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
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Welcome to the 2025 GSB Falcons thread! Please share screencaps and information about the 2025 GSB Falcons here.
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Good to have the folders for 2025 set up. Thanks. The River is quite frozen over.
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Live cam
https://youtu.be/VNhBrQYIuyo
Explore
https://explore.org/livecams/falcons/falcon-nest-cam
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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 :)
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Thanks - I'll check into it!
Amy
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Thanks Amy :)
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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
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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.
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...Will keep eyes open for the falcons too, Amy ;D
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Thanks! Just spotted our first falcon of the year at Bay State Milling in Winona, MN.
Amy
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Yay for falcon number 1 showing up in Winona! Hope there's good chance that other falcons will follow this one's example :)
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February 4, 2025
Good news!
GSB falcons should arrive this month too.
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:) 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)
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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.
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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
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Probly NOT Newman.
His perch was RLD - not here.
One of his mates - maybe Nova - liked this perch.
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Lori and Rosieann, thank you!
Amy
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WHAT a BEAUTY!
February 22, 2025
6:45 AM
(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/2/22/20250222T124359_23744748.ts.jpg)
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The beautiful Peregrine Falcon is banded. Not possible to read the numbers.
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GREAT SPIRIT BLUFFS VISITOR...
(https://i.gyazo.com/83271ebfc27c85e40294bf1fcb11dd04.jpg)
I got a couple pics of partial numbers...
(https://i.gyazo.com/0e7a4e1c0ebbe1cf5290ce7cc85e4b5d.jpg)
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could this be it?
(https://i.gyazo.com/bb49b07f0fb629d28943b257a6f538e0.png)
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Beautiful whoever he/she may be :)
(https://i.gyazo.com/8c17c0a4566daa25d73da80d9627f69f.gif)
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(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)
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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.
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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)
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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)
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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
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(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.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6p4h2Gqj/feb26-1-2024.jpg)
bev on bcaw caught this - this 'd be where Newman's land.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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)
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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.
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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
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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!!
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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
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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!
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We have yet another bird checking GSB out! Female Kandiyohi, a 2021 hatch from Red Wing Grain, stopped by to check things out.
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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!
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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
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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!
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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.
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Interesting on how the bands are distributed. Thanks! I hope Newman might stick it out if he's around.
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Hiya Nora!
Seems Elaine and Zazu fly between here and lacrosse.
The lacrosse box is getting SEVERAL interlopers!
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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
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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
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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.
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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)
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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.
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Explore post said squirrels eat eggs
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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)
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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.
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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.
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March 11, 2025
per Terka, bcaw ...
Hope E/60 - 2021 - Verso Paper Mill, Wisconsin
Elaine apparantly prefers Lacrosse
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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I'm just a lonely boy ....
lonely n blue .... uuuuuu ...
No female's staying with meeeee .....
boo hoo hoo hooooooo .....
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March 15, 2025
A 1 year old came to nestbox
Female V/70- 2024 - Red Wing Grain, MN
Terka on bcaw got band info
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Gorgeous young female with band Black V over Blue 70, as Shep reported. She and Newman have been flirting today.
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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.
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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 :)
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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)
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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.
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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
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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.
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Cam ops reported it, no band number when last I checked.
Amy
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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.
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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
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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!
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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!
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WOW! GOOD!
AMERICA on the move!
Elaine seen at GSB dawn March 23
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Barge traffic on Sunday morning. No peregrines in view this morning, unless I missed 'em.
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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.
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Elaine dances here
She dances at Lacrosse
but no eggs
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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.
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correct. owl killed Savannah. Sooo sad.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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4 am and CamOp zooms in a Peregrine in the box. Is it Elaine🤔
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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
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There really is an egg in the box!
How unusual is it that one falcon lays egg in two nests?
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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!
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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)
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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!
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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
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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)
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March 30, 2025
9 am Cams live again
Elaine is here.
My guess is she was here all nite.
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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
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WOW! Elaine is a fighter, protecter! :D
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No mice allowed in this nest box!
Newman and Elaine are alternating incubation times for the 3 eggs here.
