Peregrine Falcon Nest at Snoqualmie Falls 2009 Journal:

09-08-23 Aug. 23 Sun. 2009

The water the falcons drink from was not being polluted today. Makes me believe it's an act of an individual, and not the act of the many.

09-08-22 Aug. 22 Sat. 2009

I had mumerous visits to the falls, some times I see them, sometime they are out and about. Juveniles are in the out skirts of the falls. Heard account of the juveniles tagging along with an adult the other day. Fuel spills into the river a mile upstream from the nest, this is at Sandy Cove Park, in the City of Snoqualmie:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41446716@N08/3847342547/

09-08-11 Aug.11, Tue. 2009 afternoon

I was Just having my coffee, and I heard a juvenile Peregrine Falcon calling out while in historic downtown Snoqualmie, pulled out my binoculars, and saw a Hawk above, looked like it could have been a Swainsons, or a light phase Redtail, hard to tell from the distance I was at. But, an adult Peregrine Falcon was circling it. Just as a recon investigation by the looks of it, it seems these birds know of one another, and a juvenile Peregrine Falcon was with the adult. They spent just a few trips around the Hawk, and headed in the direction of the ridge, to the northwest. I don't see the juveniles at Snoqualmie Falls gorge much now.

09-08-09 Aug. 9, Sun. 2009 evening

Only saw brief views of the adult female Peregrine Falcon this evening

09-08-08 Aug. 8, Sat. 2009 evening

The adults were perched in one of the three snag trees across the falls. I waited most of the evening to get some more fly by photos, but they didn't do any soaring this evevning.

09-08-04 Aug. 4, Tues. 2009 evening

Only saw the adults this evening, the female was perched high in one of the three snag trees, and the male was down at tree top below the falls. A Great Blue Heron came through from down river and the adult male Peregrine Falcon harrassed it out of the area, heading up river. I can't say what the juveniles are doing, but my best guess is, they are enjoying interest down river. Both the male and female adults are enjoying there time together, engaging in a brief acrobatic maneuvers.

09-08-02 Aug. 2, Sun. 2009 late afternoon / evening

Spending the day, swimming in the falls pool, I didn't see much Falcon activity. By the end of the evening, I was able to see one juvenile perched in one of the three snag trees across the falls. I noticed the juvenile was gone, and now the adult male Peregrine Falcon is in the falls gorge, which makes me believe, I missed the juveniles departure, he passed prey to the juvenile on his way in, and the juvenile is now having some dinner, else where.

09-08-01 Aug. 1, Sat. 2009 late afternoon / evening

Spending the day, swimming in the falls pool, I was able to watch the adult Peregrine Falcons venture from perch to perch on occasion. The female adult went into the 2005/07 nest site again, but from below, I couldn't see what see was doing. Laying down in the nest can be a way for her to cool herself during the hot days. This week, we had record high temperatures, and a all time record high. That evening, she went above the falls, took a drink of water from the river, and took a swim in the soft flowing river. I tried to photograph her swimming, but when I tempted to adjust ISO to boost so she wouldn't be a blur, I turned the frame rate control by accident, I tried to return the frame rate control to its original position, but must have missed and it was set on shutter 10 second timer, which isn't displayed in the view finder, like ISO is, you need to look at the little LCD on top of the camera to see this, drat, and I missed the chance to photograph her swimming. The adult male Peregrine Falcon came to the top of the falls and took a drink from a little pool beside the falls. He then flew underneath the Ivy hanging over the gorge wall, in front of the lodge. A common sleeping nook for all the Peregrine Falcons. I've noticed one of them has feathers missing from its tail.

09-07-30 July 30, Thur. 2009 morning

Both male and female adult Peregrine Falcons could be seen in the falls gorge this morning. I heard a juvenile calling out, but couldn't locate it, and found the male adult Peregrine Falcon was present in the falls gorge at that time. It appears the juveniles are enjoying their time down river now.

09-07-29 July 29, Wed. 2009 morning

Only the male adult was seen in the falls gorge. He went after a flock of Pigeons, but didn't take any of them, real easy targets. On his return pass, he went near the old train tressel and pass through the tree tops at high speed, but returned to perch without any prey, perhaps to early for a meal? Just exercising?
 
09-07-26 July 26, Sun. 2009 late morning, early evening

I saw a juvenile perched in one of the three snag trees across the river, and the adult male flying across the gorge, landing near the end of the walkway to the north. I setup to photograph the male in his feathers, but didn't have a shot, he was hidden behind leaves and branches, so I looked for the juvenile, but it was gone. In the evening, no Falcons were seen in the early evening, I waited for over an hour, and left without any Falcon time to absorb.

09-07-24 July 24, Fri. 2009 late evening

I was able to see both adults, the females feathers are also spotting in a darker hue of Beige. I didn't see juveniles in the gorge this evening.

09-07-21 July 21, Tues. 2009 evening

I wasn't able to take more soaring photos this evening, drat, the wind was low, I really like watching the Peregrine Falcons soar. I was able to see one juvenile in the falls gorge most of the evening, and only a glimpse of the possibility of the second getting a drink of water at the top of the falls, before it perched out of view, east of the river, above the falls. The female adult Peregrine falcon was in the falls gorge all evening, and she was in the 2005-07 nest site doing her usually empty nest sitting, dreaming I think. Dreams, to me, is a link to the spirit world, and to God, I think, God sees all things, including our dreams, and if she dreams enough, it could happen for her. like the Archaeopteryx, God gave the lizard feathered wings to catch its fly. But, I don't know if they are mating.

09-07-20 July 20, Mon. 2009 evening

Well, the male's upper chest feathers are changing color. This happens every year, why, I really don't know, breeding colors are way late. So, what is it? I couldn't tell you, all I know, is that they are, changing. The female adult Peregrine Falcon was in the 2005-07 nest site again, doing her normal thing there, the male was around most of the time, he flew by a couple (this is when I took his photos)of times before heading down river, I was able to see one juvenile most of the evening, and I keep on hearing a second, but could never located where it was. It looked like the female spent all evening in the falls gorge, changing perch once every hour or so. Wow, nice clouds over the falls tonight at sunset.

09-07-19 July 19, Sun. 2009 evening

both the male and female adult Peregrine Falcons were spending quite a lot of time in the 2005/07 nest site again. There wasn't any up drafting wind tonight, so, no soaring. I was only able to see one juvenile Peregrine Falcon at a time, I don't know if it was the same one, or the two of them I was looking at tonight, I never saw both juveniles at the same time tonight. The juvenile took a dive from the three snag trees, down into the gorge, just above the river, I don't know what it was after, perhaps an adult, but it was in a football shape, tucked tight, oddly enough, it was still able to call out, while in a steep, at high speed dive.

