Manitoba Falcon Cam Forum

News, Videos & Other Webcams => Birds in the News => : carly April 24, 2009, 08:33

: News: Peregrines
: carly April 24, 2009, 08:33
Elizabetha Sets a New World Record

Autumn 2008

Elizabetha, an adult female peregrine that we tagged in Chile on 21 January 2008 as part of the Southern Cross Peregrine Project, migrated north to Baffin Island, Canada, to breed last summer. After raising her family, she began to migrate south again on 22 September, generally following the classic US east coast route. On 19 October, she was flying off the coast of New Jersey when she apparently caught the counter-clockwise storm system of Hurricane Omar. With solid tail winds, she flew south all the way to Palm Beach, Florida in a day, a distance of at least 954 miles and a knock-out world record. None of us had even dreamed that a peregrine could fly that far in a single day. This is yet another example of how satellite transmitters are revolutionizing our understanding of so many organisms worldwide.

As I write this bulletin (28 December), she is still migrating slowly south, having just arrived in Chile once again. She is demonstrating that some adult females perform an unanticipated “slow migration” south, long suspected but now confirmed for the species.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2009
: carly May 04, 2009, 16:32
Old Age Peregrines Hatch Miracle Chick

video = http://www.youtube.com/v/LGFLjNUEPl4&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"

RANDY old birds of prey have successfully hatched a falcon chick almost a decade after they normally stop breeding.
The peregrine chick was born in the early hours of Monday morning after the mother and father – both in their mid twenties – had clutch of eggs.  Peregrine falcons rarely live to beyond 20 years old and it is unusual for them to breed after 17.

Animal workers were amazed the OAPs – Old Aged Peregrines – had bred for the first time in five years but assumed the eggs would be infertile. However they were left stunned when they heard the sound of cheeping coming from one of the clutch.  And to their amazement – and delight – a single chick hatched and is said to be “bold, healthy and happy”.

(http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/chick4.jpg?w=300)

Now staff at Elite Falconry in Fife plan to rear the baby bird of prey on minced quail before returning it to its parents later this week. Barry Blyther, head falconer at the sanctuary near Kirkcaldy, said he was delighted about the eggs but more amazed when one hatched.

He said: “The birds lay a clutch of three eggs and we thought the eggs would be infertile. We were just pleased that they had produced eggs at all but after 10 or 12 days one of the eggs disappeared and we decided to take them in and incubate them. We started to suspect that one egg was fertile and on Sunday we heard one of the eggs cheeping and it turned out the chick had started the hatching process.  It hatched out sometime in the early hours of Monday. It is a strong, bold, healthy and happy chick and we are absolutely delighted.”

(http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/chick-egg.jpg?w=300)

Barry said staff had given up hope of the pair breeding again after they had gone five years without mating.

He said: “A good age for a peregrine falcon is 17 or 18 years old and to have them still breeding at that age is doing really well. These ones are in their mid-twenties and although we have kept them in good condition the idea that they could produce eggs had passed from our minds, it was a real surprise from us.”

Barry is currently feeding the chick tiny amounts of minced quail but plans to return the chick to its rightful place as soon as possible.

“We want the chick to be parent reared but we will keep feeding it by hand until it is about four or five days old when we will return it to its parents. We don’t know what sex it is yet but by the time it is six or seven weeks old we should be able to tell by the size of the bird.”

Peregrine falcons are a protected species in the UK, with just 1,250 breeding pairs although numbers have increased since the 1970s and ‘80s when the bird was seriously endangered.


http://deadlinescotland.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/old-age-peregrines-hatch-miracle-chick-939/
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2009
: kittenface May 05, 2009, 13:30
Peregrine Falcon, “James,” Shatters Record for Lifetime Reproductive Success

Like many bird species, peregrine falcons have high mortality in the first year, followed by lower mortality in subsequent years.  Median life expectancy of birds that reach their second year of life, is still only between 4 and 5 years.  Only 3% are expected to live beyond 10 years.  The grand old male peregrine falcon, nicknamed “James” by the public, is still breeding on the James River Bridge at the ripe old age of 19 years old.  He is now approaching a longevity record for peregrine falcons in the wild, believed to be 19 years, 3 months.

James was hatched in 1990 on the Leg-Mason building (Baltimore, MD).  He was first observed on the James River Bridge in 1992 and first bred there in 1993.  In his tenure on the bridge, he has produced a record 48 chicks to banding age.  Previous lifetime reproductive success across North America for both males and females range between 22 and 25 chicks.  Interestingly, James long time mate nicknamed Virginia was hatched by the same parents on the Leg-Mason building in 1989.  Though they were full siblings, they successfully bred at the site from 1994 through 2006.  Virginia disappeared in 2006 and was replaced by an unbanded female, dubbed Elizabeth the following year.  The story of James continues: on March 9 James and Elizabeth laid their first egg for 2009.


source: http://www.ccb-wm.org/news/2009_JanApr/james_peregrine_nineteen.htm
: News: USA / New York Peregrines
: carly June 10, 2009, 12:09
20-year-old falcon reappears injured after yearlong absence
The Buffalo News / June 2009

Like the legend of the Phoenix, a peregrine falcon that went missing after nesting for years at the Statler Towers has seemingly risen from the dead. The male bird was found Tuesday crossing a driveway in Amherst.

The 20-year-old male bird, which vanished one year ago, was thought to be dead because he is one of the oldest peregrine falcons ever recorded.

“He just disappeared. Gone without a trace,” said Connie M. Adams, a state Department of Environmental Conservation wildlife biologist. “Instead, we find out that he had been evicted [by another bird].”

The falcon was picked up by Buffalo Animal Control, then passed on to the DEC. Currently, he is at Erie County SPCA headquarters in the Town of Tonawanda, where his health is being evaluated.  Joel Thomas, a wildlife administrator for the SPCA, said the bird has been grounded for a few days. Thomas also said the bird has a severe fracture on his left leg and may also have internal injuries.

