This boat's for the birds

A contingent of birders braved the mighty Susquehanna on a bucket boat this morning to check the progress of the falcon nestlings under the Veterans Memorial Bridge. 

The two immature falcons, called eyasses, are 20 days old - too young to fly. The researchers banded the two young females and returned them to the nest where it's hoped they'll stay for another 20 days, when they'll be ready to fly.

 The bucket boat was provided by Harcon Corporation from Paradise, PA.

 After the mission, the boat was loaded onto a specially-outfitted rig . . . 

and taken away.