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Elaine shows off her 4th egg about 10 mins ago on rewind :D
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54431067003_618417d66a_b.jpg)
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😍 HAPPY CATURDAY!
April 5, 2025
I am delighted to see her 4th egg yesterday!
🥚 🥚 🥚 🥚
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Shep, This means that Elaine has laid 5 eggs this year! The first one in the nest at LaX, that she abandoned to another female and the male there.
Fingers and toes crossed for a successful hatch and fledge here.
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True. While 5 eggs is unusual, it happens.
Apollo notes, bcaw
It seems like Elaine is taking after her Mom in South Bend.
Her Mom has laid 5 eggs each year since 2022 when she arrived.
Now, she hasn't hatched them all, but what an effortl
Grandma Moxie has never laid more than 4 but she is still laying those eggs at 14!
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Newman brought a warbler to Elaine about 8:30 this morning. She grabbed it and flew away; he took over incubation. Changeover from Newman to Elaine about 9:15.
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Elaine grew up in South Bend, Indiana, and so did I!! We're both Hoosiers ;D
Everything seems OK about things here at GSB today.
Question about peregrine egg colors -- Three of the eggs are quite mottled and paler than the fourth, which is very reddish. Is there any significance to the color of eggshells for peregrines?
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Probly no significance - but - maybe only 1 or 2 of her eggs is fertile.
ONLY a guess
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It seems that it's normal for color variation among eggs in the same clutch. From Amy's blog of March 20, 2023: https://www.raptorresource.org/2023/03/20/egg-colors-and-shapes/ (https://www.raptorresource.org/2023/03/20/egg-colors-and-shapes/)
"Egg Colors
Where do egg colors come from? Once a bird’s egg enters its shell gland or uterus, it is plumped with water and covered with calcium carbonate, a chalky white substance that forms the egg’s hard shell. In birds that color their eggs, pigments mix with the last layers of calcium carbonate to form the egg’s ground color. Blotches, spots, streaks, and squiggles are applied as the egg presses against a layer of epithelial cells in the shell gland, causing them to release or squirt pigment on the developing shell. If the egg is stationary or moving very slowly, it will be solid, blotched, or spotted. If the egg is in motion, it will be streaked. And if the bird was startled during pigment deposition, the egg might have a distinct pale or uncolored band around its middle."
P.S. to STLbf - I'm also a Hoosier, from Indianapolis.
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I remember Mariah & Kaver at Kodak in Rochester, NY used to have five, but it was a lot of work for them.
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Linda, thanks for the info about egg colors from Amy's blog. Very helpful to know that color doesn't offer clues to the sex of the egglet, or other life-determining info.
Always good to meet a fellow Hoosier. :D
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Changeovers as expected, and the 4 eggs look fine this morning.
Beautiful sunrise with low, foggy clouds.
Amy's blog from yesterday has great info about Elaine's adventures here at GSB and the other nest where she laid her first egg.
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Several changeovers as expected this morning at the GSB nest box.
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Glad this is finally going well here!! :)
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Just started watching yesterday. Glad to see four eggs and both parents.
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LEAP of FAITH
Decorah Goose Cam
6 Goslings Jump from high eagle nest.
5 Out Of 6 Make it & Take 1st Swim
Lady Hawk
https://youtu.be/HJklIylfBmw
Off topic but cute
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Yes, cute. Go to the RRP page for Decorah Goose Cam and see the Forum for Decorah Geese to see pics of hatch and jumpers and to watch the N1 and N2B goose nests.
Here at GSB, things seem OK and normal. Changeovers happen quickly, and Newman and Elaine are really good at hiding the eggs!
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And here on the regular forum under "Bald Eagles 2025" there are a lot of pages for the geese. This link goes to the current page......
https://raptorresource.org/raptorresource/forum/index.php?topic=2926.195
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Morning about 9:15 for changeover from Newman to Elaine and the 4 eggs.
Earlier, about 7:30 AM, cam ops panning view caught an eagle sitting on the island nest across from the GSB nest box. Could be eaglets there soon if not today.
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Oh cool! :)
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About 8:30 this morning, Elaine arrived with a partly defeathered bird for breakfast. Newman left immediately, and the 4 eggs look just fine.
