Hattie and Orton,
Sit on their speckled eggs.
Soon, three little ones,
Will show their feathered heads.
Peregrine Falcons,
At the Mayo Clinic,
A 30-year Program,
Successful and winning.
Since 1987,
Rochester’s their home.
Minnesota’s tall buildings,
Where they’ve thrived and flown.
Begin nesting in mid-March,
Until late-June, their done.
No matter the conditions,
Serious work, and no fun.
The three little Falcons,
Should pip 5th of May.
Takes 24 – 36 hours,
To see the light of day.
Hattie is named after,
Dr. Mayo’s wife.
Her name means hearth keeper,
Home ruler, day to night.
Orton’s named after,
Town of granite, color rose.
Stone of its City Hall,
Beautiful rock to behold.
So, as Hattie sits tight,
Orton will hunt food.
For the two of them now,
But, soon, for their brood.
A bell tower nearby,
Chimes its bells each hour.
So loud is the sound,
But, Hattie doesn’t cower.
She does her due diligence,
Keeping the eggs warm.
Safe from the predators,
As, inside her babes form.
Very soon hatch together,
New to this proud Town,
To someday fledge a family,
Peregrines of their own.
You can watch Hattie and Orton by copying and pasting, into your browser, the link below:
http://history.mayoclinic.org/tours-events/mayo-clinic-peregrine-falcon-program.php