OH / Columbus - Rhodes Tower - 2008-16

[carly]

Me either, something is going on though.  Someone keeps looking up.

[jadoo]

...somebody was just in the box, then left, and now somebody is back on the ledge - haven't been able to id anybody...

[carly]

I've seen Angel in a few altercations here these past few months with 'passer bys' and they typically take off within minutes when they realize the ledge is in possession.  They don't keep going for 3 hours.  She may sense a chance at victory.  Given all the things we've seen on cam the past 2 years that weren't supposed to happen - I won't be happy till I see our girl.  

Edit to add:  Falcon just landed on the cam??!!  Can't make it out but Durand usually sits there!!  Mick has also just added that he taped a strange instance on Nov 2nd which included wailing and he feels they may have been aware of a third falcon at that time.

[jadoo]

" When Beauty challenged Mariah, it took 3 days so until I see Durand back on her ledge and in her box...I'm holding my breath."

...yes, but was that in the spring, when hormones are raging?  Are "interloper" falcons as aggressive in the fall, during migration?

[carly]

...haven't seen anybody there this morning; wonder if they're hanging out & recovering somewhere else..

I would have expected to see them reaffirming their bond this morning after a successful nest defense but so far nothing save for maybe Trooper landing on opposite ledge earlier.  I'm wondering if this is still on going and not yet resolved.  When Beauty challenged Mariah, it took 3 days so until I see Durand back on her ledge and in her box...I'm holding my breath.

[jadoo]

...haven't seen anybody there this morning; wonder if they're hanging out & recovering somewhere else..

[jadoo]

...WOW that's some WILD video - poor Durand, working so hard to make that nest hers; well, maybe this will toughen her up for the spring, when things might get a LOT hairier, when there is so much at stake...

[carly]

Was just checking BCAW and apparently Durand had to defend the ledge against another falcon today...they have some video of it posted up.  Sounds like she is okay but don't have all the details yet.

Video and story start on this page:  http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=690&start=40

[Kinderchick]

Lots of great questions, if you ask me, jadoo!

[jadoo]

...Durand doing some tidying in the box this morning, then did a very elegant "Durand drop" off the ledge...so, TPC, what are the rules here?  Durand seems to be really trying to make this "her" nestbox, but Trooper was here first, and actually helped raised 2 chicks with Scout, who was here before him, but who was killed this summer.  So, in the spring, is it Troopers box?  Or Durands?  Or does it depend on who gets here first?  Or on who may make a challenge? ie a new male shows up to court Durand?  Or a new female shows up to challenge?  Or is my question too confusing?   

[Kinderchick]

Aw! I keep missing them!

[jadoo]

...both Durand and Trooper were on the ledge briefly a few minutes ago - Durand went into the nestbox to make sure everything was still ship-shape, and to do a bit of a scrape in the corner;  Trooper meekly waited outside, then...TROOPER did the "famous" Durand drop, just as I'd seen him do it before - Durand came out of the box a moment later, looked around a bit, and also did the drop (but I think Trooper does it better!)  So I'm NOT crazy (no matter what the nice men in the white coats keep saying...)

[Kinderchick]

LOL!  Yes, jadoo, very funny commentary, indeed!

[jadoo]

...of course, another possibility is:

Durand:  Whew, I'm exhausted, I have to take a break here.  Where is that lazy Trooper, anyway?  I've been doing this all morning, all by myself, working my talons to the bone, scraping, cleaning, gathering up stray feathers and god-knows-what-all else, and he hasn't so much as done a fly-by...
Trooper (just landing):  Wow, I just flew in from Toledo, and boy are my wings tired!  Hey, honey, I see it's all clean now, what a nice job you've...
Durand:  All clean, my tail-feathers, the whole inside ledge needs cleaning!  You get over here right now!
Trooper:  Oops, forgot something, gotta go!!! (Flies off)
Durand:  Oh no you don't!  When I get my talons on you..Come back here!!  (Flies in pursuit)
...(sound of crickets)...

 

[jadoo]

...caught Durand cleaning up around the outside of the nestbox, too ( -  busy bird, i could hire her!), then she took a break and was sitting on the nestbox cam...just a minute ago, had a lovely shot of Trooper, who landed right in front of the ledge cam, hung around for less than a minute, then swooped off again, followed closely by Durand - wonder if they were after something??...