“We don’t know if he was knocked out of the sky by his competition, but it definitely comes as a surprise that he is still alive,” Thomas said. “If he wound up dead in the cage tomorrow, I wouldn’t be shocked because he’s in real rough shape, beyond being attacked.”

Thomas said once SPCA officials diagnose the bird, they will decide if the falcon can survive surgery. If surgery is performed, it would take about one month for the bird to recover.  He also said the bird’s days in the wild are over — that he will probably live the rest of his life in an educational or research institution.

The falcon first appeared in downtown Buffalo in 1996 and began nesting at the Statler Tower in 1998. DEC officials estimate he fathered nearly 40 other falcons with three females in his 12 years on the scene.

“It’s truly amazing,” Adams said. “For him to be alive without a nest for this long is testament to how tough a bird he really is. He is a survivor.”


source: http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/northernsuburbs/story/698572.html
: Re: News: USA / New York Peregrines
: Alison June 10, 2009, 22:33
20-year-old falcon reappears injured after yearlong absence - Part 2

Missing Peregrine Falcon found
WIVB TV / June 2009

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A Peregrine Falcon missing from downtown for weeks has been found. Animal control officers discovered the bird alive but injured in Buffalo.

The SPCA traced its band number and discovered it once lived at the Statler Towers. The 19-year old bird has already outlasted the normal lifespan in the wild. If it recovers, it will remain in captivity.


The link below has a very short video:
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/Missing_Peregrine_Falcon_found_20090610

What a beautiful face:

(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/buffalomalejune102a.jpg)  (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/buffalomalejune101a.jpg)

(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/buffalomale4a.jpg)  (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/buffalomale3a.jpg)

From TPC: He looks like Trey (seriously)
: Re: News: USA / New York Peregrines
: Alison June 18, 2009, 18:10
20-year-old falcon reappears injured after yearlong absence - Part 3

I found an update on Handsome a few minutes ago, and it's good news:

Part of a report by Gina at the SPCA today:

". . . .And on a SECOND falcon note - the story that will be going up on our site tomorrow (or hopefully today, depending on how the day goes!) - the Statler falcon was stabilized enough to undergo surgery yesterday, and so far so good...! He ate very well after surgery, is trying to move around today....things seem great so far, and we're all optimistic. Here are a couple of the post-surgery photos I took yesterday that will be posted."

Photos of Handsome by Gina:

(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/GinaphotoofPefaHandsome1.jpg)  (http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/june%202009/GinaphotoofPefaHandsome2.jpg)

Talons crossed for Handsome to make a complete recovery. He is one of the great falcons.
: Re: News: USA / New York Peregrines
: Alison July 06, 2009, 15:48
20-year-old falcon reappears injured after yearlong absence - Part 4

More very sad news today. Handsome, the long-time tiercel from the Statler building, has lost his battle to recover.  :'(

Sad news, Handsome, the Kiptopeke male who was recently found on a driveway in Amherst badly injured, has lost his fight to live. He survived for over two weeks post-surgery but fell ill and went downhill fast. This wonderful bird was the mate of Beauty at the Statler for many years and they gave us many babies. Beauty died a couple years ago.

I don't know when this happened. I spoke with someone at the Erie County SPCA last Friday and they had two falcons there at that time - Handsome and the Grand Island chick.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2009
: Alison July 08, 2009, 21:26
Peregrine falcon lands in Sutton carpark
Wednesday 8th July 2009


(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/July%202009/falloninsuttonuk.jpg)
Peregrine park: Fallon the wayward falcon was missing a sat-nav as he crash-landed near hatchbacks in a multi-storey car park

When you are the fastest living creature in the world it is essential to have a trusty guidance mechanism.  This juvenile peregrine falcon, named Fallon, is recovering after taking a wrong turn and crash-landing into a multi-storey car park in Sutton. Staff at Cheam Wildlife Care were amazed to find a member of one of Britain’s most endangered species after being called to the scene. They took Fallon, dazed and confused, to their privately-run sanctuary in Frederick Avenue before handing him to licensed raptor specialists.  

Paul Morin, founder of Cheam Wildlife Care, said: “Soon it will be back in the air terrorising other birds again. It’s not very often we get called out to reports of a kestrel and return with a peregrine falcon. We are aware of several pairs in central and Greater London, where these magnificent birds have found a safe home. It is nice to see a bird of prey occassionally without straps and rings.”

Scientists have claimed that the peregrine, which kills its prey with a single blow, can stoop vertically at up to 186mph. After a population crash in the 1960s, its numbers have recovered steadily, with recent surveys revealing 1,500 peregrine pairs in the UK.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2009
: Alison August 04, 2009, 19:31
Peregrine falcon flies again after Sutton crash landing

Fallon, the wayward peregrine falcon, is flying high again after recovering from minor injuries sustained in a crash-landing. The juvenile bird of prey featured in the Sutton Guardian in July after taking a wrong turn and plummeting into a multi-storey car park. He was rescued by staff at Cheam Wildlife Care, in Frederick Avenue, and put in the care of licensed raptor specialists. Paul Morin, founder of the sanctuary, said Fallon was now ready to terrorise other birds again after being released back into the wild last week.


Link to story:  The Guardian - Injured Peregrine Falcon Returns to the High Life  (http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/4526384.Injured_peregrine_falcon_returns_to_the_high_life)

(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/fallonsuttonjuvie.jpg)
Birds-eye view: Fallon the falcon surveys the skyline before taking flight. Credit: Les Stocker/Tiggywinkles

: News: USA / Iowa Peregrines
: Alison August 04, 2009, 19:51
A return to the wild: Rescued falcon set free at Ottumwa Generating Station
Ottumwa Courier / 3 August 2009

CHILLICOTHE — Two women behind the Ottumwa Generating Station were letting a killer go free.

