season too!
 
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 23, 2025, 09:04:58 AM
WOW! GOOD!
AMERICA on  the move!

Elaine seen at GSB dawn March 23

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 23, 2025, 10:56:29 AM
Barge traffic on Sunday morning.  No peregrines in view this morning, unless I missed 'em.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 25, 2025, 11:31:02 AM
Newman beautiful in the early sunshine at the nest box, then interacting with female U-09 in the nest box about 8:00.  U-09 ate a bird on a branch toward the locks shortly after.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 25, 2025, 02:07:01 PM
Elaine dances here
She dances at Lacrosse
but no eggs

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 25, 2025, 04:58:43 PM
Elaine is U-09 the female with the upside down band.  She was probably too young for laying eggs last year, but this year might be better.

In my saved photos from 2023, Savanna and Newman had 4 eggs, laid in early April, and all four eyases fledged.  So we could start watching for egg laying fairly soon here at GSB.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 26, 2025, 02:16:16 AM
correct. owl killed Savannah. Sooo sad.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: mrsfalcon on March 26, 2025, 09:52:12 AM
Elaine is U-09 the female with the upside down band.  She was probably too young for laying eggs last year, but this year might be better.

In my saved photos from 2023, Savanna and Newman had 4 eggs, laid in early April, and all four eyases fledged.  So we could start watching for egg laying fairly soon here at GSB.

Falcons at GSB have generally laid in early April for a long time. But we're not seeing any falcons except Elaine, who is splitting her time between GSB and US Bank (she's at US Bank as I type this). Another adult female could still show up, but we are getting kind of late in the season. If your pointy little falcon brain was driving you to breed this year, you are probably on territory and getting busy right now. That's not a 'won't happen', but unless Elaine chooses GSB, I think we'll have a later year here at best.

Falcons have proven me wrong before, though!

Amy
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 26, 2025, 10:45:41 AM
Thanks for info, Amy!  If Elaine lays eggs at US Bank, we can watch there.  Has the GSB nest box lost its allure?  Has Newman?

I wonder if any peregrines in this area build their own nests and raise families these days.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 26, 2025, 11:59:32 AM
Elaine may be a confirmed Bachelorette - being wooed by 2 males. 

She seems to prefer Lacrosse box - my guess only.

Once in awhile 'trust the falcons' misses.   ;D

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 27, 2025, 03:01:27 PM
Newman is still trying to attract a female, and one of them joined him in the nest box about 7AM while night cam was on.  No band visible.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 28, 2025, 03:16:47 AM
Friday, March 28, 2025
6 am Elaine at LaCrosse.
6.25 am I dont see Elaine at LaX -
she was squakin - did she fly to GSB for brekky?

 ⚡ both GSB cams on hilights - rain.

6.45 she's at LaX again clucking for brekky.
I'd say she clearly feels a pull toward her egg.

6.50 Ardy brings a bird, Elaine reachs for it, but when Ardy brings it inside box - SHE FLIES AWAY! He follows her. oi vey!
Well now she's back - alone.


Elaine did lay her egg - at Lacrosse.
She may still fly here for brekkky.
odd?  yes - but - this is Elaine.
She was Newman's mate last year but got a River divorce.   ;D


Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: Rosieann on March 29, 2025, 04:12:41 AM
4 am and CamOp zooms in a Peregrine in the box. Is it Elaine🤔
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 29, 2025, 05:36:53 AM
March 29, 2025  Saturday
5.30 am  YES thats Elaine - and her 2nd egg is due today.
Her first egg is at LaX - and Ardy's lookin for her.

  O MY ! 
8 am  GSB box nest cam live - egg!  Dang!
EGGzakly what I feared - Elaine laid her 2nd egg at GSB.
Her first egg laid at LaCrosse.

Egg 1 - LaX
Egg 2 - GSB


bcaw Terka excellent at watching
https://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewforum.php?f=494
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: Rosieann on March 29, 2025, 08:55:20 AM
There really is an egg in the box!

How unusual is it that one falcon lays egg in two nests?
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 29, 2025, 12:29:26 PM
Oh My for sure!  Elaine has definitely laid an egg in the GSB nest box.  Camera was on Highlights all night and early morning, so no idea what time she laid the egg.  Newman joined her for a short while, and he has been in and out of the box several times since she flew away at about 9:30 AM.

The plot thickens!
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 29, 2025, 12:38:29 PM
Elaine GSB March 29, 2025
U09 Elaine is a 2023 hatch from Indiana

bcaw Terka excellent at watching
https://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewforum.php?f=494


(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/3/29/20250329T233027_5787407.ts.jpg)

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 29, 2025, 04:55:12 PM
Shep, yes I look in on the Spartan nest box, but hadn't recently.  Thanks for the heads-up about an egg.  The YouTube link I have for Spartan Stadium Falcons says the site is not live at this time.  Hmmmm.  Do you have a working link?

The Spartan men's basketball team is playing in the NCAA  Elite Eight game on Sunday against Auburn.  Go Green!
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 30, 2025, 02:01:54 AM
Shep, yes I look in on the Spartan nest box, but hadn't recently.  Thanks for the heads-up about an egg.  The YouTube link I have for Spartan Stadium Falcons says the site is not live at this time.  Hmmmm.  Do you have a working link?

