Observation Log 2007
GBB=Gauranty Bank building
FNB=Frost Bank building
CBB=Chase Bank building
BBB=Broadway Bank Building
BBQ=Bill Miller BBQ
2/21/07
4:44PM 1 adult on GBB roof.
This may mark the return for the 2007 season.
2/22-3/21/07
no Swainson’s Hawks seen in the loop
410 Nacagdoches area.
3/22/07
3:31PM 1 adult hovering in good
updrafts against CBB. This would be the conservative return date.
3/28/07
male adult Swainson’s is soaring
high over GBB, not hunting
4/10/07
both adults circling all day above
GBB. Circling is mostly done in unison, as one bird wheels, so
does the other. The smaller male is usually slightly higher in
altitude.
4/11/07
8:46 both adults perched on south
side of GBB roof, beautiful, clear sunny morning.
9:01 both adults took off and
soared; first 1 block south of GBB, then 1 block southwest of GBB,
swooping at 100-300’ altitude, not hunting, just enjoying flying.
4/13/07
2:pm 1 bird soaring south of GBB
4:30PM 1 adult on GBB roof
4/16/07
8:35 no birds visible
8:40 one adult circling roof of GBB
9:00-9:20 no birds visible
9:22 one adult on the GBB roof
11:25 one adult on GBB roof
1:05PM one adult still on GBB roof
2:07PM roof bird is gone
2:11PM male is soaring past GBB at
50’ altitude. Drifted east and north of GBB
2:55PM one adult back on GBB roof
2:56 both adults both adults soaring
around GBB, landed on roof and copulated at 2:58PM
2:59PM One bird left, the other
stepped back barely visible, may have sat down
3:05PM both adults in the air near
GBB, one lands at 3:07
3:35PM one adult still on GBB roof
4/17/07
2:00PM both adults perched on GBB
roof, south side, despite intermittent heavy falling mist and drizzle
earlier most of the morning
4/18/07
8:42 both adults gliding against
edge of GBB. One fighting his reflections in the top floor windows
9:26 1 bird soaring against side of
CBB
11:28 both adults soaring against CBB
3:30PM 1 bird on GBB south side
3:33PM both adults soaring parallel
to top floor of GBB. One adult doesn’t like his reflection and
grabs at it.
3:49PM both adults gliding against
south side of CBB
4/19/07
8:40 both adults perched on GBB
roof, south side
1:43PM both birds soaring 25-50
yards south of CBB
4/20/07
11:05 1 bird on GBB roof while mate
soars just 30’ above the perched bird
12:45 both birds circling at 80’
altitude around BBB, then over loop 410
4/23/07
8:47 both adults on roof of
GBB. Damp dark day, heavy falling mist.
10:30 1 bird visible on GBB roof
2:43PM 1 adult soaring at 200’
altitude 100 yards south of GBB
3:42PM 1 adult soaring against south
side of GBB
4:35PM 1 adult back on GBB roof
4/24/07
10:41 1 adult swooping past the
south side of CBB
12:44 both adults soaring20-100
yards south of GBB at 100-150’ altitude
4/25/07
10:15 1 bird soaring on updrafts
against south side of GBB
10:22 second bird came off the roof
of CBB, glided over to GBB and landed on that roof. Other adult
still soaring around GBB
11:35 1 adult soaring 25 yards south
of GBB at 120’ altitude
4:00PM 1 bird soaring 25 yards south
of a line between GBB and CBB
4/26/07
9:45 1 bird on BGG roof, other adult
soaring around GBB
11:21 both adults soaring along
south facing side of GBB
3:30PM both birds soaring 100 yards
north of BBB-Taco Cabana line
4:04PM female soaring between GBB
and CBB
4/27/07
10:50 1 bird on GBB roof
4/30/07
2:27PM both adults on GBB roof,
heavy rain earlier this morning.
4:46PM 1 bird on GBB roof
5/1/07
8:50 1 bird on roof
3:58PM 1 bird gliding at 200’
altitude 100 yards south of GBB while other adult rests on GBB roof
5/4/07
11:20 1 bird on roof of GBB
5/6/07
Neither bird visible all day.
5/7/07
no birds seen all day
5/8/07
10:03 1 bird on GBB roof for 1st
time this morning
4:30 PM 1 bird hunting between BBQ
and Tesoro buidings
4:50PM 1 bird on GBB roof
5/9/07
8:32-9:05AM One
adult on GBB roof
9:20AM Adult
launches and soars over the roof edge, then returns and lands, same
place.
9:21-11:47 One
adult remains on GBB roof
11:47AM Adult hops
away from edge and out of sight, possibly in a gutter.
