!!! First Flight in the pouring rain - The lady in red - (Neira) has finally fledged!
June 28, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
June 28th - 2013 - AM Report
In one of theos rare opportunities when I have some time in the field at a fledge watch, I will attempt to do a mid shift report. Now pouring rain, much cooler in comparison to the terrible heat and humidity of the last three days, it would appear that the young ones here at the Scarborough Yellow pages nest site have recharged and have lots of energy. Darn!!!!! Not today!!!
At this stage of the fledge watches, (now into week four for some), and just about the time when we’re all looking for an excuse to convince ourselves and others that the juveniles won’t fly (or fledge) in the pouring rain, I thought I would share a quick story to let all of the non-fledge watchers know what’s shaking this morning in a heavily overcast dark and gloomy pouring raining day on the fledge watch at at least one of the nest sites.
As for peregrines (both the adults and the juveniles), they simply didn’t get the memo or the text to tell them that you should not be flying in the rain! It is quite obvious that the peregrines are not reading the same books that we have all been reading. Peregrines live in the outdoors and typically don’t have a house and roof over their head to protect them from the elements. We have long since learned that they will do what ever they want to do, when they want to do, and any time, every day rain or shine. It’s just another day in the life of a peregrine.
Early this morning, the “Lady in Red” - the unfledged female Neira at the Scarborough Yellow pages nest site jumped into the air and took her first flight. Well, not really what you would call a “real flight” in bird terms.
Quickly losing altitude, (little Neira as she has been named), did some serious window washing with her wings on she slid down five stories of windows as she made a desperate to grab onto numerous window frames as she fluttered five floors down. She eventually caught a little air,, (and that only happens when you actually spread your wings open), and fluttered to the rooftop on one of the four corner columns.
Still 3/4 the way up on the building, she still has allot of altitude and no worse for ware after her ordeal.
For the past three hours, she has been running the leading edges in an effort to get closer to her parents that have strategically placed themselves in a high position on different parts of the upper portion of the building that has allowed them both a clear view of each of the fledglings position.
Little Loki, the young fledgling male, is still high, and despite the pouring rain, takes a couple of shorts flights this morning while chasing his dad Ruben around with a fresh kill that he has just brought in to an upper ledge on the nest building. At one point, BOTH parents attended and both beak fed him on separate occasions on the same ledge. Quite heartwarming actually!
Shortly after the feeding, Loki and dad were observed and photographed roosting one above each other on the same corner only 6 feet apart of each other chilling out and having a father and dad moment. It’s now really pouring rain and you hardly see across the parking lot!! Its starting to flood this portion of the parking lot!!! Time to move again!!!!
Where’s my boat!!
Stay tuned………..
