In consideration of Dennis Paulson and Don Baccus, I was
briefly gripped by the urge to cast up a peregrine pun or
two. But I won't stoop to that.

Instead, I'll update the amor saga of the Tacoma falcons.
As y'all recall, on Monday a second subadult female (let's
call her Berda) had appeared and caught the attentions of the
resident male peregrine. What had happened to the first young
female (Ava), who had herself replaced the adult wintering
female that had absconded a few weeks before? We didn't know.

Now we see that Berda didn't stick around for more than a day.
And now Ava and the resident male are keeping close company
again. They haven't yet explored the nest box, and they haven't
been caught treading (in public, at least). But they are bowing
and vocalizing and flying aerial fandangos.

(Oh, by the way, the names Ava and Berda are temporary
conveniences for now. I feel presumptuous about encumbering
such wild things with such familiar names.)

--cheers, Jim Lyles
<jrlyles at usgs.gov> or <jrlyles at eskimo.com>