Observation date: 8 April 2017
In past years, Professor Maureen Smith has brought her students from Saddleback College in Orange County, California to Morro Bay to explore all the wonders. They camp in the Morro Bay State Park and venture out to see every thing of interest. For some it is a non-stop adventure. Everyone has a job and each does it well. I wish our government could run this smoothly.
For Maureen, the falcons are a must.
After I’ve given a presentation and slide show on Friday night, the following morning they came to Morro Rock to see the falcons live! They were not disappointed. Flying exhibitions of high speed cliff racing, gull spanking and the lot. We were able to only watch the north side pair. The south side are not nesting again this year. The north pair are nesting in the Cathedral hole named for its arch shape visible from different angles.
Cathedral eyrie Photo by Bob Isenberg
This was the first eyrie used by the north side falcons in 2001 and has not been reused until this year.
Female in nest site Photo by Bob Isenberg
Happy trails, Bob
Item: The photo we show here is for location purpose and were taken with an iPhone. The other shows the bird in the Cathedral hole and was taken with my Canon 500mm with a 1.4 extender.
As always Bobs adventures are exciting and make me want to birdwatch all day.
So glad you enjoy Bob’s posts! We love hearing from you and all the birdwatchers, Linda.
~Heather
Thank you for your posts! I have gotten a real education from them. I’m currently watching a pair of peregrine falcons on a bridge in Rhode Island, and I’ve been taking careful notes. Although I’m a scientist, I’m not a wildlife expert, so your descriptions have helped explain some of the behaviors I have been seeing.
Mark, thanks you for your kind words. I am not a scientist, biologist or ornithologist, but I am a heavy equipment operator and engineering contractor with 80,000 hours of observation with the peregrine falcons. I particularly watch two pairs at Morro Rock which to my knowledge are never found this close together. We have lost seven birds in fifteen years from fighting. If you go back into the archives, there are hundreds of stories that you might relate to. If you’d be so kind to send me your address ( via email to pcpw@me.com ), I will send you a Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch hat. Bob and Heather