4:00-5:00PM One
adult on GBB roof edge
5/10/07
10:30 1 bird on GBB roof, gone by
11:00
2:35PM 1 bird on roof again
4:00PM 1 bird on roof
4:45PM both adults soaring over GBB
building
5/11/07
8:30-9:30 no birds
10:18 1 bird on GBB roof
1:30PM 1 adult wheeling steeply near
treetop at the tile roof house(in front of distant transmission
towers), then landed in the canopy.(nestsite
for this season) This was preceded
by the other adult comimg to the landing site at a low angle and high
speed
3:25PM 1 adult soaring at 100-300’
altitude from GBB to 200 yards south
347PM 1 bird on roof
4:30PM female landed near last years
nest, then launched and soared to about 400’ above GBB.
5/14/07
8:36-9:15 1 adult on GBB roof
9:55 bird launched and glided over
loop 410 toward Tesoro towers & BBQ area
10:00-10:50 no birds visible
anywhere, presumably perched near ground or in a shade tree.
10:55 1 bird returned to the GBB roof
11:35 no birds visible
12:51 1 bird on GBB roof
2:15PM no birds visible
2:20PM 1 bird back on GBB roof
2:22PM bird on roof retreated 2’
back from the edge and is barely visible, possibly sitting down or in a
trough
2:37PM roof bird preening underside
of wings
5/15/07
8:45 no birds visible
9:00-11:30 1 bird on GBB roof
4:00PM 1 adult soaring at 100-300’
altitude
4:30PM 1 adult back on GBB roof
5/17/07
8:35 1 bird on roof
10:15 1 bird soaring at 50-100’
altitude 25-100 yards south of GBB, hunting, then drifted over GBB at
150’ altitude continuing north to BBQ area
2:02PM both adults hunting 500 to
800 yards south of CBB. One dove 3 times by the cell phone
tower. Both moving off east, still hunting, towards big water
tower
4:15PM both birds gliding around GBB
roof, then landed and copulated on the roof.
5/18/07
9:00 no birds visible
9:05 1 bird on GBB roof
2:00 no birds visible
2:05PM 1 bird on roof of GBB
2:07PM1 adult glided up and spiraled
over loop 410, then NE a considerable distance toward the cement plant
on Thousand Oaks, then dropped to hunting altitude
2:20-2:40PM 1 adult soared between
GB and BBB, landing on GBB.
4:00-4:30 1 bird perching on GBB
5/21/07
Dark morning
9:00-9:37AM No
birds visible
9:37AM One adult
on GBB roof.
10:27-1:15PM No
birds visible as rain moves in.
2:22-4:30PM One
adult back on GBB roof
5/22/07
8:45AM One adult
on GBB roof
10:00AM No birds
visible
1:00PM One bird
soaring at 60’ altitude 100 yards south of GBB.
3:15PM Both adults
soaring in unison in tight circles around GBB.
3:17PM Female
broke off circling and returned to the nest. The male continued
circling a minute, then landed on GBB roof.
4:30PM No birds
visible.
5/23/07
8:45-917AM No
birds visible
9:18AM One adult
on GBB roof.
10:25AM One adult
doing tight circles at 50-75’ altitude around GBB. It lands on
GBB roof at 10:28AM.
10:30AM Other
adult shows up on the roof then immediately launches and goes to the
nest.
3:03PM One adult
swoops low over the nest then lands there.
3:10PM Both adults
are soaring in unison around GBB, then the female peels off and returns
to the nest. The male soars over toward BBB, then back to GBB,
circles some more and lands on GBB at 3:13PM
5/24/07
Dark day, intermittent drizzle
9:15AM One adult
alternately perching on GBB roof and soaring between GBB and nest
9:30-4:00PM No
birds visible.
4:00PM One adult
alternately soaring and perching on GBB roof.
4:15PM One adult
launched from GBB and began hunting low over trees 100 yards south of
GBB.
5/25/07
Dark and raining this day
No birds seen all day
5/29/07
8:30-10:30AM No
birds visible
10:30AM One adult
on GBB roof
11:00-1:45PM
No birds visible
3:15PM One bird
hunting 100-200 yards south of GBB at 40-80’ altitude.
4:37PM One adult
gliding against south side of Chase bldg.
5/30/07
8:30-2:44PM No
birds visible
4:37PM One bird on
GBB roof
5/31/07
8:35AM No birds
visible
10:53AM One adult
on GBB roof while the other is soaring 30’ above the roof.
12:30 Male is
circling at 80’ altitude over BBQ and BBB.
1:41PM One adult
on GBB roof
6/1/07
8:30AM No birds
visible
8:38AM One adult
on GBB roof
No birds visible remainder of the
day.
