Tiercel With a White Feather: The Story of Archer

Although this story has had its title for quite some time I
have waited to write it, hoping I think for answers and an outcome that did not happen. And although it may always have an unfinished ending I feel like now is the time to write it as I remember it. And so here it is from my heart that loved him so, Archer's story.

Archer and his Beauty

Archer was my first male bird of prey, my first tiercel before I even knew what a tiercel was. And he was Daddy to my precious first eyas’s Jemison and Callidora. He was a wonderful provider for the two little ones and on guard duty while Beauty took her time out. Such a cute little man he was with those striped pantaloons and that most distinguishing feature, a single white feather on his right side. 2010 was a magical year for me as I watched him and Beauty raise their two eyas. I will never forget it.


2010 Archer feeding Jemison & Callidora

2010 Archer on guard

In 2011 I once again looked forward to another clutch from Beauty and Archer But as I would learn things do things do not always go as well. Beauty laid 3 eggs and I had high hopes of eyas but Archer started bonding with another female out at KP. She was eventually ID’ed as Unity. Due to the stress of the situation and other contributing factors none of the eggs hatched. It was a very disappointing year to say the least.

5.6.11 Archer on eggs

5.7.11 Archer rolling eggs

As 2012 dawned I was full of high hopes for the coming year and eagerly awaiting the return of that special little man from his winter vacation. But just as the season was about to get started Unity decided she wanted the prime location and a territorial battle left Beauty injured and in rehab. It was not the start I had envisioned. With Unity now in control of the territory and making herself at home in the nest box I waited on Archer’s return and prayed for Beauty to heal. Due to the warm spring it was expected he might arrive even earlier than last year but he came in on March 14th actually a few days later. And oh how I was overjoyed to see him and his white feather. He seemed a bit confused at first about the situation. Why was Unity now in his penthouse location and where was his Beauty ? He even went out to KP to check things out as if maybe Beauty might have gone there. But she was not there and Unity was at the nest box and so in a couple of days they began to bow and mate. It is the way of the falcon. And things appeared to be going well until a tragic turn of events on March 26th. As watchers online looked on in horror Archer came onto the deck and plopped down looking very much in distress. He somehow managed to get into the nest box and Unity flew in and there was that moment she looked down at him with such tenerness and concern. She melted my heart that day and I will always love her for loving him. Archer was not able to stand and it appeared his legs were injured but he managed to take off and fly to the Wilder building. Then he flew again and could not be located. Our amazing crew of watchers went into action. MAK and Joyce stayed downtown all night looking for him and even used a spotlight. Shaky used the pan cam to search the surrounding rooftops for any sign of him. He was eventually found the next day as he flew off the Bausch and Lomb building. Archer was seen several times over the next few days making shorts flights but he never returned to the nest box. He spent much of his time lying flat on the corner of the same building and occasionally popping his head up. Unity was seen near him and it was thought she was bringing him food. But when he was spotted in flight both his legs appeared to still be dangling. On March 29th Unity laid her first egg, she had tried to hold it in as long as possible but it was time. She appeared torn between tending to Archer and guarding her egg. On the 30th and 31st of March Archer was spotted lying flat on the corner of the Bausch and Lomb building. Archer was last seen on Monday April 2nd on his favorite place, the Mercury statue. He appeared to have a full crop. That same day another Canadian tiercel showed up in town who would later be ID'ed as Dot.Ca. It will never be known for certain if Archer left town on his own realizing he was unable to defend himself or if he was escorted out by Dot.Ca. Or is it possible he was just too weak by then to leave and crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on a rooftop somewhere in downtown Rochester ? Maybe Unity is the only one who knew. Also on Monday April 2nd Beauty was released from the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. Everyone expected her to head straight back to her territory and there was much concern over her and Unity battling again over it. But in yet another fateful twist of events on Good Friday April 6th, Unity was tragically killed by a car and just a few hours later Beauty arrived at the nest box. Archer would not be seen again.

3.14.12 Archer's return

Archer and Unity bowing 3.12

3.26.12 Archer comes to the deck injured

Unity concerned over her injured Archer 3.26.12

Unity alone with her egg 4.1.12

Last photo of Archer on Mercury (taken by MAK)

I will always believe in my heart that there should and could have been an attempt to rescue Archer. The DEC knew his legs were injured in some way, possibly from a collision with a building or wires or maybe some sort of infection from a battle wound. And our watchers knew his location on several occasions. It was said there could not be an attempt unless he went to ground, that a rooftop rescue might frighten him and cause further injury. And maybe it would have. We will never know. But I have to wonder if Archer's fate was determined simply by the fact he did not or was not able to go to ground. Beauty did and thank God for the person that found her, we still have her with us. Some have said that to rescue is to intervene, I say to rescue is to save a life. Some have said we must let nature take it's course. But then we would not be watching our Beauty sitting proudly on her clutch right now. I can't help but question the decision that was made about Archer. After all Archer was no ordinary falcon. Not only an endangered species, but also a descendent from a royal lineage. Grandson to Rochester's famed Mariah and Kaver with a legacy know to falcon watchers world wide. And as far as I know their only descendent to return to Rochester as the resident tiercel and raise a clutch. Was it not owed to him to at least try and help save him ?

After Unity was killed Dot.Ca continued for what seemed like weeks on end to pester poor Beauty. He did not understand the situation and neither did she. I lit candles and prayed for Archer's miraculous return. I dreamed of a falcon version of knight on a white horse. That a little tiercel with a white feather would swoop in and rescue his damsel in distress. But a miracle did not happen and he did not come home. And so the story ends without an ending, only what my heart feels, which is that Archer did not survive. I truly believe if he had healed and if he had been able he would have come back to his territory, to look for his Beauty and his Unity. If someday I am proven wrong and someone looks up in the sky and says "there he is , a tiercel with a white feather" It will be the happiest of days. Until then Godspeed Archer, may you fly free wherever you are. I will love you always.

Braveheart