Bird Cams Around the World

Our Legs has the chance to live a very long life. Since he has bonded to humans it is much better that he is either a falconer's bird or an educator bird somewhere. He will be quite content with either life I am sure. So now we will have to keep track and see where we can see him flying or perched. And that will happen. Plus, he will never lack for food again, ever.

I agree too. It sounds like he will make a great educational bird, and there aren't that many captive falcons around.

Jack, the angel, is truly watching over Legs. Here is the reply I got today from Dr. Miller at Tri State. This is posted with her permission.

Hi Bonnie,

Yes, the little falcon from Jersey City ("Legs") is returning today. Two
other falcons are en route to WV from north Jersey, and our driver will
be returning with "Legs" in tow.  I've discussed his case with Wendy (at
Three Rivers), and he just isn't developing like all the other falcons.
He also, unfortunately, wasn't interacting well with them (as if they
sensed he was different).

Fortunately, we do have a home for him. Phung Luu, a world-renown bird
trainer, will be taking him and training him for use in avian and
environmental educational shows. Mr. Luu is a "bird whisperer" if there
ever was one, and I'm thrilled that he wants to take this little guy and
give him an important job as an avian ambassador.

As an aside, I'll add that Phung will be holding a live bird show as
part of Tri-State's 35th anniversary celebration on 23 July (He started
his avian career as a volunteer here when he was in college at UD). You
can find out more about this at: http://www.tristatebird.org/bbq

Thanks for your continued interest and concern for "Legs"!

Erica

Erica A. Miller, DVM
Staff Veterinarian
Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Inc.
110 Possum Hollow Road
Newark, DE  19711
Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs
http://www.tristatebird.org
http://www.eow2012.org

Thanks Bonnie for that information. I hope that Legs will have a good home with Mr. Luu. It would be nice if you could see Legs one day Catbird, and get us a picture, of course.

Thanks for the article SGB! I agree with others that Legs will be in very good hands

If you google Phung Luu, you will find a lot of other interesting articles about his demonstrations and work. I am beyond thrilled that Legs is with him. I assume Legs went right to Luu without a stopover at Tri State. I did not see any peregrines in any of Luu's photos. Legs is certainly the right age to become a great Avian Ambassador. And I think Luu is looking for an assistant??? Thought I read that somewhere.

I did make it to Jersey City after a brief stop at Riverside Church. And I did get a two juvenile sighting!! Whew! The kids got lessons today in how to drive an intruder out of the area. And they helped out a little. Now we are entering Phase Two of Peregrine Training. The kids at Riverside are learning how to stoop. And I am sure our Jersey babes are learning the same thing. This is a really dangerous time. And Phase Three when they hunt on their own will be even more dangerous. Jack, you keep watching over these guys. Legs will get to learn the stoop in a very safe environment, thank goodness.

Oh, yes, and that "other watcher" was there, too.

Yes, Dad, we're watching:


But, wait, there's a snack here:


Back to the lesson:


Victorious Six returns:

....and here's the report & pics from the "other" watcher, LOL

Arrived a little after 8 a.m., walked out to the pier, didn't see anyone until around 9 a.m. Spotted 1, then both kids soaring around the top of 101 Hudson! They drifted south for 2 blocks, circling around 77 Hudson (twin apartment towers), and mostly meandered between 10 Exchange Place and 101 Hudson, occasionally calling out.

We walked to our new favorite bench about a block south of 101 Hudson, and after patiently waiting, an Osprey got the party started! It wandered up from the south (probably from Liberty State Park), and the parents wasted no time in going after it! It didn't take long to drive the Osprey out over the Hudson, though we did loose definitive track of the adults. The kids got airborne during the action as well. Shortly after the attack, one of the adults (later ID'd as Six in Bonnie's pic) was soaring around the SE corner of 101. Hudson & either Athena or Libby were soaring together out over the river walkway, drifting south (had to stop watching when they approached the sun).

Not long after, Hudson showed up on a ledge (39th floor?) at 101 Hudson on the SW corner. Libby landed on a nearby parapet briefly, then flew around the south & east side of the building. While walking back to my car, I spotted her on the north side of 101, on the east pipe at the 39th floor, staying in the shade.

Some pics from today:

A fledgling flying around overhead, before the Osprey stirred up the hornet's nest!


Ready or not, here I come!! (We weren't sure which adult this is; Six was spotted right afterward, so it could've been him.)


