Dot’s 2007 Summer Vacation
Banding with the RRP – June 10/15, 2007
Click here to view Dot's photo galleries.
6/9 Nora arrived in her new truck. She stayed at my house for a couple of nights on her way to Texas. She came to the bandings at West Bluff and Maiden Rock on the 10th.
6/10 West Bluff Got an early start to meet up at the home of Dan and Sheila, the West Bluff property owners who have graciously invited us for breakfast before the banding. The delicious coffee, breads, fresh fruit and juice powered us for the banding. The eyrie was quickly located; Dave and Rob retrieved the four eyasses that were brought up for banding. There were three females and one male – two were named after our hosts. After the eyasses were safely returned and we went back to the house, Dan and Sheila provided more refreshments. Nora took some group photos, and then we were on our way to Maiden Rock.
6/10 Maiden Rock A Wisconsin Public TV crew was waiting in the parking area. Doug and Gary were also waiting. We drove the access road across the beautiful restored meadow, then walked the rest of the way to the Maiden Rock bluff. The Wisconsin TV people wired Bob for sound. Bob knew where the eyrie was located so it was quick work to bring up the eyasses – two females and one male. A person from WPTV had his son and daughter with him and Bob asked the little boy for his name. “Griffin” he said – and it was done, the male falcon would be named Griffin. After banding the eyass Griffin, Bob had the little boy sit down with his legs spread so as to corral the eyes while he banded the other two. When it came time to put them back in the transport carrier, Griffin did not want to part with his new buddy. He was disappointed he could not take the eyass home. It was a very touching scene, with little Griffin almost in tears (I’m sure his dad bought him a nice present later). WPTV also spent time interviewing the RRP crew. It was time to go when the Wisconsin Land Trust people wanted to lock the access gate, but not before Rob provided treats from the tailgate of his truck.
6/11 Maassen’s Bluff We met up on the road near Gary’s house near the foot of the bluff. At the top, the eyrie was located and one 14-day-old eyass was brought up for banding. Sarah, a new recruit this year, held it for photos. She goes to school in Illinois and joined us on Sunday and Monday before having to head back.
6/11 Alma – 12 Mile Bluff The falcons who had previously nested on the box on the Alma stack moved to the bluff. Finding them would prove difficult. John Thiel had seen them, but did not have the exact location of the eyrie. John led us up the bluff to a place to park and then a short hike to the cliff face. Bob, Dave, Rob and Amy began searching for eyrie. Despite the kak-kak-ing of the female making us think eyasses were around, none were located. Bob rappelled down the cliff to the bottom, we packed up the gear and headed down ourselves, only to discover when we got down to the Alma parking lot that Bob had spotted an eyrie and seen an eyass. It was decided that after lunch another attempt would be made to find and band the eyasses. Three were banded after lunch.
I was a little bleary eyed and instead decided to head home. I had already planned not to hike up the bluff at Castle Rock – which turned out to be a wise decision because when they spotted an eyass through the scope, it looked to be too old to attempt a banding.
6/13 Lansing Cliff After obtaining permission from Alliant Energy and signing releases we were permitted to drive up to the cliff overlooking the Mississippi and the Lansing power plant. Two of Amy’s children were along for the adventure. Dave and Amy went over the edge where the eyrie was located. They found it, but it contained one broken egg and one unhatched one. They then scouted out another location and discovered another eyrie; this one containing the remains of three eggs. Dave said there was a “highway” of raccoon tracks leading to the eyrie. We were all disappointed.
6/13 Great Spirit Bluff It was quite an event at this site with friends and relatives of the property owners there to witness the banding. We expected to meet up with Rob at this site, but instead found out he had a run-in with poison ivy or maybe wild parsnips and was covered with blisters (yikes!). Amy and Dave retrieved the eyass and Bob banded two healthy females and one male. They were put in a shady spot on the grass for a photo op and then whisked back to the eyrie. The bluff was most scenic, but then most of the sites were and I apologize for the large number of view pictures but the river is ever-changing and I can’t resist trying to freeze it for a moment.
6/14 Lynxville Got an early start for the drive to Lynxville and spotted Amy’s van on the road ahead as we both turned to cross the Mississippi at Lansing. Followed her to a rest area beneath one of the bluffs past Lynxville; she didn’t think it was the right spot. A short while later Chuck pulled into the rest area – he knew where the right spot was so we followed him there and met up with Bob and Dan, Russ and his wife Carol, and others I didn’t know. Bob stayed on the road with the scope and planned to guide Amy and Dave to the eyrie. We had no sooner gotten to the top and out of the cars when Bob called on the radio to say he had spotted an eyass, but it was way too old to band. So, disappointed, we got back in the cars and headed back down to ground level.
6/14 Lock and Dam #9 Bob wanted to check out this site, but despite seeing peregrines, no sign of a nest was found.
The sites at Fountain City and Homer were scheduled for 6/15, but I was pretty tired so decided to call it a week.
I wondered if global climate change had been the reason why the falcons were past banding age at two of the sites, but that didn’t explain why there was the younger than usual falcon at another. So just like the “experts,” I have no firm answer to the question of global climate change. I can report the eyasses that were banded certainly looked healthy and well-fed and that the Mississippi is as beautiful as ever.
I am already looking forward to next year, God willing.