Wildlife rehab specialist Kay Neumann spent more than a month with an immature peregrine falcon that had been rescued by Alliant employees.

“She was mostly dehydrated and hungry,” said Neumann, who specializes in working with birds of prey, or “raptors.”

These birds are instinctive hunters, killing and eating full-grown pigeons or quail. But the last time this peregrine baby was handled by humans, she screamed like she was the one being murdered. And if those assisting with the Ottumwa Generating Station banding program back in June needed a reminder that these birds-of-prey are not pets, one of the chicks slashed part-way through a worker’s thick leather glove. So when they found a drenched, shivering and grounded chick after a storm, the falcon’s actions — or lack of actions — let employees know something was very wrong.

They called Judi Johnson, the Ottumwa Generating Station employee who has taken the lead in watching out for the raptors.

“She let us walk right up to her, pick her up and hold her like a baby,” said Judi Johnson.

The bird was still too young to fly, and the mother peregrine falcon had three other young birds to care for. The best theory now, Johnson said, is that the baby bird might have gotten knocked out of the nesting box, located 300 feet up the face of the Ottumwa Generating Station smokestack.  How could a two pound bird survive a 300 foot fall?

“Well, she may have flown a little bit,” guessed Johnson. “But she wouldn’t have survived the night if we hadn’t found her.”

Neumann agreed, both that the bird was in trouble, and that the immature bird’s wings could have functioned as a type of parachute during the fall. But without being able to fly back to the nest to Mama, and without the ability to hunt, Neumann had to keep the falcon longer than usual at SOAR (Saving Our Avian Resources), the nonprofit organization in Carroll County.

After the bird was in Intensive Care, she was moved to the flight pen, where she began to learn how to fly. The pen also allows birds to practice hunting and gain strength before being released. Neumann said this is the longest she’s ever kept a bird away from its mother and then attempted reintroduction.

“This is a first,” said Johnson before the bird’s arrival. “I hope for success. It’s been over a month. She could be accepted — or she could be rejected.”

But if that was the case, the extra time spent in rehab taught the bird both to fly and to find food.

But it was still a worry to let this “strange” bird loose at OGS. Would the other hunters recognize the long-lost family member? hen the baby was released, she began flying and calling out. At first, the response was not welcoming: An adult peregrine dove down to chase the “newcomer.” But after a tense few minutes, Neumann said, the pair went toward the nest. The adult allowed the bird to enter the box, and then went about its business.

“I was so afraid the mother [falcon] would kill her,” Johnson admitted after the release.

Neumann said the release appeared successful, and believed the returned bird would thrive.


http://www.ottumwa.com/local/local_story_216001320.html?start:int=15
: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: Alison September 29, 2009, 20:23
TPC, I wonder if you might be able to help identify a peregrine seen recently in Indiana.

The bands are black/green, S/34 - on the right leg instead of the left. The left leg has a silver band; part of the number seems to be 52. The bird looks like a juvie from this year. He/she is not in the database.

My first guess would be that he/she may be from Ohio, which has used many of the S numbers, including some in the S20s. Or perhaps Wisconsin or Michigan, or even Iowa or Illinois, all of which have used a few S numbers.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Here are photos of the bird:

(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/indianafalcon2.jpg)

(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/falconinindiana.jpg)

And I found this photo by chance on Flickr. I am sure this is the same bird. This info was with the photo:

7 Sept 2009 Vigo County
Statemens Towers
The Dark Band on right leg appears to have S on it on other photos. The Green Band below it on right leg appears to have a number 4 or ending in 4 on it. (Jim Sullivan said through a spotting scope it was 34) The Silver Band appears to have 52 on it in this photo.


(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/indianafalcon3.jpg)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67383370@N00/3898272763/


: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: kittenface September 30, 2009, 11:42
Allison have you contacted Donna yet about the Falcon your trying to idenify?
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: Alison September 30, 2009, 14:12
Allison have you contacted Donna yet about the Falcon your trying to idenify?

Yes, I did. I have received a reply from Dave Scott:

We used Black over Red color bands in 2009.  I checked the Midwest
Raptor Center database (all years) as well as my records for 2007 & 2008
and could not find a B/G = S/34 ... given that the federal band is
silver, I suspect you have an eastern bird.  Perhaps someone from The
Raptor Center in Minnesota can help you contact folks in the eastern US
regarding their banding records for falcons.

Sorry!

Dave Scott


So I will check elsewhere.

: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: kittenface September 30, 2009, 15:53
Oh thats to bad
Well if anyone will figure it out
YOU WILL
If you can think of anything I can do to help out  just let me know I love a good mystery ;D
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: skygirlblue September 30, 2009, 21:31
Hi Alison...I just checked Greg Septon's banding reports for the Wisconsin nests he monitors (30 + nests)...no bands matching your juvie..great pictures, though!!
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: Alison October 01, 2009, 20:19
Hi Alison...I just checked Greg Septon's banding reports for the Wisconsin nests he monitors (30 + nests)...no bands matching your juvie..great pictures, though!!

Thanks, SGB! I also checked Greg Septon's Report, the RRP Report, and a bunch of other reports. I am fairly sure now that this is not a midwest bird after all. Since some of the eastern sites are using both black/red and black/green, and this year the midwest sites are using mainly black/red with some black/green, it is more difficult to tell where a juvie might be from.
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: The Peregrine Chick October 01, 2009, 20:20
First, from your photos, this is no 2009 hatch year bird ... 2008 maybe, some juvenile's have adult perfect plumage by the following spring (T-Rex and Trey were like that) and from your photos I can't see any remnants of juvenile characteristics in the birds' plumage.  And on photo three, where both are on the ledge, I would hazard a guess to say that "the" bird is female - not sure because the postures are different, but I think so.