Adult grabbing the Osprey!!?? (either Athena being "extra Athena," or Six showing his nasty side!! ).


"Wow!! Do it again, pretty pleeeeeease!"


Libby flying along the south and east side of 101 Hudson to find a shady spot:

Wow, those photos are great!!! I love hearing about the different phases of training. Hoping that stooping is in a very safe area!

Jersey City is not good for juvies learning the ins and outs of the stoop. Windows, railings, pipes, tall buildings. Riverside Church area is relatively open and safer. Few windows, short buildings, parks on three sides. But there is the West Side Highway.

Very slow morning had quite a finish today in JC! I arrived around 8:10 a.m., and spotted a fledgling (looked like Hudson) perched on the SW corner of the 4th lowest tier at 10 Exchange Place. He hung out in that area for over 2 and a half hours!! No other falcons were in sight. Bonnie joined me on the corner of Columbus & Hudson, across from 10 Exchange around 8:45-50ish. We stayed at the corner for quite awhile, and at one point Hudson faced west and screamed a bit, but we didn't see who or what had gotten his attention. He ended up moving in from the ledge.

We walked out to the pier, stayed there for a bit, no action. We walked to the bench 1 block south of 101 Hudson, still nothing. At least the weather was comfortable! Bonnie left around 10:40, saying the birds would fly as soon as she left (remembering last Saturday's timing of events!). Well, about 10 minutes after she left, Hudson popped back into view at 10 Exchange, facing south and screaming! He carried on for a few minutes, walking back and forth on the ledge, clearly antsy about something!

At 10:55, he launched off, heading south over Hudson St., but turned back and went behind 101 Hudson. When he came back into view, an adult (probably Dad/Six) was above him. Within seconds, I witnessed (and photographed) an aerial beak-to-talon prey transfer!! Hudson circled in front of 101 Hudson with the prey, then zoomed behind the north side of the building. I think I saw Libby at some point during this (and also saw an adult zoom off to the northeast over 10 Exchange). I walked around to the north side of 101 (back to the corner of Columbus & Hudson), and saw 1 fledgling sitting on a 37th floor ledge, on the NW side of the building. The fledgling was looking down at the roof, and I saw it walk to the eastern corner of the ledge. Couldn't tell if it was dragging anything, but it didn't appear to be eating, and was looking off to the north. It was keeping an eye on the roof area below it tho, so I'm thinking it could've been Libby watching her brother eating, or perhaps Hudson lost his prize to Libby, and was on the lookout for round 2. I headed out around 11:15.

Here are the pics! First up is Hudson at 10 Exchange:


Hudson after launching off 10 Exchange, circling back towards 101 Hudson:


Here's the aerial transfer!! You might notice the prey in Dad's beak in the 1st pic, and what appears to be Hudson trying to transfer the food from his feet to his beak in the 4th pic....





...and finally, Hudson flying around to the north side of 101 Hudson, carrying the prey (that dark blob undernead his tail):


Soooo wish Bonnie had been there to see this and have the chance to get pics! Also wish I had been at least 1 block closer! It looked like the transfer occured about 2 blocks north of me (Montgomery/Hudson St. intersection, right between 101 Hudson & 10 Exchange), and they weren't very high either (maybe 25 stories up)! But I'm of course extremely excited and thankful to have gotten the pics I did; I've seen a number of aerial exchanges over the seasons at different sites, but today was my first chance at photographing it (finally)! Not to mention how awesome it was to see that milestone reached! They got it on the first try, so perhaps it wasn't the first successful transfer!

And the rule is, "Stay put if the bird is in sight." We were nice and cool in the shade at Columbus and Hudson. Granted, our necks hurt and those electric cables were in the way, but ... And the second rule is (or maybe it is the first rule), "As soon as I leave the bird will fly."

Oh my Mike...what an exciting catch! And the photos are fantastic, especially given the distance. Sorry you missed it Bonnie, but you seem to be Mike's good luck charm

Thanks!! I think next time, Bonnie will have to just pretend to leave, and hide in the bushes or something She knew it would happen too; she kept saying "you know they're going to fly as soon as I leave!"

Awesome pictures Mike and Bonnie your turn is coming girl as soon as you think it won't thats when it'll happen so hold on tight to that camera and keep looking up

Mike gets to have a few one of a kind pictures all his own. I have Six flying upside down during one of the girls' first fledge last year. And I have a picture of an eagle who brought me a fish. I'm good. And I have a picture of two Riverside Church fledglings playing King of the Antenna this year.