Bird Cams Around the World

Caesar Rodney certainly deserves all the honor he receives - he was a brave soldier, a solid leader and a great American. In a historical context, you could not come up with a better name for a Delaware patriarch. I still prefer Rory, but Caesar is good also.

Scarlet makes me think of Scarlett O'Hara - not my favorite literary heroine by a long shot, but I'm also a Capitals fan, and the ladies' fan club is Club Scarlet, so I'm sure I could get used to it - lol.
Sue

Is it raining in Delaware? Saw Red in the box (YEAH) and thought she looked pretty bedraggled. All hail, Caesar! Did think of Chad (Chadd) in your honor, Kim, as you are the one responsible for telling the world about Red Girl's whereabouts. I mentioned this before somewhere that the name Scarlett was given to a female in Baltimore many years ago.

Great names, Kim! I think Caesar is perfect because of the Wilmington connection. I also like Scarlett, but perhaps we should spell it Scarlet with one "t." That way we keep the color red and the best parts (e.g., strong will, determination, beauty) of Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind" and drop the bad parts (e.g., selfishness, shrewdness).

Caesar and Scarlet would get my vote!

Red is there now. A few minutes ago she started looking up and out of the box. I looked out my window across town and saw another falcon on the lip of the box while Red was still on camera inside. Red jumped up on the ledge and bolted something, then returned to settle on the eggs again. It's raining. The male is pretty devoted to be hunting in this slop.

Nasty weather here today. They really show it. I will vote for Caesar and Scarlet. Harrisburg has 5 eggs now. Now they will sit & sit. Good work Mom. Now see what daughter does here.

I thought you might be interested in reading some notes from Craig Koppie, the USFWS person who bands our falcons. He spent the good part of the day behind the nestbox on the 24th. Apparently there has been at least one intruder in the area! Someone also saw a third falcon yesterday. Hopefully they're just passing through the area!

March 24, 2010

11:00 Arrived at the Brandywine Bldg and met Paul

11:15 Observed female, banded A/53 (black over green), which flew to the box and landed in the scrape at 11:15. She bowed head-down looking at the scrape. She moved about looking over the ledge and left.

1:30 Male *X/? (black over red) landed on the ledge; very quiet. I may have the second digit (finally) of this band and should be able to get us the stats on this long lived male

1:38 Male vocalizing to female. He entered the box and dropped to the lower level at the scrape. Vocalized a few "chirps", then flew to the ledge. Female landed at the ledge and followed male to the lower level. The female sounded an alarm call with the male taking notice of possibly another raptor? in the area. He flew out.

1:58 Intruder peregrine falcon lands on the ledge with the resident male and begin a wing slapping fight! I had only a glimps of the falcon's feet and breast feathers. He/she looked to be a second year falcon with no leg bands on either leg!

2:10 Things get back to normal. Male vocalizing to the female. Both are at the lower level; bowing to each other. Female jumps to ledge vocalizing a "wailing" call indicative of accepting the male for copulation.

2:24 Copulation takes place on the ledge of the box. Female remains on the ledge; male preens for a bit and takes flight.

3:15 Male arrives with head-less mourning dove and releases it in front of the female. She grabs the prey and leaves with it. Male hangs around for about 45 minutes at the front of the box.

5:00 Female enters the box and drops to lower level. She attempts to sit in the more centrally located scrape but appears very uncomfortable. She immediately gets up and moves to the left scrape. She settles in to her surroundings. I anticipated an egg to be laid before dark. Made a note to bring small sized pea gravel for placement when chicks are planned to be banded. I departed.

5:45 Driving home and talking to a friend who is watching the falcon cam. As we talk he says she is getting up...and he sees a speckled egg. Sometime around 5:50.

Thanks, Kim!!! Thanks to Craig also. I hope that Scarlet and Caesar run that intruder off and there is no more disturbance to the nest.

Pretty quick landing and right on the eggs.

Thanks for that info, Kim and Greg. Am wondering about this Craig Koppie I've seen mentioned on here before. I went to high school with a Craig Koppenhaver, and wondered if there's any chance this is the same person. Is he from PA by any chance? Forgot to ask that on Sunday. Checked in on the eggs a bit ago, and nobody was home.

Father & daughter both brooding their eggs...

Craig is from Maryland.

Thanks for that report.

Male on eggs now (5:38 EST). Red may have wanted a break from boredom. He probably enjoys the break from the rain.

Left.