Early Sunday evening Leda treated herself and the Fledge Watch volunteers to a tour of the Downtown Utica area. During the day she had already made a couple of flights between the State Office Building and the Adirondack Bank, but this time her landing on the nestbox perch was scuttled by her sister Indi who was already occupying the spot. Leda pulled up and headed for the west side of the building. Some of the volunteers quickly set out to regain sight of her and managed to pick her out on a perch high up on the west face of the building. After only a few minutes she was up again and flying north to Hotel Utica where she perched on that building’s roof for a short time. Her next flight led us all Back over to the State Office Building. There she tried to land on a window ledge, but missed it and tumbled. Fortunately she recovered quickly and was able to regain altitude, finally putting down on the roof of the same building. After resting for 20 minutes or so, Leda again flew to the Adirondack Bank where she landed on the roof. From there she sailed back to the nest box and joined her sister.
Leda’s flying abilities are definitely improving. She has now made at least 3 flights back to the nest box from other buildings. Meanwhile, Indi continues to exercise her wings in and around the nest box. Will she fledge today? I guess that we’ll find out. We still need volunteers for the Fledge Watch. Please consider helping us out and safeguarding these magnificent birds!
Here are some more dramatic pictures that Dave Cesari took during the Fledge Watch:
Thanks Matt for the detailed update of Sunday!
I’m just wondering how all the birds are after the rain last night. Also, is Tres still in rehab? And do you definitely know the sexes of the babies? What are they?
Hi Kelly,
The rain did not seem to affect the falcons at all. Tres is doing well and we hope to have hime back very soon. As for the sexes we definitely know that Indi is a female and that Tres is a male. Truly Leda could be either but we believe she is a female. We will probably never know for sure.
was in the area this morning and was hoping to find watchers on ‘duty’ but did not see anyone.
Hi Annie,
Volunteers were there most of the day – not sure how early you were there. Sorry you missed us!
Deb