6/4/07
8:30-10:30AM No
birds visible
11:00AM Both
adults circle GBB in formation, then at 11:04, female peeled off and
descended to the nest. The male continued to circle GBB a few
minutes, then drifted to the north.
11:45-2:30PM No
birds visible.
No further observations this day.
6/5/07
Very dark morning. Streetlights on
through lunch hour.
8:45-12:00 No
birds visible
1:11PM One adult
on GBB roof
1:30PM No birds
visible
No further observations this day
6/6/07
8:30-1:00PM One
adult on GBB roof entire time
2:00-5:00PM No
birds visible
6/7/07
8:40AM Female
adult circling GBB
9:38AM No birds
visible
10:40AM One adult
with prey circling low between BBQ and Tesoro bldgs. The bird
gradually worked upward between GBB, BBQ, and Tesoro, still with its
prey.
10:45AM Same bird
with same prey crosses loop 410 and soars around GBB, then at 10:50,
dives to the nest with the prey.
No birds observed the remainder of
the day.
6/8/07
8:45-1:50PM No
birds visible
1:56PM One adult
barely visible on GBB roof doing lots of preening.
3:00PM Both adults
circling GBB at 90’ altitude. Female departs for the nest.
5:15PM One adult
circling GBB at only 30’ altitude.
6/11/07
8:50-10:06AM No
birds visible
no further observations this day
6/13/07
No hawks seen all day
6/14/07
8:45-2:54PM No
hawks seen during this period
No further observations this day
6/15/07
No birds visible all day
6/18/07
8:45-9:25AM No
birds visible
9:26AM One adult
soaring against south-facing side of Chase Bldg.
No further observations this day
6/19/07
9:00AM One adult
on GBB roof being pestered by a pair of kingbirds. These force
the hawk into the air. It circles GBB for a few minutes.
9:30-9:45AM No
birds visible.
9:45AM One bird on
GBB roof is chased off roof by a little bird.
12:00 One adult
with a rat in its claws is soaring against Chase bldg. for a
minute.
6/20/07
Dark morning with lightning.
9:10AM No birds
visible
9:30-10:20AM Heavy
rain, no birds visible
10:20-3:00PM
Drizzle and still dark, no birds.
4:00PM One adult
visible huddled down on GBB roof
6/21/07
No birds visible all day
6/22/07
No birds visible all day
6/26/07
8:30-12:00 No
birds visible.
12:00 One adult
circling GBB at about 4th floor level
No further observations this day.
6/27/07
8:30AM No birds
visible
8:57AM One adult
carrying prey, passes GBB and heads on set wings for the nest, being
chased by a grackle.
1:00-2:15PM No
birds visible
2:15-2:46PM One
adult on GBB roof.
No further observations this day
7/5/07
9:00-9:30AM Both
adults on GBB roof, female occasionally circling the building.
10:30AM One adult
left on the roof.
11:30AM Both
adults circling GBB in formation. Female lands and Male lands on
top of the female and copulates.
12:30PM One adult
on GBB roof.
1:30PM Both adults
on GBB roof
3:00-3:15PM No
birds visible
3:40PM Both birds
land on GBB roof, female first.
4:20PM One adult
on GBB roof.
4:21PM An
approaching rain shower reaches within 100 yards of the nest before the
female launches from GBB and bee-lines for the nest, landing there in
the tree canopy.
7/6/07
8:45-9:20AM
No birds visible.
9:25AM One adult
on GBB roof.
9:35AM Other adult
arrives. Both began formation flying around the roof.
Female lands and male lands on female, copulates, then settles next to
the female.
9:55AM One adult
visible on GBB roof.
10:30AM Female
launches and heads for the nest but on arriving turns northeast hunting
at treetop level to FNB. She then rises on a thermal to 100’
altitude and glides back to GBB roof. And preens.
10:31AM Male
arrives on the GBB roof edge.
10:35AM Male
launches, circles the building twice and lands again.
10:38AM Male
leaves and goes off hunting, female adult stays on GBB roof.
2:30PM Female is
on GBB roof. Rain is moving in again. Female preens
feathers at base of tail, then walks away from roof edge.
2:38PM Both adults
on GBB roof, side by side. Female is still preening base of tail
feathers.
2:40PM One adult
visible on GBB roof.
2:57PM Raining, no
birds visible
3:30PM Rain stops
but birds do not reappear this day.
7/9/07
8:30AM No birds
visible
10:00AM One adult
on GBB roof.
10:17AM The second
adult appears gliding over GBB. It circles several times, then
leaves and disappears.