But I would concur, the bird is probably an eastern bird.  You might try contacting the Canadian Peregrine Foundation, I think they have good communication with the eastern states as there birds end up in NY etc and vice versa.  I have also checked the Midwest Database for every combination I could come up with - I even tried similarly shaped letters - S = B and FWS bands ending in 2 rather than 52.  The only one I can up with is Carmen, b/g B/14 (2206-72252) wild hatch, 2006 Landmark Building, Summit County, Ohio.  No reports from elsewhere so if Jim Sullivan isn't for sure about the coloured band, this might be your girl.  But if he is, check with the CPF (they have a website) and ask them for information.  
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: Alison October 01, 2009, 20:42
Thank you for the response, TPC! I reduced the photos to post here, and looking at them now I realize that the markings are not really visible. The originals are much larger, and in them the bird looks to me like a juvie. I've uploaded them to Flickr at their full size (click on "all sizes" to see the large size):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43115701@N08/3973463228/in/photostream/

I had also tried searching for all possible band combinations. It's a good idea to check with the CPF, so I will do that. I thought I might also check with the DEC in New York State, since they use black/green bands in some cases, with silver USFWS bands.

The original request for help with I.D. was posted by my namesake in Indiana, as a comment to a post in the Imprints section of the Rochester site:

http://rfalconcam.com/imprinting/?p=833#comments


: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: The Peregrine Chick October 01, 2009, 20:59
Thanks for the links, the large photos helped to see the juvenile characteristics (vertical stripes on breast).  Not old enough to breed I would agree, but given the white and black/dark slate grey on the bird's back, its not a 2009 hatch.  Some birds retain the vertical stripes longer than others, not many to my knowledge, but your bird is just too white on the belly and too dark on the back to be 2009 - 2008 probably, I'd be surprised if earlier, those stripes should be gone ....

let me know what you find out !!
: News: USA / Minnesota Peregrines
: Alison October 01, 2009, 21:16
Falcons inhabit nesting box built by 4-Her
source: unknown / June 2009

High above Winona, atop a Bay State Milling Co. building on Second Street, live the fruits of Maggie Lubinski's childhood labor and a symbol of a long recovery for a once near-extinct bird. Three yet-to-be named peregrine falcon chicks, a male and two females, fill a nesting box Lubinski made when she was 13. The nesting pair - a female named Chicklet and an unnamed male - are the first documented falcon residents in the city of Winona.

The Bay State falcon family is in many ways a triumphant symbol of a recovery effort now transitioning to preservation. Peregrine falcons are one of the great success stories of the Endangered Species Act and efforts by environmental groups. Once nearly eradicated in North America by pesticide use, the falcons have returned with a vengeance.

"(Peregrine falcons) are the conservation achievement of the century," Bob Anderson of the Decorah, Iowa, based Raptor Resource Project.

Lubinski built two falcon boxes in 2001 when she was in eighth grade for a 4-H project, and Anderson and his crew placed the boxes on the buildings. Falcons have temporarily stayed there, off and on, but never made a home. Over the years, Lubinski and her father, Rick Lubinski, who works at Bay State Milling, checked the sites and never spotted chicks. Maggie nearly gave up hope. She's 21 now, a student at Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  

Then earlier this year a falcon family came. Rick Lubinski spotted the pair, and Maggie contacted Anderson.  

"I didn't believe it at first," Lubinski said.

The falcons were once on the brink of extinction in the United States. Insecticides, most notably DDT, destroyed some populations by thinning egg shells, causing fewer falcons to hatch. Only several hundred pairs existed in North America, and the falcons all but disappeared from the region.

Recovery efforts began in the 1980s when captive birds were released into the wild. Once found primarily on high natural perches, including bluff faces and rock cliffs, much of the falcon's recovery has been due to their adaptation to urban and industrial settings. Falcons have found new homes at powerplant smokestacks, skyscrapers and now the Bay State Milling building.  The bird was delisted from the federal endangered species list in 1999 but remained on the Wisconsin endangered list and the threatened species list in Minnesota.

Anderson credits the collaboration between conservation groups like the Raptor Resource Project and industry, particularly power companies, for the falcon's recovery. If not for the help of those companies, which placed falcon boxes like Lubinski's at their plants, the falcon would still be endangered, he said.

The total number of falcons in Minnesota and Wisconsin won't be known until tagging efforts such as Anderson's are done this year, but if the figures are anything like last year's, falcon fans should be encouraged. In 2008, 33 pairs hatched 93 young in Minnesota, while 28 pairs nested in Wisconsin, according to Department of Natural Resource officials in both states. The number of falcons has increased in the region nearly every year, according to DNR officials.

"We can safely say (the Minnesota falcon) population has recovered," said Lori Naumann, spokeswoman for the Minnesota DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program.

Tuesday was a reunion for Lubinski and members of the Raptor Resource Project. There were hugs and hellos and comments about how Lubinski had grown. She hadn't seen them since she joined them to tag chicks at an Alma, Wis., site several years after they placed her boxes. A crowd of Lubinski's family, Bay State Milling employees and curious onlookers watched as Anderson banded the chicks.

The month-old chicks will be named by Anderson. At least one will be named Maggie, he said


Follow-ups:

Their three chicks are Maggie (black/red 85/D), Anne (black/red 86/D) and Ricker (male - black/green H/15).

On Sept 13, 2009 Charles DeWitt photographed a Peregrine with leg bands. The right leg had a purple band. The left leg had two bands, the top was Black with white numbers 86 and the bottom was red with white letter D. The location was the Muskegon County Wastewater System in Muskegon, Michigan.

