Knitting…

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

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.

Copulating peregrine falcons Photo by Cleve Nash

“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.

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First sign of bonding…

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

18 November 2020

The peregrine falcons have been scarce on the “rock” for the last month or so. This is mainly due to all the migrating waterfowl coming into the back bay estuary during the fall and winter migration. I suppose now this is their holiday feast because we don’t see them returning to the “rock” with prey. 

Just this morning two Bald Eagles were reported eating a coot on the pickle weed marsh. But this morning while watching surfers, I spotted what looked like a single falcon high on the skyline near where the waves break on the “rock.”

Photo by Bob Isenberg

With a closer look with my 10×42 binoculars, there were two falcons perched close to each other. This is the time of year they start renewing their bonds. Breeding can begin in the next month or two. The earliest I have seen copulation was 30 November ten or twelve years ago. For this pair of falcons, the first breeding of this year was 7 January 2020. This coming year at Morro Rock we should have two breeding pairs now that the south side tiercel has molted into adult plumage. 

Photo by Heather O’Connor

Happy trails, Bob

Item: The two photos of the “rock,” one taken with an iPhone and the other with my Nikon P1000. The falcons are at a distance of 302 yards from me.

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Trip to PBRG…

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

17 June 2020

Yesterday, we took a drive to the Predatory Bird Research Group located in Santa Cruz, California, about a three hour drive to meet with Zeka Glucs, Ph.D., the Director, at her home to deliver the young falcon remains for further examination which would include DNA samples and mercury analysis. These are accomplished by removing three small scapular feathers from the back area for DNA.

She sexed the young falcon as a male by measuring the outside diameter (OD) of the tarsus (lower leg) and the beak from cere to tip. Males will be smaller in both measurements by mere millimeters.

“The Ken Norris Museum was very happy to add it to their collection. They love our specimens because they always come with so much associated data! For mercury we use the tip of the 4th secondary feather. It was grown while in the nest so we can estimate the area where their food was captured during that time. Generally mercury is associated with the marine food web so it will be valuable to have your Morro Rock peregrines represented.” Zeka Glucs

Happy trails, Bob

Item: From a meeting 8-10 years ago, I had met Zeka as a fledgling biologist at Morro Rock and helped her find the falcons. It’s such a pleasure meeting passionately involved people on their return trips to Morro Rock and hear how they have pursued their studies. 

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And then there were three…

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

8 June 2020

We had determined the sex of all four birds as two males and two females. All have been flying exceptionally well. The young males have been showing a lot of speed and agility. 

Today, we were alerted by a visitor to Morro Rock that a man had seen a dead juvenile peregrine on the beach on the south side of the Rock parking lot. Three of our crew went to see and verify the sighting. Among the rocks where the sand meets the bluff, it lay wedged between the rocks. A beautiful young falcon in perfect condition.

Any number of things could have happened. I won’t speculate, but I have read that 50% of young birds will not survive their first year. It’s sad, but we will still have three chicks to enjoy.

Happy trails, Bob

Item: When I examined the bird the right wing felt broken, the beak near the right side of the cere was scraped and bleeding and the right eye was injured. 

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Old acquaintance …

Posted on May 30, 2020 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

Saturday, May 30, 2020

30 May 2020

For many of you that have been to Morro Rock and seen me on the south side for years know that I have befriended many of the small birds, mainly the White-crowned sparrows with offerings of Pecan Sandies. One bird in particular, a banded White-crowned Sparrow would sit on my finger enjoying one of the cookies. This bird is “Bandi.” For seven years, she would bring her chicks to me to feed them the Pecan Sandies. Over the years, many have come to sit on my knee or finger. For some reason people love to photograph this. 

Photo by Teddy Llovett

For the last three years the gate has been closed to the south side and I have been watching the pair of falcons on the north side. Bandi had made the trip to visit and always seems to find me. Yesterday, she made the 500 yard trip with one of her new babies. My folding chair has a table with a sunken cup that I fill with cookie crumbs and many of the birds know it’s there. Bandi and her chick were on the table. The chick won’t eat anything unless it’s from Bandi’s beak, even if the crumbs are at its feet.

Photo by Teddy Llovett

Happy trails, Bob

Item: All four falcons have successfully fledged. One female is an exceptional flyer and somewhat of a loner. I have determined the sex of three of the birds, but it is hard to get all four flying or perched at once  so that I can see the size difference. For now we have two females and one male…more to come.

(Even though Bob doesn’t like to name birds, he calls the exceptional flyer, “Wonder Woman.” But don’t tell anybody!  ~Heather)

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Questions and answers…

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

13 May 2020

I got a lot of questions from my last posting, “Cuatro Falco.” I’d like to thank all of you for your interest.

