CLEVELAND ~ 2013

Matrix · **Posted:** Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:45 pm

Did not see any reports on SW yet...Not sure about what to think...So just hoping... "no news is good news" Wont be on till tommorrow night, so surely there will be something by then!!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64400

C & C have posted and update, with pics regarding SW!!

From C & C:

As posted previously, there are some concerns about SW from the Terminal Tower site since she lost a talon and there’s a possibility that it could get infected or interfere with her hunting. Went to the TT site Saturday evening and those concerns grew a bit, even though we all know better than to put too much into just a couple hours of observing a peregrine. Still, she was lying down the whole time, barely even repositioning, not preening nor stretching, and unresponsive to Boomer as he came and went very high up on the Terminal Tower.

I went back early Sunday morning and saw much better signs. She was on the Rockefeller Building (the letter “R” at the end), which is about two blocks from Public Square and the nest site. She was much more alert and attentive, watching birds flying by, preening and stretching, scratching and expelling a cast. She looked at her foot a few times, but only when she was preening and she didn’t seem preoccupied with it. She also didn’t pick at it (and we know from Laura that a bird will pick at wounded areas when they are in discomfort). So, other than moving gingerly when she had to support herself with the foot with the missing talon she appeared to be acting “normal” from what I could see. She watched as a window washer started on the windows below the first “R” in “Rockefeller”, but remained perched for about an hour and a half before jetting off and skirting quickly around a low part of the Key Bank Tower. Before her departure, she even added to her “window art” to let the window washer know what she thought of him (LOL). I stayed for two more hours without seeing the pair until I left my parking space and I saw a falcon flying past the Old Stone Church toward the nest site. With the Senior Games in town my parking space was gone immediately, so I moved on to check other nests.

Can’t help but talk a little about the Senior Games, as while I was looking around for SW and Boomer I walked toward the lakefront and saw some of the events. I happened upon the cyclists taking off and made it there for the announcing of the “age 95 and up” category, which ended up being one guy who looked nearly half his age and joked with the announcer about having it “in the bag” (since he was the only competitor in that age group). As a side note, I ended up running into a couple from Wisconsin walking in the CVNP later that was going to be in the table tennis event. Great people—they loved it that we have one of their peregrines in our steel mill (LeFloch is from WI)! I just have to add that I have so much admiration for seniors who are so active—they inspire me! I hope I can be considered an “athlete” at a ripened age in the future! Finally got the hang of transferring my cell phone pics to my PC, so I’ll be tangential and show just a few shots of the city and games— I thought Cleveland looked great, even if these pics don’t capture it well (the down side of just carrying around a camera with a fixed lens… you have to settle for cell phone pics to get the full view).

I’m just rambling… in short, it was good to see SW looking and acting “right”, even if she does need to slow down a bit and compensate for that foot. And the fact that SW is a “senior” in falcon terms made it difficult not to address this connection on this page. Cheers to seniors!

Link to FB with pics!!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64400

Thanks Carly...she has been lounging almost all day...at least when I have checked...but, I am going to try NOT to jump to conclusions. C & C gave a pretty positive report from Sunday...

I have to wonder if its more age related. I always think of Freedom, who lounged ALL the time in her later years...and One of the Syracuse pair lounges so much, I thought they were incubating...and not to mention Orange in Australia. I can't tell you how many nights I have found her in the box, flat as a pancake and sound asleep...So...fingers crossed that this is all that is going on right now!! :thumbup

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64400

Thanks for that update, Carly!!! I'm hoping for the best here and trying to see the "glass half full" instead of always "half empty..." (if ya know what I mean) We've had enough tragedy this season...I'm just waiting for something concrete to go on rather than putting on my worry and obsession hat...Hopefully Scott and/or Chris will get a good look at her and assess as best they can. While the cam offers us a snapshot, its only a snapshot...I'm hoping she is more alert in the 60 seconds we don't see...

catwoman · **Posted:** Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:38 pm

I'm also concerned about SW, but its certainly comforting to know that she's being monitored by people who care so much about her. I checked the nestbox & she's still gone so hopefully she's hunting. Thanks for the updates!

Matrix · **Posted:** Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:12 pm

Hope they post something soon!! Thanks Carly for reporting!! Know we can count on that!! :bughug:

Matrix · **Posted:** Mon Jul 29, 2013 11:29 pm

Thanks Carly! I just checked C&C's facebook page too and there is a post....So like they said...ODNR will have to decide..

IMO..If she had not been going into molt, this probably could have been a piece of cake to get over...Molt takes so much energy...I saw Mystic lack energy Friday and she isn't injured!
Just my opinion again here.. but i hope ODNR gives permission to feed her...but not some plucked quail...give her the deceased quail feathers and all so she recognizes it as a "kill"!!!! Oh.. and I would put enough out for Mr B...as he took that one last time!

