Radisson - 2010 / Ivy & Princess

[Kinderchick]

Just got home from fledgewatch and doing a few errands afterwards. What a fabulous morning!   Met susha across the street from the Rogers Bldg., where we spotted all of the 3 juvies who had fledged on the edge of the roof of said building and as bccs reported, it looked like Loki & Thor were fairly close together and Isis was just a little ways down from them... Soon, a parent flew in with what we assume was a food drop and the 3 birds disappeared beyond the edge of the roof, likely to enjoy a feast!

Shortly after that, along came bccs to spend some bird watching time with us and to chat. And then, lo and behold, along came Eye-Spy, with his belt full of tools and some kind of black box with cables. Now I know why bccs calls him a "tool"! Soon, Eye-Spy and bccs left us and susha and I were treated to a spectacular ariel "show", while Eye-Spy went up to the nestbox to clean the "poop art" off the camera lens.

And what an ariel show it was, with Princess and Ivy swooping and swirling around the roof of the Radisson! Princess was just a-squawking away as loud as she could while Ivy was more content just to fly quietly around in the sky. And I thought to myself, what wonderful parents they both are, Princess making every effort to protect her nestbox and Ivy keeping an eye on things in his own calm manner.

How come I can never find you guys??   - Spent about a half hour in front of and down both sides of MTS Centre, saw Aura on the nest ledge, doing some half-hearted flapping. One parent on the top of the high tower, one sibling did a little flying show in front of Aura then took off. Never saw anyone with binocs or looking skyward, didn't see any birdies on Rogers Building either, but was looking more at the letters, not the roof.  

Sorry we missed you again ballywing. susha left around 10:00 AM, when her parking meter ran out and I left about a half hour after that. Had some errands to do, before leaving for holidays on Friday.

[msdolittle]

you are welcome.  We were very lucky to have seen it and didn't want anyone to panic that may have thought she was missing.

[susha]

 

Aura just wants to drag it out...once she's airborne, she won't have the luxury of being so relaxed, waiting for her meals to be delivered...

[Cooper]

"can be a tad dangerous doing it while driving though..."

Practice, practice practice!     It can be done though. I'm living proof (so far). The trick is to show up before rush hour traffic in the morning. You can almost always see somebirdie somewhere at that hour. Sometimes, I'll just sneak into the meridian curb cuts as if I'm going to turn and then stick my head out the window and survey until someone honks. Pretend you're a tourist.


Was at Portage Ave (walking) at about 1:00 p.m. Only poor lonely Aura was visible. Still sitting on the ledge surveying her realm, no wingercizing that I saw. Perhaps she doesn't like to work up a sweat - one of those who cuts gym class!

 

[susha]

And it's a real pleasure to record the stuff that we've been so lucky to see, knowing that there are so many people out there who love these birds.  So thanks to you all!

I've got to leave soon for Folk Festival duty (okay, pleasure too ) so will be checking for updates on that girl and the other kids.  Won't likely be wandering the downtown again until after the FF ends.   

[susha]

Susha, it sounds as though you and Kinderchick had a fantastic morning. There's nothing quite like being out there, actually seeing and hearing the birds for yourself, is there? I can hardly wait to get downtown myself -- mind you, by then, they'll probably all be napping rather than the performance you saw!

It's beyond words, Saoirse!  it is so addictive, watching these guys.  And an interesting benefit, is that I'm getting to know downtown Winnipeg, as I've never done before - had no reason to!  Now, I can't imagine driving or walking downtown, without looking at the tops of the buildings and without searching the skies...can be a tad dangerous doing it while driving though...

[ballywing]

What time were you there, Ballywing? I hung out for maybe half an hour between 12 & 12:30.....Aura was on the ledge when I left.  

I was there from about 11:15am til 11:50am - Just missed ya!!! Aura was on the ledge the whole time I was there. 

[MayShowers]

More Loki photos have been added.
http://www.pbase.com/photosbydennis/downtown_2010

Cheers !

Wow, those are great photo's and Loki is such a beautiful lad

[bccs]

Great update susha, thanks for the info

She really likes to tuck herself up against the box in the right side as you are looking at it pchemist. Or if she's right under the camera, you'll never spot her till she moves.

Talked to Tracy today about Aura, and she says that it will be a few more days till she's even close to being ready. She's not been strengthening her wings near enough to even think about fledging.

[MayShowers]

I am not overly familiar with downtown Winnipeg, so I was just wondering how close the new Manitoba Hydro building is to the Radisson and if there are worries about the possibility of the falcons flying into it because of all the glass on that building?

I was going to suggest checking out downtown Winnipeg on mapquest.com or google.ca but mapquest's image is from before the Hydro building was built and the google image shows the construction of the hydro building but that makes it more confusing to my eye.  I do have some panaramas taken with the SkyCam over the last week, I will save them and post them in the video gallery tomorrow MayShowers - that way you can see the world pretty much the same way the chicks see it from their nest.

Thanks Tracy, I did some looking on google maps and have a rough idea.

[ballywing]

Maybe she hopped out onto the side ledge beside the nest.  - Hope she didn't fledge, she didn't look ready at all 

[Pchemist]

since I haven't been watching due to the previous cam troubles, I don't know where they hide from camera view (and all the leftover feathers don't help me determine if someone is under the cam, for example).

Since no one is excitedly reporting that Aura fledged, I assume she's in there.  but where?

[Saoirse]

Susha, it sounds as though you and Kinderchick had a fantastic morning. There's nothing quite like being out there, actually seeing and hearing the birds for yourself, is there? I can hardly wait to get downtown myself -- mind you, by then, they'll probably all be napping rather than the performance you saw!

[GCG]

  Hi susha, thank you so much for your explicate update. I, for one, cannot tell all of you on fledge watch, how much we appreciate your posts. Where does the forum locate this phantastic falcon "family" to bring us updates that we can all visualize? My most utmost "THANK YOU" to all. GCG  

uh! Where is Aura???

[Moonstar]

    thanks to all of you who are downtown and posting the updates on the falcons.

You are all so greatly appreciated.