Bird Cams Around the World

I have been downtown everyday starting Wednesday, but too tired to report.

Both have fledged and so far, while not together, are staying in the same general vicinity. Sesenta, on Wednesday evening, flying from a precarious postion on the front of Market Tower to the tip top of the Hilton Hotel on Illinois, which is just behind the MT building. I think he stayed there all night since he was there in the morning. Occasionally an adult, Kathy we think, would visit and feed, but for the most part he was by himself. Later Thursday after I left he must have relocated and we did not find him again until this morning, perched on the banner of the monument that you see from the webcam on the Circle. He stayed there until about noon when he flew south. Have not actually seen him, but we think he is on one of the buildings along South Meridian Street. Immediately an adult flew and perched on the Borders bookstore building looking west so that would make sense.

We think Kinsey fledged yesterday, but definitely by this morning. As soon as I arrived a little before 7am I heard the screaming. We eventually found her hanging by her talons from a decorative medallion near the top of Hilton Garden [not the same as the Hilton Hotel where Sesenta was - we are going to look into frequent stays rewards for these two!] Frequently an adult was near by, ready to rescue if she lost her grab on the narrow perch. Eventually she flew across the street to the Circle Tower building [we also call that the wedding cake building] and then to the top of the IPL building that you can also see from the webcam. At night the IPL building is all lit up, right now a red white and blue flag motif. Our watcher Susan H said it looked safe with lots of surface for roaming. Thankfully, both have remained high and we hope it stays that way!

I may go back down in a little bit to see if I can locate both juvies before dark. Otherwise, tomorrow morning!

Here is an aerial shot that was already annotated. I tried to mark the buildings I mentioned so you could visualize!

Great report, gigi, and thanks for keeping track of these two. What a relief that they have been able to stay high.

Gigi, your fledge has happened at exactly the same time as mine! I know you are feeling as tired as I am. Too much running around Looks like everything is going pretty good for you so far. Mine are flying really well, better than I've ever seen, which has been a huge relief and less pressure to go downtown. No hanging from the ledge landings like you have to contend with, thankfully! Good luck!!

thanks Barb. Well as you know, It ain't over yet!! Good luck!

Just checking emails before I head back down in few minutes!

Kudos to the watchers out there in Indy. Gigi, that map is very helpful seeing where all those named places are located. May things continue to go well out there.

Thanks Jane. It has been uneventful which is a good thing during fledging. Nice flights and good landings. Both are staying very close to the Monument on the Circle - both there when I arrived this morning, but I imagine there territory will get a little larger with each day. Will be there tomorrow morning and we'll see what the action is!

According to Laura James-Reim, Kinsey, who had been somewhat stranded on the 30th floor of Market Tower in the cooling tower area, has now moved. She has not yet been located, but hopefully she will be found soon. It seems Sesenta is flying extremely well.

I was downtown today with Susan H. and we saw both juvies this afternoon. Here is my report that I posted on Laura's blog:

Sue H. and I spotted both juvies this afternoon sleeping behind Stanchion 2, 3 and 4 at various times. In the blink of an eye, the little buggers would drop down into the ledge then appear behind another stanchion to resume their naps. Kept us on our toes from our vantage point at the Sheraton parking garage.

We also saw Kinney fly to the nest box and perch with his beautiful white chest ablaze! He truly is a beacon in more ways than one in the falcon world!! We headed for home about 4PM."

I included a picture of Market Tower so you might get an idea of where Susan and I were and where the juvies were. The picture on the right shows Market Tower as we see it from the street looking straight at it and it shows what the stanchions are. If you look at the view on the left side of the photo, I have shown you where the parking garage is with our view that looked behind the stanchions. Hope that helps.

I just got an email from one of the watchers who drove to Indy from West Lafayette to see what she could see. It was a lot! Here is Barbara's report:
"Hope I can remember most of it; will let Beverly do through 7:20. Juvenile on ATT flew around at 7:43 and finally landed on MT NE corner of 31 where KQ often sits. 7:58 KQ flew all over for more than 10 minutes - I'm 90% sure it was KQ because size was huge compared with Juvie. She seemed to be circling over the two parks north on Meridian, maybe hunting? Amazing how long those adults can soar! 8:12 joined by Kinney, not sure where he came from, and both soared in big circles. Oh, before that a juvie flew out from MT and chased KQ for a couple of minutes, kakking at her some, then disappeared behind MT.

8:14 KQ disappeared behind MT and didn't reappear so around 8:25 we went over to Illinois but found no one. Went to the top of the Illinois parking structure, still no one, but around 8:35? KQ soared in from far west. Mary surmised she'd been hunting over by the river and that sounded good to me. Mary and her friend left soon after that; I went back to the Circle and 8:50 or so both adults put on a wonderful soaring display over Chase Tower, Sheraton, ATT, etc. They were enjoying the cooler air? One juvie joined them just after 9 for a short time, chasing Kinney mostly and kakking mightily at him. (Names are assumptions based on size and soaring ability.)

