MN / Elk River - 2008-22

[maggieblue]

Haven't managed to catch anyone home at Elk River.  I did think that the bird that was there was probably the Mom from last year due to the white patch above the beak, however maybe that was just snow    If it was the Sherco female passing through then that would be better news than no sighting at all.  Here is a link to Sherco where someone is home.  Maybe someone else can tell if this is the same bird. 


http://birdcam.xcelenergy.com/sherco_day.asp?TOD=10

[carly]

I checked first thing this morning and several times during the day between work and no sign of the adult that was there.  I hope she/he survived the storm okay.  I did see she/he fly off yesterday once the winds died down a bit but it was still pretty bad, I thought maybe they are going for better shelter as the snow was blowing right into the box at that time.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Its 1505 hrs (Winnipeg) and all is quiet (and empty) in the box ... 

[carly]

Same thing this morning Barb!  Looks like a bad snow storm, it's just pure whiteout at some points and you can see how strong the wind is.  And lone peregrine sitting in the corner - looks like it may be mom.  I wonder if only one is back so far; hard to find food in that kind of weather - I hope she/he will be ok 

[Barb]

I checked this nest around 7:00 pm and there is a peregrine in it.  The poor thing looks pretty cold with snow on it's head .Lets hope the weather warms up soon .It looks sad all alone probably wishing it was still in the sunny part of the world

[carly]

Oh, oh...5:25 pm and adult sitting out on the ledge!!!

[maggieblue]

The Elk River visitor may regret coming to Minnesota this week.  I just checked on the forecast there and that area is going to be slammed by that major winter storm that is also going to affect southeastern Manitoba.  Not a nice homecoming

[maggieblue]

Whoopie  A falcon just visited the nestbox.  Just a quick trip in and then flew away.  I couldn't get a good look at the legs so I don't have any idea who it was.  It could have been any one of the three from last year or another peregrine altogether. 

[maggieblue]

2009 NESTING SEASON


Elk River is still live and has the sound back up.  A note was posted dated December to say that the Peregrines are expected back in mid March. Only one more month to go!  

Great River Energy Power Station - http://www.greatriverenergy.com/ebc/birdcam.html

[Pchemist]

Still looks blustery (of course, now it is December).  But I'm glad the cam is just left on - this way we can keep checking back and be quick to spot when they return!

Which, annoyingly, is something like 4 months from now.  *sigh* 

[maggieblue]

There is an adult at the nestbox again at Elk River but I don't know these birds well enough to tell which one it is.  I hope that it isn't the female from last year back again. 

[bev.]

This will be a hard call. I the female had a positive nest site this year you would think she would go back there next year. 

She is maybe just visiting on her way through to migration.  @0 miles is a  long ways apart so that should not cause territorial battles. Our nest sites are much closer than that in Edmonton.

Keep your fingers crossed.

[Alison]

The falcons I posted pics of yesterday is 30/B. I wasn't sure at the time, because I couldn't see her feet, but I've seen other pics since and it is her. I hope she and the current female will not have any confrontations, either now or in the spring. The two nests are about twenty miles apart by road, less by falcon. The Sherco nest is in the small town of Becker, MN, while the Great River nest is in Elk River. Both towns are north and west of Minneapolis/St. Paul, in the general direction of St. Cloud, along the east bank of the Mississippi. Twenty miles would seem to be far enough apart to avoid territorial battles - I hope!

[JL]

  I just saw a falcon drop by for a short visit (about 20 seconds).  Made a few short chups flying in, sat on the outer ledge and then quietly flew off.  It definitely did not look like the same falcon in the pictures that Alison posted yesterday.  It was longer, skinnier and had all its talons.  For sure there are more than 1 of them still around.   

[JL]

There's a falcon on the ledge right now chuping.     It looks nice and sunny but the wind is blowing pretty hard!