Avian Media Watch #1

Some avian related items in the media to keep an eye on:

PBS: Nature — ‘Raptor Force’
Sun., 18 Feb 2007 at 8pm & 11pm (Thirteen, WNET - New York )

“Raptors such as the peregrine falcon, golden eagle and red-tailed hawk are spotlighted. Included: a miniature camera captures the world as birds see it; and chronicles a golden eagle's pursuit of a jackrabbit. Also: raptors' influence on airplane design.”

• You Tube &mdash 3 videos [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]
• ‘Raptor Force’ website
• Thirteen online pressroom &mdash press release

Outdoor Photographer — March 2007 issue
Article ‘The Birds of Central Park’ by Cal Vornberger

• Cal Vornberger's home page, blog & photo gallery
• Outdoor Photographer website

Bird Watcher's Digest — Mar/Apr 2007 issue
Article ‘Birds, Blogs, and You’ by Mike Bergin of 10,000 Birds

• Post by Mike on 10,000 Birds
• Examples of the best birding blogs by Mike Bergin on BWD
• Bird Watcher's Digest website

‘The Hawk is Dying’ &mdash starring Paul Giamatti
According to the Altoona Mirror this movie will be released in the U.S. in May/2007.

• Article on AltoonaMirror.com showing release dates
• Recent post on this blog

Poem

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Film Featuring a Red-tailed Hawk (2006)

Paul Giamatti ‘The Hawk is Dying’ (click pic for reviews)

I just came across this film starring Paul Giamatti (‘Sideways’, ‘Cinderella Man’, ‘Private Parts’ …) released in 2006 called The Hawk is Dying.

Here's the plot outline from IMDb: “A Gainesville Florida auto upholsterer (Giamatti) attempts to subvert his mundane life by training a wild, red-tailed hawk.”

From the IMDb biography of Paul Giamatti — “During the shooting of the upcoming The Hawk Is Dying (2006), which is mainly about his character and a Red-Tailed Hawk, he became a raptor-enthusiast.”

An interview at the A.V. Club features some questions on the movie. Towards the end of page 2 and the beginning of 3 are comments from Paul on the film. Here's one quote from the A.V. Club interview:

PG: I like that movie a lot. If anyone tells me they've seen it, I'm curious as to what they thought about it. People seemed to have a hard time with it at Sundance, so I was curious as to why. It's not that strange of a movie. It didn't feel like it was.

The Wikipedia article on the movie mentions that “The Hawk Is Dying is based on the book by Harry Crews.“

Here are some reviews from Rotten Tomatoes.

Birding, Bollywood & Subtitles = Funny!

Found this bit of comedy by following a link from John's ‘Bird Stuff’ blog talking about the history of birding blogs. His link to ‘SwampBlog’ contains the post ‘ Bollywood Goes Birding‘ which has a link for a short movie clip originally found at ‘George Bristow's Secret Freezer’.

Here's the clip ... Fire it up!

Peregrine Falcon Update: 13-May-2006

Central Park South: Peregrine Falcons

Shortly after I arrived Donna showed up to check in on the falcons. No Peregrine was in view at the time & neither the male nor the female showed up during the 2 hours we were there.

I arrived around 6:30pm at the Gapstow Bridge site. Unfortunately, we can only assume that the female was on nest & the male traded places with the female before we arrived.

Click image for larger version

Central Park's Gapstow Bridge 6:33p — 8:45p

Highlights: no falcons were seen while we were there.

• When I arrived no falcons were spotted on any of the usual perches or any of the unusual perches.
• Six Canada Goose goslings approached us on the lawn west of Gapstow Bridge. Both adults were attending the brood. The difference between the adult's white ‘chin straps’ is noticeable.
• The observing session started out sunny & proceeded towards ‘occasional drizzle’. The winds were out of the east yet again.

Related items:
• Peregrine Falcon updates — 2006: 13-Apr, 21-Apr, 24-Apr, 26-Apr, 28-Apr, 30-Apr, 4-May, 5-May, 6-May, 7-May, 9-May, 11-May, 12-May, 13-May, 14-May, 16-May, 17-May, 18-May, 19-May, 21-May, 22-May, 23-May, 31-May
• Earliest Peregrine Falcon Nest in N.Y.C.?
• Behavior of Peregrine Falcons in the N.Y.C. Region
      by Richard A. Herbert & Kathleen Green Skelton Herbert
• Obs. of Duck Hawks Nesting on Man-made Structures
      by Horace Groskin

Peregrine Falcon Update: 9-May-2006

Central Park South: Peregrine Falcons

While looking for the Peregrine Falons the pair of Canada Geese were tending to 7 goslings on the island south of Gapstow Bridge on The Pond. Click on the image for a larger view & labels for all 7.

Canada Geese & 7 goslings — The Pond (35mm film equiv.: 375mm, ISO: 400, Shutter: 1/50, Aperture: f/4)

I arrived at Gapstow Bridge, south of Wollman Skating Rink, by 6:55p. For most of the hour I didn't spot a single falcon.

After waiting for 55 minutes the female showed up from the east & perched on the 9 West 57th St. building — out of sight.

After a few minutes she proceeded to the nest making a few flybys including one failed attempt to perch on a fence below the G.M. Building's roof.

After the female descended to the level of the nest the male Peregrine exited after less than a minute.

Central Park's Gapstow Bridge 6:55p — 8:00p

Highlights: final nest exchange for the evening.