09-07-18 July 18, Sat. 2009 evening

The entire family was at the falls gorge this evening. Both the juveniles were hanging out, playing, pursuing prey, including the Robin that has been harassing them, soaring and venturing off time to time, but returning several minutes later. The female adult made her presences and landed in the 2005-07 nest site. A juvenile followed her there, so she didn't spend much time there, and left for another perch. The male adult Peregrine Falcon came in about ten minutes later, made a few passes, and landed some where in the gorge. The two juveniles weren't seen in the falls gorge upon the adults arrival. I think one of the adults must of had prey, and the juveniles left to intercept. I think one was able to eat, somewhere outside of the gorge, while the one photographed ten yards away, didn't get prey.

09-07-18 July 18, Sat. 2009 late morning

Only one juvenile Peregrine Falcon was seen at the falls gorge, along with the female adult, she was napping the 2005-07 nest site, which she as prepared for nesting. But, biologically, she can only have one clutch of chicks each year.

09-07-17 July 17, Fri. 2009 evening

Both Juveniles were at the falls gorge this evening, along with one adult. The juveniles spent a lot of time soaring through the air, they liked the far side knoll, three hundred yards away, above the three snag trees. They have really improved in their flying skills, they dive at high speeds, and tuck in high velocity turns, tacking through the trees, playing pursuit with one another. There was a flock of ducks flying in from up river, they fly at high speeds, about eight of them, a juvenile spotted them coming in, and jumped into the air to intercept. half way there, the ducks spotted the Peregrine Falcon coming in, and they scattered. Even though the ducks broke formation and scattered apart, the juvenile Peregrine Falcon keep pursuit, flying out of view. I have not seen any bird out fly the Peregrine Falcons, this juvenile probably pursued, matched and parallel a duck, and broke off, just as a test. They both returned several minutes later. As they play, they will grab a branch at to high of speed, whip around upside down, and hang there for a few seconds, then right themselves, by flapping around to vert themselves either hanging on, or by letting go of the branch..

09-07-16 July 16, Thur. 2009 noon

I've been to the falls gorge a few times, but not much has been seen occuring at the falls gorge. I think one juvenile Peregrine Falcon likes to hang out in the falls groge, while the other perfers to explore and venture else where. I think the female adult Peregrine Falcon hangs out around, or, some where close to the falls gorge, and the male is out, some where around falls gorge vincinity, most of the time. The female adult was working the 2005/2007 nest site again, scraping and laying down, yesterday, early evening.

09-07-11 July 11, Sat. 2009 evening

There was not a lot of soaring around tonight, there was very little wind. But both juveniles were in the falls gorge, flying to and from each others perch. I didn't see the adults in the falls gorge tonight, I left before it became dark, after sunset.

09-07-08 July 8, Wed. 2009 evening

No falcons seen in the falls gorge tonight.

09-07-05 July 5, Sun. 2009 evening

One juvenile was circling in the air when I arrived tonight. The female adult was in the 2005/07 nest site again, standing in the scraped out area. A juvenile landed in the nest site area, and was continually calling out, eventually, the female adult Peregrine Falcon left the scrape and took a perch on the east gorge wall. I could tell both juveniles didn't have food in there crops, and figured there would be a feeding soon. The juveniles didn't do a lot of soaring this evening, but they made numerous passes close by, and one pass very close. The adult female Peregrine Falcon flew into a crag about forty five minutes before sunset, turning in for the evening. A Osprey was overhead, moving strait for the juveniles, they both stayed positioned on the snag trees across the falls. As the Osprey passed the juvenile Peregrine Falcons, it dove and swooped the juveniles. The juvenile it swooped directly at, didn't leave its post, and basically just ducted (probably ready to leap down, if needed, they have been practicing this on each other for a few weeks now. I think this juvenile was the second one out of the nest, the larger female juvenile Peregrine Falcon). As the Osprey made its way down river, the other juvenile gave chase, and harassed it by swooping over it in multiple high speed passes. The Osprey made radical maneuvers at each of the juveniles pass, avoiding a possible strike. It is possible, they know of each other and have meet before. Both juveniles made trips down river, the first time both raced down river. With one returning moments later. And it bolted down river shortly afterwards. The first returned with a little bit of prey left, and ate it at the snag trees across the falls. As it ate, the second juvenile returned, with a full bird for prey, looked like a Robin. And flew to the other juvenile's perch. But before it could land on it, the juvenile jumped into the air and found another perch in a tree next to it, deeper in the trees branches. As they ate for the evening, and the sun was making its way behind the distant horizon, I left for the evening, anticipating another night with the Peregrine Falcons.

09-07-04 July 4, Sat. 2009 evening

Both juveniles were in the falls gorge with one adult, looked like the female. The most exciting moment came when a juvenile flew by twice and came within yards over head, but, it flew by so fast, photos were out of focus and out of frame. A pair of Robins were harassing a juvenile Peregrine Falcon perched in the snag trees across the falls tonight.

09-07-03 July 3, Fri. 2009 evening

Hoping for a repeat of last night I arrived with great expectations, but, no falcons were in the falls gorge soaring this evening. I was only able to see one juvenile come in to the falls gorge, and I left just a few minutes before sunset.

09-07-02 July 2, Thurs. 2009 evening

Wow, what a evening. As I arrived, both juveniles were in the snag trees across the falls, high above. One juvenile falcon took to the air, and was soaring around, while the other stayed perched. When the female adult Peregrine Falcon flew in, she flew into the 2005/07 nest site, but a juvenile landed beside her, so she left, and the juvenile chased. the juvenile bumped her, as it landed adjacent to her, she fell into the air, and a high speed pursuit ensued. They had a blast tonight, what a bunch of wonderful, incredibly gifted, creations of God. God is interesting, and without nature, God becomes obscured. They flew around in two sessions this evening, flying just few yards in front of us. After the first session, they took a short break, and returned to the air for more soaring, ending about forty-five minutes before sunset.

09-07-01 July 1, Wed.. 2009 evening

Very little happened this evening at the falls. Down river I saw a bunch of crows swooping at something perched on top the high voltage power line tower over a mile away. It was very likely a juvenile Peregrine Falcon, there were so many crows, I'd say a least five by the time I packed up to head to it's location, I don't think it could have gotten into the air without the help of an adult. I have seen crows striking an eagle as it ate on a salmon. So, crows can be very aggressive. By the time I arrived at the location, there was nothing happening at the tower. I looked around and saw no activity. I returned to the falls and spent the evening there. The female adult Peregrine Falcon was in the 2005/07 nest site. Looks like she wants more chicks, but she was just standing there, in the location of the scraped out area. I didn't see any other Peregrine Falcons tonight. The perch 40 yards away, has broken off, its been a few days now, a juvenile likely broke it. 09-06-19a

09-06-30 June 30, Tues. 2009 evening

I arrived expecting to see falcons in playful flight tonight, but I was disappointed. I did see two juveniles perched in the snag trees across the falls. But they left down river, looks like they intercepted an adult with prey down river, they have seven power vision, so, what we can see through binoculars, is their normal sight capabilities. One juvenile with prey returned to the falls gorge with the male adult late that evening. Not much else happened. So, I left before the sunset, with a little daylight on the roads that evening. Even though we will be seeing the juveniles less often in the falls gorge, every year in May or June, I see a communal take place with the yearlings. So, they do hang around, in most cases, for at least a year, before venturing into the great world beyond.

