A Busy Spring, But No Eggs Yet
It has been an exciting spring for the Woodmen Tower Falcons and there hasn't even been a egg laid yet.
First, a new male falcon was sighted in late February at the Tower nestbox. Male #19/K was the breeding male in Lincoln, Neb., for many years. His stay at the Woodmen Tower lasted 2-3 weeks
In mid-March, Mintaka (#57/H), was sighted at the Woodmen Tower nest box and has taken over. Mintaka has been at the Woodmen Tower since 2012. The Lincoln male is actually Mintaka's parent, so maybe dad just stopped by for a visit.
Finally, the female that appeared at the nestbox in February is not Hera. Like Hera, this new female is from the wild. But, Hera had a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service band from when she was injured in 2008. The new female has no bands at all.
Hera was the breeding female at the Tower since 2006. She produced 34 falcon chicks — 21 with Zeus and 13 with Mintaka.
Through all this, there is still no sign of eggs in the nest. Mintaka hangs out at the east nest box. The new female perches most of the day on the north nest box. We will have to keep an eye on them.