San Francisco Falcons: January 1-March 11, 2013 (PART I)

mwplay · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:15 am **Posts:** 10250

Thank you for the pictures. I was doing some stuff around the house and didn't see these.

IMO, this is neither Dan nor Lil.

I do think we saw Lil yesterday.

I think maybe Dan was on duty in late afternoon (5PMish).

But I'm just not sure what else is going on here. Have to rely on what info comes from ground and that isn't always timely. I thought we would get some additoinal information last night and really didn't.

Sorry.

mwplay · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:15 am **Posts:** 10250

11:50AM - just took look at cam.

Mohawk falcon is back on eggs.

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Mar 10, 2013 3:00 pm

Wow, is this one of those "surprises" that peregrines present us with just to show us we can't anticipate what they're going to do? :girlcrazy:

If there is a third peregrine, that would explain why we're having so much trouble identifying the incubating peregrine. If there are 3 incubators, or even a different female helping Dan with incubation, either would be a first for me. And actually, when I've thought it was Lil on the eggs, its because I didn't think the bird in question was Dan. I don't know that Lil has features that are easily recognizable the way Dan does. This is very nerve-wracking because now I'm worried about Lil again! :gaaaaah:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64753

Well, this just gets more and more confusing...I don't know when featherbird returned..they didn't point the cam back to the box until 11:35 and he/she/it was already settled on the eggs..do they have a Nanny like Aria and Vento did last year? And how long has this been going on?...and if we aren't seeing Dan or Lil, then where are they? Nobody has relieved this falcon all day...Have Dan and Lil abandoned this nest? I wouldn't think so...We need to ship the Rochester falcon watch team to San Fran!!! :teehee:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64753

Featherbird just got up, stretched a few times then took off...Of course, cam didn't follow... :furious:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64753

OH sure...now they pan...too late

Somebody sitting on the canoodle rail...left...and somebody has returned to the box..now to see who...OK..its Feather dude...I think...back to the cam...so can't see face...

mwplay · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:15 am **Posts:** 10250

I hate when I have chores to do...

Looked at cam and eggs were uncovered.

12:27PM - zoom out, bird on 201 Mission.

Flies. See bird on right of ledge. Hops down, proceeds to nest. It is Mohawk again.

Now I'm really worried something is going on here. Something big....

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Mar 10, 2013 3:31 pm

Yeah, the eggs were only left for about 3-4 minutes. And I do think that the one who left is the one who returned, just cause I see a feather dangling down.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64753

I am having such a hard time believing that this is neither Dan or Lil...Who else leaves the box...then a falcon appears on the rail...leaves the rail and suddenly appears in the scrape....unless that rail is a communal rail..its almost like.."here's where we meet...so why aren't you meeting me here!!!"

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Mar 10, 2013 3:33 pm

I understand about the chores, mwplay! Today is a beautiful day here & my yard is in desperate need of some TLC & here I sit! :girlcrazy:

Well, I am putting my shoes on while I watch the cam, so maybe I'll get moving soon...

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64753

Well, I'm going back to chores...I've got the recorder on the cam...now, we just need the cam operator to be more awake and respond to behaviors we are seeing on the cam rather than having such a lag time...

oh...and I'll add...its pointless to be this zoomed in...we know its featherbird..not that they want my advice, but I'd zoom as far back as I could and angle to the right...try to get as much area in front of the scrape as possible..

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Mar 10, 2013 3:37 pm

carly wrote:

Cam followed later and she was on a building looking around and now she's back. You sure this isn't Lil, looks like her ? Albeit she's got a loose feather that's giving her a funky look atm.

Don't think a new female or male would just start incubating someone else's eggs right away this time of year, they'd still be in canoodle mode..remember San Jose last year? Remember S2?

That's not to say that one isn't MIA here but whoever this is - is quite at home.

That's what we were assuming, Carly, but there seems to be a lot of confusion even among the people in SF who know these birds the best. I would be very surprised if another falcon (male or female) just started incubating someone else's eggs. Unless, as SGB said, they have a nanny (hatch from prior year) like they did at Aria & Vento's nest last year.

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Mar 10, 2013 3:42 pm

I'm also going to get moving. Hope this gets sorted out quickly!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64753

well, featherbird just left

mwplay · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:15 am **Posts:** 10250

I'm stumped. Mohawk is off eggs at 12:45pm and the cam operator is on the ball..

Mohawk is on ledge, looking around.

12:47PM - Mohawk takes off.

This bird is unbanded. All the babies from last year would have bands.

I think this might be a male.

Carly - as for Lil or not, Lil has really mean looking eyes. This bird has "cute" looking eyes, like Dan does and a really white chest. Lil is a little dirtier looking. This one looks like a combo of the two (sort of like Beauty - dirty, and DC - white)

I feel like such and idiot here. Wish I knew these two better and wish there was better communication back from ground.

mwplay · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:15 am **Posts:** 10250

OMG - this bird is sneaky...

12:51PM - cam pans back & bird is back on eggs...

:girlcrazy:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64753

No bands, Carly

mwplay · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:15 am **Posts:** 10250

As stupid as this sounds, that feather is critical right now in IDing these birds.

On Sat morning, an email came out from Ann that she had seen a big battle on Friday afternoon and that she did not see two birds she saw fly off return.

It was thought Lil was on the eggs at 5:50PM Friday (video uploaded), but it was reported by Ann that the bird on the eggs was actually DAN and had been mis-identified. So starts the confusion and the concern for Lil.

The one thing I think might be important - the bird in the video from Friday had the same feather out of place. Could a new feather be out of place - definitely. Could Dan or Lil or whoever is missing just be out on patrol, being extra vigilant - defintely.

Someone reported on the SF Yahoo forum yesterday at 5:42PM that they had seen 2 birds while ground watching - one on the eggs and one on the building roof, about 6 columns down.

I see a post from Ann at 11:08AM, there is still confusion on whether "Mohawk" is a male for female.... "Mr or Ms Mohawk". I know they are trying to figure this out. None of these birds are banded and that only makes it worse.

I will say, these watchers are experienced and to my knowledge, are familiar with distinguishing birds by facial markings. Few years ago, when Haya was shot, went missing and new gal arrived, there was some feedback given to the person who watched the nest, that she should have known the difference between the birds based on markings... Well - those that gave the feedback are now in potentially the same position... when there are NO bands, makes it really hard, even for a couch webcam watcher like me!

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Mar 10, 2013 4:11 pm

Good summary, mwplay. Yes, I'm back in--had to get some gardening gloves & of course while I was in the neighborhood, had to check to see if anything was resolved.

mwplay · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:15 am **Posts:** 10250

carly wrote:

I'd never knock anyone for not being able to ID an unbanded falcon.

I feel bad because last year in Rochester when they couldn't tell if it was DC or some other bird who had been coming in, I couldn't figure out why they didn't know it was him. Well, of course, once I saw pictures of how far away they really are... was like a 2X4 across my head. I was so embarrassed. Now I know better, especially because these birds nest so high up. Scopes and cams can get you a little closer, but not that close.

:sum8:

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San Francisco Falcons: January 1-March 11, 2013 (PART I)

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