Fledge Part 4

Callidora & Jemison are have lost nearly all the fluff and are now ready to spread their wings.

So who would be first to fledge ? It was Jemison on June 26th with a short flight to an adjacent building. Callidora very much wanted to follow but she was much larger & heavier than her brother and couldn't quite get airborne. But she was doing lots of flapping and wing practice and on the 28th she achieved her first flight.

Callidora 6.26.10 wanting to follow Jemison

Callidora 6.27.10 Dreaming of her fledge

Her 1st flight was a bit shaky as she bumped into the side of the building Jemison was on and eventually ended up on another building. But it was a soft landing and she was okay. They had the cam on her and she hopped along the edge of the roof.

Callidora fledges 6.29.10

There are many falcon watchers on the ground during this time to keep an eye on them and they do an amazing job. Callidora & Jemison have now officially become fledglings. And on June 29th a sight everyone hopes for but no one wants to see.

The empty nestbox at dusk 6.29.10

Everything was going smooothly with the young fledglings practicing flights around the area. Jemison returned to the nestbox often but once Callidoa fledged it was awhile before she returned. In the meantime on July 3th Jemison had a collison with building and had to be rescued.

I was devasted as it turned out he had a broken shoulder and had to go to rehab. But tough little guy that he was after 8 weeks he was re-released in a wildlife refuge near where I grew up & he now flys wild & free.

Callidora returns 7.4.10

Callidora on top of nestbox 7.4.10

This is the last photo I have of Callidora in the nest box when she visited on 7.10.10

As you can she she grew up to be a beautiful Peregrine falcon & I was privileged to see her fly overhead with Beauty on Falcon Watchers weekend. Thus ends the story of my watching these 2 precious birds grow up. It was a wonderful experience and the memories I have of it I will hold onto forever. There is nothing like waking up in the morning & rushing to get the computer on just so you can hear that loud beautiful noise of hungry Eyases.

Last year was very disapointing as Beauty laid eggs and there were no hatches. There was much speculation as to the wet Spring being an issue or whether Archer also mating with another younger female, Unity, was a contributing factor. Only God knows. Archer has gone South for the Winter and Beauty is here keeping watch over her territory. So we wait for Spring & the return of Archer so see what happens this year. But I pray for Eyas every night.

I would like to thank Rfalconcam who provides the wonderful cams we watch on

here is a link to the homepage http://rfalconcam.com/rfc-main/

I would also like to thank all the falcon watchers and all the rehab people who helped along the way

And to Callidora who has my heart

Soar with the Angels