• I arrived at Gapstow Bridge at 6:55p. The skies were completely overcast with an occasional drizzle. Winds were from the north.
• By 7:50p a falcon flew in from the E & perched on the E side of 9 West 57th St. out of sight from where I stood.
• By 7:52p she was flying towards the G.M. Building & made a few passes N of the building. At one point she attempted to land on a fence below the roof & had to abort the landing. She landed properly on the next pass.
• Approximately 45 seconds after she dropped to the level of the nest he exited, flying low towards the E & headed S.
• I left the area around 8:00p.

Related items:
• Peregrine Falcon updates — 2006: 13-Apr, 21-Apr, 24-Apr, 26-Apr, 28-Apr, 30-Apr, 4-May, 5-May, 6-May, 7-May, 9-May, 11-May, 12-May, 13-May, 14-May, 16-May, 17-May, 18-May, 19-May, 21-May, 22-May, 23-May, 31-May
• Earliest Peregrine Falcon Nest in N.Y.C.?
• Behavior of Peregrine Falcons in the N.Y.C. Region
      by Richard A. Herbert & Kathleen Green Skelton Herbert
• Obs. of Duck Hawks Nesting on Man-made Structures
      by Horace Groskin

Peregrine Falcon Update: 6-May-2006

Central Park South: Peregrine Falcons

Around 5pm the trees surrounding us just west of Gapstow Bridge let loose millions seed pods shown in the image on the right. Click image to see the seed along side a ruler.

It measures approximately 13mm including the stem. If anyone knows the species this belongs to please drop me a line. This particular specimen followed me home in my hair.

The Peregrines didn't fail to appear while we were at Gapstow Bridge. Peter, a friend I met through astronomy, stopped by to see the Peregrine Falcons with his telescope.

From 4:30p-6:02p no Peregrines were seen in the area. The first falcon seen was the male who flew in from the east & perched on the east corner of 9 West 57th St's roof. This perch afforded a decent view in the scope for the many people that happened to around waiting for the Peregrines to arrive.

The male falcon was in the area from 6-7pm. He perched once above the nest site but didn't relieve the female. She had been sitting for at least 1.5 hours and I was surprised she didn't exchange places with him.

He left the area and returned around 7:30p with prey. The female came out to meet him and in mid-flight a prey transfer was made just north of the nest site. She left the area with the prey and disappeared behind the 9 West 57th St. building.

At 8:07p the second nest exchange occurred. She replaced him for the evening and the male falcon headed east and disappeared for the night.

Central Park's Gapstow Bridge 4:30p — 8:30p

Highlights: another long wait for a falcon to show, two nest exchanges & one prey transfer.

• At 6:02p the male arrives after waiting for a falcon to appear since 4:30p. He flew in from the E & perched on 9 West 57th St.'s roof near it's E corner.
• By 6:10p he flew around N of the G.M. & N of the Pierre Hotel. After heading S it was lost until 6:45p.
• Male returns at 6:45p possibly to same perch as before. Notes aren't clear on this.
• By 7:02p he leaves 9W to a fence on the GM's north face 6 in from the W edge at 7:04p. This was a fairly long flight from 9W to the GM.
• At 7:26p he returns with prey. She leaves the nest & they perform a mid-air prey transfer. She disappears with the prey behind the 9W building.
• By 7:36p she returns to perch on a fence on GM's north face 7 in from W edge. By 7:40p she disappears.
• At 8:07p female returns and exchanges position with the male. He leaves the area entirely heading E after exiting the nest.

Related items:
• Peregrine Falcon updates — 2006: 13-Apr, 21-Apr, 24-Apr, 26-Apr, 28-Apr, 30-Apr, 4-May, 5-May, 6-May, 7-May, 9-May, 11-May, 12-May, 13-May, 14-May, 16-May, 17-May, 18-May, 19-May, 21-May, 22-May, 23-May, 31-May
• Earliest Peregrine Falcon Nest in N.Y.C.?
• Behavior of Peregrine Falcons in the N.Y.C. Region
      by Richard A. Herbert & Kathleen Green Skelton Herbert
• Obs. of Duck Hawks Nesting on Man-made Structures
      by Horace Groskin

Match Five Against The Swedes

U.S.A. v. Sweden

Missed the match with the Italians.
Swedes strong — Americans keep up nicely.
No steals, deuces swapped through four ends.
Americans force Swedes to take one in 5th.
Swedes return the favor in the 6th.
Hammer to button for Swedes for one. A fine end!
Pete with a chance to take 1 in the 8th - Yes!
U.S. opportunity to lie 4 before the hammer - YES!
Thirds can't decide third stone — Americans 2.
Not enough stones left for the Swedes.

U.S.A. 10 — Sweden 6

Number Three for U.S.A.

U.S.A. v. New Zealand

Americans still looking good!

U.S.A. 10 — New Zealand 4

Match Two For The American Men

U.S.A. v. Finland

Both teams blanking nicely.
3 ends completed — all tied.
After 6 ends — Americans 1 up.
All tied into 9th end. Fenson looking to blank ... yes!
Questionable choice for Fenson's hammer.

U.S.A. 3 — Finland 4

Opening Match for The States

U.S.A. v. Norway

U.S. over Norway after 8 ends.
Handshakes and 5 points before the hammer.

U.S.A. 11 — Norway 5