I wanted to write a statement about our falcon watch this year.
I know 5 retrievals make it sound like our kids were not good fliers. Not the case. We had some unwanted interference by maintenance workers . They were on the roof of where Mr. Red had been put. This spooked the chicks into flying before ready. (the cause of 2 retrievals.)
This is something that will have to be addressed and I am hoping to work with everyone to make sure this does not happen again.
I think things got a bit slack around the site and now there is such a change over with the new hospital ,that reminders need to be put in place.
Also that white contraption needs to be addressed. It caused a lot of problems for the guys and Froona. (the cause of at least one retrieval) and it delayed the first flights of Mr. White, Mr. Yellow, and Froona.They could not flap in there without hitting their wings and they did not seem to be able to figure out how to get out.
It was indirectly the cause of Mr. Red being knocked from his perch(first retrieval).
Also the new hospital is so close that the kids have trouble getting up the momentum and hit the building . Unfortunately that is here to stay but I think if we can address some of the other issues it will go smoother for the kids.
As usual , a few people ask . Why not change the nest site??? The falcons chose this site. Except for the new building it is basically a good site after they get their wings under them.
I am so pleased by the response to the falcon watch. We had so much interest and I believe a great public awareness has developed. So many in the area never knew they were there. We even had patients in the hospital going to the viewing windows and watching them while they were at the nest site.
We had hospital staff coming and eating lunch with us. I get e-mails at home asking how they are doing. We have security asking how the guys are doing. But I am hoping to get more information out there for next year. We will miss the construction workers who helped in a few retrievals.
And when Peter and I go walking now there is usually some other people looking for the kids also.
I put this together at the last minute so it was draining on me but next year it will be more organized and there will be more key people so I can take a break. You are lucky in Winnipeg to have watchers in the downtown and from the office buildings. And Tracy is right there if something goes wrong.
That is why I stayed all the time,so we would have consistency, as this had not been done before here. We all see the need for the watch with the changing environment on campus.
We were lucky to have people like Eli , and Barb, who knew how to do retrievals. Peter was also shown by Gord.
We have people like Lisa who is a real organizer and Becky , who knows a lot about contacts on campus. Rosemarie, and Barb and Judith who stayed there longer than their shifts or just showed up, when they knew I was going to be alone. I could go on and on. So many wonderful people people. Some posted here for me when I phoned them. and then others joined the Manitoba site and posted of their own accord.(Bob and Carol, Becky,Eli)) this is so great. If I have not mentioned your name it is not because you were not valuable. My mind is fuzzy these days.
And my wonderful Peter,(Mr. Bev.,) who supported my passion for these raptors. Even my daughter and family , who came to their mothers rescue, to tidy up the nest site at home, and do my yard work.(And make sure their dad and I were eating properly)
I guess I am too long winded so I have to post in another post the rest of this 
