MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO HARRISBURG MOM

Lincat · **Posted:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:36 pm

I am so far behind, what with going away on week-ends, but just wanted to say my good-byes to Mom. And to thank Mom for all the wonderful hours of pleasure she has given me. I just know we have all learned so much from her, and I am also grateful for having gotten to know such a wonderful group of people, all because of her. Mom will always be tucked away in a very special corner of my memories. :cloudnine:

Fly away in peace my dear.

bev. · **Posted:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:43 pm

To all here who have enjoyed the life a very special falcon.

I have been away and just returned last night. I have just finished reading through this thread and I cannot see through the tears. :cry:

Very beautiful and thoughtful posts. As one who has watched falcons from cams and from the ground for over 5 years, I know how you all feel. For me, in my heart, I believe mom is still around(I have many reasons for thinking this) but this memorial was very fitting.

Although this was not a site I watched all the time, like all of you, it was one that captured my heart. Peregrine time, as our biologist calls it, is a very busy time. So much to see and so many to watch. but there are always those special falcons that stand out.
Mom was one of them. There are moms, of all kinds , in every facet of our world. but this Mom was exceptional. She was tough sometimes, but a good mom knows when to coddle and when to rule. She was a great partner, and wore the pants in family :lol:

But she was also a great companion for little dad.

I think what will stay imprinted in my mind ,every season, was how she would look through the window for her young ones. She knew, when a kid was missing. She was smart beyond words. She was a great provider, teacher and nurturer.
You can look at things from just a biologist point of view, but sometimes in doing that , you miss the intrinsic parts of the falcons. I have always stated and will continue to state that all birds and animals have feelings. They know more than they are ever given credit for. You just have to watch them on the cam or from the ground, as I do also. There is no doubt in my mind of their great compassion and intelligence.

Mom, you are and will always be one in a million. I am thankful that I got to meet you through the cam, and I hope I will see you again , somewhere. but if not, thanks for the legacy you have given us.

This has been a very hard season, and I know the seasons to come will not get any easier. Our falcons that we have all come to love are aging and years do take their toll. These great falcons, mom included at the top, are the reason the falocn recovery program is such a success.
As I light my candle , I pray for the strength to continue to be an advocate for the peregrines. It is times like this that I want to throw in the towel. But if we are not vigilant, what will happen. Cam watchers here and at other sites have made possible many interventions.

Rest now and then do as you are meant to do. Soar high above the clouds, enjoy. You will never be forgotten. :waveht:

bev. · **Posted:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:48 pm

skygirlblue wrote:

I posted this under the October HBG tropic a little while ago.....I'm the one who made the changes... :sigh

Saturday's Memorial Tribute to beautiful Mom helped all of us to say goodbye and close this chapter. NG and Lil' dad have begun writing their own story. We will not forget Mom...and I feel sure some of us will have bitter sweet moments come spring..I know I will...I'll have those same butterfly twinges at Columbus too as Durand (hopefully) lays her very first clutch...sometimes its hard to move forward...but times have changed and I'm trying to "hop on that train" and move with them...but, I'm kind of a reluctant passenger... :cryinggirl:

This is how I am feeling also SGB. A reluctant passenger. :cryinggirl:

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

BEV, SO TRUE AND BEAUTIFULLY SAID! I REALLY SHOULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL I GOT HOME TO READ IT THOUGH.....

LeicaEagles · **Joined:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:40 pm **Posts:** 2913

I am not sure how to express myself but Mom was the very first raptor i had observed live and on site. she was the very fist raptor i had ever attempted to photograph and am gratefull that she was able to help me hone my skills and apply them to her hawk and eagle cousins. Photographicly she was a challange to capture in her pure beauty and was a good mentor for shooting other raptors

Thanks mom!!

westwindschild · **Posted:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 6:09 pm

I'm sorry to have taken so long to add my 2 cents on the memorial. It seems like it was pretty well covered by all the reports that have gone before. Cricket did an amazing job preparing everything, George brought gorgeous large prints of Mom, Faith brought lovely 4 x 6 pictures, Jane and Renee had made buttons with a beautiful close-up of Mom. It was a lovely service. I had not written anything but I shared a few of my favorite memories: I remember when the juvie I called Wallace was still not ready to tear prey for himself, she continued to beak feed him for another day or two until he was. I remembered how I felt the first time I watched her defeather prey, and the thrill I had when I watched her take down a mourning dove in 2008. Mom didn't just become part of my family, through her I found a family of friends on this forum and in the fledgling watch each year. She was a beautiful and very special bird and watching her enriched my life immeasurably. She was one of a kind and there will never be another like her.

Saying goodbye was a difficult thing to do, but it was time. I hope that we will have many years to become attached to NG as she writes her own chapter on the ledge. As somebody said, she has some very large talons to fill.

Jane · **Posted:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:45 pm

After reading Sue's account here, it occurs to me that I didn't actually tell my memories of our blessed Mom. How lucky those of us who are local have been to have seen this beautiful bird for real many times. I first became involved with falcon watches in 2000, and have been lucky enough to have seen most of Mom's young in the ten years she graced the skies of Harrisburg. I can remember her sitting alone on the steeple alone in December of 2004 when our original Dad was injured, and having a terrible time when Little Dad first arrived about two months later. No other male falcon was going to mess around with Mom. I make monthly trips downtown often just to get my falcon fix. Birds are the love of my life, and unfortunately I have a hearing loss for high pitched sounds. The only time I can hear the falcons is when they're near the mic on the ledge. However, in 2008 I was on the roof of the 5th Street Garage trying to get an ID on a juvie on a nearby building. Mom landed on a light pole right over my head, and I immediately knew I was hearing her alarm call for real. That's the only time I've ever actually been able to hear her. In spite of how we loved her, not sure she felt the same towards any human getting too close to her babies. This past May I watched from the Chestnut Street Garage roof as she fed dear Blue Boy across the way on the ledge. She seemed to have a sixth sense, knowing he needed extra help. I will never forget watching Mom and Little Dad going after a young Bald Eagle this year during fledge week. Mom in particular was most upset, and nailed that Eagle maybe five times. Everyone who was watching this was saying "Oh, my gosh!" Such a sight to watch. Not knowing it would be the last time I saw her was when White Boy returned for a few days around the middle of August this year. Mom made a food drop for him, and he snatched it in mid air. She was a truly amazing bird, and will be missed terribly.