09-06-29 June 29, Mon. 2009 morning and evening

The morning visit didn't lend much falcon time, I heard one calling out for about a half an hour, it came into view for about five minutes, as it perched on the far side of the falls. Then, I didn't hear anything, and lost sight of it. And that was about all I was able to experience this morning. I returned to falls in the evening, and this evening was enjoyable with the juveniles flying through the air together, for a few minutes, playing a little, and being chased and harassed by Barn Swallows. I don't know how much longer the juveniles will be coming back up into their crib, sooner or later, they'll stay down river nights, and eventually, roam even further.

09-06-27 June 27, Sat. 2009 early evening

Didn't see much during the early evening. A juvenile was seen in the falls gorge, but flew down river shortly afterwards. I followed it down river, but I didn't see anything. I returned to the falls gorge in the late evening, and it wasn't long before three of the four falcons were soaring through the air, in playful flight. They did this for about five minutes, maybe a little longer. It was like the days end, festive time for them, before night and sleep, they look like they really enjoy the falls gorge. The adult parents never leave the falls gorge vicinity, they can be seen here all year, protecting their interest in nesting here, chasing off predators, keeping the area ready for their next years juveniles.

09-06-24 June 24, Wed. 2009 evening

No Falcons seen in or around the falls gorge.

09-06-23 June 23, Tues. 2009 late afternoon

If I could take decent photos of Peregrine Falcons flying at an elevation of 1000 feet, in playful flight, I'd have photos for you to see, but I can't. They didn't spend any time, while I was present, actually in the falls gorge, but they were around and above it most of the time. I could tell, one juvenile was chasing large bugs caught in the up drafts they were soaring in. In one instance, it looked like a large dragon fly, way above. I could see the wings glistening from the sun as the juvenile took it from the air. The juvenile took about three chomps from it, while soaring in the air. I never saw the female adult Peregrine Falcon, but the male was across the falls in one of the three snag trees most of the mid afternoon. He went down river before I left for the day.

09-06-20 June 20, Sat. 2009 early evening

Most of the time this evening, there were no Peregrine Falcons in the falls gorge. Each day that passes, the range and territory of the juveniles is going to increase, day by day. There was one juvenile in the falls gorge from time to time, it went for a small bird in front of the falls, but perched without prey. The adult male Peregrine Falcon was in the falls gorge twice this evening. Once, headed down river, and in the late evening, headed south east. I stayed till sunset, trying to get in as much Peregrine Falcon influence time in as I could, but I saw very little tonight.

09-06-19 June 19, Fri. 2009 evening

This evening at the falls I really wasn't going to expect to see much, it was wet, rainy, and dark, with rare occasions of very brief beams of sunlight passing through the clouds. I was able to get up to falls gorge between rain spells this evening. A juvenile was spotted across the river on one of the three snag trees. It stayed there most of the time until a duck from down river was making its way over the falls. As soon as it was in the falls gorge, the juvenile Peregrine Falcon went into action, jumped into the air and was at speed in seconds. The duck had to climb in altitude to make it over the falls. It didn't struggle to make it over the falls, but it certainly lost speed as it passed over the falls. The juvenile Peregrine Falcon had so much speed, it over took it, passed over it, and climbed into a half barrel roll, verted, and went back down at it, out of view. But, the juvenile never took it, and returned to the falls gorge, without the duck as prey. Hum, must have been a practice run at it. Pretty impressive, for a couple of weeks out of the nest. Both adults came into the falls gorge at the same time this evening and perched on the south east gorge wall between the lodge and the observation deck. Both juveniles were at the falls gorge chasing either a dove, Pigeon or a Robin, big enough to get both adults to leave their perch and tempt to have it as prey, but I think it made it back into the trees before the adults made there way across the falls gorge.

09-06-18 June 18, Thur. 2009 early evening

I was able to be at the falls early this evening, but action was sparce. Both juveniles were at the falls gorge, and I wasn't able to see a adult this evening. The juveniles are chasing Sparrows, and I think one actually caught one and was able to take it as prey. It perched below at the north east gorge wall with the prey. It didn't eat it, and laid it on the log it perched on. I went down to the river and made my way up the side of the washed out run off, about thirty feet, at the proximity of the warning sign (I've never been here before, this was my first time, it would have been hard to fall and to get hurt with the route I took), to a point I could photograph this juvenile. There was four individuals making there way to the top of the washed out run off, and I warned them of the risk of water discharge, I stayed to the side and low, they went up the middle and all the way to the top, and in the process, scared the juvenile from it's prey. But, I was able to get a few dozen photos before they scared the juvenile off.

09-06-17 June 17, Wed. 2009 evening

I prepared to be mobile at the falls gorge this evening and packed light, ready to be on the move. I didn't bring the long heavy equipment this time and setup at the bottom of the falls. it was wet from spray, but I found a niche behind a giant boulder. There wasn't much happening, the only activity I saw, was the male flying down river, with the juveniles in quick pursuit. So, I packed up, and moved to follow them down river. I, unlike them, can't fly at sixty miles an hour in a simple cruise. So, by the time I was in Fall City, where I think they hunt for prey, I didn't see any activity. The only possible sighting was when I was travelling back to the falls after about an hour, and the adult male Peregrine Falcon may have passed over our vehicle. back at the falls, the female adult Peregrine Falcon took a perch on the gorge wall below the lodge. Juveniles were seen in the falls gorge, but the count of two in the air or perched was not observed. The male adult Peregrine Falcon flew in with not much day light left in the evening. It seems this may be the ending chapter for the young juvenile Peregrine Falcons, it will be a little to difficult for me to pursue them any further. I'll continue to watch at the falls, but I can't say how much I'll be able to see, now that they are flying down river. It's possible, this may be the final closing chapter for the 2009 story line. If they stay around the falls, we may be able to see them chase Sparrows which stoop at them when perched. And I could always re shoot the setting sun scene, a couple more times. :-)

09-06-12 June 12, Friday, 2009 evening

During my visit this evening, the juveniles looked like they flew in from down river. I don't know how far down they were, it didn't look like they started their flight from within the falls gorge, with my first sight of them in flight, in the gorge. They were at playful flight this evening, making more aggressive cris-crossing passes at each other as they soared in the uprising falls mist, casted with a rainbow. Both male and female adult Peregrine Falcons were seen in the falls gorge by the evenings end.

09-06-11 June 11, Thursday, 2009 evening

I've uploaded a video for Tuesday, this is the juveniles in playful flight, hope you enjoy seeing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hEfl7KVixc

I was able to visit the falcons this evening. It wasn't long after my arrival that the juveniles were in playful flight soaring through the rising, misty air of the falls. They didn't play long, not nearly as much as Tuesday night, but they were fun to watch. The male adult Peregrine Falcon came in from down river and took a perch on the gorge wall below the lodge. I never saw where the female adult Peregrine Falcon was. I needed to leave before the rain clouds moved in, and left with less than an hour of sun light left tonight.

