Donna C wrote:
mwplay wrote:
12:46 - B arrives on deck and she has prey. She proceeds to front beam and enjoys her food. DC shows up at corner. Chupping/Whining start. B goes to box. Very low bow/very fast chupping - not the normal courtship chups in my opinion. Her stance looks defensive to me. I've been thinking about this a lot the last few days. When DC comes into town, B races to the box, beating him almost every time. Yes, she's in there chupping and what not, but I'm wondering if it is more of a territorial display. This reminds me of when the 2 males (NB & Lil Dad) were about to fight on the ledge that day. Bev pointed out that the males bowing was because they were preparing to fight. Could B actually be sending threatening signals to DC and that is why he is not coming to the box with her? Just a thought...
I was on at the time that DC was on the ledge today. No way was Beauty being defensive, or DC, she craves for him to go into the nest with her. Yes, she zooms in there when DC arrives because she wants to Bond with him. Archer always went in with her when he showed up, even after leaving Unity. DC rarely goes in with her, you all know this is NOT normal behavior for a bonded pair. I don't see these 2 as a pair, just a convenience. DC thinks it's his territory and Beauty happens to be a part of it. He just couldn't drive her out. Can't beat em, join em. They were more of a pair last year, DC was in with her more then. Right now, all that is on their mind is mating and babies. They may grow on each other over the next few years, who knows.
Do you notice when DC arrives, Beauty is already in the nest bowing? She wails and waits for him then steps out and looks up. He never responds. If anyone knows their behavior, it's MAK, she sees it every day. When Beauty lays that 1st egg, I'm sure we will see more of DC. I actually like him, how can you not? But gee, his bonding with Pigott is much different then with Beauty.
I agree his bonding is very different with Pigott as was evident when Pigott entered the box. The way he called for Pigott that day, was completely different than what I have observed when he calls for Beauty. There was a different level of excitement to his call and his voice.
Yes, I have been watching and see how Beauty is already in the nest, bowing, wailing, whining. Occasionally, I hear him responding, but you are correct, not often.
If we think about learned behavior (nurture), how often is it that Beauty beats DC to the box? From what I've watched, she has beat him there every time. She did this when he first arrived back and he was swooping on her, and has continued now that they are mating. Could this be some signal that we are not picking up on. I think about this with dogs... Dogs have signals they send each other that we humans completely miss. They have their own language. Obviously falcons have their own too, but could we think we are seeing one thing and actually it is something completely different?
And Donna, maybe you are right, they ARE NOT a pair. Just both doing what they need to do to keep their territory. Maybe I need to accept that realization, that there is no bond with these two. There is no trust and both are just trying to survive.
I wonder why Rochester is a location where the new tiercel and prior tiercel have both mated/bonded with two falcons. I wonder if going forward if this will now be the norm if ever one of the 3 is displaced?
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