we got the call that MTS would be able to meet us today about the connection and we took the chance that between RCF's observations and a couple of photos Conservation managed to take that the chicks would be old enough to band safely. And though the real reason for our trip wasn't successful, we were able to band which given everyone's schedule at the moment was a stroke of good fortune.
I am disappointed that the banding took place with no notice to the forum.
I had planned to drive out to Brandon with friends to see the parents yell at the project members and to get some pictures.
What a great experience lost due to communication glitches.
There have been a number of disappointments this year unfortunately. We lost Beau as the West Winnipeg resident male, we lost Ty and Paris as the Selkirk pair and we may have lost Paris' as a part of our wild population as we haven't heard what her prognosis is yet. We were looking forward to a successful nest at the Radisson which of course didn't happen and we lost two eggs at West Winnipeg all due to the unseasonably cold weather.
And then though we managed to find an internet partner and it looked like we would finally be able to resurrect the McKenzie Seeds webcam, we were thwarted by a cable cut during demolition at McKenzie Seeds. And then when we were all set to announce we would be banding the Brandon chicks on Saturday (tomorrow) we found that we needed to be in Brandon earlier. And though we were disappointed we wouldn't be able to get the webcam working, we did find that the McKenzie Seeds chicks were old enough to band and doing so then saved us another trip when most of us had other things we should have been doing. But what was fortuitous for us meant that we would disappoint long-time phanatic RCF who almost always makes the time to come out to watch the banding from the street.
Given that we are all volunteers who take time away from work and pay our own way when we travel to monitor and band the birds, being able to band the chicks on Tuesday and not make another trip four days later, was the right decision even though it, very regretfully, meant that the McKenzie Seeds peregrines' staunchest fan didn't have an opportunity to attend this year. We started announcing bandings in advance so that folks wouldn't miss watching them live online on the FalconCam and it is nice to know folks still enjoy watching them. Hopefully next year we will have bandings on the webcam again (and not just at the Radisson) and that way, no one will miss the action, online, live or a bit of both.
