Birds of a feather falcon together
Saturday May 16th 2009, 2:31 pm
Filed under: Wildlife

clara-peregrine-sj(Picture is from the San Jose city website.)

A few years ago, a rare peregrine falcon was spotted staking out the heights of San Jose City Hall as a potential nesting site; UC Santa Cruz biologists attached a nesting box against the wall. Since then, there’s been a falcon cam here as the birds have made happy use of the box. (Biologists rappel down to tag the babies.) The same female, Clara, has returned every year, bringing a different mate each time.  This year’s male was named Esteban Colbert for Stephen Colbert, and it was determined a few days ago that there are three females and one male baby bird in the nest this time.

I love that the fluffy youngsters look big-haired next to their parents at the moment.  60’s hairstyles making a comeback in the bird world! “And the sign said, longhaired freaky people need not apply…” Go peregrines!

Meantime, the City claims to be put out that Stephen Colbert has not lauded them for naming their falcon after him. Nor even mocking them.  Stevie, honey, they’re waiting!


9 Comments so far
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As a bird lover, I just love it when the community takes care of their feathered friends. Falcons are pretty neat!

Humor: Tombstones are not generally thought of as fonts of light entertainment — but as The New York Times showed, some epitaphs are funnier than others:


”He was a simple man who died of complications.”

“I came into this world without my consent and left in the same manner.”

“Stranger, tread this ground with gravity. Dentist Brown is filling his last cavity.”

“Harry Edsel Smith: Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the car was on the way down. It was.”

Comment by Don Meyer 05.16.09 @ 3:53 pm

How sweet! What a great photo opportunity!!! Clara is a busy little mom!

Comment by Joansie 05.16.09 @ 6:57 pm

Maybe he’s still basking in the glory of having a NASA treadmill named after him.

Comment by LynnM 05.17.09 @ 5:09 am

That’s neat. It is great to see people so excited about feathered friends.

Comment by Channon 05.17.09 @ 6:17 am

Idaho’s Birds of Prey Raptor Center has a peregrine fund and is also building up the condor population. Peregrines seem to like building nests on the side of tall buildings.

Comment by sherry in idaho 05.17.09 @ 9:14 am

What a beautiful bird…so intelligent looking.

Comment by TripletMom 05.17.09 @ 12:30 pm

You make me smile I know they babies are so cute in a odd way;)Hugs Darcy

Comment by Darcy 05.17.09 @ 12:39 pm

Stevie should recognize your name.
Dad

Comment by Dad 05.17.09 @ 4:25 pm

Cool!
And thank you, that just reminded me..I usually check the web cam near us and watch baby eaglets in their nest at Dollywood in the springtime. Thanks, again…I’d totally forgotten about them.

Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 05.18.09 @ 4:20 am



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