Briarwood Queens Has a Confirmed Hatch! Plus a Chris Lyons Update from Fordham

The evidence of the confirmed hatch, see that little white wing flopping up?

Jeff Kollbrunner had been relatively sure they had a hatch at Mama and Papa's nest and we discussed the cues he took to be important. One of which was the elevated position of Mama on the nest. I asked him for an email so all could share in the details--

Donna,
The postings I made regarding Mama sitting higher in the nest. started on 4/13, 14, 15, and by the 16th we were very confident we had hatches although no confirmed sighting at that point. All behaviors pointed to this conclusion. See the text at the below link. Also, based on today's observation the eyass we watched appeared to be about a week old in size and strength. We were probably watching the first born

http://www.jknaturegallery.com/rth_news_recent.html

I have attached an image from today's first sighting of the youngster in our nest. Look carefully, I put a red box around the eyass, it's looking to the left and flapping its tiny wings. The white spot to the right of the red box is not a baby.

All the best, Jeff

Photograph by Christopher Lyons
Hawkeye and Rose on the Fordham Nest

And a report from Chris Lyons who's been keeping a close eye on them--- When I got up on the roof of Dealy, Hawkeye was sitting on the nest. He fiddled a bit with this material that looked like grey laundry lint, which I assume was the nest lining. Half an hour later, Rose turned up, and they both looked down at the eggs, but I saw no indication any of them had hatched out.

Then Hawkeye flew off, Rose settled in, and I got down off the very windy roof. I'll keep checking all week. Since no feeding was seen until April 26th last year, we're still well within the window. But I now feel pretty confident she hadn't laid an egg by March 20th, even though she started sitting regularly by or before that date.

It sounds like Hawkeye and Rose are doing just fine and right on schedule!
Donegal Browne

(Below find another posting for today concerning a National Pigeon Day event coming up in Central Park on June 13th. Pale Male and Lola Update coming later this evening. D.B)

NATIONAL PIGEON DAY-Pale Male and Lola plus nest updates coming up later this evening.

National Pigeon Day
Cher Ami was a homing pigeon owned and flown by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during World War I. He helped save the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division in the battle of the Argonne, October 1918. In his last mission, he delivered a message despite having been shot through the breast, being blinded in one eye, covered in blood, and having a leg hanging only by a tendon. The bird was awarded the Croix de Guerre for heroic service delivering 12 important messages in Verdun.

National Pigeon Day: An Education Phenomenon

Friday, June 13 4 - 8 pm Pilgrim Hill in Central ParkNew York, NY enter on 5th Avenue @ E. 72nd Street

Guest Speakers:Deacon Joseph Dwyer (Cheri Ami - The Hero Pigeon)

Karen Davis, Ph.D., President, United Poultry Concerns

Valerie Sicignano, East Coast Director, In Defense of Animals

(Thank you to IDA who will be providing a banner for the event).

Additional speakers will be announced at a later date.

Speeches, materials distribution, candlelight prayer service and pigeon shaped cookies.

Learn how carrier pigeons Cher Ami and GI Joe saved the lives of more than 1,000 men in wartime.

Become part of Project Pigeon Watch and have fun learning about our fascinating NYC residents.Deacon Joseph Dwyer, graduate of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey; Ordained Catholic Deacon; Vice Chancellor for Administration for the Diocese of Newark; Board Member for Catholic Concern for Animals.Co-authored “A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion,” a document whose creation was sponsored by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Deacon Joe speaks frequently on the need for kindness and compassion toward animals to be realized as a core spiritual value. Deacon Joe has contributed stories to Angel Animals and is published on Aunt Mary's Doghouse. Also a certified veterinary technician, Deacon Joe and his wife share their lives with three beloved dachshunds; Greta, Rommel and Spartacus.

Karen Davis, Ph.D. is the founder and president of United Poultry Concerns (UPC), an organization that addresses the treatment of chickens and other domestic fowl in food production, science, education, entertainment, and human companionship situations and promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl.