Janet · **Posted:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:56 pm

I was not able to respond earlier because we were on vacation and then I was busy preparing for a party on Saturday to celebrate my mother's 85th birthday. However, my thoughts were with all the dedicated forum members and falcon watchers who put together a beautiful memorial for Mom. About 4 years ago, I found an article in the Harrisburg newspaper about the falcons nesting on the RCB and that there was a website and webcam to watch them. This was my first experience with a webcam and my first sighting of a Peregrine Falcon. Mom and Lil Dad captured my heart immediately, and through them, over the years I've learned so much about these beautiful falcons. We get so involved in our daily lives, that too many people don't take time to look to the sky, or at the mountains and rivers -- taking nature for granted. The folks on this forum truly look to the sky in appreciation of nature's beauty. Mom was a great example for all mothers, with her caring, nurturing, and protecting instincts. She taught her young ones well, and they live on to grace the skies with her beauty and share her gentle and caring ways as they raise their own. Mom may be flying high above the clouds so that we can't see her, but we have our beautiful memories that will be with us forever. Lil Dad and NG will start a new chapter at the RCB and we all will learn new things from the new pair.

P.S. The banner is absolutely beautiful and a perfect tribute to remember Mom and educate more people about the falcons. I will be making a donation shortly.

Thanks to all of you for sharing so much information and knowledge on this forum.

Faith · **Posted:** Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:37 am

Jane, It was good to read your words at last. You have, along with the other locals, been so close to Mom. I understand your pain.

Beautiful words Janet.

SusanE · **Posted:** Tue Oct 05, 2010 3:31 pm

westwindschild, Jane and Janet, I loved reading your memories of Mom. We all had a unique relationship with her, didn't we? She touched so many lives in such a positive way. :girlluv:

rosekk17 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:31 pm

catwoman wrote:

rosekk17 wrote:

I was reading through the tributes and the account of the day and the great picture of all of those gathered - with my eyes they way they have been its really hard to see small print and having to almost put my face to the screen it's not good for my eyes - anyway - I thought - would it be possible to cut and past all of the tributes and any pictures that would deem appropriate and put them in a booklet? Maybe even in a file that we could download? Or perhaps someone who was energetic - I could even try it - to put it together and sell them for a reasonable price - to raise money for the banner? Just thinking out loud - I would really love to have all the tributes printed to read for later!!

All of the tributes have been so heartwarming

One person that seemed to be missing on the list of those not there but her heart sure was there with everyone was Pearl1. She has gone through way more than the average person should with her husband in the hospital. She really loved to watch Mom and Lil Dad, it was one of her favorite nests to watch. Hugs for you Pearl1

Hi Mary! Would just putting all the lettering of the tributes in large print do the trick? If so, I will go back & edit the tributes so that they will be in large print.

Thank you catwoman for the offer; I think that would take quite a while to do so I will work through the posts a little at a time til I get them read. That was very sweet of you for the offer. I have zoom text on my computer at work and I hope to be able to put it on the computer at home too so that will greatly help to see the smaller print

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64760

rosekk17...I sent you a pm...

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

OUR FLOWERS ARE STILL THERE EVEN AFTER ALL THIS RAIN! THIS WAS TAKEN TODAY.

CorvaCXVI · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 8:42 pm

That's so nice that they have lasted like they have. They still look really good too.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64760

Awesome...I think the rain helped and didn't hurt...

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64760

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be removing the Donate Button tomorrow evening...Through everyone's generosity, we have exceeded the cost of the Banner. Either gigi or Reenie will post our final collection.

Reenie and "crew" (I'm not sure who, exactly) will be presenting Mom's Banner on Friday. Hopefully, they will get more info regarding cams. If they do, then we can make the decision as to whether we want to move forward with that purchase/donation...if so, I'll reinstall the Donate button!!!

Thanks BCAW Members!!!

Mick · **Posted:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 2:46 am

REENIE wrote:

OUR FLOWERS ARE STILL THERE EVEN AFTER ALL THIS RAIN! THIS WAS TAKEN TODAY.

Thank you REENIE for the thoughtful photo
and

A special thank you from me Cricket-
It made me happy that 2300 miles away, one of those carnations stands for my thoughts of Mom!

Finchy · **Joined:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:06 am **Posts:** 864

Perhaps the sun is settng on this tribute thread as I write...I was not able to attend the ceremony and somehow that caused my heart to open up in a way that it had not before especially reading the words posted here again, with some of the newer additions.

We are always told to teach by example, that just by being who we are we can change the world. Nothing can be more true of Mom. So many people, learning so much from one small mass of sinew, feather, muscle, brain, and nerve.

By watching Mom, a person could learn how to be brave, how to be gentle, how to give when needed, withold when needed, how to love, how to protect, and at the end of every summer, how to let go.

May we all come to embody these virtues we have been taught.

Good bye, our beautiful Mom. We will miss you.
Finchy :openrose:

Catbird · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:51 am

Ah, beautifully said Finchy. Thanks for adding your lovely comments about Mom.

SusanE · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 4:12 pm

What beautiful words from your heart, Finchy.

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MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO HARRISBURG MOM

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