12:35-2:50PM No
birds visible
2:55PM Female
lands on GBB roof. Male appears gliding over the nest and
continues to GBB where it lands on the female and slides off her to
perch at her side. The female preens the base of her tail
feathers.
3:15PM Male has
left GBB roof, female still there.
4:20PM Both adults
together on GBB roof.
5:00PM One adult
left on GBB roof.
7/10/07
8:45-10:19AM Both
adults on GBB roof
10:57AM One adult
on GBB roof.
11:02AM Both
adults floating on updrafts on the side of GBB, then formation flying
around GBB.
11:05AM One adult
drifted over by FMB and disappeared while other bird remained circling
GBB for a minute, then climbed to 300’ above GBB and also disappeared
from view.
12:03-2:20PM No
birds seen
2:25PM Male on GBB
roof
2:30-4:30PM No
birds visible
4:33PM Both adults
on GBB roof
7/11/07
9:00AM Both adults
on GBB roof
9:30-10:30AM No
birds visible
10:43AM Both
adults on GBB roof edge.
11:00AM Female
remains on GBB roof, male is gone.
11:45AM No birds
visible
1:30PM One adult
on GBB roof.
4:45PM One adult
on GBB roof.
7/12/07
8:45AM One adult
on GBB roof.
9:35AM Male adult
hovers over GBB, being attacked by a kingbird. It finally glides
toward the nest and lands in the dead tree near the nest.
11:20AM No birds
visible.
1:56PM One adult
barely visible toward the center of GBB roof.
4:10PM Female
present on GBB roof edge.
7/13/07
8:45-10:00AM
No birds visible
10:15AM Both
adults on GBB roof. Male launched and drifted over the nest, then
back past GBB to Loop 410 and on north. Female remained on GBB
roof.
10:20AM-4:30PM
No birds visible.
4:45PM One adult
on GBB roof, appears to be the female.
7/16/07
Warm sunny day
9:00-2:00PM No
birds
2:15PM 1 adult on
GBB roof but back from the edge.
2:16PM The adult
on GBB launched and flew toward FNB as the other adult flew from the
nest area to join it.
2:19PM Both adults
soaring over FNB, almost in formation. They soon rose to 300’
altitude with the male staying about 50’ above the female. They
then continued to rise to 400’ altitude while drifting northwest toward
Tesoro bldg.
2:25PM Female has
landed on GBB roof edge.
2:26PM Male lands
on the center of BGG roof
2:35PM No birds
visible.
7/17/07
No birds visible today
Noon-5:00PM rain
7/18/07
8:30-10:05AM No
birds seen.
10:05AM A
man uses a ladder on GBB roof to check the airplane warning lights on
the corners of the roof. Two workers and a supervisor look at the
south edge of the roof. Much pointing and arm waiving by the
supervisor. One worker gets on his stomach and leans over the
edge, looking down at the side of the building. Supervisor points
at the building’s corners and orders the workers to do something.
All three walk back to the center of the roof and descend back into the
building.
10:27AM Roving
shower brings drizzle.
10:45AM Break in
wet weather, blue sky comes through.
1:35PM One adult
bird drops down onto the roof.
1:42PM Male adult
drifts from GBB to nest area, then at treetop level continues southwest
hunting for birds or insects.
1:45PM One adult
banks along the side of GBB, then both adults begin formation flying,
circling from GBB to 200’ altitude, then drift SW 200 yards. The
female breaks off and glides south to hunt among canopy trees while the
male goes back to circling above GBB. The female is getting very
ragged looking with some missing wing primaries and some missing tail
feathers.
1:50PM No birds
visible.
2:20PM Drizzle
starts.
4:00PM Drizzle
stops
4:50PM Both adults
lazily circling GBB, then land side by side on GBB roof edge.
7/19/07
11:45AM light rain
12:20AM rain eased
off to a misty drizzle
2:00PM Adult
female on GBB roof
3:00PM both adults
on GBB roof
4:50PM no birds
visible
7/20/07
Dark dreary day with lots of rain
predicted.
11:30AM Rain
begins.
12:00 Heavy rain
12:45 Light rain
No birds all day
7/23/07
9:00AM-1:10PM
Beautiful morning but no birds visible.
1:10PM One bird
flapping around the nest branches
3:45PM thunder
3:50PM sheets of
heavy rain
4:30:PM rain
stopped
5:00PM No birds
seen on GBB roof today.
7/24/07
8:45AM Dark,
overcast & wet. No birds on GBB roof but one in dead tree by
nest
11:45AM Still no
birds on GBB roof but bird near nest is also out of sight.
2:20PM One bird
preening in the dead tree by the nest
7/27/07
8:45AM One adult,
probably the male is perched in a dead tree by nest.
