HAWK RIDGE

Its fall! 

I love love love fall! 

The cooler weather, scarfs, hoodies, fleece and warm drinks. 

Oh and its MIGRATION season!!! 

Katie, Frank and I at the top of the ridge

Here in Minnesota we have Hawk Ridge, which happens to be one of the best migration spots for watching raptors right in the city of Duluth. This past week I was lucky enough to head up to the ridge and watch some birds. Katie and I also were able to catch up with some friends! Of course, on our way home, we swung into the Audubon Center so I could see some folks and critters. What a fantastic way to spend a couple days off.

Katie and I holding hatch year sharp-shinned hawks after they were banded

I adopted a Merlin!!! I was able to release this beautiful bird after it was banded

Saying Hi to Spike!

Sandstone Visit

A couple weeks back, I went up to Sandstone to hang with friends and teach a raptor program like the old days.  For me it was great change of pace - teaching about multiple species of raptors and a different program. Of course I had to get a couple pictures of me and an amazing little falcon along the way! On a side note, I was never too far from the eagle center. While looking across the pole barn, I noticed a calendar that had Columbia's (one of our female eagles) picture for the month of July.

Isis and I!

Isis and I teaching about falcons!

Peregrine Banding!

I just had the most AMAZING day EVER!!!! 

Still cannot wipe the smile off my face! 

Grabbing the chicks from the nest box

Today, I had the chance to watch/take part in a peregrine falcon banding! The family lives on one of the Mayo Clinic buildings in Rochester, Minnesota. A nest cam allows people to follow the family year after year. This spring the pair had 4 young - 2 male and 2 females. This banding is open to the public and lots of people turned up for the event hosted by Mayo Clinic and Midwest Peregrine Society. I was lucky enough to go up to the roof and watch the whole process! Even got to hold one of the little ones :) Seriously, I have not stopped smiling since noon!! Anyways, here are couple of the pictures from today's adventure...

Recording the data

I got to carry the little ones back to the roof top!

So this is what happens when I unexpectedly get to hold a PEFA! YAY! AMAZING!!!

Wearing the chick backpack - all 4 of this years young are inside :)

Some of the bird nerds right before the birds are returned to the nest box

All smiles when we were finished :)

PEFA!

I love falcons. I know, SURPRISE! It turns out I am now living in Peregrine country. In the couple weeks that I have been working in Wabasha, I have discovered the location of several peregrine nests and seen quite a few birds. One nest is visible from where I park for work. Another is within view of my apartment.

Peregrine under the bridge connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin

And a third nesting pair is up the road about 10 miles on the Wisconsin side of the river on Maiden Rock Bluff. I found this pair by accident. I pulled off at a historical marker while out and about. As I was reading the sign, I heard the unmistakable baby falcon call. After looking up for a couple moments, I saw the adults flying around. I watched them for over a half hour. They were definitely in hunting mode - I saw flocks of pigeons exploding out of trees. At one point, a Bald Eagle flew too close and had to suffer through being dive bombed by the falcon. It was AWESOME!

Maiden Rock Bluff

Found the falcon!

flying

found something!

Peregrine!

Yesterday, I headed up to Duluth. One thing on the agenda was Peregrine Watch in Canal Park. I got a glimpse of the adults flying overhead and peeked at the 3 chicks through the scope. At one point I even saw Mom and Dad Falcon do a food exchange!!! Amazing!

The picture isn't the greatest but on the left is the nest box and sitting on the ledge in the center is a parent falcon. See the white dot on the green? Kinda? Well that is the adult. Trust me.

Gibwanasii's First Program

Tonight Gibwanasii did his first raptor program! It was a little rough at the beginning but once he settled down he did great! I am so proud of my little buddy and glad all our hard work paid off :)

Teaching

Picture time after teaching the 5th graders about falcons

Cupcakes!

I have been spending quite a bit of time on pinterest the past couple weeks and one thing that keeps popping up are owl cupcakes. One of my friends even made them. But, I think owls are overrated so I challenged myself to make falcon cupcakes. I tried to make them as kestrel like as possible using various candies. All in all I think they turned out all right and they taste fantastic! :)

AWESOME!

I got a treat tonight - we had a falconer come to the center and talk for our winter family camp. She brought a gyrfalcon and harris hawk. Both beautiful birds and I was excited just to see these birds. This was easily the highlight of the week for me!

female white phase gyrfalcon

harris hawk

Merlin

Yesterday, we had an orphaned merlin come in. It was ADORABLE and I fell in love with falcons all over again. It was even giving little "killy, killy, killy" calls.

Teeny tiny merlin!

Check out the feet - definitely a falcon!

The merlin was found in someones back yard next to an already dead sibling. They must as fallen from a nest high in a pine tree because when this little fellow got down to the raptor center, it had to be euthanized because its injuries were severe. It was a treat to see - they normally don't breed in this neck of the woods. I also learned a few more things about falcons along the way.

Merlin

Earlier this week, we got a female Merlin in for rehab.

This is the first Merlin that I had seen, in the wild or otherwise. Perhaps its because I work with falcons on a a daily basis but it was a beautiful bird. The long toes, nicely notched beak and the fun feather patterns. 

The people that brought the Merlin in found her after she hit a window, most likely chasing prey. After we examined her, the bird appeared to have some wing injury. I put a body wrap on the bird (the white bandage you see in the photos) so she couldn't move her wing. The good news is after a bit of rehab at The Raptor Center, this bird has a good chance for release.