Fellow Tweetsters,

This morning I drove south across the lower University bridge, on my way to
take Emma to school. I glanced over to the I-5 Ship Canal bridge, looming
higher to our right and my heart skipped a beat. There, in the very top of the
south power tower west of the I-5 bridge, was perched a peregrine. This
unmistakable silhouette has become a winter fixture these past six years. And
for the past six winters it has been the same adult female (banded on her
right leg) that has wintered there.
Since August a different adult (unbanded, very heavily streaked belly, no
cinnamon wash) had spent time at the bridge, dining on the pigeons. However, I
never saw that bird perched up on top. Always lower. Just like all the other
peregrines who over the years used this area. Until now Freeway is the only
one who has advertised her presence by sitting up high.
Twenty minutes later, northbound across the I-5 Ship Canal bridge there was no
sign of a peregrine. I went home, got my scope and went down below the bridge.
I scanned the towers next to the bridge and the myriad beams below it.
Nothing. I glanced over towards the high-rise in the University District, to
the northwest (another favorite peregrine hang-out), nothing. What to do?
Well, I decided, since you're here, finish the job and walk to the east side
of the bridge and check that side too.
It wasn't long before I spotted a peregrine practically overhead on one of the
horizontal sections of storm drains on the side of the bridge. Even with my
binoculars I could tell that the bird, facing the bridge, had a lot of
cinnamon on her auriculars and chin. She was scratching and preening, but from
this angle there was no way I could see her legs.
I grabbed my scope and ran away from the bridge, getting puzzled looks from
the people at the Offshore Cafe as I set up my scope and aimed at the bridge.
It didn't take long or the preening bird raised her tail and muted (small
mute, no crop, she hadn't had breakfast yet). This gave me a clear look at
both her legs. Silver US Fish and Wildlife band on the right, nothing on the
left.
I used the pay phone next to the cafe and dialed the peregrine hotline
(206/654-4423) and listened to teh outgoing message, so dilligently provided
by Ruth Taylor. A different peregrine from the one seen at I-5 Ship Canal
during the past few weeks had been seen there on Tuesday. But leg band hadn't
been confirmed at that time. So I left my message.
Chances are good it's Freeway, but I would like to see her front, just to make
sure the markings (or lack thereof) on her bib and belly are the same. Still
no guarantee it's her, but chances that it is, would be even better.
As I watched her preen, I noticed the nice new tail feathers, with the light
tip, typical of freshly molted feathers. An upper (right) wing covert came
loose and when the bird shook herself vigorously, dislodging what looked like
powder and loose down, the covert came loose too. It gently drifted away,
first gaining altitude and then steadily drifting towards me. I kept an eye on
it, as did Freeway. She lost interest soon, but I was mesmerized. After four
minutes the feather landed not three feet away from me. What does one do? Pick
it up of course (yes, I know I can't keep it, I'll hand it over to an
appropriately licensed person as soon as possible). The coincidence of my
setting up in that exact location, for a moment, made me feel special. But
only for a moment.
It is good to have this familiar bird back for a seventh winter. She beat the
odds again. The literature says the average female lives through six nesting
seasons. It's nice to see that Freeway is above average. She was the first
peregrine I ever got to observe up close as well as during hunts and the many
other aspects of everyday winter life in the city. I'm looking forward to
another winter with her.

Martin Muller, Seattle
martinmuller at msn.com