10:45AM Both
adults are on the edge of GBB roof with heads turned toward the
nest. One juvenile, fully grown, is clamboring in the dead tree
by the nest.
11:40AM No birds
visible
2:15PM Both adults
back on GBB roof.
2:30PM No
birds visible
4:30-4:45PM Both
adults on GBB roof while juvenile is flapping in the dead tree at the
nest.
4:45-5:15PM Both
adults soaring together, juvenile still in the tree.
7/30/07
8:45AM One adult circling tight against GBB, drifted
north over 410
9:00-11:00AM no birds visible
11:00AM one adult on GBB roof
11:01AM no birds visible
11:17AM Male on GBB roof
11:58AM Male on GBB roof edge. Female adult
soaring just above the roof. A kingbird is pestering the female
as she lands out of sight in the center of the roof. Male adult
move back there also.
1:20-1:45PM Female is on GBB roof edge watching the
nest area.
7/31/07
8:45-12:30 No birds visible
12:35 A kingbird is swooping around the middle of GBB
roof indicating one or more adult hawks present but out of sight.
Juvenile is not visible anywhere.
2:25PM One adult head peering over GBB roof towards
the nest
2:33PM Female on GBB roof. Male is by the nest
in a dead tree.
2:34PM Male disappears from the tree. Female
left GBB roof and descended to nest area behind rightmost dead tree
2:37PM Two birds occasionally moving from treetop to
treetop near the nest. Suspect one is an adult, the other the
juvenile following.
2:38-4:45PM No birds visible
8/1/07
9:58AM The male carries a rat to a treetop near the
nest, placing it in the uppermost twigs, then flies off. Juvenile
is forced to fly up to it and balance on the tiny twigs. This it
accomplishes as with some wing flapping while it eats the rat.
Camera battery is dead.
10:10AM Juvenile has finished the rat and flies back
down to the rightmost of two dead trees and begins preening.
2:10PM The adult female appears with small prey and
does tight circles over the nest. Unable to get the juvenile’s
attention, she drifts over the GBB, then over the CBB with the prey.
2:12PM Female returns to the nest area with the prey
and does a steep dive, leveling off in the canopy trees around the
nest. She swerves around the trees and does not reappear in the
sky.
2:35PM One of the adults appears over CBB with a very
large dead bird, looks like a Whitewing Dove. The hawk circles
GBB, then drifts to Tesoro bldgs, then back to CBB where it appears to
land on or near the roof.
2:45PM Other adult appears over the nest with
very small prey, possibly a cicada. After circling the nest, the
bird ascends to 200’ altitude, then dissappears with its prey.
2:47PM The adult female appears flying through the
canopy near the nest. It ascends and flies north towards GBB
without its prey. It must have dropped it off for the
juvenile. She continues gaining altitude to about 200’, then sets
her wings and glides down rapidly to the area between BBB and Tesoro
bldgs.
2:55PM Adult male is a spec at 1000’ altitude above
GBB.
3:02PM Male, still circlin, descends to about 400’
over GBB.
3:12PM Male drops to about 125’ altitude and glides
back and forth between BBB and Tesoro bldg. while adult female perches
on GBB roof.
3:15PM Female looks in the direction of the nest,
walks to the rof edge, launches and glides off toward FNB
3:30-5:00PM no birds visible
8/2/07
8:45AM Adult female is
perched in the topmost
branches of the tree by the nest where the dead rat was wedged
yesterday.
9:20AM Adult female flew down from the perch in the
direction of the nest and out of sight.
11:00AM Adult female perching again is same tree’s
topmost branches while juvenile is scampering among the limbs of a
shorter adjacent tree
12:25 Female has moved to GBB roof edge, facing the
nest.
1:00-3:20PM no birds visible
3:22PM Adult female is again on GBB roof, facing the
nest. A mockingbird is pestering the female.
3:30-5:03PM No birds visible
8/3/07
9:00-10:15AM One adult on GBB roof.
10:15AM-4:00PM No birds visible.
4:14PM Adult female on GBB roof, south edge but
facing north instead of usual southern stance..
4:23PM Female turned around, turned around and
launched, flying off towards FNB.
8/6/07
8:25AM Female on GBB roof.
8:29AM No birds visible.
11:10AM One adult soaring momentarily over GBB, then
drifting off to east towards FNB.
11:15AM-4:45PM No birds visible.
8/7/07
8:45-10:00AM No birds visible.
10:20AM Female on GBB roof.
10:24AM Female flapped off towards Salado Creek
area. One Swainson’s near the nest took off, probably the
juvenile, and hunted just above the treetops near the nest for one
minute as adult female continued heading away towards the creek.