And somewhere in there before 9 both juvies were playing tag (I assume when they soar for only short times and flap the rest, it's a juvie?) but then they went behind MT. After chasing Kinney that juvie landed on the NE 31 corner and appeared to be there for the night. We (Mary and her assistance dog and her friend - another Laura?) had thought the one flying so well was Sesenta because he was flying so well, but I'm not so sure now after seeing the two playing tag. All in all a wonderful time and I am impressed with their quick progress since Monday evening."

Thank you for those reports, gigi.

Was downtown twice today. First in the late morning with not much going on. I think I arrived too late and the juvies had settled in for naps with full crops and tummies.

But this evening was a whole different story and just what I had been hoping for. To start with, I found Kinney sitting on the perch and figured there might just be a juvie nearby so I headed up to the Sheraton garage to see if anyone was lurking behind one of the stanchions. Well, behind #1 was a juvie just starting to stir. A little shift here and rearranging of a wing there.

I texted Laura with the sighting and she immediately called me back to say she knew where the other juvie was. Laura was almost giggling so I figured something was up, but thought I was the only watcher downtown at that time. Well, as she and her husband were watching the 5 o'clock weather on one of the local television stations, they turned on their weather cam located atop Chase Tower. Lo and behold, there is a juvenile peregrine falcon right in front of the cam! So while I was watching one on Market Tower, Laura and all those tuned into Fox 59 were watching the other juvie 48 stories up! No wonder Laura was giddy!!

Well slowly but surely both juvies took to the air and provided me with a fabulous air show! Lots of synchronized flying, talon tag and just plain old showing off. At one time we [the other watchers who arrived] think we saw both juvies and both adults in the sky together. It all happened so quickly and with binoculars it is sometimes hard to follow the entire scene, but we were pretty sure. Other times we saw who we think was Kinney showing them just how that soaring is done with the juvies following and screaming right behind. It was sooooo exciting. Made all that sitting and watching and worrying earlier in fledge watch worth it.
Sigh..... my day just can't get any better than that so I am .

I am so happy everything is going well. I did not know you had started your watch already.

time has flown so quickly
Continued good flying

how are things going here??

One of Indy's great falcons has died
Male falcon Zephyr dead of head injury

Very sad indeed. See the South Bend topic for more info:

You are totally allowed to do that!

Laura's latest blog entry:
It’s Not November, But It Is Thanksgiving

Barbara Be. was downtown yesterday and here is her report:

"Arrived downtown 2:30, parked and hit the Circle at 2:40 and immediately there was a falcon flying from above (well above) the closest ATT building to Chase - thought it was heading for the top of Chase, it was heading so high, but it went around north of Chase Tower. I got my single dip ice cream and got the dog and since we were parked near Pennsylvania and Market, we went to the top of the Penn parking structure. Around 3:00 one falcon flew high up over BMO and Regions Tower and disappeared north or northeast. Could have come from Chase Tower - not sure. At 3:10 two suddenly appeared way high up over BMO playing talon tag; I figured they were juveniles but was not sure. Then a third falcon appeared to join them - maybe very slightly larger but I'm not great at judging size when they're so high up. All three headed southeast but they were sure having a good time. Just a few minutes later one, I THINK the 3rd one, returned gliding smoothly back from the southeast - above / behind an old INB building? - and went behind Chase again. Nothing more for awhile and it was hot (though not as hot as I'd expected) so we headed down to the street. Still no sightings, and KQ was definitely not on any NE corner of Market Tower any time I checked, and no one was on the perch or anywhere else on MT that I could see.

I was pretty sure that the three I'd seen were Sesenta, Kinsey and Kinney just from size similarity, not certain though of course. Thought it was pretty nice of them to frolic in the heat for me. Then as I drove away - was heading north on Delaware at the time - a huge raptor with white-ish chest soared right down Market, lower than I'd seen any of the others. If it wasn't KathyQ it was a white-chested redtail or Coopers Hawk but I sincerely doubt that... If I didn't know better I'd swear it was KQ telling my bye for this season and thank you to all of us for being there to help her kids in case they needed it. :) Made me tear up and I almost had to pull over. I feel so lucky to have seen so much - either I've been incredibly lucky this year or I'm finally getting better at finding and IDing them, probably both. Sesenta and Kinsey are flying really well so I'm feeling hopeful. Now we just have to get through the July 4 fireworks and all."

What a nice report by Barbara. Good to hear they are all still doing well. Loved reading about KQ's send-off. Thanks for posting it here, gigi.