Falcons & Mirrors

It has been a busy couple of days in downtown Worcester and I have some news for you all. Yesterday was the day that the Dept of Fish & Wildlife came to band the THREE chicks. I couldn't be there unfortunately due to meetings in Boston, but the woman who has been tracking them the entire season was kind enough to email me and give me a summary. All three of the chicks are female and healthy. The parents were none to happy about the whole ordeal but seem to have calmed down some.

Anyhow, neither of the Peregrines landed on top of the roof to our bu idling today due to window washers cleaning our windows. I did manage to have a very cool experience though this afternoon as I saw one fly past my shoulder. It was the female and she was so low that I could hear the wind of her wings. My breath stopped as we made eye contact. She looked at me briefly and I at her and then she went about her business which was getting water from an air conditioner system that has water coming from it. I never knew this was a water source for them so it was a very cool discovery. Don't know how healthy it is for drinking though.

Here is the local downtown drinking fountain for all of the birds. This photo was taken while the female Peregrine was behind the unit drinking her own water.

I have no idea if the Rock Dove saw the Peregrine or not, but thought it was amazing that predator and prey would be drinking in the same water pool at the same time in peace. Birds are amazing creatures I tell you and I learn something new every day. The window washers were busy at work today and happy to see the Peregrine Falcons had calmed down some since yesterday when they were dive bombed three times! Seriously, look at the guy on the left. Can you imagine being in a contraption like that and hanging on the 14th floor of a building only to have a ticked off falcon coming your way!!!!!!! I will never complain about my job again, seriously I won't.

View from my window.

Speaking of windows, I figured I would give you a little view of the area where I get some of my falcon pictures from. This is the nicer section of the floor and offers great views of the city and surrounding suburbs on clear days. The falcons can't perch on this side as there is no ledge, but it does offer a great view of them when they fly around City Hall and the Flagship Building.

The entire floor is covered in mirrors which allows for some pretty funky shots like the one above. The mirrors are angled to allow for some serious tricks on the eyes. So 1970's!

Anyhow, just thought I would give an update. There is a chance I will be getting close up photos next week as I am meeting up with the woman who has tracked the Peregrines for years. She has a window right near the ledge of their nest box and I am going up there to look at them with my own two eyes. To be continued..........as always.