10:30-3:00PM No birds visible.
3:10PM Both adults circling GBB in tandem.
3:15-4:00PM No birds visible.
4:00-4:03PM Both adults back circling GBB, then both
set wings and descended towards Tesoro bldg.
4:30PM 1 Hawk, probably the juvenile flapping west
from 100 yards south of GBB, past CBB and 100 yards furtheer to
southwest.
8/8/07
8:30-9:40AM No birds visible.
9:40AM One bird flapping around at treetop level
between the nest and FNB, probably the juvenile.
10:55AM Female soaring at 70’ altitude in front
of CBB, then drifting north.
11:00-4:45PM No birds visible.
8/9/07
8:30AM No birds visible.
8:35AM Both adults land on GBB roof and are
immediately pestered by a kingbird.
8:50AM Male flew off the roof going towards the nest
being attacked by the kingbird or a shrike for 10 seconds after
takeoff. Male reached the nest area and banked back towards GBB,
flew over loop 410 and on towards Tesoro bldg., then banking again,
went over BBQ at 50’ altitude. Female remained on GBB roof.
9:20AM Female still on GBB roof.
9:30AM Male is perching in the rightmost dead tree
near the nest.
9:40AM Male dissapeared.
9:45AM Female leaves GBB and flies to nest area,
descending to treetop leel, circles around regaining altitude to 70’,
then glides and flaps back north.
9:50AM Both adults back on GBB roof.
9:51AM Both adults leave. Female glides towards
nest and lands in rightmost dead tree just out of sight, very
near the nest itself.
9:45-4:15PM No birds visible.
4:14PM One adult, probably the male circling GBB,
rising to 300’ altitude, then drifting nw to tesoro bldg area.
4:20-4:45PM No birds visible.
8/10/07
9:15-9:30AM No birds visible.
9:30AM Male soaring low hunting 100-300 yards south
and east of FNB.
No further observations this day.
No observations 8/11-8/19/07
8/20/07
8:51AM Both adults on GBB but not perched together as
usual.
9:26AM-4:45PM No birds visible.
8/21/07
9:00AM One adult on GBB roof, other hunting between
FNB and BBB.
9:07AM No birds visible.
9:24AM Female adult on GBB roof.
12:10 No birds visible.
12:11 Female came from BBB area and landed on GBB
roof. Male followed a minute later and took several circles
around GBB before landing on GBB roof.
12:40-120PM Only Female on GBB roof.
Intermittent showers and sunshine.
1:40PM Both adults soaring at 100’ altitude, gaining
to 150’. Female then dove back to GBB roof and landed in the
center of the roof out of sight. The male continued rising to
200’ altitude and drifted north over 410.
3:38PM Female on GBB roof.
3:40PM Female launched and circled up to 200’
altitude then drifted northwest.
8/22/07
9:03AM Both adults n GBB roof.
9:04AM While adults watched from the roof, juvenile
flapped and glided around between the nestsite and GBB, then awkwardly
landed on GBB roof edge with parents.
9:18AM only 1 bird visible on GBB roof. Others
may be there but out f sight, back from the edge.
10:15AM Female soars past CBB at 70’ altitude and
landed on GBB roof.
10:22AM Male has joined female on GBB roof.
10:50AM Only female in sight on GBB roof.
11:00AM Male just flew up and landed next to female
on GBB.
2:30PM Only female visible on GBB roof.
8/23/07
8:49AM Both adults on GBB roof.
9:10AM Only female visible on GBB roof as rain starts.
9:21AM Female still present as large drop heavy rain
occurs.
9:26AM Still present in heavy rain.
9:29AM Female still present as rain eases to a light
rain.
9:52AM Female still present as light rain turns to a
drizzle.
10:31AM Adult female and the juvenile on GBB roof as
a spot of sunshine comes through clouds.
11:57AM No birds visible.
8/24/07
8:59AM Female and juvenile circling GBB roof.
Both land but juvenile lands on west roof edge instead of the familiar
south edge, and in an awkward way. Juvenile then moves over to
south edge with the female. Female has a small fingernail sized
feather stuck to one of her claws, possibly from prey.
9:08AM Juvenile jumps off GBB roof boring straight
south for 600 yards intercepting the adult male who is carrying a
rat-sized prey at 150’ altitude. Male drops the prey as juvenile
approaches and juvenile adjusts flight angle to grab the prey at 75’
altitude. Prey appeared to be rat or large mouse rather than a
bird.
10:00 No birds visible.
11:40AM 1 bird flapped past CBB at 60’ altitude.
11:42AM 1Swaisnon’s has joined a buzzard circling in
updrafts coming off the south side of CBB.
1:30-4:45PM No birds visible.