Soapbox is shaky...I'm done...Just want to see her get thru this..

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64400

Thanks for the link, Carly...

Here is Chris's assessment from the FB page

Swollen foot and swelling concerns for SW

Giving some mixed news here, I realize, but after seeing SW yesterday I was encouraged that she seemed to be acting “normally”. Yet after cam watching saw her lying down at the nest site for hours I decided to check on her again (and started feeling less certain about her condition because I never did get to see if she was hunting successfully or eating yesterday). Reached out to Scott (the TT nest monitor) and before we connected I was given access to check on her (and was told he was there earlier for quite awhile). Once we were able to talk Scott told me about his observations (and he plans to post those along with pics on the CMNH forum under “Scott’s photos”). Unlike Scott, I didn’t get a chance to see her from the front, as she remained lying down or standing briefly with her back to me the whole time I was there. So, I can’t say how full her crop was (although Scott said she looked thin). She did appear to have some food residue on her beak when I first saw her, which suggested that she has eaten today). Most definitely she was having difficulty bearing any weight on her left foot and she struggled to reposition and ambulated by hopping with her wings out. Didn’t get great looks at the bad foot, but it was obviously swollen (I actually thought it looked swollen in my flight pic from yesterday, but hoped it was just needing a little time to heal). She preened both standing up and while lying down, which, once again seems a good sign. I’m not trying to be dramatic, but my assessment varied minute to minute: at times while I was watching her I would think that she might just need recovery time if Boomer could help supplement her to get her through, yet at other times I thought that these could be her final days. Honestly, I’m just not sure since this is outside of my area of expertise. But Scott will be going again tomorrow, he has informed DOW and Harvey Webster from CMNH, and it will be up to DOW if there should be a rescue attempt. I won’t unduly interfere, but I will be available through the day tomorrow and will check my phone for updates. I’ll post some pics of SW here from today, but I have three brief video clips to post next that show the variation in my observations of her so that everyone can form his/her own opinion as to her condition.

I swear, this is deja vu all over again. Some of you followed Eagles4kids...for those who didn't, here is a pic of Lucy's feet this past February (and they are actually looking pretty good here)

As you can see, her right foot is totally gone and the hind toe of her left foot is very swollen (remained swollen throughout the season) This severe injury occurred sometime during the fall of 2012. Larry kept her alive and fed..which was the key.

The only reason I bring up Lucy is because of what we learned to watch for. She rarely stood, so it was hard to check her foot, which went through a period of infection...so, we watched her preening and her feather condition. That was all we could go on. She didn't hunt and Larry did the majority of nest prep, placing straw and sticks around a constantly lounging Lucy..it was cute. It took her quite a while to participate. She even had problems tearing prey that Larry brought..so, he would, at times, tear it up for her..But, she improved greatly, even to the point of where she could perch again (for short periods) if she wanted to. So, a lounging SW may be her way of resting that foot for very long periods of time. There were times when Lucy rarely left the nest...and when she did, she always returned at dusk, to sleep, lying down.

Another reason I mention Lucy is that she is a testament of their resiliency!! But, she had a few things going for her that SW doesn't have...Lucy is fairly young for an eagle (early teens, maybe-which is young) and I feel that infection wasn't as horrible as it could have been because she went through the majority of healing during cold weather. She did eventually learn to feed off of the deer carcasses and fish that the human angels left for her and Larry... Who knows if she can hunt now

So, I am going to remain hopeful for SW. If she isn't able to hunt right now, then lets hope that Boomer really steps it up a notch and keeps her fed. I hope the "powers that be" are exploring all their options. They tried to trap Lucy twice..didn't work, and may not work with SW..but, they could attempt to supplement food for her, like they did with Lucy...and maybe they could throw in some antibiotics..I think they tried that once at Norfolk Botantical Gardens with Pa (eagle). Can't remember if it worked though..

OK..sorry this is so long winded..and bringing Lucy over is just a tad off topic!!!

kittenface · **Posted:** Mon Jul 29, 2013 11:39 pm

Matrix wrote:

Thanks Carly! I just checked C&C's facebook page too and there is a post....So like they said...ODNR will have to decide..

IMO..If she had not been going into molt, this probably could have been a piece of cake to get over...Molt takes so much energy...I saw Mystic lack energy Friday and she isn't injured!
Just my opinion again here.. but i hope ODNR gives permission to feed her...but not some plucked quail...give her the deceased quail feathers and all so she recognizes it as a "kill"!!!! Oh.. and I would put enough out for Mr B...as he took that one last time!