 

09-06-09 June 9, Tuesday, 2009 evening

Today I was able to watch and record the two juveniles flying together in tandem flight in the falls uprising mist draft, on the east side of the gorge. They look like they have such a wonderful time, flight seems so easy for these birds, even after getting over the trauma of fledging, they have grace and rhythm a week after they fledged (at little longer for the other). One would bath in the falls mist, sun its self, and return to the same perch site in the mist, and bath again, aiding its bathing with the tall grasses that catch lots of spray water. By the end of the evening, one of them was grabbing at the ends of tree branches as it passed by them. All four Peregrine Falcons were seen in the falls gorge this evening, the male, left down river in late evening, I didn't stay to see his return.

09-06-08 June 8, Monday 2009 morning/evening

I went specifically to video record the juveniles playing in the up drafting falls mist between the observation deck and the lodge, next to the gorge wall, but, at no point did both juveniles engage in tandem flight together for any length. They did engage, but only for a short flight of tag, not what I wanted to record, nice, but much to short. One juvenile was in the grass below the observation deck, twice, bathing it's self in the wet grass and falls mist in the morning. Another looked like it had broken it's wing, draping it over and down the branch it was laying down on. But, I know now, it's not hurt, but just it's style, it looks died, conked out, but it's just in complete relaxation. I think the first instant, it thought it was going to died, but hey, I'm going to live, that's my guess. I didn't see a feeding, it looked like both were hungry by the nights end, they went to the nest and looked around, they both looked like chicks again, "we're hungry, feed us please". They are to young to hunt.

I was able to see the juveniles in the morning early afternoon, but couldn't find the adults. In the late evening all were present in the falls gorge.

09-06-07 June 7, Sunday 2009 evening

As I arrived to the falls gorge, I pulled out my binoculars and scouted the trees across the river looking for the juvenile Peregrine Falcons. I scanned for about five minutes, hum, nothing. I dropped the binoculars from my eyes, and there they were, flying in close proximity to each other, in tandem flight, flying in the rising falls mist, next to the gorge wall, between the lodge and observation deck. Wow, what a sight, what a beautiful sight, just a few days ago, one chick was in such bad shape, I was really very concerned for it, I thought it might have died. No, there it was, flying in tandem flight with its sibling, how wonderful is that. I think the poor little thing suffered pure fear, emotional trauma, followed with a little physical trauma to add to its dilemma, with hot weather, but now, it looks like it has no signs of fear or injury. It looked like one adult brought in prey to feed the juveniles, the exchange took place across the river, flying between the trees, so it was hard to see exactly what happened. But both juveniles went for the prey, but I think only one ate, and the feeding didn't last long, looked like it was just a few gulps, and it was gone.

09-06-04 June 4, Thursday, 2009 late evening

Well, the suspected juvenile Peregrine Falcon laying on the branch, is gone. Don't know anything about it. I told as many people as I could, I just hope for the best. I was forced to use different means of imaging tonight, I left my main video recorder on the table by accident, I figured out how to take 7040mm focal length photos. I saw the other juvenile feeding on prey perched on a branch near the nest site. As I scan searched the gorge for all the falcons a adult Peregrine Falcon passed through my field of view landing at rivers east edge, at the top of the falls.

09-06-03 June 3, Wednesday, 2009 evening

the subject object suspected to be the second fledged juvenile on the branch of the "V" tree, is starting to collect flies. It's changed position but very slightly. Only one other juvenile Peregrine Falcon was seen in the gorge today. Both adults were back in the 2005 nest site, male bowing his head, vocalizing, pointing to the ground of the new scrape.

09-06-03 June 3, Wednesday, 2009 morning

It hasn't moved, if in fact the video frame is a image of the juvenile peregrine Falcon, it hasn't moved, I only spent five minutes there this morning, I didn't spend enough time to look over the gorge to find all the falcons, but last night, I could only account for one other juvenile falcon, besides what I suspect, is this other juvenile, laying, in the same position it was in last night. All evening, if this is the juvenile, it never changed position.
I hope for the best, maybe this is not the juvenile. I really can't be certain.
Do we need to plan a rescue, it could still be alive.

09-06-02 June 2, Tuesday, 2009 evening

We have two fledglings today. The last chick to leave the nest, took the leap of faith today. It looked like a big feeding took place, the new fledgling never move, all evening, which lead me to be a little concerned, so tomorrow, I'll do a AM check in. The only movement I saw from our new fledgling today was a blinking eye. The other juvenile was at about four different locations throughout the evening. Both male and female adult Peregrine Falcons were in the falls gorge in the late evening.

09-06-01 June 1, Monday, 2009 evening

Wow, what an aggressive feeding this evening, both juveniles were in the nest when I arrived. The fledgling took a perch in a nearby tree as the female adult took flight around the falls. She briefly landed in the 2005 nest site, and was back in the air. The male adult Peregrine Falcon flew into the nest and delivered prey to the juveniles. The adult female was right with him as they landed in the nest. These chicks, were hungry, one chick was in the nest, and the other flew in, crashed landed into the adult female, and went after the prey. They struggled at it, pulling it from one another, but the female juvenile, the larger one, ate most of it. They shared the prey halve way through the feeding which lasted over thirty minutes. The adults checked into the nest as they fed, getting themselves to the prey, and then leaving it for the juveniles. The juvenile in the nest, the female, larger bird, I don't think it has taken flight yet, while the other, was at five different locations this evening. 

09-05-31 May 31, Sunday, 2009 morning


We did have a fledgling, but it's back in the nest. After it was out, it probably didn't get fed. It made it's way near the adult female Peregrine Falcon perched in the "V" tree, as close as thirty feet, but the adult female left that tree to another location in the gorge, leaving distance between her and the fledgling. The fledgling flew back into the nest looking and pecking at left overs.

The male adult Peregrine Falcon flew into the falls gorge in the late afternoon, and went to the 2005 nest site. The female adult Peregrine Falcon followed him there. He was gesturing to the female adult by bowing his head calling out numerous times pointing his head at the scrape nest site. after about twenty seconds of this, the female moved into the site, the male left, and the female began to scrape a nest site, just like last year, they act like they want more chicks.


09-05-30 May 30, Saturday, 2009 morning/evening


Morning visit I saw a small brief feeding, one chick fed, while the other picked at left overs about five yards to the right of the nest, on the top of the sloping loss dirt. They fell back to sleep, little to no exercising and practicing of flight, and I left for the morning.

I returned to find only one chick in the nest site, I searched the region around the nest, and couldn't find the second, chick, I think we have a fledgling. The one that was in the nest, was at the edge constantly, calling out, anxious, and it never rested until the sun went behind the clouds on the horizon.


09-05-29 May 29, Friday, 2009 morning


Two chicks (eyasses as a Falconer or a  birder would call them) are still in the nest, they both look like they can take flight now with little difficulty from downy feather drag, one is exploring the nest site more, by traveling around as far as it can venture by jumping and leaping. They other is still less interested in traveling around, and spends most of its time in the nest site. The male adult brought prey to the nest, one juvenile moved on it, the one that spends its time in the nest, but hesitated, not identifying with the males presences in the nest, and the other had to travel back to the nest site. The female adult arrived in the nest about the same time as the second juvenile made it to the prey. The adult male bailed out of the nest as she retrieved. She dragged the prey to a corner, ate a little for herself, and then split it up between the two chicks. She fed the chicks well, left the nest with prey and cached it. She fed them so well, I don't think they'll fledge today.


