Operation Windex a Success, Despite Kacks

Dateline: Rochester, New York

A pair of protesters shouted and circled nearby, but failed to stop the planned maintenance work at the high-rise nest box penthouse on the Kodak tower. Residence Council president Mariah was particularly aggrieved. "I have to raise eyases in that box. They just barge in when they want, mess up the furniture, and for what, so a bunch of peeping toms can get a better look at my family? Come on, let's get real. What ever happened to a family's privacy?"

Representatives of the nest box's management group did not return our calls seeking commment.

OK, so it wasn't quite that dramatic. They did do a good deal of vocalizing, beginning with Kaver before I even stepped out into the playpen. How do I know it was Kaver, you ask? Because he was on the southwest corner of the playpen as I walked out. Before I'd taken a step around the south side (where the nest box and cameras are) he was airborne, swinging around and kacking:


Mariah was there too, though where she came from is anyone's guess:


Kaver stayed pretty close-- unusual for him, but a boon for me, photographically speaking:
          

Mariah made more noise than the last time I was at the nest box a couple of weeks ago, but she didn't thump me on the head during this visit. I made sure I gave her as few opportunities for mischief as possible. I spent most of the time crouching to present a smaller target for her attacks:
          

I poked my head up only as long as it took to wipe the winter's grime from the cameras. Camera 1 was troublesome, since it's mounted about 6 feet (1.85 meters) out from the playpen railing. I'd brought an extendible wand with me, but even with that I had to lean over the railing a bit-- quite an exposed position with an angry territorial Peregrine swooping around.

All's well that ends, though, and I lingered only to grab a few photos, then ducked back into the safety of the cupola, chased by Mariah all the way. She landed on top of camera one upon my departure. Kaver took up a loftier, but more distant perch on the High Falls stack:
     

They were in the same spots when I left a little later in the afternoon. With the cameras cleaned we can look forward to clear viewing for the rest of the season-- as long as nature cooperates, that is.