HARRISBURG, JANUARY-APRIL 2021

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:41 am **Posts:** 12732

Came in at 12:21 and was surprised to see the male alone with the eggs. Niecey was nowhere in sight and he was standing in the front door, he even looked back at them once. Directly, Niecey flew in and landed on the stick and you could tell she wanted to mate. At 12:23, he obliged after flying off and circling back.

bev. · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2021 11:46 am

awe, it is too bad about the feelings here. I have lost some of my favorites the same way, at my sites. It hurt deeply, but becasue I am part of Dr. Courts recovery and release and monitoring team, I never have time to lay blame, nor would I . This is nature. I would have felt bad about any death.

I will always remember little dad and mom. I have glasses that Sue made with mom on them. I cherish them.

I hope in in time you will accept this male. but I respect and understand how you you feel. lots of hugs your way :7val:

Terka · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2021 11:47 am

Jane · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2021 12:02 pm

I have been involved with the Harrisburg falcons since 2000. Our dearly departed Mom was extraordinary in every sense of the word. Her first mate "Dad" was great, but I really can't remember a whole lot about him since he was injured after the 2004 nesting season. Mom surely taught Little Dad many things, and for seven years we had two falcon legends as a nesting pair. It cannot be proved that NG was responsible for Mom's demise, but I suspect that was the case. I witnessed NG's terrible wounds from the 16th floor of the Carson Building as she sat on the U roof. That was terribly disturbing to see, and I had to look away. I would imagine Niecey was responsible. Niecey is a very good mother, and surely has learned much from Little Dad. But I'm not sure she's a good teacher. I do feel that if Mom was still alive she would have tried to help Little Dad. She had a sixth sense about things. I do think that 85 is very attractive and I can accept him, but not like him.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:41 am **Posts:** 12732

From "Falcon Chatter":

2 photos of Lil Dad, tap photo to enlarge, then click right arrow to advance.

:7val:

Tribute continued from "Falcon Wire" by Dr. Art McMorris (Part 1 can be found on page 18):

3/19/2021 :: Tribute to W/V Continued
To conclude the tribute to the longtime resident male peregrine falcon banded W/V, the Falcon Program Coordinator with the PA Game Commission, Dr. Art McMorris, provided some additional reflections.

The territorial challenge between the three males at the RCSOB building in Harrisburg has now reached a conclusion, with the 18-year-old former resident male being displaced by a 4-year-old challenger, and an 11-year-old challenger losing out. During the winter of 2020-2021, the 4-year-old male 85/AK arrived at the nest ledge, joining the 11-year-old male 38/S who had been attempting to take over the territory for the last 4 years, while the long-time resident male W/V was absent from the site for several months, as has been his annual habit. W/V returned to the site on February 24, whereupon challenges between the three males apparently began, mostly unseen. On March 12, W/V collided with the Rachel Carson State Office Building and injured his left leg, and on March 15 he collided with another building and died. The collisions were almost certainly caused by territorial chases. During this period, the young 85/AK was seen copulating with the female, and the first egg arrived on March 15, the same day W/V died.

W/V had a good run: he lived to the age of 18, quite old for a wild peregrine; he bred successfully for 16 straight years, starting as a 2-year-old, and sired 54 young over that period. He quite possibly sired at least one of this year's impending brood as well. 85/AK, for his part, is a big strong falcon; he was able to displace W/V, which 38/S was unable to do after 4 years of trying, despite being 7 years younger than W/V. In fact, 85/AK is so big (for a male) that he was mistakenly sexed as a female when he was banded as a nestling. He has been bringing abundant food to the female.

Interestingly, all the falcons in question are Pennsylvania progeny. Dr. McMorris banded the breeding female, 48/AE, as a nestling at the PA/NJ Turnpike Delaware River Bridge in 2009; the unsuccessful interloper male 38/S was banded by PGC's Dan Brauning at a bridge in McElhattan PA in 2010; and W/V was banded by PGC's Matt Sharp at the Walt Whitman bridge in Philadelphia in 2003. And 85/AK is the is the son of a Pennsylvania bird, 09/AR Black/Green, a female that McMorris banded as a nestling at St. John the Baptist Church in Manayunk, Philadelphia, in 2013. 09/AR dispersed to Maryland where she nested starting in 2015, and she produced 85/AK in 2017.

bev. · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2021 3:06 pm

I haste to say this, but I have cam up and recording and watching when I can, and it certainly looks like there is a challenger here.
I do not have time to post any more recordings but same fast in and out , looking up and all around( almost like war dance)

hopefully , maybe just some vultures , but worth keeping an eye.

bev. · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2021 3:40 pm

a few earlier pictures

bev. · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2021 4:17 pm

male brings in prey, Niecey off and male to point. no w gone. very windy

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:41 am **Posts:** 12732

Saw male on point feaking after flying in. Just prior, someone took an odd-looking jump off the ledge and then saw a falcon come flying down the street toward us from further up the street and I assume who I saw flying was him, but unsure who jumped. Looked large as if Niecey, but I am not used to seeing him and know that he is large. He's lightly vocal at times. He stayed a bit, then flew.

Jane · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2021 6:24 pm

The only falcon I've seen via the cams today was Niecey. On and off eggs, on stick, and on the point. On eggs now. And not there now. Geeze.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:41 am **Posts:** 12732

Right now?

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:41 am **Posts:** 12732

Okay, I was trying to figure out why I have nobody on cam. :teehee:

bev. · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2021 6:34 pm

male has brought in 3 food items that I have seen. He is stepping up to plate.
he has been on point twice . just left a bit ago. picture coming

bev. · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2021 6:35 pm

Niece y just back from eating food item he brought in

male with food item

one of photos of male on point

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:41 am **Posts:** 12732

19:33 Niecey home and getting on her eggs.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:41 am **Posts:** 12732

Found 2 more photos of Lil Dad from Falcon Chatter that are slightly different than above. Can't have too many photos of Lil Dad.

Tap photo to enlarge, then click right arrow to advance

bev. · **Posted:** Sat Mar 20, 2021 8:34 am

916 -male on th e point

bev. · **Posted:** Sat Mar 20, 2021 8:45 am

9:42
niecey on stick

loza · **Posted:** Sat Mar 20, 2021 9:16 am

9.31 am Male on the point . Niecey arrived on the stick , She is in the nest

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:18 pm **Posts:** 64475

A little later than loza's pics..

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