SWIMMING FALCON AND PALE MALE AND LOLA'S VIEW

Falcon photographs by Mary Malec
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marymalec/532945901/in/set-72157600318000524/
Posted by a Tulsa Hawk Forum member...
"I thought people might enjoy this unusual series of a peregrine falcon that fledged from the Oracle Software Building and landed in the San Francisco Bay. How often do you hear of falcons swimming? "

He stopped a couple of times, seemed to nearly sink but each time swam on strongly.

Thankfully there was a place for this exhausted fledgling to crawl out of the water. Once in water birds can "fly" though it for awhile until they run out of strength but they can't take flight again so there must be a place on the bank that is suitable for scrambling from the water or it's all over.

On occasion birds fall into the Model Boat Pond in Central Park. It has steep concrete sides, unless the birds happen to swim to the steps which is the only place they are capable of helping themselves out, they need human assistance out of the water or they'll drown. D.B.

By the time the falcon recovered, it was dark. Nia, working for SCPBRG (Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group) to assist the fledglings if needed, recovered the swimmer.

Did YOU ever dream of seeing Pale Male and Lola's view of Central Park? Here's your chance! Hustle on down to the CP Greensward Celebration and do it!

Here's a teaser from Central Park photographer Eleanor Tauber who captured some of the fun!

Eleanor said--"The balloon rides are still going on. When I was there at 7am it was fun seeing guys in business suits with brief cases going up before work!"

Bon Voyage!

Donegal Browne

P.S. And while you're at it, go and see The Public Theatre's free production of HAIR at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. From all reports it's marvelous!