Radisson - 2008 / Trey & Princess

[Moonstar]

Wish I could meet up with all of you but I work in Fort Garry and only have 1/2 hr for lunch...not enough time to get down town. 
If you ever decide on an early evening meeting...around 5:00 pm, myself and a friend would defintely try to make it.

Enjoy Wednesday...hope you get to see Princess and/or Trey.

[sheltiegirl]

Just have to say Tracy, I think you are one of the most amazing people I have ever encountered. I dont post often but I do follow all the goings on. Im not sure this is posted in the right place but I will plead inexperience.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Day 4 is back with a new picture.......is that the nest box on the Radisson ?

Day 4 has the photo of the chicks in the bathroom sink, Day 5 shows half (the inside half, the part that is covered and protected from the elements) of the nestbox on the Hotel.  When I have posted more of my and Dennis' photos, you will better be able to see the whole box.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Is it for sure do you think that nothing else will be posted tonight?

TPC might just be lurking waiting for all of us kids to go to bed so she could put out our present!

Naw, I don't lurk 
If I'm here, I'm logged on as TPC.  Only fair to you all.

[ballywing]

I think your Edmonton site was a little neglected recently Bev - what with the antics of the Elk River chicks during fledging, and the Wpg 'Adventure' caper - but Radisson & her baby will no doubt have a flock of Phanatics return now,  to watch her first & only chick grow & fledge. 

[bev.]

I have already replied to this and I still feel a sense of loss.  I have experienced at my own site last year an dI can truly emphasize with all of you on this forum.

I hope I can keep some joy alive by continuing to post the antics of the Edmonton nest
I was not here as much as some of you but that was becasue so much was going on at my own nest site.  2008 has been a very stressful year for a lot of sites but I think the utmost thing is to think of our adult pairs.  I hope they remain healthy at al sites and that they can all retain their status .
I will continue to keep checking in if that is O.K.I may even have some news.

[borgy]

Tracy-you do not have to apologize to any of us for keeping us out of the loop.  We aren't the primary participants-the birds are.  You do for them first and foremost.  You have done a great job of including us when you could.  We cannot ask for more.  Bottom line is, these are wild birds-we can only help nature so much.  You did what you could to help things along, but nature still makes the final decisions.  All we can do is hope she has the same idea for an ending that we do, and this year, it wasn't meant to be.

It has been a sad year, but look at the friendships that have been forged through this message board-those of you who have been talking regularly will most likely continue to do so.  You would not have met otherwise.  That in itself is a priceless thing.  

I thank all who made the experience possible and look forward to next year.  I began watching last year and have learned so much about falcons and human nature (the latter over the last few weeks-there are good souls out there with big hearts who can cry over a little bird).  

I wish you all well-eagle63-I have been where you are and felt a similar overwhelming sense of loss when the birds died.  I couldn't understand why it should bother me so much, but then recognized it for what it was. Feel better soon.

See you on the board next year.  Thanks again to Tracy, Larry, Dennis, Kyle and everyone else who participated. Perhaps we'll catch up with you in Winnipeg when we visit some day.  

All the best--BevB

PS_I love the photos of the chicks in the sink.  

[photosbydennis]

Will have more photos of the chicks in the next day or so. Peregrines 2008   http://www.pbase.com/photosbydennis/peregrine_2008

Cheers !
Dennis

[ballywing]

I'd like to add, as for "why you didn't tell anyone what you were up to", I believe it was the right decision.  To watch this unfold inch by inch, and then fail, probably would have been more than a lot of us could bear.  We've been thru a lot already this year.  I appreciate you and the gang taking it on your own shoulders, to save us. 

Absolutely agree with that Liz!!......Remember the huge excitement generated a few days ago, by just the 'hint' of another chance for P&T?? .....So just IMAGINE the devastation we'd be going thru now, if we had followed along and been part of the whole adventure.  - We'd have been over the moon!! - Tracy would have had to keep us in the loop constantly, distracting her from the very important task at hand. - We'd have been asking constant questions, demanding the latest info, begging her not to give up, making suggestions & offering ideas or advice we're not qualified or equipped to give - and in the end we'd have had an ENORMOUS fall back to earth.   ....I don't know how you got to be so WISE Tracy, but you did the exact right thing, in the exact right way.  .. We sure would have picked a different ending to your adventure - but it was nice to have such happy, hopeful feelings & chats, even if it was only for a short while. - We've all learned alot from this unforgettable 2008 season. I know the lump in my throat & knot in my tummy will lessen slowly but surely.  Rest up Tracy & Team, you deserve a big fat vacation right about now!!  

