MN / Elk River - 2008-22

[Elaine L]

Falcon at the nestbox.  I believe this is the male we have been observing for the last week (he has a heart-shaped white area on the left side of his face).  Boy, that wind is really stirring up the old feathers.

[Elaine L]

I do hope that we have this pair, or any pair, settle here soon and get the show on the road.    This is one of my favourite nestboxes:  the cam is clear, there is sound, you can see most of what is going on, and at least for me, there has never been a problem accessing the web camera.

[Baffled]

Hey, Baffled, you never know what they are up to just off stage...
They might be humming that tune along, but keeping the on camera view PG 13!
     

You are right, bcbird, they probably are up to all kinds of shenanigans, but are camera shy. (I know that I would be camera shy, if there were folks on internet forums commenting on my technique!)

I'll say this for the male bird though, boy, he is persistent. I check in every now and then and he's often in the nestbox, squeaking eagerly, letting his romantic intentions be known. He is definitely in determined courtship mode.

[bcbird]

Hey, Baffled, you never know what they are up to just off stage...
They might be humming that tune along, but keeping the on camera view PG 13!
     

[susha]

I can't believe how emotionally invested I am in these two birds . . . and how emotionally invested I am that they, uh, participate in some adult activity soon!

I think we need to pipe in Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to inspire them 

Love your idea, Baffled!   

[Kinderchick]

I can't believe how emotionally invested I am in these two birds . . . and how emotionally invested I am that they, uh, participate in some adult activity soon!

I think we need to pipe in Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to inspire them 

LOL, Baffled! Great suggestion!

[Elaine L]

Ha, ha, Baffled!  That is very funny, and I agree!

[Baffled]

I can't believe how emotionally invested I am in these two birds . . . and how emotionally invested I am that they, uh, participate in some adult activity soon!

I think we need to pipe in Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to inspire them 

[RCF]

These two birdies here do not seem set on how to move their relationship to the next level.  They seem to like the nestbox, but are not entirely commited to it.  Right now, the male is at the nestbox, doing a very thorough job of preening and cleaning, looking around, generally enjoying the weather.  Maybe they are crazy about the nestbox and have been having many romantic encounters out of camera view; I hope so, because we all want to see some eggs.

[Elaine L]

These two birdies here do not seem set on how to move their relationship to the next level.  They seem to like the nestbox, but are not entirely commited to it.  Right now, the male is at the nestbox, doing a very thorough job of preening and cleaning, looking around, generally enjoying the weather.  Maybe they are crazy about the nestbox and have been having many romantic encounters out of camera view; I hope so, because we all want to see some eggs.

[Baffled]

Noisy mid-morning food exchange!

These two lovebirds are certainly courting . . . let's hope for some eggs soon!

[Elaine L]

We have two falcons who have been hanging around here for the last few days.  They go in the nestbox, bow and scrape, talk to each other alot, and generally carry on like they are getting ready for parenthood, but, that is it.  I hope that the old hormones click in soon and we see something besides talk.

[Kinderchick]

Yes, very good description of the male possibly making a scrape, Baffled. Thanks!

[bcbird]

Hi Baffled.  Thank you for reporting so vividly what you see and hear.

[Baffled]

I think I might have seen some scraping by the male this morning!

He's in the nestbox, alone, uttering the same kind of short squeaks I heard yesterday. He is walking around the nestbox, squeaking, stopping to look out every now and then. Twice he squatted, lowering his chest to the gravel, then shuffling forward. Then he stands up again. Once he seemed to mimic the bowing low pose he used yesterday when the female was in the box with him. Mostly though, he is squeaking and peering out of the box (hopefully?! :-)).

This is fascinating. I don't usually start watching the webcams until hatch-watch time, so I've never witnessed the courtship behaviours before!