8/27/07
9:18AM Female on GBB roof.
9:50-3:10PM No birds visible.
3:13PM 1 adult about 600 yards south of CBB hunting
at 50-75’ altitude, slowly circling north to CBB and gaining altitude
to 80-120’.
3:30-4:45PM No birds visible.
8/28/07
No observations in the morning.
No birds seen in the afternoon.
8/29/07
9:40AM Both adults on GBB roof. Male usually
perches to the female’s right.
9:59-10:30AM Both adults still on GBB roof,
preening. No wind to soar.
10:45AM No birds visible.
2:24-2:38PM Juvenile on GBB roof by himself. He
called 3 times during 5 minutes and spent most of the time watching the
sky overhead but sometimes scanning the horizon.
2:41PM Juvenile sat down, still watching overhead and
horizon.
2:44PM Juvenile is again sitting up, watching the
skies.
2:50PM Juvenile launched, circled at 100’ altitude,
and drifted over to BBQ, than a half mile north of BBQ, then over
Tesoro Bldgs
2:51-4:30PM No birds visible.
4:32-4:40PM Adult female on GBB roof preening.
8/30/07
8:45-10:45AM Both adults on GBB south-facing roof but
both facing north. This is an unusual perching attitude for
them. Clouds moving north to south might indicate a temporary
north breeze explaining it. Male is again on the female’s right
as usual.
10:45AM Juvenile appears gliding at 100’
altitude. Both adults launch and join the juvenile, spiraling up
to 300-400'’altitude. Juvenile tries 3 quick lateral rolls one
minute apart and does a lot of shallow dives with wings partly
folded. Meanwhile adults swoop, gaining and losing 100’ altitude
per swoop. Juvenile no longer needs to flap to travel distance or
gain altitude as it did just a few weeks previously.
11:01AM All three birds still in the air. One
adult plunges vertically from 250’ altitude to the treetops at 40’
reaching speeds that look to be about 100MPH with no braking on
entering the canopy. The juvenile continues floating and gliding,
doing shallow dives at 200-400’ altitude at speeds up to maybe 60MPH.
11:15AM No birds visible.
11:43AM Juvenile is riding updrafts at 100’ altitude
near CBB.
12:42 Male gliding at 90’ altitude on updrafts on
south side of CBB.
12:48 Male lands on GBB roof. Roof edge must be
very hot as he alternately lifts one foot, then the other while looking
at his feet.
1:00-2:15PM No birds visible.
2:45PM Both adults on GBB roof preening. This
time with male to female’s left, not typical.
4:40PM Adult male and juvenile on GBB roof, female
gone somewhere.
4:44PM Both male and juvenile launch and circle over
toward FNB, then split up. One takes a direct glide toward
Tesoro, the other rakes a higher circling drift to the same area.
8/31/07
9:10AM 1 bird on GBB roof, cannot identify due to
poor lighting.
9:20-9:50AM No birds visible.
9:52AM Adult female on GBB roof.
10:25AM Both adults on GBB roof Juvenile is
soaring at 150’ altitude 500yards south of FNB.
10:35AM Female launches and glides over GBB at 130’
altitude while male stays on the roof..
11:17AM Male launched and glided at 100’ altitude
towards FNB.
11:30AM-244PM No birds visible
1:15-2:30PM Thunder and rain.
2:44PM Both adults back on GBB roof, drying feathers
in the sun.
2:47PM Male hopped out of sight in a depression of
the roof.
2:55PM Female hopped back almost out of
sight.
3:07PM Male moved back to GBB roof edge and joined
the juvenile perching there.
3:30-3:45PM Both adults preening, nearly dry.
Juvenile is out of sight.
9/4/07
Drizzle in the morning, ending at 11AM, then heavy threatening clouds
rest of the day.
9:15-12:30 Both adults on GBB roof.
1:07-2:17PM Just adult female on GBB roof
3:08-4:45PM No birds visible, and drizzle after
3:00PM anyway.
9/5/07
Dark wet and cloudy day.
8:09AM Both adults on GBB roof.
9:29-4:45PM No birds visible.
9/6/07
8:41AM Both adults perched close together on south
edge of GBB roof.
8:50AM Just one adult on GBB roof.
11:20-4:45PM No birds visible
9/7/07
8:45-9:40AM No birds visible
9:42AM One bird winging past CBB and toward Tesoro
Bldg.
9:45-11:35AM No birds visible
11:40AM Adult male circles GBB at 150’ altitude, then
floats off north towards BBB.
11:45-4:45PM No birds visible.
9/10/07
8:55AM Juvenile on GBB roof.
10:40-4:30PM No birds visible.