[eagle63_1999]

Let's see if I can put some semblence of words together to make a coherent sentence.  I think I am safe in saying that anyone who has been a part of this forum this year that it has been quiet a roller coaster these last few days. Reminiscent of Black Friday in some ways.  When I read the blog this morning I had a feeling before I came to the end that P&T just weren't up for another round of parenting this year.  Admittedly part of me was sad for that, been asking myself all day - *how the heck did I get so attached to this particular webcam*  I can only imagine how attached Tracy must have gotten to having two little fluff balls of white in her apartment for the duration of their stay.  I thought, funny those two got to fly before they could even think of flying on their own. 

I was amazed by deedream inquiring if I was alright.  It never occured to me that anyone would notice I wasn't myself.  Yes I've communicated with some of you via personal message but still it speaks to how smart you all are to pick up on little things like that.  I wrote to deedream in a personal message and will kinda sumerize here. She was astute to pick up that I am not myself.  It's a combination of feeling sad at the closed chapter of this year's hopes for chicks being raised at the radisson.  I  didn't want to say anything here in the forum but in the past week there has been a loss in my family and my heart has been with my aunt and cousins and it brought up a lot of memories of the two profound losses I've experienced in 2000 and 2001.  As I sit here writing this I can feell the tears coming to the surface. I am not telling you all this because I want sympathy I just know some of you will have read deedream's question she posed to me and I felt it was only fair to explain to you all why my posts have been indeed brief.

Now, to Tracy and the legion of people who have endeavoured to bring a little ray of sunshine into an already sad season.  I can only say THANK-YOU for having the compassion and drive to continue to strive in the recovery of a magnificant species. Like human life there are indeed ups and downs and you all perservered with an idea that was beautifully told and made it feel like we were with you every second.  I bet Tracy when you were going to school to become the biologist you are that you never dreamed you would one day be a temporary foster mom to two peregrine chicks. 

Tracy, your concern and compassion for us here in the forum spoke volumes when you articulated the reason for not announcing the plan as it was happening. You were so considerate with that decision, curtesy these days is all to rare in this world.

In closing I just want to say that although the season at the Radisson is offically closed I would venture to say I hope we here in the forum keep in touch throughout the remainder of our calendar year until next spring?

[bcbird]

When I saw how few people were on the forum, seeing that the entire adventure was posted, I guessed the ending was different than hoped for.
Much has been said that I echo. 
Thank you Tracy for this story, for doing such heroic work for Recovery, and providing superb wild life education.  We Phanatics have greatly benefited from your hard work on this forum.  We have been enriched both by your knowledge and the fellowship of the other members. 

[Liz]

That works for me!  Wed, 12:30, Radisson lobby.  I won't have a red carnation in my lapel, but Tracy will be the one who looks like Tracy -- we can find each other that way! LOL   

[Liz]

Tracy et al, everyone has already said anything I could.  It would have been wonderful if it had worked out, and I really appreciate everyone's work to make it happen.  Que sera, sera.  Now I understand why Larry couldn't answer me last night when I asked about the camera. 

I'd like to add, as for "why you didn't tell anyone what you were up to", I believe it was the right decision.  To watch this unfold inch by inch, and then fail, probably would have been more than a lot of us could bear.  We've been thru a lot already this year.  I appreciate you and the gang taking it on your own shoulders, to save us.  It's disappointing for all, but you now need to get some well-deserved rest; and we have next year to look forward to. 

In the meantime, we've all made some interesting friends -- this wasn't all for naught!   

[skygirlblue]

Well, I wish I could think of some words of wisdom or some deep philosophical comment, but I can't.  I read the "End of the Tale" early this morning, but just needed time to digest the information....and I still don't have anything profound to say other than I am just so, so sorry this didn't work out.  Sorry for Princess and Trey, sorry for all of us "Falcon Fanatics", and sorry for you, Tracy and team.  What a brilliant idea, and I know enormous effort and expense must have gone into this very special undertaking.  And we all thank you for that!!! Gosh!!  Foster chicks never even crossed my mind.

Well, I'm very disappointed and bummed, but from a selfish, human standpoint.  The important thing is for those 2 precious chicks to find a good home, and Princess and Trey to continue to renew their bond, defend their territory, and plan for next year...

How many falcon chicks have flown twice in an airplane, slept in a bathroom sink, been hand fed gourmet food by one very special TPC.

Thanks Tracy...even though the "Tale" didn't have the ending we had all  hoped for, it was a great read and full of great heart!!!

[eagle63_1999]

Are you all right eagle?  I was wondering cause your first couple posts today are very brief.  It is a dissapointment.  I truly hope you are alright. 

Deedream I replied to you in a Personal Message