09-05-28 May 28, Thursday, 2009 evening


We still have two chicks in the nest, they aren't exercising and practicing enough. They look like both could actually leave the nest, one would have a little harder time at flight with more downy feathers on it, but the one, looks like it could take flight with little difficulty, if it just practiced and exercised more.


The one which looks ready to fly, observers believe it's a male, was wondering around in the loose dirt to the right of the nest, 10 yards away, jumping, and flapping in leaps to get around. And the one with a little more downy feathers on it, is believed to be female, was munching on left overs in the nest for a little while. It was a fairly uneventful evening, but I enjoy watching them. The female was in the falls gorge most of the evening. I was almost able to get a great photo of her, it took me about 10 minutes to pack and move from a high point observation area, down to the end of the walkway towards the northwest. I was a minute away from getting a photo, and she took to the air and perched near the nest. I never saw the male in the falls gorge this evening, as I left just after sunset.


09-05-26 May 26, Tuesday, 2009 (sorry, my clocked changed to the next day at 12:00 mid night and I didn't think about it)


I saw a very aggressive feeding this evening. As I arrived I verified we still had two chicks in the nest through the binoculars. I setup the recording equipment and peered through the view finder, aligned, focused, and just at that moment the female adult Peregrine Falcon flew into the nest, I hit the record button and watched a very aggressive assault on the prey. The larger of the two chicks, jumped on the prey and draped over it, and dragged it into the corner of the nest for it to consume alone. The female adult Peregrine Falcon has seen this behavior before, many of times. She waited for the chick to get some satisfaction from the prey, and she moved in to retrieve it. She edged her way to the prey, dragged it out from underneath the juvenile, and split it up between the two of them. She does a nice job of this, I knew she would, well actually hoping, but fairly confident. The one chick looks like it has to much downy feathers on it to leave on Wednesday the 27. But they are looking incredible. They still aren't exercising enough, I've seen much more exercising in the past years, they need to be flapping and exercising their wings heavily for about a minute, once an hour, haven't seen that yet. Both female and male adult Peregrine Falcons were in the falls gorge by the end of the evening, the male flew in from the south east,as the sun was moving behind the distant clouds on the horizon.


09-05-25 May 25, Monday, 2009


I was at the falls twice this day, the first time was in the morning just before noon, just to take a peek at them, I saw that they were being fed by an adult, one chick was being fed, and the other chick was at the oposite side of the nest feeding on prey by its self.


In the evening I didn't see a feeding, but they were picking at left overs. They looked like one can fledge by Thursday, May 28, but won't till it's ready to, and the other, looks like it's at least two additional more days, after the first one fledges. They need to exercise more, I didn't see alot of that this evening, only a few wing beating/flapping sessions. Out of all the years of watching them, only a few out more than a dozen have left the nest when they look ready for flight, most have left after they look ready for flight, days after. I have never seen a Peregrine Falcon leave the nest before it looks ready for flight. The adult female was above the nest about twenty yards off, with a buldging crop. I didn't see the male adult this evening.


09-05-20 May 20, Wednesday, 2009


Tonight at the falls gorge I was able to see two chicks in the nest, and the female adult Peregrine Falcon above the nest about twenty yards away. It looks like I missed the feeding by a few hours. The female adult Peregrine Falcon had a buldge in her crop, and the juveniles would be sleepy for about ten minutes or so, before waking up and rustling around for few minutes, and then falling back asleep. At one point in the evening, they were up for about a half an hour stretching, preening and pecking at left over prey. They fell back asleep, this time much longer. they are getting a tan brown color in their new feathers now. It looked like it was going to be quiet the rest of the evening as the sun set behind the low clouds in the horizon.


09-05-17 May 17, Sunday, 2009

 

Finally, a feeding, I was at the falls gorge during the middle of the afternoon. the chicks would sleep for about twenty minutes, wake up, rustle around, then go back to sleep. Then after about two hours, they began to rest for five minutes, wake up and rustle around. by late afternoon, they were up continually, calling out, picking at scrapes, stretching and exercising their wings and tail, roaming around in the nest walking on their feet. The female came into the nest with prey, I couldn't find her perched anywhere, but, like other times, she was probably here but around the back side of a tree. The male Peregrine Falcon was seen high above in one of the three snag trees as the female fed the chicks. He probably passed her prey, but I didn't see this today. She fed both chicks well, one fed more first, while one waited most of the beginning of the feeding. She switched off to feed the other more a little after half through the feeding. It got some food in the first half of the feeding now and then. As she fed the other chick, the first chick was working on the prey, on it's own, with the adult, as it fed the other chick. The adult female Peregrine Falcon struggled with swallowing one of the legs of the prey, and the chick working on the prey made off with it to the corner of the nest and worked on eating it. As the adult finished working on swallowing the foot. She took the prey from the chick and continued where she left off, and fed the other chick more of the prey. She left the nest with some prey for herself, perching in the nearby "V" tree. Both chicks were fed well during this feeding.

 

09-05-16 May 16, Saturday, 2009

 

my visit in the evening was not very informative, the chicks were in the nest and both adults came in near the nest, the female, I believe was in the falls gorge all the time, but I just couldn't locate her, she flew next to the nest, perched for a while, and then flew into the nest. She stood at the edge for a minute, then flew to the "V" tree (two top tree near the nest). The male adult came into the falls gorge just before dark. I thought I might see a feeding, I think he was without prey, and he just came into the falls gorge for the evening.

 

09-05-15 May 15, Friday, 2009 

 

I was able to visit the Falcons in the late evening. They are starting to walk around in the nest on their feet now. Their talons are huge, but that's normal. They are cumbsy, tumbling every once and a while. The eggs have been scattered about, I can only see one now and it's at the far end of the nest. They were eating on prey that was left behind after a feeding, both of them were picking at it now and then. It looks like they don't need to be fed by a parent, but they probably still feed them. They are still in downy feathers over most of their body, some areas have dark juvenile feathers coming in, like around their eyes, and at the tips of the tail and wings, and the female adult Peregrine Falcon may not sit with them during the nights now. It won't be much longer before they fly off into the yonder, probably the last week of this month. I hope they stay a little while before flying down river.

 

09-05-10 May 10, Sunday, 2009

 

I was at the falls gorge in the middle of the evening. The female adult Peregrine Falcon was above the nest, perch about twenty yards away from the nest. Both chicks were sleeping in the nest. I started to setup the equipment and I observed the female adult Peregrine Falcon made it to the nest to feed the chicks as I was reaching into the packs setting up. All the Falcons, with the exception of the adult male, had bulges in their crops, suggesting they had all eaten earlier. She fed the chicks for about eight minutes, and left for a perch in a nearby tree. While feeding, the male adult flew to a perch about forty yards from the sidewalk, at the northeast gorge wall. I have a few nicely composed (afocal) photos of him as he sat perched.

