MN / Elk River - 2008-22

[Baffled]

Just saw a food exchange in the nestbox (male to female) when I happened to "wander by" the cam.

No egg yet.

[Baffled]

These birds have definitely "settled in."

Everyday they exhibit courting behavior a number of times: typically the male invites the female into the nestbox, where they bow and squeak to each other for at least a minute. When the  male leaves, the female then makes scrapes with her belly and feet.

Both falcons appear to enjoy perching near the nestbox. The female seems to be there more often, even when snow is falling hard. (Although no one was there the other day when the snow was very thick and wet.)

I have not seen any food exchanges within sight of the camera.

[RCF]

From the webcam page

Birdcam news

April 1, 2013

No April Fool here – we have falcons in the nest box! A male and a female appear to be settling in. The male is named Sawatzke, band H/34 black/green, he hatched in 2009 at a power plant in Monticello, Minn. and nested in this box last year. The female is named Mary Ellen, band 11/X black/red, she hatched in 2012 at Queens Bluff.

[Baffled]

Thick, wet snow falling this morning in Minnesota. Poor birdies.

I hope the weather warms up a bit before next week's egg watch!

[RCF]

I hope this all works out this year with her and, I suspect (I don't think there has been any confirmation yet), Sawatzke.

Great River Energy's "Birdcam News" post directly under the video indicates that yes, they have confirmed the male as Sawatzke (Swatzke?).

Thanks Baffled! 

[Baffled]

I've observed in the past few days that these two birds engage in courtship behavior several times a day in the nestbox.

Question: How long does the bowing behavior go on for a pair? For a few days? Weeks? Only until actual mating happens? Right up until the eggs are laid? 

[Baffled]

I hope this all works out this year with her and, I suspect (I don't think there has been any confirmation yet), Sawatzke.

Great River Energy's "Birdcam News" post directly under the video indicates that yes, they have confirmed the male as Sawatzke (Swatzke?).

[Elaine L]

Falcon on the edge of the nestbox just now, I believe it is the female, Mary Ellen.  She looks so young.  Her skirt is flying up and around in the breeze.  She loves to sit there and look around, checking out all the action, she looks so interested in everything.  Ah, youth!  I hope this all works out this year with her and, I suspect (I don't think there has been any confirmation yet), Sawatzke.

[Baffled]

I checked in on this cam several times yesterday, and was rewarded with three views of mating behavior. All three times, both falcons were in the nestbox, bowing and squeaking at each other.

The female seems to like sitting on the edge of the box at sunset.

[The Peregrine Chick]

One thing I do with bands I don't know well (or at all) is find another photo of the band where the number is clearly visible and compare the position of what you can see.

What would make me wonder is the position of the (assumed to be) "H" on the top, it is very close to the rivet seam, which is closer than that usually.  Think of the band in a square - the middle of the back side is the seam, the numbers are on the two sides of the box and the front side of the box is blank.  If you look at it that way, the letter almost seems to be running onto the seam which is the kind of thing that makes me exceedingly cautious about who it might be. 

If you can find a photo/screen capture from last year, compare where the seam is relative to the numbers on the bottom since there are likely two and the letter above should be centred over the two numbers.  Hope that makes sense.  It may just be the way the band looks in this image, but maybe not.  This is exactly the kind of case where I say "I couldn't get a good look at the band"

That is what I would do at least ...

For example - check out this photo of Niobrara's band and look at the positioning and think of the box ...
http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_0123.jpg
 

[RCF]

Do we know if the male is Sawatzke again?

Sawatzke's band number is black/green H/34.
This screencap is from BCAW.   I believe this is Sawatzke, what do you think?  

Click on the link for a much larger pic. http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?p=233096#p233096

[Baffled]

There's courtship behavior going on right now.

The male is in the nestbox, bowing and scraping, while the female watches him from the outer perch. Lots of noisy squeaks from both birds.

Do we know if the male is Sawatzke again?

[RCF]

Mary Ellen spent a few months at the Xcel Energy Black Dog Power Plant before she was put out by an older female peregrine.

http://www.species-at-risk.mb.ca/projects/pfrp/forum/programs/index.php/topic,3362.msg90851.html#msg90851

[Baffled]

Good spotting and closeup, RCF!

Beautiful female hanging out in the morning sun this morning (right now: 11:05 CDT). She has quite an obvious "crown" on her head.

[RCF]

This is Mary Ellen and was hatched on a cliff.    

Left Mary Ellen f 2012 Queens Bluff
Winona county, MN cl 04/25/12 05/15/12
JMF 06/04/12 w 816-38602 1807-77654 wpr ?