MN / Great Spirit Bluff - 2016-22

[GCG]

GSB has a forum link in case anyone wishes to get up to date information on this and other sites.

https://www.raptorresource.org/forum/

[GCG]

Newman is again the resident male. Michelle has yet to return, but for her, it is soon to come.

[GCG]

2020 NESTING SEASON

It would appear that this may be yet another early season for this site. There are 2 cams and 2 falcons seen every time I look at this link.

https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/gsb-falcons/

[GCG]

2019 NESTING SEASON

An unbanded  falcon has been seen numerous time here. On the forum, there are many photos and comments and it seems most likely that the resident male, Newman has arrived. He is beautiful.  I, personally love this site. The scenery is amazing.

https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/gsb-falcons/

The Great Spirit Bluff peregrine falcons nest on a bluff located near La Crescent, MN, overlooking Lock and Dam #7 on the Mississippi River. The peregrines are not present year-round. In general, they return in late February to early March, begin courtship between early and Mid-March, and lay eggs between late March and mid-April. Hatch should begin in early to mid-May, fledge generally occurs 38-40 days after that, and young disperse in late August or mid-September. The adults stay on territory until late fall. While the male and female leave at roughly the same time, they are not believed to migrate together.
 
Forum link:  https://www.raptorresource.org/forum/index.php?topic=865.4350   

[GCG]

Newman and Michelle now have 3 eggs. There is a post on Raptor Resource Project's Facebook page showing 17 amazing photos. I do not knw how to post the photos here, but perhaps you are able to do it for me Alison. 

[Alison]

Michelle laid her second egg at 6:26 p.m. today.

Immediately before she laid the egg, and immediately thereafter:

 

Only seconds after Michelle laid the egg, Newman arrived with a meal for her. He realized very quickly that this was not the right time, and left in a flurry of wings.

 

[Alison]

Michelle is busy doing what female falcons do at this time of year. Have been unable to find a blog that from the site, or commenters posts. Should be 1 or 2 for sure. 

Michelle laid her first egg at 8:09 a.m. on March 30. Her second egg should be due today. At the moment, she is taking a nap in the nest.

 

 

[GCG]

Michelle is busy doing what female falcons do at this time of year. Have been unable to find a blog that from the site, or commenters posts. Should be 1 or 2 for sure. 

Update! I see 1 for sure.

[GCG]

Michelle is busy doing what female falcons do at this time of year. Have been unable to find a blog that from the site, or commenters posts. Should be 1 or 2 for sure. 

[GCG]

Courting his lady with a meal. Video is dated March 16th.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLeNR2ocnlCOdeI6ZqC3YP4kFkH32oxi8W&time_continue=27&v=akGKwOKWKr4

[GCG]

I forgot to say there are 2 cams operating at this nestsite. One shows an aerial view and the other is a close view of the nest.

https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/gsb-falcons/

[GCG]

Both residents are back at this site and confirmed that it is Newman ad Michelle.

"Male is Newman, an unbanded falcon, confirmed by field marks on February 27.
Female is Michelle P/87, confirmed by band number on March 4th. She is a 2005 hatch from Maassen’s bluff in Nelson, WI.
Female 89/(unknown) visited the box on February 28, but vanished before Michelle arrived."

https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/gsb-falcons/

[GCG]

2018 NESTING SEASON

A new season and the 1st arrival has been seen many times. Can our residents be far behind?

https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/gsb-falcons/

[GCG]

I forgot to mention that the 2 chicks were given their names by a Hamilton (Broadway play) fan. 

[GCG]

This is what is posted on Facebook. 

Raptor Resource Project
June 3 at 7:39pm ·
"We are aware that Hamilton and Burr-D are out of the box at Great Spirit Bluff. The two falcons are around 28 days of age today and we have decided not to try to bring them back to the box. Michelle and Newman will find them and care for them until fledge, as we saw in 2013 and 2014. We will see if we can locate them with the camera, but we have no intention of going to the base of the cliff, which could drive them deeper into the tangle below. We are hopeful for both little falcons and will keep everyone posted.
We're getting questions on the box design and production at Great Spirit Bluff. Are the falcons falling because the perches are poorly designed? In short, no - but you can read more about the issue here: http://bit.ly/2qNSRsJ
John is thinking about ways to design the replacement box that will minimize problems with black flies. We are about 40% of the way through our banding season and it looks like black flies and weather plagued impacted many of our wilder sites this year. We'll talk about that later this week."