Question: When do you think they’ll fledge?

Answer: My original thoughts are based on my observations. These dates may be off on various incubation and hatching days. Based on my estimated incubation date, when the male starts sitting on the eggs which could happen at day or night possibly when I’m not there. With that in mind, fledging would be around June 1, 2020.  My guess now is that they are now 32 days old today. They normally fledge at 44 days old. So add 12 days and that would bring us to May 25. 

Question: Any thoughts that might favor a four chick brood?

Answer: None, all conditions seem to be normal.

Question: Do you think they will all make it?

Answer: Yes, they all look very healthy at 32 days old. Young are usually lost in the first week of life.

Happy trails, Bob

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Cuatro falco…

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

11 May 2020

From May 4th when the first chick was observed on the north side of Morro Rock until this morning at 11AM, we have been watching  three healthy peregrine chicks. At 11:10 AM a fourth one appeared making his debut with a splash of fecal material on the side wall of the cave. I had been watching the other three through the scope standing out on the lip of the nest site when I saw movement between them and splash! He or she made a couple more appearances in the following hour. Only three of us were able to see this fourth bird. He/she’s very elusive, never coming more than half way to the edge of the eyrie. 

Gordon was happy and said, “I told you so!”

This is the third clutch of four chicks that I have seen in thirty years at Morro Rock!

Happy trails, Bob

Item: Many of my friends got the word by noon and came to the Rock to see the fourth chick, but he/she never made another appearance.

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Bad morning, great afternoon…

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

4 May 2020

The first hour of my morning, I normally stop on the north side of Morro Rock and set up by the Rock Monument hoping to get a look at the chicks that haven’t made their appearance yet, but all I ever see is the adult female standing at the mouth of the “Cathedral Hole” looking back into it. So I get bored and go over to the south side to watch the new young pair. They’re usually more active. 

After an hour of nothing there, one of my cronies, Jim Zuur, shows up and says, “I just saw a downy chick come to the edge of the “Cathedral Hole” and defecate!’

“Are you sh…ting me?” Right then I packed up and headed back to the north side. Twenty minutes and nothing, but the female in the same place. Two more of my compadres show up, Gordon and Mike, and I relay the chick sighting. 

Gordon says, “ I’m going over to the back of the parking lot so I can see farther back into the hole.” 

I said, “Give me a call if you see anything.” 

I’m about 250 yards from the hole. They are about 550 yards from the hole, but can see back into the nest. Fifteen minutes goes by, no call, no nothing. They’ve got to be seeing something. I pack up and head over to where they are. Gordon has an 8x monocular and Mike has 8x binoculars. 

“Put up the scope, Bob! We’ve got chicks,” says Gordon.

With the Swarovski 95mm on 70x we have three downy chicks. Gordon is hogging the scope looking for the fourth chick that he had predicted in January. 

“It could be in there. We’ll know in a few days.”

Happy trails, Bob

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Housekeeping…

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

18 March 2020

At Morro Rock, I observe the falcons every day. I just don’t write every day and a lot of times I write, but don’t post every day. I do this to make sure that what I wrote was actually happening. 

Taking turns Photo by Cleve Nash

Here’s today’s example: The north side pair of falcons started incubating on Friday, the 13th of March. Therefore hatching should occur on or about  the 15th of April. However, this is not etched in stone. Chicks would be visible the first of May.

Happy trails, Bob

Item: You can see that I delayed the incubation date to make sure they were into hard incubation and not just egg laying. Hard incubation is when you see there are incubation exchanges between the tiercel and the falcon. They will be taking turns sitting on the eggs at this time.

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Hourly…

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

4 March 2020

At Morro Rock, constant attention is being shown in and around the “cathedral hole.” The female has visited two or three  nesting sites, but only briefly and with not too much enthusiasm. Copulations continue about every hour or so, mostly near the “cathedral hole” and occasionally on the skyline. Most couplings occur after the tiercel makes high speed dives after other raptors including Harriers, Red-Tails and Vultures, etc. In a normal year, egg laying starts on or about the second week of March. My guess would be a little later or soon after I see breeding occurring every thirty minutes. I’ll stay on top of it and report back. ’Til then…

Happy trails, Bob

Item: For those who are not familiar with the north side nest site, here are a few hints.  On the northeast side of Morro Rock near the public bathrooms, find the Portola Monument, stand with your back to it, facing the rock with your cell phone compass, look at 246° WSW and 23 ° in elevation or two thirds  up the rock to a large dark hole arched in shape. This is the “cathedral hole” approximately 2 feet in height and 3 feet in width.

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