Hera finally took a stretch this morning and now there are two eggs. Zeus
seems to always be close by. I watched him yesterday and he was sitting on
the north box while she was in the east box.
The east box cam has recently been moved to allow for better viewing.
Unfortunately, when it was moved, a cord was drug into our view. It is
also time to clean the east window. That will be done when they remove the
glass to tag the chicks later on. In the meantime, the east ledge falcon
cam has been repositioned. I have personally seen the falcons perched on
this cam and I think that is how it has been moved.
I spotted the egg on Saturday afternoon, April 28. It was pushed up close
to the camera side of the box. No one was sitting on the egg at the time
so I could see that there was only one.
Just saw Zeus bring breakfast to Hera. She took it and flew off.
Is Hera in labor? Lately there's been lots of action going on in the box.
Hera has been in the box and very active for the last two days. She's been
circling around and rearranging the pebbles. This morning both her and
Zeus were actually in the box together. She seems very restless and can't
sit still.
At this moment both falcons are within the north cameras' view. Hera is on
the box, I'm assuming, and Zeus is on the ledge. And look! He's brought
her breakfast!
It's time to start watching Zeus and Hera. They have chosen the North nest
box again this year. I hope this season will have a happier outcome than
last year.
Last year two falcons, both not banded, fought over territory. One falcon
perished and the other one, believed to be Hera, was injured and taken by
Denise Lewis of Raptor Recovery Nebraska. The female falcon spent four
months recovering from an injured left wing and a gash from leg to leg.
In the meantime, Zeus was on the nest taking care of two hatchlings and
three eggs. He waited for Hera to return for almost two days before he
finally had to leave to find food. Weather was very cold at that time and
all in the box perished. After that Zeus did not leave the area and
remained on the Tower.
When the female falcon was released atop the Woodmen Tower in August 2008
she did not fly away but called out to her mate. Zeus immediately joined
her and they have been together ever since. They have spent this winter
atop the Tower and now seem to be setting up a nest in the North box. I
hope this time they have a happier outcome than last year.