4:38PM Both adults on GBB roof. Don’t see
juvenile anywhere.
9/11/07
Dark, heavy clouds with heavy rain ending at 9:15AM. This is the
first cold front of the season but only a light north breeze.
9:15-10:28AM No birds visible
10:28AM 1 Adult, probably the female, on GBB roof
preening wet feathers.
12:00-4:15PM No birds visible
4:15PM Male adult on GBB roof while female soars at
100’ altitude 50-150 yards south of CBB.
9/12/07
Sunny, clear and cool.
8:53AM Both adults on GBB roof.
8:54AM Male made a short flight south for 300
yards, then back. Not enough updrafts yet for good soaring.
12:00-4:45PM No birds visible.
9/13/07
Clear and low humidity day.
8:45AM 2 birds, probably both adults, on GBB roof.
10:00-4:45PM No birds visible
9/14/07
8:50AM Male adult on GBB roof. Mockingbird
standing to preening male.
9:00 Mockingbird gone but hawk still present.
9:40 Hawk is gone from GBB. No further
sightings this day.
9/17/07
partly cloudy, south breeze.
8:55AM Adult female on GBB roof.
9:23AM Male shows up and joins female on GBB roof.
9:24AM Two men appear on GBB roof, flushing the
birds. Birds circled a few times and then drifted off NE across
Loop 410. Lots of pointing by supervisor on roof to workers.
9:37AM Supervisor and workers leave roof.
9:38-4:30PM No birds visible
4:30PM Male lands on GBB roof.
4:32PM Male takes off , drifts over loop 410, and
returns by 4:38PM.
9/18/07
9:00-2:45PM Workers on GBB roof positioning steel
beams and working with platform hanging over south side.
3:00PM One adult drifting and circling about east to
west at 1000-2000’ altitude about 5 blocks south of FNB-CBB line,
barely visible to naked eye at that altitude.
No further sightings this day.
9/19/07
Workers on roof and scaffolding all day. No birds seen during
this day.
9/20/07
9:00-4:30PM Workers on platform against south side of
GBB. No birds seen today.
9/21/07
9:00-9:30AM Workers hanging scaffolding from GBB roof
and doing window caulking and washing
1:24PM An adult came from the west to BGG vicinity at
150’ altitude, circled twice,, found a thermal and rose to 300’.
It then drifted north over loop 410 towards BBB. No birds
remainder of day.
9/24/07
8:45AM Workers hanging from a platform at GBB
caulking windows all day.
3:20PM One adult, probably the female, came wheeling
over GBB at 150’ altitude circled about 3 times, and drifted off to the
west, climbing to 200-300’ altitude.
No birds remainder of the day.
9/25/07
Workers on scaffolding at GBB all day. No birds seen during the
day.
9/26/07
More activity on GBB roof and sides. No birds seen today.
9/27/07
More activity on GBB with scaffolding and no birds seen today.
9/28/07
More work on GBB roof and no birds seen.
10/1/07
Beams and cables on GBB roof. Caulking going on at west side of
GBB. No birds seen all day.
10/2/07
Various beams and cables are gone from GBB building.
8:45-9:15 AM Workers on the NE corner of GBB roof.
9:40AM Adult female perched on south edge of GBB roof.
9:55AM Female launched and glided north towards
Tesoro buildings.
10:00-11:20AM No birds visible
11:20AM 1 adult soaring against south-facing side of
GBB while window caulking is going on at the west facing windows from a
scaffolding.
10/3/07
8:45-9:08AM No birds
9:08AM Workers on the roof dropping cables over the
sides to do repair work
10:12 workers on scaffolding on south side.
Work proceeded all day and no birds present.
10/4/07
8:45-1:08PM no birds
1:09PM 1 adult gliding at 300-500’ altitude, not
migrating but just facing into the wind hanging around.
10/5/07
No birds all day and no disturbance from workers.
10/8/07
Dark overcast day, used headlights driving in. No birds seen any
time of day. Workers intermittently on GBB roof between 9:00AM
and 1:03PM.
10/9/07
Clear sky, north wind breeze. No birds seen all day but workers
on GBB roof and-or scaffolding between 8:41AM and 3:00PM.
10/10/07
Clear sky, faint north breeze. Window washing on the north side
of GBB.
Workers on the roof at 1:35PM and 4:10PM.
No birds visible today.
10/11/07
No birds visible today.
Apparently the last sighting was a lone adult on 10/4/2007.
The north breeze on 10/9/2007 probably started the remaining adult or
both adults heading south.
Veracruz had an enormous overflight of swainson's on 10/12/2007 ans I
suppose our San Antonio adults were in that group, on there way to
Argentina.