In November of 1999, Karen and UPC were profiled in “For the Birds” in The Washington Post, winner of the Ark Trust Genesis Award for Outstanding Newspaper Feature that year, and in July of 2002, Karen was inducted into the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame “for outstanding contributions to animal liberation.”Karen is the editor of Poultry Press, the quarterly magazine of United Poultry Concerns. Her essays appear in collections that include Animals and Women: Feminist Theoretical Explorations (Duke University Press, 1995), Terrorists or Freedom Fighters: Reflections on the Liberation of Animals (Lantern Books, 2004), Animal Liberation Philosophy and Policy Studies Journal (Center on Animal Liberation Affairs, 2005), and Encyclopedia of Animals and Humans (Greenwood, 2007). Her essay “Procrustean Solutions to Animal Identity and Welfare Problems” is forthcoming in a collection published by SUNY Press.Karen’s books include A Home for Henny (UPC, 1994), Instead of Chicken, Instead of Turkey: A Poultryless “Poultry” Potpourri (Book Publishing Co., 1999), More Than a Meal: The Turkey in History, Myth, Ritual, and Reality (Lantern Books, 2001), The Holocaust and the Henmaid’s Tale: A Case for Comparing Atrocities (Lantern Books, 2005), and Prisoned Chickens, Poisoned Eggs: An Inside Look at the Modern Poultry Industry (Book Publishing Co., 1996; New Revised Edition, 2008).Karen Davis maintains a sanctuary for chickens, turkeys and ducks at UPC’s headquarters on the Virginia Eastern Shore. In 1998, Ira Glass, host of National Public Radio’s This American Life, was so impressed with the chickens he met at the sanctuary that he told millions of viewers on Late Night with David Letterman, in 2007, that he hasn’t eaten chicken or any other animal flesh since.Deacon Joseph Dwyer will be conducting a Candlelight Prayer Service for the pigeons of New York City.

Best Friends will have copies of the Proclamation available at the event.


History War Heroes - Cher Ami and GI Joe


In World War I, a pigeon saved the lives of many soldiers in the "Lost Battalion" of New York's 77th Division of the U.S. Army. This pigeon was Cher Ami. His name means "dear friend" in French. He saved the lives of many French soldiers by carrying a message across enemy lines in the heat of battle. Cher Ami was shot in the chest and the leg, loosing most of the leg to which the message was attached, but continued the 25 minute flight avoiding shrapnel and poison gas to get the message home. Cher Ami was awarded the French ‘Croix de Guerre’ for heroic service.Another heroic pigeon named G.I. Joe saved the lives of a thousand soldiers in World War 2 after British troops had established a position within an Italian town that was due to be bombed by allied planes. Communication equipment was down and the only means of stopping the raid was to attach a hastily written message to G.I. Joe and send him to the HQ. G.I. Joe flew 20 miles in 20 minutes arriving at the air base whilst the planes were taxiing on the runway. G.I. Joe received the ‘Dickin’ medal for his bravery.Cher Ami was a registered Black Check Cock carrier pigeon. He was one of 600 birds owned and flown by the United States Army Signal Corps in France during World War I. He delivered 12 important messages within the American sector at Verdun, France. On his last mission, Cher Ami was shot through the breast by enemy fire, yet he managed to return to his loft. A message capsule was found dangling from the ligaments of one of his legs that also had been shattered by enemy fire. The capsule contained a message from Major Charles Whittlesey. As commander of the “Lost Battalion” of the 77th Infantry Division, his troops had been isolated behind enemy lines without food and ammunition and they were beginning to receive fire from allied troops who didn’t know they were there. Cher Ami’s bravery paid off and just hours after the message was received, the 194 survivors of the battalion were returned safely to the American line.

Cher Ami was awarded the French "Croix de Guerre" with Palm for his heroic service between the forts of Verdun. In 1919 he died from the wounds he received in battle.
Cher Ami was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931 and received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers in recognition of his extraordinary service during World War I. During a battle in France, the American soldiers found themselves surrounded by the enemy. Then they found themselves being fired on by their own side! They tried sending a message to their fellow troops by pigeon. The first message said, "Many wounded. We cannot evacuate." The pigeon carrying the message was shot down. They sent out a second bird with the message, "Men are suffering. Can support be sent?" That pigeon too was shot down. One homing pigeon was left-Cher Ami. His message was, "Our artillery is dropping a barrage on us. For heaven's sake, stop it!" The men of the Lost Battalion saw Cher Ami fly up-and then saw him shot down. Yet soon Cher Ami was airborne again. Hopes soared. Cher Ami's leg was shot off and and hanging from his ligaments was the message capsule. He also was hit by another bullet through the chest. Still, this bird kept flying. Cher Ami finally got through. The shooting stopped, and many lives (at least 200) were saved.

Cher Ami regrettably died on June 13 in 1919 as a result from his battle wounds, and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for his heroism. He was then inducted into a hall of fame and received a gold medal for his service to America. He is on display at the National Museum of American History, Behring Center, in the Armed Forces History Hall. (see photo above).

Posted by People for Pigeons
(Please forgive the formating Blogger has gone mad yet again and won't allow it to be fixed. It just keeps publishing this way. D.B.)

p://nationalpigeonday.blogspot.com/2008/04/national-pigeon-day-itinerary.html

Pale Male and Lola Suspicions and the Riverside Nest

Though the report of unusual behavior from photographer and long time Bench observer, Rik Davis came later in the day, we'll take that on first, as we're all on pins and needles about Pale Male and Lola.