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Long legs on that bird ;)
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GM - Am having some problems with Forum messaging at the Trempealeau nest. Just checking to see if messages still work in Forum for GSB site, or if I'm having new challenges in more than one of the RRP Forum sites. Hope everybody is enjoying a wonderful Friday in the meantime.
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Well, messaging at GSB still works. I think I'm going to have to reach out to Amy to figure out why Trempealeau Forum keeps giving me a "null" message and tosses all my effort into the thin air somewhere... Sorry to interrupt with some slightly off-topic inquiry.
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Well, messaging at GSB still works. I think I'm going to have to reach out to Amy to figure out why Trempealeau Forum keeps giving me a "null" message and tosses all my effort into the thin air somewhere... Sorry to interrupt with some slightly off-topic inquiry.
Sent you a message with Amy's email address. :)
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Rainy morning at GSB, but there's normal action happening. Newman and Elaine are incubating the 4 eggs, changing places regularly. In between, the cam ops got views of them separately on the feeding ledges near the nest box. A large barge headed upstream around 11:00, and a sub-adult BE soared nearby, catching a fish and landing with it in the trees next to the river. Rewind better than still pics!
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Monday morning, all looks normal at the GSB nest box and in the surrounding area. Elaine and Newman are doing their changeover thing, and the eggs look fine. Might be about a week to hatching here. The island eagle nest has activity, hopefully eaglets now or soon. Barges but no pics.
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STLbf I absolutely love that first picture getting ready to take off!!!!
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Thanks Nora! The frame-by-frame feature with live video paused is great for getting shots like takeoffs.
About 10:00 this morning, Elaine brought herself a partly eaten bird carcass. Newman left when she landed at the box. Eggs look fine.
For barge-lovers, a really big one, 15 units, went upstream just before noon today.
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I like watching the barges when they go past Red Wing too. :)
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Didn't see barge this morning, but the peregrines are doing their thing as expected.
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Getting close to hatch watch here at GSB. Elaine brought her own breakfast, Newman left when she arrived, and eggs look OK.
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No change for the eggs as of noon today. Warm temperature, changeovers as expected.
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Egg watch is on here at the GSB nest box. No sign of pips this morning. Stay tuned.
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Morning of 5/6 about 0830...
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyB8cIWuMZ7zvuYlZQ-JdpzwUnDnu4gHHWpfyYq5WwzmNg?cn=THISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1746542482)
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STLbf -- i may not post on this one a lot, but definitely checking in every day. Thanks for all the updates. :)
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Thanks, Nora, and all pictures welcome!!
I don't see pips on these eggs yet, but should be soon.
The cam ops are ready with close-ups.
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Newman and Elaine are taking good care of the eggs. As of late afternoon, no pips visible. Stay tuned.
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May 7, 2025
Pip in one egg
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Newman brought hatch #1 breakfast ;D
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyCTK6bfD1dG4xYXhzCusn0UUnDnu4gHHWpfyYq5WwzmNg?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1746637585)
Hatch #2 0858 IF the time is right...
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyBm0jv-DB1wiuMlpzAH6B6QrnHjCyIZu59oV2we_kMG9A?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1746637585)
Newman checking in...
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyCX0dxFOYPceTxAUwbAE1E4rnHjCyIZu59oV2we_kMG9A?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1746637586)
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O!! WE HAVE a HATCH!
That is so exciting!
Newman has to be very happy!
(https://comments-images.explore.org/_6pqkmxr5m/img_0246.jpeg)
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We have two :D
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Great news, Nora and Shep, that two eggs have hatched here at GSB. Newman keeps close tabs on the progress, an experienced dad. Elaine is a first-time mom; picking up a hatchling made me jump!
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Mealtime........
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyARvvkxZuzcx37YJvwnv0H3ldMTLfbtJ__wYVBQ_4iTow?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1746641222)
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The two hatchlings are definitely interested in food. Both Newman and Elaine are doing a great job sharing the parenting. Fingers crossed that the other two eggs will hatch.
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1815 Still 2 and 2.
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About 1950 Elaine took a break and Newman got to tend the two chicks and two eggs.
