community.kjrh.com

Bobdmac: More baby barn owls (if you haven't already seen these). All doing well. Two cams here--one inside the nest, one outside. Cam diary there, as well.
http://www.thewebbroadcastingcorporation.com/barnowlcam_nestcam.html

Bville:

Bobdmac: More baby barn owls (if you haven't already seen these). All doing well. Two cams here--one inside the nest, one outside. Cam diary there, as well.
http://www.thewebbroadcastingcorporation.com/barnowlcam_nestcam.html

Thanks, Bville. I've been watching that one intermittently. The Italy, Texas pair have a whole new brood, their second this year!

---

"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one" –– A. J. Liebling

Catgirl: That first photo on your Flickr site today (Monday Aug 4), the hawk overhead, wings and tail fully spread to catch the rising air, is that a Coopers? The striping from chin down and the gray banded tail?

I came across this dramatic shot of a peregrine recently, and I thought our raptor crowd here would appreciate it. Here's the photographer's narrative:

"We saw 5 Peregrines in the sky at one point. Got some full frame perched images, portraits, flight. It was a thrill to just watch the juveniles fly around and play attack each other or tuck and dive at a hundred or two miles an hour. Well when this parent Peregrine was gliding by, I noticed it started flapping its wings and commented that maybe it was going after something. Seconds later it nailed this Pigeon 30' from us! Awesome! I got 23 frames of the action.

Interesting to me was that the Peregrine grabbed the Pigeon out of the air with her talons. Then she grabbed the neck of the pigeon and broke its neck immediately.

This picture was made after she broke the neck and flew past us to head back to feed the juveniles.

A spectacular morning spent in good company with some fabulous images to boot"

---

"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one" –– A. J. Liebling

That is an incredible shot. The Falcons use their speed and incredible power to make their kills. Diving at speeds over 150 mph and then hammering into a pigeon usually kills the prey on contact.

I read on another site devoted the hawk migration spotters in the northeast where they have documented Peregrine Falcons vigorously defending their hunting territories by ganging up on larger birds of prey. They witnessed two falcons kill several Red-Tailed Hawks that strayed into their territories. They said the hawks had no chance as they don't normally deal with other predators trying to attack them and the Falcons took them in long stooping dives as the hawks soared looking for ground based prey.

Yeah, KC, the peregrines are incredible flyers. Have you seen that YouTube video, where they clocked one at 240 mph (if I recall correctly)?

In this case, it sounds like it just came up behind the pigeon and plucked it out of the air, as this San Jose, CA peregrine did before it transferred the prey to the juvenile.

---

"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one" –– A. J. Liebling

Such spectacular shots.  Unfortunately I will not be posting anything quite so spectacular!!

I probably will not be posting much for the next few weeks.  It is that time of year - school.  But this will be a new chapter - my youngest of 3 is getting ready to head off for her first year of college.  My oldest son is in graduate school/works in Hawaii, my 2nd son lives/works/attends school full-time in Stillwater at Okla State U - about 75 miles straight west.  And my daughter Caitlin will be heading off to a small university in Arkansas about 5 hours away.  So the next few weeks I need to concentrate on the final "fledgling lessons" - I feel such a kinship with Kay right now, as I prepare Caitlin to live in her new territory!!!

I mention this as Caitlin helped me out several times with the hawk forum.  She is the photographer of a couple of the hawk pictures in my backyard the previous summer as well as the July 9th photos of a drenched Jay, and also posted observations for me a few times in June as I was on my way to work. 
      



She has academic scholarships as well as will be swimming on their swim team (NCAA Div II).  Starting the first of July, she became ill.  She took the pictures of drenched Jay on one of the few days early on that she felt better.  After days and days and finally weeks, she was diagnosed with mono.  All the usual symptoms - tonsils a mess- just about swelling her throat closed, weeks of fevers of 102 on up to 103.5, huge gigantic lymph nodes.  She slept pretty much for 3 weeks, then got the doctor's clearance (spleen swelling had subsided) to participate in the Oklahoma High School All-State Swim meet on July 28.  Her last fever was the day before - she did not swim great but finished her races - and has been getting better every day now.  Of course we were very proud of her - she was the only female swimmer from the Tulsa Public Schools area chosen.

So through all that in July, it gave me lots and lots of time on the computer - as we share one and since she was asleep all the time!  She was on a mattress in our family room so I spent a lot of time on short trips to look at/for the hawks so I would not disturb her.  But now she is better, my computer time is more limited and it is time to get on the ball and focus on my task at hand.  Aaaghghhh - two weeks left to enjoy my final fledgling

I will keep looking for the KJRH hawks as time permits and will post when I can.  I can tell by how the past week has been going that I definitely will not be able to post as often.  But I will try to stop in a few times and check up on what all fun you guys have been writing up!!!

Catgirl wrote, "...I feel such a kinship with Kay right now, as I prepare Caitlin to live in her new territory!!!"

Catgirl, we feel for you and your daughter, many of us having already been where you are right now. This is for you and for us:  Remember this Jonas Salk quotation from what now seems like ages ago...

"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings.

Roots to know where home is, 


wings to fly away and exercise what’s been taught them."


Today you see your daughter on the brink of a new world and a new life. But you also know that she will be "looking back" to you, from time to time....

...remembering her roots, loving you; and you will, in turn, be seeing her as she was, is, will be, and will remain, still and always in your life---

Incandescent in the Sun!


That's how I think of my fledglings. Best wishes to you all.