Today, Sunday, early afternoon, Rik observed Pale Male and Lola standing on the nest together for half an hour. Intermittently looking into the bowl, checking territory, looking back into the bowl. Then after that interlude they switched back and forth tending the nest several times. One would sit while the other left for 15 or so minutes and then then switch back again. This happened repeatedly.

I looked at Rik's photographs, and then we discussed my observations of unusual behavior over the last few days.

On 4/16 I'd begun to be, I guess suspicious that something might be going on. Look at the photo above. Pale is standing to the rear of the nest and they are both staring down.


I began seeing particularly unusual things on 4/16/08. Nothing huge just very different. Note how Pale Male is standing on the rim of the bowl. I'd never seen him do this before in this manner. Then they stood on the nest together for much longer in tandem than usual. There were also a few glances down at the bowl.


Here's Lola is staring into the bowl on 4/17. Yes, at this point Pale Male is in it. But as he rises instead of watching him, she continues to scrutinize the bowl of the nest.

I have a sequence of her back that lasts nearly ten minutes on 4/17.


See where she is looking as Pale Male checks territory.

On 4/18/08 Lola adopted a completely new posture. She's sitting up on the edge of the bowl in a different way and she repeatedly kept looking over her shoulder down into the bowl.

Now, I must say we've been fooled before, but with Rik's observations of today, well, every day things become more and more "interesting".

By the time Samantha, my daughter, and I arrived at Fifth Avenue today, Lola was already deep in the nest and Pale Male was no where to be seen. Sam and I had gone over to check on the Riverside 79ers Nest first. That nest report next.

Photograph by Donegal Browne
5:20:20 As we came up the path, a Red-tail flew into a tree in Riverside Park and perched.

Photograph by Donegal Browne
5:20:34 The bird then began to switch perches within that tree.

Photograph Donegal Browne
5:21:19 Then another perch. Then an "Aha" look.

Photograph Donegal Browne
5:21:49 Closer scrutiny at the bark. (This is when I begin to have technical difficulties and therefore loose the confirmation sequence of who is doing what.)

Photograph Donegal Browne
5:23:42 Between this photo and the one taken at 5:21:29, a hawk lands on the already occupied nest with a long piece of bark in his beak and I suspect the above pigeon in his talons. That hawk leaves. The above hawk now takes the pigeon and leaves as well. The nest is unoccupied for about 7 minutes.

Photograph Samantha Browne-Walters
5:24PM In the meantime daughter Sam has taken a photo of a hawk in flight going north. The nest is unoccupied.

Photograph Samantha Browne-Walters
5:29:17 Sam locates the hawk eating the pigeon while I stake out the nest.

Photograph Samantha Browne-Walters
5:29:41

Photograph Samantha Browne-Walters
5:29:48PM Hawk eating as hawks do-with speed and focus.

Photograph by Donegal Browne
5:30:12 Hawk arrives on the nest and begins a major renovation. Bark put into place, twigs pulled and re-inserted.

Photograph by Donegal Browne

Photograph by Donegal Browne

Photograph by Donegal Browne

Photograph by Donegal Browne
This hawk takes off.

Photograph Samantha Browne-Walters
5:30:38 Sam catches this hawk in flight toward the nest.

Photograph by Samantha Browne-Walters
5:30:51 Hawk lands on the nest.

Photograph by Donegal Browne
5:32:05 The arriving hawk carefully checks what has been done to the nest. A number of people arrive to ask questions and look through the scope.

Photograph by Samantha Browne-Walters
In the meantime Sam has started photographing squirrels...

Photograph by Samantha Browne-Walters
...And the ladies of Riverside Park.

Photograph by Donegal Browne
5:34:44 Hawk settles into the nest and we pack up for the trip to the Fifth Avenue nest.

Photograph by Samantha Browne-Walters
7:06PM We hear the Report from the Bench. Lola is deep in the nest and Pale Male is out of sight. The crowd of park goers thins and it's time for the resident Mallard pair to come out of the Model Boat Pond and attempt to dry out for awhile. This happens every evening. Even ducks can't stay in water all the time. If they don't dry out sometimes they develop fungus on their feet.

And also every evening over and over passers-by sometimes with dogs and sometimes without take pleasure in flushing them back into the pond.

Photograph by Eleanor Tauber
This is not a look from Sam of only teenage disgust, the rest of us have this look as well. Why? People just can't not molest the ducks, often and repeatedly. They think, "What's the big deal? It's only me making them jump back in the water." Wrong. It happens in about 20 seconds, every time the ducks get out of the pond. Now as you're reading this you no doubt have enough empathy for animals not to be such a cluck.

So what do we do with the rest of them? We just keep on showing people the hawks and the other animals. We talk about their lives and behavior in hope that someday those folks too will learn empathy. We hope that all of you, wherever you are, do the same.

Donegal Browne