 

09-05-09 May 9, Sat., 2009

 

Went to the falls in the early evening, the female Peregrine Falcon went to the nest and stood with the chicks for almost an hour. The male Peregrine Falcon came into the falls gorge and was perched high above in one of the three snag trees across the river. He left down river were they hunt for prey, in about five minutes, the female was in the nest feeding the chicks, it caught me off guard, returning so soon with prey. I turned on the equipment and recorded their feeding. A chick had a hard time keeping down the preys foot tonight, it kep on trying to get it into it's throat in a comfortable way. The Adult female Peregrine Falcon finally gave it aide by taking it from the chick, and dividing it up between the two of them. The chicks are getting big, both ate well. She fed them for a little more than ten minutes this evening. They get around in the nest by walking on their backwards bending knees (or what ever they are called). They stand on their feet occasionally, but aren't strong enough to continually walk on their feet. it wasn't long before they settled down and fell asleep, after they invested the nest for scraps.

 

09-05-08 May 8, Friday, 2009

 

The adult female Peregrine Falcon was in the falls gorge upon my arrival. She was perched in a tree top on the Northeast gorge wall. Both chicks were sleepy most of the evening, they would sleep for about twenty minutes, rustle around for a few minutes, rearranging themselves and fall back to sleep for another twenty minutes or so. It wasn't until the middle of the evening that the chicks began to rustle and rummage around non stop in the nest, picking at left over prey,and anticipating being fed. Sure enough, the male adult Peregrine Falcon flew in and passed prey to the female adult in mid air. She flew into the nest and fed both chicks, one consumed allot of prey first, as it tried and it's crop (a holding stomach in it's throat) became stuffed, the other anxious hungry chick was then fed. They are aggressive when they are being fed, this seems to easy the task of distributing prey to the chicks, feeding one, then feeding the other, or both would be pecking and fighting for the mothers beak as she passed them food. But, this doesn't always provide for even distribution of the prey. Tonight, both were fed, uneven, but very well. They are standing and walking on their feet, tumbling about every fifth step, flapping their stumpy, downy covered wings, with dark colored juvenile feathers coming through their downy cover.

 

09-05-03 May 3, Sunday, 2009

 

Arriving in the evening, an observer had a few stories to tell, one was a Peregrine Falcon chased off a low flying Turkey Vulture coming in from down river. And at the time neither adult Falcon was in the area, which I found that hard to believe, but every once and a while the female leaves them for a few minutes, flying off down river to meet up with the male for prey. This evening, she flew into the nest and sat with the chicks for a little period of time, about 45 minutes. She would adjust every ten or fifteen minutes,and I noticed, when the chicks were visable, they jestured for food. So I figured it wouldn't be long for a feeding. Sure enough, she left the nest and landed below the observation deck, just below us, and went to work on prey that was cached there. It was larger than a Piegion, simular, but a little bigger. She fed herself for about ten minutes, and cleaned the prey of feathers. After feeding herself, she was about to take the prey to the nest, standing above the prey, fisting it in her talons, twitched her wings out, and stopped. Hesitating, she returned to plucking feathers from the prey for another ten minutes or so, satisfied with her job, she took to the air and brought the prey to the nest and began to feed the chicks. Both participating eating well. She cached the remaining portion of prey to the east of the falls, in a grassy area, and returned to the nest. The male Peregrine Falcon was in the falls gorge this evening. He was seen just after the feeding high above in one of the three snag trees across the river.

 

09-04-30 May 1, Friday, 2009

 

Evening visit was uneventful for the Peregrine Falcons, but I enjoyed the evening share their activities with visitors.

 

09-04-29 April 29, Wednesday, 2009

 

Today was the first day I saw the female adult Peregrine Falcon stay off the nest after feeding the chicks, by the looks of it, we will have only two chicks this year. The eggs are not likely to hatch now, but I'm no expert, she is no long sitting on them after feeding the chicks. The chicks are fluffy enough, they probably don't need full time sitting on by the female adult. The female left the nest a little after noon heading down river out of view. It seems likely she met up with the adult male and was passed prey returning to the nest in just a few minutes. She fed for about ten minutes, and went to the east side of the river above the falls, jumping around the corner up river out of view. From there, after several minutes, she took a perch on the north east gorge wall. The male Peregrine Falcon came into the falls about an hour after the chicks were fed, and passed the female adult Peregrine Falcon prey in mid air.

 

09-04-28 April 28, Tuesday, 2009

 

Still looking at two chicks and two eggs. She is still working on incubating the eggs, tucking the chicks under her wing, and the eggs under her chest. The male Peregrine Falcon brought in prey this morning, passed it to the female Peregrine Falcon in mid air, then she proceeded to the nest to feed the chicks. She spent about ten minutes feeding the chicks, both participating full heartedly, then fed herself a little, and cached a small bit on the rock wall about 50 yards to the south east. The male was in and out of the falls gorge today, once again they soared in the air together for a little while, before the female went back to the nest to sit on the eggs.

 

09-04-27 April 27, Monday, 2009

 

We are still looking at two chicks and two eggs this morning. The male Peregrine Falcon brought in prey a little before noon, but not much, enough for a brief feeding only a few pieces for each chick, and the female returned to sitting on the two chicks and two eggs, we still have a few more days to see if the eggs will hatch. The female left the nest to fly with the male Peregrine Falcon, soaring in tandom together with the rising air current at the south east gorge wall for a few minutes, then returning to the nest. The male Peregrine Falcon was seen chasing off adult Bald Eagle two diffenent times today around noon.

 

09-04-26 April 26, Sunday, 2009

 

I was at the falls today from late morning to the late afternoon. The female was on the nest, and the male was no were to be found. We have two chicks, and two egg, and the chicks have eyes today. This is the first day they can see things. A little after noon, the female left the nest for almost ten minutes, venturing down river. She returned and sat back on top of chicks, without feeding them. About a half an later, the male Peregrine Falcon came into the falls gorge, and the female left the nest and flew to his vicinity, below the ledge I was observing. They must have met in mid air and passed prey, she returned to the nest and feed the chicks. Most of her feedings take around ten minutes now. She resumed to sit on the chicks after the feeding. After the feeding I searched for the male and could find him in the falls gorge. About a half and hour later he appeared in one of the three snag just before I left for the day.

