3 March 2021
After months of watching and waiting with nothing to write about, today I was rewarded. I spent 90% of my time on the south side of Morro Rock logging in four to six hours a day trying to see if the new pair of falcons were going to breed and nest this year.
On a normal year the birds start breeding on the first of the year. The north side pair were a month late starting around February 2nd, 2021. The south side pair spent January and half of February on the ocean side of the Rock where they cannot be seen, but in the last two weeks they have been on the south side where they are readily visible. In that time the tiercel made attempts at breeding, but never landing on her.
Today was different. On the chimney within full view of eight people, two full copulations within four minutes, a total of three in fifteen minutes to a standing ovation.
“Oh, to be young again.”
I turned eighty this past January. I remember when I didn’t give her time to take her socks off. Now she has time to knit a pair!
Happy trails, Bob
Item: I don’t mean to neglect the north side pair. They have been breeding continually since early February and I believe have chosen the “cathedral hole,” the site of last year’s nest site.
Good work, Bob. All that persistence has paid off! Nice photo too.