Catgirl wrote: " So the next few weeks I need to concentrate on the final "fledgling lessons" "

I too have been there twice myself, so I understand.  First with Sarah, 4 years ago, then my youngest daughter, Abbie, 2 years ago.  Sarah returned "to the nest" last year after discovering that mom & dad really did know what they were talking about with their advice in some of her choices.  Abbie, now 20, is  married with a new baby is just beginning to "get it"   It is difficult sometimes to stand back & watch, biting your tongue for the most part, but they have to learn on their own & in their own way.  But it is great when you see the seeds you planted in them begin to take root & blossom.

Congrats to Caitlin on the scholarships & her swimming accomplishments.  She is a beautiful young woman  We will miss you while you are gone, but cherish the time you have left to spend with her till she leaves for college.  Glad she is on the mend.

You have done it again Bville, beautiful sentiments. I really do think you could go into the greeting card business with a "Thunder & Company" theme.  You are truly a blessing with your creativity here.  You should start a separate thread for your "cards"

I am so happy that I happened to catch the clip back in March 08 for the evening news on KJRH about the "Hawk Nest".  This group is amazing! ! !




Edited to include date for clarification of time period I was referring to.

catgirl:

ditto everything Bville and tripsqkr just wrote!!! My heart is full for you, and for your daughter, both! I remember having to "let go" as our son began his life far from home at T.U. .... It was so hard for me to just walk away from him at the end of our day at T.U with him, (beginning his freshman year, three years ago) after helping him to move into his dorm room, attending the very moving matriculation ceremony, having a final dinner on campus together, then on to say our final "good-bye"s. Aahhgghh! So hard! I told him for the gazillionth time how much I loved him, and how incredibly proud of him I was (still am, of course!)...Then I told myself I was NOT going to cry, but I couldn't help it... I hugged him, and found myself fighting tears anyway. He was anxious for us to leave at that point and wanting to begin his new life without Mom and Dad! We took our leave and when we got outside, I sobbed quietly pretty much all the way back to the hotel. Coming home to our boy-less home was hard for both of us for awhile. Though, it did have its up side: It was nice to have our home all to ourselves again for the first time in 18 and a half years, as well as time to relax as a couple again, (with privacy back!... We almost forgot what THAT was like)! We didn't have to have a crazy calendar full of son-activities that pretty much took up half of our time, as well as his (which we really enjoyed, anyway, by the way)... and it was nice for a change to have our evenings and weekends for just to the two of us. ... (well o.k., the three of us, including Honey... I think she's a mind reader, sometimes. She just came over to me for a scratching, and to remind me that she exists...)... And for quite a while, I just couldn't pass by the high school (not far from our home) without feeling a deep emptiness. But, with time, it faded, and the ache diminished more and more, to be replaced with an acceptance of the new life, and a new joy and pride in the terrific young man that our son was becoming. As well, there appeared a new young woman in our son's life... one that he fell in love with, and began to share his T.U. life with. We now delight in occasional visits from the two of them together, as well as the holiday visits from our son alone. I may have mentioned in our forum before that we are totally delighted with her in our son's life. She is a wonderful young woman...Life just keeps getting better and better, even through some of life's tragedies and losses, there are these new delights to behold... Just like that little green sprout of new life and hope in the empty nest of Kay, & Jay, that Bville so poignently posted here once again... for all us fellow (and soon to be) empty nesters.

catgirl, your daughter is a joy to behold... beautiful, talented, and smart. And, obviously, a Mom's girl, too. : ) .... very dear of her to help you out with the photos and postings. I am very glad to hear that she's doing better. And as for her swimming and finishing at that meet... and starting her new college career: You tell her I said "You go, Caitlin!!!!! God bless you, be well, work hard, but take good care!!! The whole forum as well as your Mom wish you all the best for your highest good, now and always!!!"

p.s. catgirl, we'll miss your reports and photos, but we're with you in our hearts, in this new chapter you are entering! So, here's a cyber-hug: O !!!
and we'll "see ya when we see ya!".
-socal

Catgirl, take care of that fledgling of yours. She is special.  You must be just so proud.  We will be around to help ease the empty nest and take joy in your success with yet another fledgling. 

 

Tripsqkr,  I did not see the news, what did they say?

 

RC

Sorry Workaholic , I was referring to my first introduction to the Hawk Nest back in March of this year.  I have since edited my previous post to reflect the date. 

Bville, you are truly gifted with words and pictures.

Catgirl,  check in now and then when you get a chance.  We'll be looking forward to hearing from you and what's going on.  Thanks for all your pics.  You've kept us in the loop.  It's been fun. 

Catgirl-

It's funny how closely all of us can identify with what you're going through. It reminds me of taking our youngest down to L.A. to start school at USC. Part of the orientation day was a sort of parents' support group session, where veteran parents told us about their experiences seeing the kids off. The session provided some tears and a lot of laughs. In particular, a recurring anecdote was the emotional parents (usually a mom) fussing about every detail, while the kid was in essence wondering when the heck they'd be leaving so that his or her new life could begin. (Sound familiar, Socal?) The flip side of that was the kids' horror at hearing the parents' sacreligious notion that their former bedroom might be converted to some other purpose.

I'm glad to hear that your daughter has recouped from the mono in tim to start school. I know it's a debilitating disease, and it would have made her freshman year extremely difficult. She looks like a wonderful young woman with impressive talents. My hat's off to you.

We'll miss your presence in the forum, but the photos and commentary you've ontributed will keep you fresh in our minds, and we'll save a place for you here at the KJRH roundtable, anticipating your return.

---

"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one" –– A. J. Liebling