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyBteuH2YJWjGzsmdLKb0ITu5cYdfB3jRoL_VZILaXEufg?cn=THISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1746670346)
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I could be wrong, but about 2155 it looked like at least one egg was breaking in half when she was really wiggling around.......
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyClbGruqZ7WZmcoe2glh3PBqCe7ffHDJpwno-pEcjtJnw?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1746673575)
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Wish I could see better and she doesn't seem to be getting up at all yet. She definitely had one in an open shell and popped the shell out. So do we have one more tonight or two? Or maybe that is the one I saw a bit earlier?
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyClbGruqZ7WZmcoe2glh3PBqCe7ffHDJpwno-pEcjtJnw?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1746673575)
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyDpHFIK0sWfLAEmC3Niyw4FqCe7ffHDJpwno-pEcjtJnw?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1746681862)
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4 HATCHLINGS
May 8, 2025
Explore reports #3 hatched just before midnite last nite
and #4 hatch reported about 5.30 am today.
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(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyBMofmeM239hFBSFn9CBAzFldMTLfbtJ__wYVBQ_4iTow?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1746718588)
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Three hatchlings for sure, all together in a pile in center of nest box before daylight. Looks like the fourth egg also hatched and that little one is separated from the others, just inside the front edge of the net box. It is fuzzy white and thought I saw a little movement around 8:00 AM. Wondering if #4 will survive; it is out of sight later in the morning.
AH HA!! Ignore my worries. All four hatchlings are seen together at about 10:45 this morning. Good news, whew. ;D
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Early supper about 1650. All four sure were eagerly chowing down.......another Baltimore Oriole.
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyCP76ddzYydPiE8qrrpWSazVZV51t4MhjbEwRNyGscOgg?cn=THISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1746743358)
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-mqUU_s2Ncmc9QbtMyD0s6vI_3wc4UmetzoWj2-sEqyDKMPF3u3AOAm8c4BeqENEWUnDnu4gHHWpfyYq5WwzmNg?cn=THISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1746743358)
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The four hatchlings made it through the night, and had a blue jay for breakfast about 7:00. The feather pile made boas for the babies when Elaine left.
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Glad to see a meal of Blue Jay instead of Baltimore Oriole for a change. They've been showing up at several nests boxes as meals. :)
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Good to have a variety of prey for the hatchlings. Also doesn't deplete any one species too much. Not sure what was on the menu at the 9:30 feeding this morning. Mostly happy to see all 4 hatchlings apparently doing well!
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At feeding about 3:00 this afternoon, dark face feathers are starting to appear on the hatchlings.
Do we call them eyases now? Dictionaries say unfledged falcons and hawks are called eyases. What do the bird experts at RRP say?
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I call them chicks.
I wonder if RRP will band them this year.
(https://files.explore.org/sn/2025/5/11/20250511T003409_7603718.ts.jpg)
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As long as everything goes ok until banding time I imagine they would, but I'm can't answer for RRP.
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I'd like to see ALL p. chicks banded.
Egg and chick mortality is high.
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With nest boxes they normally get done, a lot of the cliff sights do, but there are some that are pretty inaccessible.
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The Racine female is a 2 year old.
She is banded but I cant get the number.
I'd love to know where she's from!
She's doing well with 3 chicks.
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The Racine female is a 2 year old.
She is banded but I cant get the number.
I'd love to know where she's from!
She's doing well with 3 chicks.
I found the cam page, is there a side cam or just the above views?
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Only that view from above.
Used to have a view from outside - that cam quit.
I am VERY thankful for this one!
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Only that view from above.
Used to have a view from outside - that cam quit.
I am VERY thankful for this one!
That would make band reading hard.
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Banding any raptor takes a lot of effort by a group of people, so it's got to be pretty expensive. I expect that people like our folks at RRP know how expensive because they apply for grants and such to fund the efforts. Our donations help some, too.
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A lot of distance between a lot of nests. You look at the ones down here in Iowa, then up by the Twin Cities and Wisconsin, and up by Duluth, and they have to be banded within a certain amount of time age-wise and they all don't hit that at the same time. That's why Amy likes knowing when hatches are so she can plan bandings.