The Spartan men's basketball team is playing in the NCAA  Elite Eight game on Sunday against Auburn.  Go Green!

Here ya go!  SPARTAN
https://youtu.be/lF4zVo2Qors

RRP link here
https://raptorresource.org/raptorresource/forum/index.php?topic=2935.0

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 30, 2025, 02:20:17 AM
March 30, 2025  RAIN-SNOW mix
GSB cams both on hilights
2 am  on DVR I dont see that ANY falcon has tended the egg all night.
Presumably Elaine spent the night at GSB, from what I could see.

Tucker13 - EXPLORE
Saturday, March 29, 2025 3:02 PM
What's happening with this young female ( Elaine ) is really unfortunate.
Elaine has retained an attachment to Newman and his nest box and also has formed a bond with Ardy at his nest box. He was an available male before Newman made it back to GSB. Elaine found him and started spending time with him.


Terka, bcaw images, video.
https://youtu.be/bjWSo_xhvTU


(https://i.postimg.cc/qR35Scgb/Przechwytywanie-w-trybie-pe-noekranowym-29-03-2025-230336-001.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/hvR5BJdS/Przechwytywanie-w-trybie-pe-noekranowym-29-03-2025-231057.jpg)

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 30, 2025, 09:15:14 AM
March 30, 2025
9 am  Cams live again
Elaine is here. 
My guess is she was here all nite.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 30, 2025, 12:33:14 PM
Newman brought a warbler to the nest box this morning about 8:30AM then flew away.  The wide angle cam is on Highlights so no way to tell what's going on away from the box, and the box cam went on highlights around noon.  Elaine U-09 came to the nest box and Newman brought the warbler back. Neither ate the warbler in view of the camera.  Only one egg here.   

Shep, thanks for the link to Spartan Stadium's falcon cam.  There are 2 eggs in that nest box this morning, and I will post a pic at that Forum location.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 30, 2025, 03:38:50 PM
 March 30, 2025   rainy at GSB
3.30 pm  Sonday
From what appears, Elaine spent all night last night and all day today at GSB.

As of now, she didnt return to LaX overnite or today.

A new unbanded female was seen with Ardy today.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on March 31, 2025, 03:15:52 AM
2 EGGS
March 31, 2025  SNOW!
2.30 am  Elaine laid egg 2 - at GSB.

 🥚 🥚  WOW!  Elaine laid another egg at GSB!
She has dismissed egg #1 at LaX.
She is not returning to LaX - and Ardy has a new girlfriend. GOOD.

Tucker on Explore verifies Elaine is NOT returning to LaX.

(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/3/31/20250331T074745_5845526.ts.jpg)

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on March 31, 2025, 12:07:14 PM
Shep, it sure seems that Elaine has chosen Newman and the nest box at GSB and now has 2 eggs there.  And perhaps the peregrines at LaX have worked out caring for the egg there with a different female.  Complex situations, indeed.

Pics from early morning.  They are not brooding the eggs yet, which could indicate that more eggs are to come.  Plenty of migrating small birds to feast on.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on April 02, 2025, 03:34:57 AM
3 EGGS   🥚 🥚 🥚   
Wonderful Wednesday!  SNOW
Elaine laid her third GSB egg - in a snowstorm!

When I went back to screen shot the 3 eggs, both cams were on hilites.  My guess is RRP turned them on briefly to see if there was egg 3 - and there is.

I took 3 shots off Explore, all were April 1

(https://comments-images.explore.org/_jc8et17yi/screenshot-214927.png)

(https://comments-images.explore.org/_ldyyif2om/1000007912.jpg)

(https://comments-images.explore.org/_2l760gpsd/4-1-19-24-snow-on-her-19-32-got-up-.png)

Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on April 02, 2025, 03:48:48 PM
Woo Hoo, three eggs at GSB!!  Thanks for the great pics from yesterday, Shep   ;D
Newman and Elaine have been alternating on and off the eggs all day.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: Rosieann on April 03, 2025, 12:25:42 AM
A mouse was on the way in to the box in the middle of the night and Elaine in defense mode and off the mouse went.
Link is a gif: https://i.gyazo.com/1dada250e3e0f455c5e6bfb5bcdb6564.gif
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on April 03, 2025, 04:22:27 AM
WOW!  Elaine is a fighter, protecter!   :D
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: STLbf on April 04, 2025, 12:56:27 PM
No mice allowed in this nest box!
Newman and Elaine are alternating incubation times for the 3 eggs here.
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: LisaG1967 on April 04, 2025, 03:51:26 PM
Elaine shows off her 4th egg about 10 mins ago on rewind   :D

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54431067003_618417d66a_b.jpg)
Title: Re: 2025 Great Spirit Bluff Falcons
Post by: shep on April 05, 2025, 03:31:11 AM
😍  HAPPY CATURDAY!
April 5, 2025
I am delighted to see her 4th egg yesterday!

🥚 🥚 🥚 🥚