Soapbox is shaky...I'm done...Just want to see her get thru this..

I just hope they help and if she is just more or less just staying there why not try and capture her. I don't know if that could be an option or not, or maybe it might do more harm than good. I just hope things go right for her she deserves only the best.

catwoman · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:36 am

I agree that she deserves only the best, Kitten. She isn't at the nestbox this morning, so I guess that's good.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64400

3 short vids from Chris..They are on PB..short description under each vid.

Matrix · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:13 pm

Excellent points SGB.... I agree!!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64400

Well, I've tried to check the cams (and even went through some of the archives) several times today. I caught no one!!! I hope this means nothing other than nobody was home. Actually, I'm having no luck finding anybody on any of the cams!!!

Here's hoping that SW is continuing to heal and gain her strength back!!! Positive vibes!!!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64400

Just perused the archives for this morning..I only found Boomer..I think...

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64400

From this morning....I think this is Boomer...Hard to tell if he is bowing, but I sure hope so and that SW is just out of view...

Matrix · **Posted:** Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:33 pm

Just thinking out loud...if I were a hurt falcon...and my nest was in the shade...I would not spend much time there...I would go to a sunny warm place to heal...especially with the chilly weather we are having....She may be lurking at a cache site as well...just hoping for the best!!

kittenface · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 12:13 am

I am praying that if she needs the help she can get it, I mean I know everyone will do what they can, but she needs to be somewhere they can get to her.
Please sweet SW don't wonder to far away.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64400

Wonderful Facebook post from C & C..for those that don't "travel" to FB, here is what they said:

Seeking Serenity in good times and bad

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference”. Whether religious/spiritual or not so much, many of us are familiar with the serenity prayer. Our passion for peregrines has transcended into life lessons and reminders of philosophical underpinnings that are pertinent in so many ways, and this is a mantra that comes to mind while we’re all waiting to see what will happen next for the long-time, 14 year old resident female of the Terminal Tower, SW. To our knowledge, SW hasn’t been spotted on cam or live since Monday, at which time she was obviously struggling with a serious foot injury that included a missing talon and portion of the toe along with swelling that kept her from bearing her weight on her left foot. She spent much of Monday and portions of the days leading up to it at the nest tray, yet since that time in spite of efforts to track her we can’t even say whether or not she’s hunting successfully, eating, and/or getting assistance from her mate, Boomer. Furthermore, it’s hard to know if this is any real variation from past behavior, since at this time of the year many of the adults are often not present at their nest sites and tend to use the juvie post-dispersal time to venture off to hunt other areas and show the independent characteristics of the peregrine personality.

So, while we all hope for a glimpse of SW it becomes increasingly clear that we have so little control over whether she returns, whether she heals and maintains the site, whether or not she’s struggling, whether or not Boomer is providing food for her, and even whether or not we get to see her again. As we look for her, what we can hope to find the most is serenity regardless of what happens that we cannot change.

Meanwhile, I wanted to compose an album that is hopeful, so I’d like to review some success stories. Since we aren’t the monitors of the TT nest, we don’t have many photos of SW to show, but one solid reminder is that SW was able to overcome a broken beak in the past (when she was fed by her then-mate, Buckeye because she couldn’t tear prey on her own). We also have the inspiring example of Bandit who made it through two stints in rehabilitation and made it back to reclaim his territory (even after another male had come in and started courting his mate the second time). As mentioned previously, we have Michelin, who spent awhile in rehab. after mis-fledging onto a stack of tires (hence, his name) and as it took awhile for his Trichomoniasis to clear up along with having lost two middle tail feathers he endured to establish his own nest site at the Lakeshore Power Plant. And then there’s McKees, who survived the ferocious battle with GG at the Hilliard nest site and went on to attempt nesting on a bridge at the Cleveland Zoo. There’s also Journey from last year’s ArcelorMittal nest, who was attacked and injured by the then-intruding female who killed her mom and siblings—Journey went on to the hacking program in South Dakota where she seemed to do well for as long as she was still caught on cam there. My point is that there are countless examples of how peregrines have survived against the odds, so there’s always reason to hope as we also deal with the reality of the challenges that SW faces. Here are some older photos of SW (prior to her injury) to keep her in our minds in a positive way...

...included are some wonderful pics!!

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Aug 04, 2013 8:40 am

Thanks for posting that article, SGB. Yes, there are definite limits to what human beings can do to help wild birds, but we know there are many prayers & good wishes from the many caring humans like C&C & the people on these forums.

kittenface · **Posted:** Mon Aug 05, 2013 1:13 pm

Coriena just posted this on FB and we are wondering can anyone here tell who this is? Could it be SW?

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CLEVELAND ~ 2013

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