The response from the Raptor Resource Project was:
Mr. DeWitt photographed one of the birds we banded in Winona, at Bay State Milling. What a flight! If 86/D (Anne) had to get in a car and drive, it would be a 498 mile trip, although in a car, she couldn't fly across the lake.

Anne in Muskegon:
(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/annejuvieperegrinefromwinona.jpg)
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: kittenface October 01, 2009, 22:22
Well doing like TPC  and trying  B instead I found all this
2006 {B/04}
Falcon Name:  Chase
FWS Band:  2206-72066
Color Band:   
Hatch Site:  First National Bank, Lima
Hatch Date:   
Male Parent FWS Band:   
Female Parent FWS Band:   
Comments: 

2006 {B/24}
Falcon Name:  Bubba
FWS Band:  2206-84538
Color Band:   
Hatch Site:  WPL Edgewater Generating Station, Sheboygan
Hatch Date:   
Male Parent FWS Band:   
Female Parent FWS Band:  E/*D
Comments: 
2006 {B/34}
Falcon Name:  Todd
FWS Band:  2206-84531
Color Band:   
Hatch Site:  Cargill Malt Complex, Jefferson
Hatch Date:   
Male Parent FWS Band:   
Female Parent FWS Band:  82/A b/g
Comments: 

2007 {B/44} This one could be checked into maybe what with the father being B/G band
Falcon Name:  Irving
FWS Band:  2206-84630
Color Band:   
Hatch Site:  Uptown Theatre, Chicago
Hatch Date:  5/1/2007 0:00:00
Male Parent FWS Band:  b/g G/G
Female Parent FWS Band:  *4/H
Comments:  Recovered with broken wing after a month after fledging. 8/30/07 in rehab at SOAR.
2007 {B/54}
Falcon Name:  Clark
FWS Band:  2206-84638
Color Band:   
Hatch Site:  5821 N. Broadway, Irving Park, Chicago
Hatch Date:   
Male Parent FWS Band:   
Female Parent FWS Band:  b/g 5/*P
Comments: 


: News: USA / Kentucky Peregrines
: Alison October 23, 2009, 17:14
Birds of a Feather: Peregine Falcon newest resident of SWHS Raptor Club
The Commonwealth Journal / 21 Oct 2009

Her likeness appears on the Coat of Arms of the Isle of Man. She’s been the mascot for the U.S. Air Force since 1959. She’s been named the official bird of the city of Chicago. Suzuki’s Hayabusa motorcycle, the company’s fastest model, is named for her.

She has every reason to hold her head high. But on Wednesday, as a small group gathered to greet her, she acted a bit like a nervous child — fidgeting and flapping, avoiding eye contact except for the occasional inquisitive, wide-eyed stare.  She’s a Peregrine Falcon — extremely rare in these parts — and she’s been brought to Southwestern High School’s Raptor Rehabilitation facility to regain her strength and confidence so she can once again soar and swoop like the brave bird of prey she’s designed to be.

“They used to be very common in Kentucky, but the last ones died out in 1944,” explained Francis Carter, director of the SWHS Raptor program. In the 1970s, there was one around the Laurel Lake area ... but it died. I have that one stuffed in my room. ... They were extinct in this area of Kentucky for a while, but the Fish and Wildlife Department started bringing them back in the early 1990s.”

Familiar with the shape and mannerisms of the Peregrine Falcon, Carter believed she had spotted one a time or two in Pulaski County. “I thought I’d seen one in the area, but it was hard to know. ... They fly pretty fast,” she said.

Last weekend, Carter received a phone call from a man in Bronston who said he had found an injured hawk on the side of the road. Carter told the man to bring the bird to the Midway Veterinary Hospital the following day. There, Dr. Bruce Jasper checked the bird and determined that she likely didn’t have any major injuries.

“She was probably blown down by a car,” Carter guessed. “She was scuffed up above her nose and on one of her wings, and she wouldn’t fly. She was a little thin. They usually hide if they (are injured.)”

Dr. Jasper determined that the bird — which Carter identified not as a hawk, but as a Peregrine Falcon — “needed a little TLC and food, and then she could be released,” Carter said.

That’s where Southwestern High School came in. The falcon was brought to the Raptor Rehabilitation facility, where Carter and approximately 30 students will feed and tend to her for a few weeks until she’s ready to begin caring for herself again.

“The kids had never seen (a Peregrine Falcon) before, so they didn’t know what it was,” Carter said, adding that they “got excited” when they learned they had the opportunity to care for such a rare bird. I’ve been involved in raptor rehabilitation for almost 25 years, and this is the first one I’ve ever gotten,” she said.

When the Fish and Wildlife Department began re-populating Kentucky with Peregrine Falcons, they tagged the birds they released. This falcon wasn’t tagged, leading Carter to believe that she is either “a production of the pairs (released by Fish and Wildlife) in the state or she was blown in with a storm.”

While Peregrines are rare in Kentucky, they’re more common in areas north and west of here.  Students in the raptor program have named the falcon Artemis — after the goddess of the hunt and forest.

“She’s very bright and alert,” Carter said. “Yesterday she ate 180 grams of bird of prey diet.”

The rehabilitation facility receives deliveries of 1,000 pounds of “bird of prey diet” at a time, Carter said. The food contains vitamins, bone, hair, and other animal parts on which birds of prey would normally feed.  If Artemis were free, she would feed on small animals, such as squirrels, rabbits, and ducks, Carter said. Peregrine Falcons swoop down on their prey at speeds of nearly 200 m.p.h., “punching” them with their clenched claws and then snapping their necks with their beaks.

While the students are enjoying bonding with the mighty bird of prey, they’re looking forward to the day when she’ll be healthy enough to live up to her name.  Carter wants local residents to know that it’s possible that more Peregrine Falcons are in the area.