 

09-04-25 April 25, Saturday, 2009

 

I was at the falls gorge in the late morning this day. Both the male and female Peregrine Falcons were at the gorge, the female was on the nest, and the male was perched 30 yards from the nest to the north west. He went for prey that was perched about half way to the bridge tressel. Flying at high speed, he tempted to take the prey from it's high tree top perch, a single Pigeon, but it took the air in a dive just before he passed. He made a high speed turn and darted for the prey once more, but it again eluded by dropping in a dive just as the Peregrine Falcon passed, now, the prey was in the trees, but the Peregrine Falcon made one more pass, and again, it dove, and the falcon missed for the final time. He returned to falls gorge, this time he perched 5o yards to the south east of the nest. The female was seen calling out, voicing to him. He then left this perch, heading down river for prey. He returned a little while later without prey, but three of the four juveniles from last year came into the falls gorge with him, in playful flight, looping around circling each other. I didn't see four, only three, the first one out of the nest last year was a little eccentric, so he may not get into play, in fact, he may have already circumnavigated the world, and is ready to have chicks, but who knows. The male perched, and the female was out of the nest, I couldn't see were she went, she flew in underneath the ledge I was at. The male flew into the nest, and the female was a minute behind him. On his retreat from the nest, he stepped on the chicks, as he departed (accidentally, by the looks of it). I think he wanted to sit with them, but the female was not going to give him relief duty this time. She returned to sitting on the nest, two chicks, and two eggs. I would liked to have seen how this worked out, but I had to get some work done. Appearently, neither want to leave and work to get prey, they both want sit with the chicks and stay at the nest. It wasn't a problem when they were eggs.

 

09-04-24 April 24, Friday, 2009

 

As I arrived this morning, I was able to see the female fly to a perch above the nest, looked like she was carrying prey, she left that perch in just about twenty seconds, and flew into the nest, and began to feed the chicks. I set up the gear and was able to record about six minutes of about ten minutes of feeding. After she feed the chicks, she returned to sitting on top of them. with little action going on, I left for the morning. I returned in the evening, and wasn't able to see much action. according to an observer, I just missed plenty of activity as she was off the nest numerous times, and even flew down river, returning to the nest to feed the chicks in just a short period of time. I did see the male Peregrine Falcon fly into the falls gorge in the late evening, he did have a lump in his neck, suggesting he had a fairly full crop.

 

09-04-23 April 23, Thursday, 2009

 

I was there most of the late afternoon. At first, it didn't appear that they had chicks yet. But, after observing them for a short while, it appeared that there maybe something of interest below. It appeared that the male Peregrine Flacon was on top of the nest at all times today. He was looking below him occasionally, hum. Then, he rearranged the nest, and there they were, white fluffyness below him, oh, they have chicks. How many, I wanted to find out. I stayed most of the day, into the evening, one feeding was obscured by mist by the male that was feeding, he left the nest briefly and came back with what appeared to be cached prey. Hum, I had to wait longer to get a positive verifications of how many there are. The female flew into the falls gorge and just appeared in one of the three snag trees across the falls. I figured she came in from the ridge. She didn't stay long before she flew off down river in the late afternoon, early evening. I stayed as late as I could, I figured, if I study the video file, I'll be able to tell how many there are. So, by evening, she wasn't back, and I started to pack up, unsure if I had enough detailed video files to see how many chicks there are. I left the 35mm telephoto lens out with an adapted telescope eyepiece. knowing that the female will take the nest before night. She came into the falls gorge from down river after spending quite some time down there. The sun was low on the horizon quickly moving behind the distant clouds, it was moments away from the light drop off sharply. I had to move the narrow view onto the nest site quickly, hard to do with a small field of view, ah, finally the nest, and sure enough, we have two chicks in the nest, with two eggs, they could be shells, but it looks like they are eggs, you can see an egg shell fragment to the right of the nest in the video frames, probably and hatched egg shell fragment.

 

I'm at about 90% back to normal. Still feel weak and burnt out, and slightly tippsy.

 

09-04-10 April 10, Friday 2009

 

I'm doing better, I'm a bit vornerable to reacurrances at this state.

 

09-04-06 April 7, Tuesday 2009

Well, I'm doing better, it'll take about a week to be at 50% of my physical abilities. (undisclosed illness). 

 

09-04-06 April 6, Monday 2009

Sorry I haven't been able to report any activities, I've been recovery (undisclosed illness).

 

March 30, Monday, evening

I stopped by just for a few minutes as I was passing by with a friend. It looked like I just missed the male coming off the nest, the female was setting herself down as I looked for the first time this evening through binoculars. The male was perched towards the north end of the gorge, preening himself. Didn't stay long, I had to be on my way.

 

 

March 29, 2009 Sunday, late afternoon

After the snow started to melt, I visited the Peregrine Falcons on this day. It wasn't until late afternoon when I made it to the falls gorge. The female was on the nest, and I couldn't spot the male. He made his presence when he swooped down from the tree high above. He circled in front of the nest and the female came off the nest and pursued him. He was either perched there, or came in from that direction. The female made two passes at the male, leaving me believing he passed her prey. I turned on the equipment as he dove through the air. I tried to track her as she went to the trees, watching the male enter the nest, but I couldn't find her till about a half an hour later. She was preening and fluffing, then stretching. She stayed at that perched for most of the day. Then as the day was ending, she flew off, I think to the upper part of the falls, I couldn't tell were she went, I lost track of her as she flew underneath my position, blocked by the cliff wall below me. As I was leaving she flew to a perch at the rivers side, in the most northern part of the gorge, I had to say good bye, for the evening, and left for the day.  

 
 

March 23, Thur. 2009 late morning.

Upon my arrival, the female was on the nest, and the male might have been on the back side of tree, he appeared on a branch across the river, just behind the large double top, "V" tree about an hour after my arrival. He preened, poo'd, stretched, and fluffed himself for quite some time. He went from there, to a perch about fifteen yards from the nest. The female was calling out continually while he was perched there, say, about ten to fifteen minutes. He left his perched, circled a few times, and went down river, likely to hunt for prey, it's about one o'clock now. In less than a half an hour, he was back in the falls gorge, circling around high above, at tree top height, along the highest tree across the falls. The female watched him, left the nest, , circled around and gained altitude to his level. They were both in the air, like a dance, circling, the male perched in one of the three snag tree across the river, and the female continued to circle. The male jumped into the air as if he was bolting for prey in a accelerating dive towards the river basin, with slight high speed zig zags, and then inverted, reversing his direction, and tacked back and forth to scrub speed, and landed in the nest. He does things like that, and the female flew off down river, likely to hunt for prey.


As I was viewing the male sitting on the eggs through the video camera while it was in stand by mode, he stood up, rearranged the eggs and I caught a glimpse of four eggs, for sure, as he tucked his toes under a couple of them. I tried to record this moment, but has I reached up to press the record button, he was back on the eggs.

 


09-03-21 Sat. 2009 afternoon.

the female was on the nest upon my arrival. I wanted to see how many eggs she was sitting on, so I waited for her to leave the nest for food. It wasn't until late afternoon that the male flew into the falls gorge without prey, and to my surprise, he flew into the nest. The female let the male tend the eggs, as she flew off, down river to hunt prey. This is a very early sitting of the male, she is being very relaxed with the responsibilities of egg sitting. the male can't sit on the eggs nearly as well as the female. he occasionally has trouble covering all the eggs. She took her time returning from down river, and took a perch at the east side of the river above the falls, just out of view. From there, she went to a rock, on the west side of the river above the falls, surrounded by water, she waded and bathed her way to the west bank, dipping into the river a couple of times before flying to the northeast wall of the gorge to dry off. We had some sun earlier in the day, but by now, it was mostly cloudy, and looking like it would rain soon. I really didn't get a good look at the eggs as she left, and wanted a second chance to make an observation as she returned to the nest. But, the rains came and I had to pack up. Just as I was about to leave, she also, was back on the nest.
 

