Signs & Wonders

Early this morning Dennis & I went to check downtown for the Radisson birds. Mornings are best because the winds are usually light and there are fewer people downtown. Why the latter you ask since the birds are up high? One tends to get caught up in the looking up and forget that there are thinks that can hurt you down on the ground. Running onto the road isn't uncommon (though not advisable) in the heat of the moment. So quiet, sunny and calm, perfect peregrine spotting weather. What we found was both Princess and Trey at the Radisson. We checked the nest box as well and there is a beautiful scrape in it so they obviously have not immediate objections to the new nestbox (yippeee!). I've replaced this box three times in my 15 years with the Project and everytime I worry they are going to turn their rapaciously little beaks at the replacement. So far so good.



Peregrines don't make nests per se, they make a depression or hollow, in the substrate (called a "scrape") to lay their eggs in. Hence the gravel in the nestbox. It is usual for the peregrines to make scrapes in a number of different locations before deciding on the one to use. At the Radisson that usually means the nestbox and the nestledge. The photos in the April 7th gallery show Princess checking out spots on the nestledge, so the birds haven't decided yet where they are going to nest this year ...