“Please don’t shoot them,” she begged, adding that finding one is nearly as rare as finding a Bald Eagle.


http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/local/local_story_294210549.html

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: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: Alison November 08, 2009, 20:10
The peregrine seen at the Statesman Towers in Terre Haute, Indiana, band black/green S/34, has now been identified.

She is from a nest at the Washington University Medical School in St Louis, Missouri, banded on May 18 of this year. She is one of three chicks at this nest -- two females and one male.

She is a very beautiful juvie.

Photos by Jason G. Harrison, taken in July.

(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/stlouisjuvieperegrine1a.jpg)

(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/stlouisjuvieperegrineS342a.jpg)

(http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o337/quintara2/August%202009/stlouisperegrineS341a.jpg)

More information and photos of S/34 may be found at this link:

http://world-bird-sanctuary.blogspot.com/2009/09/peregrines-in-forest-park.html
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: allikat November 08, 2009, 21:33
Oh my, she is absolutely stunning!  Good luck to her.  I hope she finds a suitable mate and produces beautiful, strong and healthy chicks in a few years time... 

GOOD LUCK to all those juvies this year!  We wish for you to return one day, someday......with a mate and territory to raise your very own chicks!
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: carly November 09, 2009, 04:56
Wow she is a golden girl  ;D :-*
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: Alison November 12, 2009, 20:35
I posted the information on this bird on the Indy site for those who had been wondering who this bird is. Laura James-Reim passed the info on to John Castrale at the Indiana DNR.

An update from Laura James-Reim:

A little bit of an update on the Terre Haute birds. Seems like there might be a love triangle going on or at least there was at one time. John said there was a report of two peregrines spotted on campus this past weekend but unfortunately no identification on either one of them. He also said at one time there were three birds spotted - 2 juveniles and 1 adult (which I think Denise may have already told us a while back). So at this point, there are 2 peregrines at ISU, just not sure at this point who they are. We may have to wait until courting/nesting begins in order to sort out what is going on unless someone can spot a band before then.

And the Raptor Center had just sent John a note about S/34. Thanks again AlisonL!


And there is a nest box on one of the Statesman Towers, so perhaps the birds are showing interest in it.
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: allikat November 12, 2009, 20:44

And there is a nest box on one of the Statesman Towers, so perhaps the birds are showing interest in it.


Now that's exciting!!!
: News: USA / New Mexico Peregrines
: carly November 14, 2009, 07:38
Defiance moved to Elmwood Park Zoo (Part 1)

LAS CRUCES— Defiance is a peregrine falcon who lost a wing and survived agonizing ordeals before his rescue and rehab in New Mexico. Now the feisty bird, who was not expected to live, has a birdy buddy and a posh habitat in a new territory almost 2,000 miles away.

"Defiance earned his name because he defied animal control, his human care-giver, injury, starvation, infection and even death," said Jessica Palmer, a Chihuahua Desert Wildlife Rescue (CDWR) rehabilitation specialist who cared for Defiance in her Las Cruces home. Defiance was a fledgling, just 'earning his wings' when he was picked up and swept by high wind to become tangled in string or wire. As an inexperienced flyer, the peregrine could have simply miscalculated or misjudged the distance of something. Either way, he became entangled in wire, mostly barbed wire or high tension lines. He must have hung by the wing for days until the weight of his body severed the limb from his body," Palmer reports. "Despite the ordeal, it took the Dona Ana Animal Control officer nearly a full day to capture the peregrine. She gave chase with her nets and he, as his name suggests, defied her," Palmer said.

By the time Defiance arrived at her home on July 7, Palmer's evaluation indicated the bird had managed to survive for a week without food and with a life-threatening wound that was infected.

"The severing of wing near the shoulder is among the worst injuries a bird can receive. The major arteries and veins run directly between heart and lungs into the wing. Usually, the bird will bleed to death. If it survives, the presence of infection (can be) lethal, the risk of death increased since the toxins quickly spread to the vital organs and throughout the body."

It seemed unlikely he would survive the night. But Palmer, experienced in wildlife rehabilitation as well as a nurse, educator and an author of novels, sci-fi and fantasy, textbooks and nonfiction historical works, was hoping for a happy ending.

"He was provided with a warm, restful environment and given a small amount of food and water, for fear his body would reject too grand a feast," Palmer said. "When he tolerated the first meal, more food was supplied. As evening drew to a close, he had eaten well. Still, as the sun set, the death watch began. At first light he was found, still standing, with a look of defiance upon his face. As if to say: "So you thought I was going to die."

Defiance's wound was treated and he was given antibiotics, but Palmer admits that each night she "said a formal farewell, not expecting him to be alive the next day, and each morning, I found him with that same look of defiance upon his face."

The bird's survival presented its own set of problems, including a search for a home.

"Obviously he was going to live and equally obvious, he could not be released to the wild. Once it became apparent the bird would survive, verbal permission was obtained from the Federal Government to place him. The total loss of a wing usually requires euthanasia," she said, because "it may lead to severe loss of balance. Birds use their wings as much to maintain balance while standing and walking as to fly. With the total loss, the bird may fall, often sustaining further injuries."

But dauntless, Defiance "beat the odds. He learned, and he learned quickly, to tuck and roll like an acrobat. He learned to climb and he learned to jump from perch to perch."

Palmer stressed there is no warm and fuzzy bird-human love story to report.

Defiance "was neither intimidated nor impressed" by Palmer, but "tolerated" her, "as the bringer of food and human 'lunch lady.'"

He let her know that "his forbearance was conditional, every time I entered the pen, with sloshing bucket and scrub brush. Defiance would climb up to the highest perch and leap down to land on my head, shoulder or back. He would stomp around a few times to notify me that he was in charge here and I was allowed into his territory on sufferance" and then "he jumped back onto his perch and watched for any false moves."