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:D Amy needs a small private helicopter.
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Ha, Shep, that would be some whopping donation!
Blue jay and oriole on the meal menu so far today.
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The Racine female is a 2 year old.
She is banded but I cant get the number.
I'd love to know where she's from!
She's doing well with 3 chicks.
I found the cam page, is there a side cam or just the above views?
Ok looking at last year's banding report for Wisconsin, that's a new female then. Where are all the established females going this year????
2024
"Adult Female: Unbanded - likely her 2nd year at this site.
Adult Male: Unbanded - his 5th year here."
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Is there not a Forum site for the peregrines at Racine, WI??
GSB views today from the cliff cam, to include a riverboat coming up through the locks. Might be the first tour boat of the season. When Newman or Elaine perch on the faux branch or camera housing at the nest box, this view shows them, also branches in the area, ledges, etc.
The eyases can thermoregulate now, so parents can leave them "alone" for short whiles. They will be a week old tomorrow and Thursday.
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Apparently a Racine thread was started this year under "All Other Topics" and then "Peregrine Falcons".
https://raptorresource.org/raptorresource/forum/index.php?topic=2934.0
That thread probably should get used for Racine so they aren't mixed in with GSB. In April you posted "The new female is Techa M/43
2019 hatch - Carmeuse Lime Plant Gary, INDIANA bcaw Terka got band!"
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Great to know that the Racine peregrines have their own live feed!!
Things here at GSB are as expected this morning.
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Thot some may enjoy this banding video.
California 4 chicks get banded
Hartley, Monty Divebomb Intruders
2025 May 13
https://youtu.be/D1RlvHE804o
3 girls and a boy
Chilling descent and ascent! ugh!
Very entertaining video.
Surprisingly aggressive parents - they'd even perch on wall right by banders, and sit there yelling at them!
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Hope the California banders were wearing helmets and heavy gloves!
All seems good at the GSB nest box today. Newman and Elaine provide a steady supply of bird-food.
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The eyases are starting to shuffle around the nest box, separating from the close-together pile sometimes.
Newman spent some time perching at the bluff top, and being on the ground for maybe a sunbath.
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Another day, much more to eat, Newman and Elaine are great hunters.
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Being Elaine showed up last year, I'm glad she was back this year and FINALLY settled there. They seem like a good team.
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Agreed, Nora. This pair is doing well. Eyases are 2 weeks old and starting to show some dark feathers, esp. on faces.
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Mid-morning feeding, Elaine gave the left-most eyas a big chunk and it tried to self-feed. Not quite yet.
Barge traffic on the river.
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It's cold and rainy all over the area today. Elaine worked to keep the eyases sheltered from the wet. They don't fit completely under her anymore.
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That is one BIG ball of cotton! :D
Love those barges
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Rainy and foggy early this morning at GSB. When Newman and Elaine are not in the box with the eyases, they are nearby. The Cliff Cam comes in handy for watching the area. Both parents were perched at the back side of the large feeding ledge for a bit after Elaine brought a bird to the ledge and de-headed it before feeding the little ones.
About 7:00 AM, one of the eyases engaged in some good wing stretches and little flaps while teetering for balance. Elain flew down to the box and we got a good peek at emerging primary wing feathers on the active eyas.
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sTLbf you've been doing such great updates while I've watched the four hatch up at Cohasset/Boswell.
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Explore mod post
John Howe mentioned
banding May 31 Saturday GSB and Castle Rock
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Super!
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Thanks, Nora. And good to have a banding date, Shep. Weather permitting, I imagine.
So far this morning, Elaine has brought 3 or 4 birds to the nest box. She is still feeding, but bigger chunks, and the little guys are starting to peck at the food.
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Another day of multiple feedings for the fast-growing eyases. The bird brought by Elaine at about 3:15 might have been a woodpecker -- black and white striped wing feathers.
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They're really spreading out in there! :)
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Elaine spends time out of the nest box sitting on the camera housing, perching at the top of the bluffs. Both good lookouts for meals flying past. She is feeding bigger chunks to the eyases, and they try to swallow but usually drop.