After studying the videos, it looks like she has four eggs, I could be wrong, but, three for sure.

March 17, Wednesday, late morning

After studying Tuesdays videos, she had at least one egg in the nest Tuesday morning. And today, she has at least two. She was on the nest when I arrived. The male was not around that I could tell, I think he was down river. In the late morning, she left the nest and headed down river, where the male was probably at. A flock of Seagulls flew up river a few minutes after she left. As I was observing the Seagulls fly by high above, she must have flown in from low altitude, I found her perched on the far side cleaning her talons and poohing, after the Seagulls flew by. She stayed off the nest for the rest of my visit, I left a little before noon. It was a little warmer today, mid forties or so.

 March 16, Tuesday, late morning

Don't think they have eggs yet.

(update) After three hours of observations, almost an hour of video, I have about six frames of video that shows just a small image of an egg. Their scraped nest is very deep, about six inches deep, so eggs are hard to see.  As I arrived, the female was on the nest, and the male was down river perched high, just at the north end of the gorge. He left first, returning, what seemed like, about forty five minutes later. He didn't bring in prey this time, the female came off the nest, circled around and left down river. The male took over nest sitting twenty minutes later. He didn't stay on the egg long, less than a half an hour. And neither returned to the nest up to the time I left, almost two hours later. So, that one egg, isn't getting incubated full time. It was cold this morning, I don't think it was above 40 degrees while I was there.

March 15, Sunday, late afternoon. I had a chance to visit the Falcons briefly between rains. Both male and female Peregrine falcons were perched high above across the river. The nest had a few maple leaves in it, making a egg check impossible at the time. The male left his perch. and flew out of view. The female stayed perched for about a half an hour, and then took to the air, diving, maneuvering left to right as she descended, "look she's going for prey", as I called out to other observers, then I saw the male Peregrine Falcon converge her path, and she pulled up and out of her dive. I saw the male fly back to tree and perch. And through a scope, I saw he had a Robin.

After that, she went to the nest site and laid as though she was on eggs, but I couldn't tell, and rain looked like it was approaching, I packed up, leaving others with scopes, wondering if she has eggs.

March 13, Fri. 2009 afternoon. Saw her scraping the nest, it's the same loaction as 2006. I didn't see any eggs yet. She'll probably have some eggs laid in the next week.

March 10, Tue.2009, late afternoon. Looks like the male Peregrine Falcon was consuming prey at Snoqualmie Falls today, on the northeast cliff wall. He cached a large part of it on the other side of the river. I didn't see the female Peregrine Falcon in the falls gorge today.

March 6, Fri. 2009.  I had a chance to visit the Peregrine Falcons on this day. One of them was perch on top of a dead tree, broken at about half height, long ago, at the top of the northeast wall. It was hard for me to tell which one it was, but, it was the male. The female Peregrine Falcon flew in just a little while after we arrived, from down river and found a perch on the far side, the north point of the rock wall. It was just a short period of time, and the female took to the air, soaring around in the east side of the gorge, passing in front of us in the observation deck less than twenty yards away. What a magnificant sight, she took about six passes in front of us, cocking her head at us as she passed by. I, trying to photograph her as she passed by, only had the chance to see her through my view finder. My camera didn't work very well with this swift, low profile subject, and missed most of the photo chances as she moved just off the focus cursor. I reach for a different camera, which has seven eye controlled focus points, as she landed on the northeast gorge wall. The male Peregrine Falcon flew in towards her. As I fitted the camera body on the lens, one of the observers said it looks like they are mating.  After awhile, the male Peregrine Falcon left the gorge and return about a half an hour later with a portion of prey, cached it on the far rock wall, and took a perch to the north on the far side wall. It snowed here yesterday. Today is sunny, with a little chill in the air, a slight breeze, almost dead calm, but a nice freash smell in the air with a little snow here and there.

March 4, Wed. evening 2009.   Both male and female Peregrine Falcons were seen in the falls gorge this evening. The female was in the same nest sight as 2006, the most north location on the west wall of her three nest sites she has used. Just standing there, with the male Peregrine falcon Perched above her, in a tree about ten yards off. I had a chance to visit the Peregrine Falcons on this day. It

Feb.27, Fri. afternoon, 2009.   I had a chance to visit the Peregrine Falcons on this day.  Looked like the male Peregrine was high above on the far side looking west.

Feb. 23, Mon. 9:00 2009.  Went to visit the Peregrine Falcons at the falls this morning, but I didn't see them around. Looked at all the common areas the usually are at, in as many of the surrounding trees as possible, still nothing. They like to tuck themselves in deeper into the trees at night, it could be to early to see them. 

Feb. 20, Fri. 12:30pm. 2009.  The Male Peregrine Falcon was high above on the far side as I walked up to the gorge. As I entered into the observation deck, I saw him in the air heading this way, to the east wall between the lodge and the observation deck, they were about forty yards away, on the rock wall. He came directly above the female and mounted her, she accepted his mount and they had sex for about twenty seconds. It took about five seconds for him to get into position once mounted, she reared up, and about ten seconds of mating, as he flapped his wings, getting slightly to the side, more behind than on top of her, before he mated with her, then he returned back to his position on top, and flew off, back to the far side of the gorge. I couldn't tell if she was gesturing, or if it was all the males idea. we had sunshine through high diffused clouds this day, and it's a little warmer today than its been. For the majority of the time, we've had a very mild mid and late winter.

Feb. 18, Wed. 2009.  I was able to see both the male and female this evening. The male was perched about 60 yards away, in a tree, on the northeast gorge wall, preening occasionally, for most of the evening. I saw evidence of prey being fed on in the falls gorge. The female flew in overhead just after sunset calling out loud as she entered the gorge, keee, keee, keee. Perched for a minute then flew off, up river into Snoqualmie.

Feb. 11, Wed. 2009.  Went to the falls for the first time this year in the evening and saw the female Peregrine Falcon perch far away on the other side of the gorge, two to three hundred yards away, in one of the three snag trees. I would have liked to have waited for the male peregrine Falcon to fly in during the late evening but I had to be some where. I tried to go earlier this year looking for her a couple of times, but it was to foggy to see anything. 

Ready for another year of the Peregrine Falcons, they should be doing their thing just like the previous years. Hope things go well for these wonderful creates which God has gifted with incredible abilities. They are so fascinating to watch and observe. Hope you all enjoy my presentation of them, it's a great challenge to prepare and cover their activities and to observe their behaviors, I can only do so much, and I am sorry to say, I can't make any promises that I can cover their activities and to spend the time and money to present them to others. I can only do so much.  All contents of this web site is the property of Scott Dodson.

This2009 web page has been maliciously hacked, and is susceptible to continually relentless assaults and attacks. I can not make any promises how long this page will be posted.

To see the 2008 season visit: http://www.snofallpere08.zoomshare.com/