It was a year ago today they found her, her life barely just began when it was abruptly cut short. So it seems fitting that I choose it to share her story now. It cannot be the long storied legacy of her parents but rather a much shorter version of her precious life.
I waited a long time to name a falcon. It is the highest honor given to a falcon watcher to do so. I was afraid I might not get a chance as Beauty was getting up in her years and I so wanted to name one of my falcon mother's offspring. Then COVID hit in 2020 and the eyas were not banded so I decided to put it off. In 2021 it was still uncertain as to whether the eyas would be banded but I decided to risk naming one regardless. It tuned out I made the right choice as Freyja & Golden would be Beauty's last 2 offspring.
Her name was never in question. It had been in my head for several years and I had submitted it a couple of times for the naming contest as my female name choice. Freyja was a Norse goddess of love and fertility. She used a a falcon feathered cloak to travel between the mythological worlds, taking the form of a falcon. It seemed like a perfect name for a peregrine.
Beauty laid 4 eggs in 2021. It was a rocky incubation period as an intruder attempted to take over the territory. Because of this stressful situation it took Beauty double the amount of time she usually takes between egg laying. Finally after some 114 hours the 2nd egg came followed by two more as things quieted down and the intruder moved on. Beauty and Dot.ca took turns at incubation with several stand offs along the way. On May 10th around 9:19pm the 1st egg hatched and on the 11th at 1:45pm just as DC arrived with food he witnessed the hatching of the 2nd egg. As for the other two eggs, one was thought not to be viable due to the stress Beauty had endured and had been pushed aside and the other egg cracked.
On June 2nd the eyas were banded by the DEC. Freyja received 33/BW black/green with no tape and her brother Golden received 32/BA black/green with green tape. Banding has always been important I was so happy to finally have my girl officially banded and named.
The eyas continued to thrive under the watchful eye of Beauty and the awesome hunting skills of DC. Freyja was a big girl with a big appetite and was always begging for food. As they started to explore their world 'wall walking' began as did the rise in watcher's blood pressure. Watching them run/hop along the wall with wings flapping is not for the faint of heart. This is a nerve racking time for watchers as we await the eyas taking to the skies safely. On Father's Day June 20th Golden fledged in the morning successfully and then flew back to the nest box to reunite with with Freyja. She loved being out on the north wall and leaning way over which made me so nervous. I was down on watch that day and all of a sudden she went off. I don't think she meant to it was more of an accidental fledge but she headed North and then circled back towards the TSB flying quite well. We ran out to look for her. It looked like she had landed on the back of the building but we couldn't locate her. Later that evening though watcher Joyce found her back there and she looked fine. But the next day she was nowhere to be found again. On Tuesday am the 22nd there was still no sighting of her but once again watcher Joyce located Freyja on the Ellwanger and Barry Building that pm. I was so excited that she was ok that I drove down to see her. I am so glad I did as that would be the last time I would lay eyes on her. She continued to do well and even landed up on the metalworks of the TSB wings the following day Wednesday the 23rd. But that would be the last sighting of her. Watchers continued to search but she was not to be found. I was down watching again on Sunday the 27th. It was hard watching Golden doing so well and knowing in my heart that something had happened to my girl.
You never want to get the news that a falcon has been lost, especially if it is a falcon you have named.But after Freyja's disappearance I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her. Was her early accidental fledge to blame, was she just not quite ready to be in the skies. Is it better to know what happened to give some closure to such a loss. And then on July 12th I got just that closure as Carol texted me with the news that Feyja had been found. A security guard on the OCSR building had found her body on the top of the building where the old restaurant was. Her bands positively identifying her. She was recovered and returned to the DEC.
I did what I always do, I went the place where I go to in happy times and in sad times. I grabbed a couple flowers from the garden and I went to the lake. And I poured out my pain to the place I love more than any other place. It takes whatever I need to give it without question. I played Eric Church 'Never Break Heart' on repeat in my car. In Dec. of 2021 I placed my 1st hide as a geocacher out on the Webster Park pier - Fly Free Freyja. Unfortunately I had to archive it in May of 2023 as it kept getting muggled but thanks to someone giving me an onshore space I was able to bring it back later that month. Fly Free Freyja Redux (GCA94VJ) is placed in her memory.
My beautiful girl only touched the skies for a few short days. But she touched my heart forever. She will always have half of it. Fly Free Freyja. I will love you always.
* This blog was originally written on June 22,2022 but was never officially published. After a few additions it is now official.