Dot Karlsen
June, 2007
Banding with the RRP – June 10/15, 2007
Click here to view Dot's photo galleries.
6/9 Nora arrived in her new truck. She stayed at my house for a couple of nights on her way to Texas. She came to the bandings at West Bluff and Maiden Rock on the 10th.
6/10 West Bluff Got an early start to meet up at the home of Dan and Sheila, the West Bluff property owners who have graciously invited us for breakfast before the banding. The delicious coffee, breads, fresh fruit and juice powered us for the banding. The eyrie was quickly located; Dave and Rob retrieved the four eyasses that were brought up for banding. There were three females and one male – two were named after our hosts. After the eyasses were safely returned and we went back to the house, Dan and Sheila provided more refreshments. Nora took some group photos, and then we were on our way to Maiden Rock.
6/10 Maiden Rock A Wisconsin Public TV crew was waiting in the parking area. Doug and Gary were also waiting. We drove the access road across the beautiful restored meadow, then walked the rest of the way to the Maiden Rock bluff. The Wisconsin TV people wired Bob for sound. Bob knew where the eyrie was located so it was quick work to bring up the eyasses – two females and one male. A person from WPTV had his son and daughter with him and Bob asked the little boy for his name. “Griffin” he said – and it was done, the male falcon would be named Griffin. After banding the eyass Griffin, Bob had the little boy sit down with his legs spread so as to corral the eyes while he banded the other two. When it came time to put them back in the transport carrier, Griffin did not want to part with his new buddy. He was disappointed he could not take the eyass home. It was a very touching scene, with little Griffin almost in tears (I’m sure his dad bought him a nice present later). WPTV also spent time interviewing the RRP crew. It was time to go when the Wisconsin Land Trust people wanted to lock the access gate, but not before Rob provided treats from the tailgate of his truck.
6/11 Maassen’s Bluff We met up on the road near Gary’s house near the foot of the bluff. At the top, the eyrie was located and one 14-day-old eyass was brought up for banding. Sarah, a new recruit this year, held it for photos. She goes to school in Illinois and joined us on Sunday and Monday before having to head back.
6/11 Alma – 12 Mile Bluff The falcons who had previously nested on the box on the Alma stack moved to the bluff. Finding them would prove difficult. John Thiel had seen them, but did not have the exact location of the eyrie. John led us up the bluff to a place to park and then a short hike to the cliff face. Bob, Dave, Rob and Amy began searching for eyrie. Despite the kak-kak-ing of the female making us think eyasses were around, none were located. Bob rappelled down the cliff to the bottom, we packed up the gear and headed down ourselves, only to discover when we got down to the Alma parking lot that Bob had spotted an eyrie and seen an eyass. It was decided that after lunch another attempt would be made to find and band the eyasses. Three were banded after lunch.
I was a little bleary eyed and instead decided to head home. I had already planned not to hike up the bluff at Castle Rock – which turned out to be a wise decision because when they spotted an eyass through the scope, it looked to be too old to attempt a banding.
6/13 Lansing Cliff After obtaining permission from Alliant Energy and signing releases we were permitted to drive up to the cliff overlooking the Mississippi and the Lansing power plant. Two of Amy’s children were along for the adventure. Dave and Amy went over the edge where the eyrie was located. They found it, but it contained one broken egg and one unhatched one. They then scouted out another location and discovered another eyrie; this one containing the remains of three eggs. Dave said there was a “highway” of raccoon tracks leading to the eyrie. We were all disappointed.
6/13 Great Spirit Bluff It was quite an event at this site with friends and relatives of the property owners there to witness the banding. We expected to meet up with Rob at this site, but instead found out he had a run-in with poison ivy or maybe wild parsnips and was covered with blisters (yikes!). Amy and Dave retrieved the eyass and Bob banded two healthy females and one male. They were put in a shady spot on the grass for a photo op and then whisked back to the eyrie. The bluff was most scenic, but then most of the sites were and I apologize for the large number of view pictures but the river is ever-changing and I can’t resist trying to freeze it for a moment.
6/14 Lynxville Got an early start for the drive to Lynxville and spotted Amy’s van on the road ahead as we both turned to cross the Mississippi at Lansing. Followed her to a rest area beneath one of the bluffs past Lynxville; she didn’t think it was the right spot. A short while later Chuck pulled into the rest area – he knew where the right spot was so we followed him there and met up with Bob and Dan, Russ and his wife Carol, and others I didn’t know. Bob stayed on the road with the scope and planned to guide Amy and Dave to the eyrie. We had no sooner gotten to the top and out of the cars when Bob called on the radio to say he had spotted an eyass, but it was way too old to band. So, disappointed, we got back in the cars and headed back down to ground level.
6/14 Lock and Dam #9 Bob wanted to check out this site, but despite seeing peregrines, no sign of a nest was found.
The sites at Fountain City and Homer were scheduled for 6/15, but I was pretty tired so decided to call it a week.
I wondered if global climate change had been the reason why the falcons were past banding age at two of the sites, but that didn’t explain why there was the younger than usual falcon at another. So just like the “experts,” I have no firm answer to the question of global climate change. I can report the eyasses that were banded certainly looked healthy and well-fed and that the Mississippi is as beautiful as ever.
I am already looking forward to next year, God willing.
Dot Karlsen
June, 2007
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home