But one of nature's fiercest predators did not attack his savior.

"Never once during this weekly assertion of territory did this creature--who could have easily ripped flesh from bone--break the skin. Never a scratch," Palmer said.

And the plucky bird was suddenly very popular.

"Competition was fierce, with six different states applying to provide a home for him. It became a choice of what was best for the individual bird and for the species of as a whole."
: News: USA / New Mexico Peregrines
: carly November 14, 2009, 07:39
Defiance moved to Elmwood Park Zoo (Part 2)

"It's in Pennsylvania where the peregrine is still endangered," and where Palmer hoped Defiance would get not only a home, "but also a mate, and perhaps a chance to breed and help contribute to the population of his species."

Or maybe not. The prospective female procreator, Stevie (named for Stevie Nicks), died this fall, the zoo's general curator David Wood reported in a phone conversation from Defiance's new home in Norristown, Pa. But Wood said Defiance appears to be enjoying a happy "alternative lifestyle" with his new, as-yet-unnamed birdy buddy, who turned out to be a male, DNA tests revealed. Defiance gets along well with his companion, recently imported from a West Virginia zoo, in a brand new habitat they share.

"We have a donor who is very interested in peregrines, so we were able to build a whole new exhibit. Defiance is doing great and we're very happy and lucky to have him," Wood said.

Dr. Carol Calista, a Las Cruces veterinarian who works with CDWR rehabilitation efforts, termed the bird's survival 'a miracle,' Palmer said, adding that the "feisty bird can claim at least part of the credit."

She stressed that it took more than a village to save Defiance.

"It took the cooperative effort of county government in the form of Dona Ana Animal Control, two states--New Mexico and Pennsylvania--and the federal government to provide him with a life at Elmwood Park Zoo, where he can live a productive life," Palmer said.

He can also be a ambassador for his species to the more than 130,000 visitors who come to the Elmwood Park Zoo each year.


Link to original article: http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sunlife/ci_13775422
: News: USA / Idaho Peregrines
: Alison November 15, 2009, 20:34
Idaho: young falcon released after rehab
KLEW-TV, Lewiston


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LEWISTON - His trip to the warm south was delayed a bit, but now a peregrine falcon can begin his journey.  The WSU School of Veterinary Medicine released their latest rescue, Stephens, at the KLEW transmitter site Friday morning.

"Stephens was brought in by a falconer, who had helped another person who had found him, got him in a hood and a white bandage and brought him down to WSU," said Dr. Nickol Finch of the WSU Vet School.  Stephens was brought into the Vet hospital on October 2. Doctors spent weeks nursing the injured raptor back to health, setting two bones in his wing. Finch said after four weeks of healing, and two more of physical therapy, Stephens was ready to begin his migration south. 

Stephens is just the most recent in a string of rescues.  "We tend to get about four falcons a year, and this is the first one we've released this year," said Finch. "We usually release about one a year. As of last year we've got 95 raptors, and released about 35."

Finch said the KLEW site at top of the hill was an idea place to release Stephens, on his migration path. He's expected to head to California and Finch said perhaps even farther.  "He flew the direction we didn't want him to go, but that's okay," said Finch. "He'll get his bearings and turn around and go the other way. As far as flying, he was nice and strong. The wind didn't bother him at all. It actually helped him out a little bit."


http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/70069377.html
: News: USA / Florida Peregrines
: Alison November 28, 2009, 22:10
Rare bird recuperating from life-saving surgery
St Augustine News / 28 Nov 2009


A young peregrine falcon, which are only rarely seen in Florida, is recuperating after major life-saving surgery.  Staff at St. Johns Veterinary Clinic operated Friday on the bird, which was found injured earlier this week in Volusia County.  Dr. Mark Gendzier, a veterinarian, said pins were placed in the radius in its left wing, and the tibiotarsus in the bird's right leg.

"This bird was in quite good shape for having two fractures," he said. However, the healing rate for fractures in birds is lower than in humans and other animals because avian bones are hollow.  There also isn't much blood supply to bones, which is essential for healing.

Peregrine falcons were endangered for years after wide-spread use of DDT lowered its reproduction rate, and they had few nests east of the Mississippi, according to the Audubon Society. Now, peregrine falcons migrate through Florida on their way to habitat in South America.  The bird, resting on its breast Friday afternoon in an incubator set to 90 degrees, is expected to pull through.

Melanie Cain-Stage of H.A.W.K.E., a wildlife rehabilitator, said the bird probably would not recover enough to be released into the wild.

"Eventually, he'll get the wrappings off and some rehab like physical therapy" and would become an education bird, she said.

Stage said the bird was too young to be reliably identified as male or female because its flight feathers had not yet come in.  In males, "wing feathers are slate blue," she said, while females have brown wing feathers.
Note: there are no colour differences between the genders.  Adults are slate-grey, juveniles are brown.  Appartently this was a reporting error  :)

If it's a male, she'll name it Ken after longtime friends Ken Pacetti and Ken Moffitt, she said in an e-mail. Pacetti passed away Monday, she said.  In the meantime, she said she'd make up a sling to protect the bird's foot, and would keep it "clean, calm and fed."  

That entails administering painkillers and antibiotics, Gendzier said. And Stage said she'd use calipers to feed the sharp-beaked bird small pieces of quail three times a day.


http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2009-11-28/rare-bird-recuperating-life-saving-surgery

Photo from the Humane Association of Wildlife Care and Education.

