The Tacoma Peregrine Falcons, G.P. and Mickee, are brooding for the first
time. They have ignored the nest box that we put up for them on the 11th
Street Bridge and have chosen their own family accommodations. My best
guess is that Mickee finished laying the clutch in the early or mid part of
last week.

There won't be much to see for awhile because the nest site is hidden, and
the parents exchange incubating shifts only every few hours. In the
meantime, one is out of sight on the nest, and the other is just hanging
around the neighborhood.

They do seem to tolerate the bridge opening and closing. In fact, the
bridge opened yesterday, Sunday, for 70 minutes to allow the annual Marine
Parade of boats through. Through the whole time, G.P., the Guy Peregrine,
sat tight on the nest.

I feel like an expectant uncle. I've been watching and cheering on G.P. for
five seasons. Now, at last, he and Mickee may produce a family. Now I'll be
twitching with nerves for the next month until the little ones (I hope)
hatch. Then I'll worry till they fledge and fly out of harm's way.

You can keep up with the story on the Tacoma Peregrines' web site--
<http://www.nwrain.com/~jrlyles/Tacoma_Peregrines.html>

--cheers, Jim Lyles, Tacoma