2012 SOUTH BEND~Guinevere & Zephyr

marineof2 · **Joined:** Fri May 25, 2012 3:36 pm **Posts:** 112

I did stay for a while keeping an eye out for any of them while I was near the nest box, but didn't see them. However, I did see either G or Z flying over the fields in Mishawaka (not even a 10 minute drive). I am getting ready to move, so I don't know if I'll have time to get back over there to watch near the nest or not.

kittenface · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2012 5:27 pm

Oh thank you for the update at least you got to see G or Z hope the move is smooth mine never are :egg11:

SusanE · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:36 pm

Thanks, marineof2. Good luck with your move.

gigi · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2012 10:57 pm

Thanks marineof2. Good luck with the move!

SusanE · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:41 pm

The South Bend IT person was kind enough to send an update about the cam and the chicks. Basically, the cam is still getting tweaked and should be back soon. In the meantime, he shared a few images of the two girls (and gave permission to post here):

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64753

Thanks so much, Susan .. and great pics ..

SusanE · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:24 pm

The cam is back!! :egg5:

gigi · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:26 pm

SusanE · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:11 am

For the last hour I've only seen this one girl. Wonder if the other girl has fledged?

gigi · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:15 pm

Sad news. I just received an email from Laura that a second chick died due to high winds. I don't have any other details.

marineof2, if you hear of anything please let us know.

Fly high little one...

SusanE · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:26 pm

Oh no, poor little one. :cryinggirl:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64753

Oh no. . this is just too sad. . :tissue:

kittenface · **Posted:** Wed Jun 13, 2012 1:31 am

Oh my goodness
Fly high Fly free sweet little one

SusanE · **Posted:** Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:23 am

. . . and the cam's down again. :egg15:

gigi · **Posted:** Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:53 am

I am baffled by the high winds. When I saw pictures of banding, it appeared the chicks had plenty of roaming area atop the roof. It is really sad. Talons crossed that the third chick survives and thrives!

marineof2 · **Joined:** Fri May 25, 2012 3:36 pm **Posts:** 112

I think their box is near the edge of the roof and facing the edge. I haven't heard a anything yet about the other chick dying :( If I hear anything, I'll update.

Alison · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:31 pm **Posts:** 2776

I am so very sorry that two of Zephyr and Guinevere's little chicks have been lost. What a tragic loss of two beautiful young peregrines. The winds must have been exceptionally strong, since Zephyr and Guinevere are great parents. I hope the third chick will stay safe.

Laura James-Reim posted this information on her blog today.

Fledging – it can be a liberating and joyful time for birds and humans who watch them but it can also be sobering and sad. And so it is in South Bend. I am sorry to report that two chicks have died – high winds in South Bend apparently responsible for blowing them off the roof. This is the home of the incredible one-footed Zephyr and his mate Guinevere. It takes a lot of time and energy for falcon parents to raise their young to the fledging stage, much less if one of them has a distinct disadvantage. It seems so unfair to me that this happened but then that is my human way of expressing anger and sadness at the situation. I know rationally that Mother Nature is at work there but I also know the connection I feel to the falcon world. I can’t put that connection into words but it is deep and it is personal – wish I could spit them out but I guess it is beyond words. We hope for the best for the remaining juvenile to fledge successfully and carry on the genes of two wonderful falcon parents.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64753

I sure wish they would sit these roof top nest boxes ON the roof. . not sticking out on the edge of the roof. . if they would put them similar to what we see for New Jersey, for example, we wouldn't have kids being blown off of the box perch. ..to their deaths. .

gigi · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 12:07 am

I had not seen Laura's post about the 2 little ones that didn't make it. She expressed my feelings exactly.

SGB, I agree...

kittenface · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 1:12 am

Just got this in my google falcons it is sure different than what I thought it would look like
Lone surviving peregrine falcon chick struggles with learning to fly

By Jenny Dolph
Story Created: Jun 14, 2012 at 10:53 PM EDT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Check this video out. It's the last peregrine falcon trying to learn to fly.
The bird is perched atop the roof of the County-City Building in downtown South Bend.
You may remember that the other two chicks from this year's nest did not survive.
It needs to learn to fly, of course, to go get food.
As you can see it is very much a lesson it still needs to learn.
Video here:

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2012 SOUTH BEND~Guinevere & Zephyr

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