Saturday, December 27, 2025
These are my favorite days with the falcons. High speed antics, 20 G turns, chasing everything that flies… red-tails, turkey vultures, ospreys and anything else that gets in his way. Then the male leads the female to all previous nest sites trying to let her know “where to go.”
I am now looking at the female perched on an outcropping of rocks watching him, watching every move he makes. She does not go into her submissive pose, a signal for copulation. It’s too early. He’ll have to do more flying, more acrobatics. She didn’t seem to be much impressed with his first band of courtship flights, but it should continue for a couple more days. Tomorrow will be another day and we hope to see more flying.
Today the visitors that watched were visibly impressed with the speed and agility of the sixteen year old tiercel (male). Copulation should begin the first week or two in January. More to come.
Happy trails, Bob and Jerry
P.S. One visitor said she could not turn her head fast enough to follow him across the face of the Rock.
So glad you guys are chronicling these magnificent birds… I saw the Peregrines of Morro Rock on my first trip here in the 1970’s with John Schmidt who went on
To be a nest watcher and drew many wonderful drawings of the birds
You two are so lucky to closely observe these behaviors from such awesome birds! Wow, he’s 16 now!! We hope to pass through the area and stop by to see you Bob. Keers ( as the Marbled Murrelet says)
Kerry and Rachel
THE BOYS ARE HARD AT WORK AGAIN!
Always, at this time of year. We are waiting to see more activity.It’s been rather quiet, but the female is sitting in a hole opposite the nest site. ~Heather