We received news today from our partners at the Woodmen Building that a new male Peregrine Falcon was spotted at the nestbox in downtown Omaha. The good news was they were able to read the color band to identify this male falcon. The shocking news was the band was very familiar, black over green and the letters 19/K. This alphanumeric band belongs to the male Peregrine Falcon that has been one half of the nesting pair present at the Nebraska Capitol since 2005! To be certain of the bird’s identity, I asked Nicole Steier, Communications Coordinator with Woodmen of the World, whether any photographs were taken of the new bird in Omaha. She provided the following photo taken 29 January 2015.
So was this just a winter foray of discovery to break up the winter doldrums? Will 19/K be back at the Capitol come spring? Or will we find a new male has taken over at the Capitol? Will 19/K become the new male at the Woodmen? Does this mean he displaced his own offspring (Mintaka)?
So many questions, and lots of reasons to keep tabs on both the Capitol and Woodmen Peregrine Falcons in the coming weeks.
Many thanks to Nicole Steier and our friends and partners with Woodmen of the World.