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Subject:

Falcons: Chick learning to fly, alive and well.

From:

Dan haas

Reply-To:

Dan haas

Date:

Wed, 4 Jul 2007 15:05:40 -0400

My fiancee Emery and I took out our brand new kayaks for their maiden
voyage on the Severn today.  We put them in down the street on Weems
Creek (sight of the 15,000 fish kill this week) and headed straight
for the bridge.

There were Osprey everywhere... and I mean everywhere.  I counted 7 in
the creek alone. While still coasting through the creek, a hawk (my
guess would be a Cooper's) of some kind that flew low over our heads
and made a gurgling, sputterish noise.  I've never heard anything like
it. Anyone?

But the best news of the day / week occured once we reached the bridge.

I saw the Mother Peregrine falcon (I call her Madrigal) perched at her
regular spot.  Today marks the first time I'd seen her in eight days.
Then I saw the little one, who I first mistook for the Father falcon
(I call him Maestro).  But when the little one took off, attempting to
approach Mom, I knew it was the new chick.  She was screaming at Mom,
asking for a meal, I would assume.  She then flew right over our
kayaks as if to say, 'hello Dan & Em.. Thank you for teaching me not
to swim... flight is so much more my thing!'

I could not be any happier to finally know that the chick has learned
to fly.  I noticed that she still needs a little more work.
Thankfully, while we were there, it was obvious that both parents were
busy coaching her through the basics.  Every time the chick took
flight, both adults took off with her, flying under her, beside her,
around her, etc... showing her the way.  It was better than fireworks.

The chick, who is being called "Charlotte" (maybe one day she'll move
to a skyscraper in North Carolina?) still needs work on her landing on
a wire / perch skills.  But, she is alive, well and enjoying her 4th
of July.

I hope everyone on the OSPREY is as well.

If you'd like to see the trio of falcons for yourselves, they are not
sticking around the bridge.  So keep you eyes peeled anywhere near the
area for this impressive sight.

Happy 4th and Good Birding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis (and under the Route 50 Severn River Bridge)