MN / Elk River - 2008-22

[Baffled]

Yes this is courting behaviour but no not "scraping".  Scraping is when one of the birds drops to their belly and starts using their feet and breast to actually dig out a scrape in the gravel.  Most often its the male and he'll do it often.

Thanks for explaining, TPC!

[The Peregrine Chick]

I think I'm seeing courtship behaviours!

The two birds flew back to the nestbox. The smaller (male) entered first, then the female followed, facing him. He bowed lowed, bobbing his head, down into the gravel, keeping it very low all the time (in what might look like a submissive position if they were dogs, not birds). He used short squeaks and peeps.

She faced him in the nestbox, keeping her head high, but sometimes bringing it down low to his, beak to beak. She screeched up a storm. Lasted about 5 minutes.

Is this part of the "scraping" courtship behaviour mentioned?

Yes this is courting behaviour but no not "scraping".  Scraping is when one of the birds drops to their belly and starts using their feet and breast to actually dig out a scrape in the gravel.  Most often its the male and he'll do it often.

[Kinderchick]

Yup, certainly does look like courtship is underway! Great photo, rcf!

[RCF]

I think I'm seeing courtship behaviours! The two birds flew back to the nestbox. The smaller (male) entered first, then the female followed, facing him. He bowed lowed, bobbing his head, down into the gravel, keeping it very low all the time (in what might look like a submissive position if they were dogs, not birds). He used short squeaks and peeps. She faced him in the nestbox, keeping her head high, but sometimes bringing it down low to his, beak to beak. She screeched up a storm. Lasted about 5 minutes. 

Video - http://youtu.be/NyJ-TYMOk7I

[susha]

That's what it sounds like to me, Baffled!  Lucky you, to have seen such a great show!

[Baffled]

I think I'm seeing courtship behaviours!

The two birds flew back to the nestbox. The smaller (male) entered first, then the female followed, facing him. He bowed lowed, bobbing his head, down into the gravel, keeping it very low all the time (in what might look like a submissive position if they were dogs, not birds). He used short squeaks and peeps.

She faced him in the nestbox, keeping her head high, but sometimes bringing it down low to his, beak to beak. She screeched up a storm. Lasted about 5 minutes.

Is this part of the "scraping" courtship behaviour mentioned?

[Baffled]

The female (I think) was sitting outside the nestbox for a long time this morning, looking just beautiful in the bright morning sun!

She just started fussing/turning/screeching, hopped into the box briefly, but her mate arrived in a flurry of wings and they both disappeared out of sight.

Yay Falcons! So excited for another year of birdcams!

[The Peregrine Chick]

Though I love the idea of it being a Canadian bird - and a male one at that (we have very few males that have been reported elsewhere in recent years) - it could also be an older Midwest bird from the time before they went multi-coloured (black/green and black/red) or it might even be a bird from further out east - some of whom may still use/definitely did use black bands at one time.  All wild birds in the beginning of the project were black bands north/south of the border - they have just produced more and needed to expand their numbering and the multi-colours made it easier to ID.

I will love hearing what his band number is when its finally read!!  He's got kinda high speckles on his breast, might even be one of Princess' - after all, she's originally from Minneapolis ...

[RCF]

The male has a black/ black band on his left leg, so he is a Canadian bird.     If I recall correctly isn't there a cam for inside the box, and then we could probably see the number.  

[RCF]

I caught a food exchange this evening and they are very loud.  

Video - http://youtu.be/CscSnuySgeA

It also looks like the larger bird has no bands and the smaller one has bands. Dot was banded and Dad wasn't. So these may be two different birds than last year.  

 

[Elaine L]

A falcon was again in the nestbox tonight.  He/she was looking hard at something outside, then took off like a shot about 9:00 p.m. MDT.  Has not yet returned, so I hope everything is o.k.

[Elaine L]

According the BCAW, these two got right down to business this morning.  Still no positive I.D.: Dad and Dot, or not?

[RCF]

Looks like a falcon in the nestbox, but it is really too dark to see if it is indeed a falcon or another bird.  To make matters worse, I cannot tell if I am looking at the front end or the back end.  But it is a bird.

Well, it sure looks like a falcon to me  

[Elaine L]

Looks like a falcon in the nestbox, but it is really too dark to see if it is indeed a falcon or another bird.  To make matters worse, I cannot tell if I am looking at the front end or the back end.  But it is a bird.

[Elaine L]

The birds are back, but no confirmation as to who, except that BCAW thinks it is the male who is banded, but the female, not.  Looking at this morning's photo from BCAW, I think this is the male, and that it is Dad, but I leave the final I.D. to the experts.