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/juvieperegrineflorida1a.jpg)
: Re: News: USA / Florida Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick November 30, 2009, 00:43
Rare bird recuperating from life-saving surgery

Melanie at HAWKE reports that their peregrine is doing very well - recovering from surgery and tolerating the associated handling calmly.  Melanie thinks the bird might be a female and she has 30 years of raptor experience including a couple of peregrines - a male and a female.  She also passed along an email from Carol who found the juvie at her home near the beach.  From the description of the bird's injuries & Carol's description of how the bird was found, it is very probable that the youngster was hunting birds near power/phone lines and collided with them.  We have had similar injuries among birds here so its a good guess.  The wing fracture was an open fracture which are notoriously poor to heal well enough, so the little "girl" will become an education bird - young is good in that case, they can "take" to captivity better than older birds.  Peregrines are snotty-by-nature though, so we will have to see.  

Melanie will send us updates as she has time ... I told her that it would be a great favour for y'all as I know you are experiencing peregrine withdrawal these days.  Will forward whatever I should receive!

So big applause and best wishes to Melanie, her vets, volunteers and all the supporters of HAWKE in Florida!
: Re: News: USA / Florida Peregrines
: Alison December 01, 2009, 19:19
Rare bird recuperating from life-saving surgery / Injured falcon on road to recovery

ELKTON -- A bird not usually seen in this area that swoops in on its prey faster than a Daytona 500 competitor is recuperating from life-threatening injuries after being found last week in Ormond Beach.

For the first time since its Friday surgery to repair fractures to its left wing and right leg, the peregrine falcon was able to put weight on its broken leg Saturday. The surgeon, Dr. Mark Gendzier of St. Johns Veterinary Clinic, was optimistic.

"It looked very good on his post-op X-rays," said Gendzier, who does pro bono work for wildlife rehabilitators.

The juvenile bird's caretaker, Melanie Cain-Stage of the Humane Association of Wildlife Care and Education (HAWKE Inc.) in this rural town west of St. Augustine, says she's not sure whether the bird is male or female -- and doubts it will be swooping in on prey in the wild again.

"If they aren't perfect, they are going to die" in the wild, she said, explaining that peregrines migrate up to 11,000 miles, with some of them covering the expanse from summer homes in Alaska to wintering grounds in South America.

The juvenile that an Ormond Beach woman reported "falling out of the sky" into her backyard eight days ago was likely migrating to its winter residence, according to Michael Brothers, manager of education and exhibits at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet.

This species, likely of the subspecies peregrinis flaco anatum, generally appears in this area in mid-November as it makes its way to points south, although Brothers said he's seen a number of them roosting in this area all winter, he said.

But they are hardly ever brought in for rehabilitation. Brothers estimates that since the Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Sanctuary opened in 2004, only one or two of the 5,500 birds that have come through the sanctuary have been peregrine falcons. The bird rehab facility is part of the science center.

"It's exciting to see this bird up close," he said.

The Ormond Beach woman who found the bird at first brought the injured animal to the Ponce Inlet facility, Brothers said. But then Cain-Stage, who has a permit to handle peregrine falcons for education, was called on to find the appropriate care for the bird.

Cain-Stage said she believes the bird was probably hit by a car. As it recuperates, Cain-Stage is feeding it beef and quail. Already the bird is getting the hang of its new life in the hospital portion of Cain-Stage's sanctuary, which also houses eagles, otters, turtles and owls. As Cain-Stage approached the bird's incubator with chunks of meat, it stopped making a slight hissing noise and opened its slightly hooked beak.

"Already she knows I'm not going to hurt her," Cain-Stage said. "And that, when she sees me, I'm going to bring her food.  She's been a very good patient."
: News: Peregrines / 2009
: Alison December 10, 2009, 21:51
Sydney, Australia

Taronga Zoo falcon spreads its wings at Balmoral

JUST over six months ago, it was feared Clarkie the Peregrine Falcon would never fly again.

The male Falcon - the world’s fastest animal - was brought to Taronga Zoo’s wildlife hospital in July by the Native Animal Trust Fund after he was found in the Hunter Valley with a broken wing. After two months of veterinary treatment young Clarkie, thought to have just celebrated its first birthday, is now getting flying lessons to prepare him to be released back into the wild.  Last Wednesday, Clarkie enjoyed a lesson at Balmoral Oval, soaring between the bird trainers who were stationed some distance away from each another.

"If we had of just released the Peregrine back at the Hunter Valley without building up its muscle tone and ensuring the bird was able to free fly and use the wing to its full ability, there could have been a very real chance the bird may have perished,’’ bird trainer, Erin Stone said.  Peregrine Falcons can fly in excess of 300 kilometres / hour, their "bullet like bodies’’ allowing them to capture their prey with an incredible amount of force, according to Ms Stone.

She said they were confident Clarkie would be released back into the wild "sooner rather than later’’.


http://mosman-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/taronga-zoo-falcon-spreads-its-wings-at-balmoral/

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I hope this little guy will be very successful when he returns to the wild.

Adding a link to a video: www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1148687/Clarkie-the-falcon-makes-speedy-recovery
: News: USA / California Peregrines
: Alison December 17, 2009, 19:10
Not good news . . .

More flame retardants found in urban peregrine falcons than their country cousins
Environmental Health News / 15 Dec 2009


Cosmopolitan peregrine falcons in California have higher levels of flame retardants than ones living on the coast or in the country.

Falcons that make their home in some of California's largest cities carry more flame retardant pollutants in them as compared to those that preside in rural areas, finds a study that measured the chemicals in the birds' eggs.

The eggs from peregrine falcons living in the state's biggest urban areas have five times more flame retardants than eggs collected from nests in the countryside or near the Californian coast. The findings suggest that the health of urban raptors is at greater risk from exposure to flame retardants than those that live in less populated environments.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used in numerous products since the 1970s because they make rugs, furniture and drapery less flammable. Like PCBs, their heavy use, uncontrolled disposal and persistence have caused widespread environmental contamination and concerns over potential health effects in wildlife and humans.

The PBDE chemicals are lipid-loving, and will concentrate through food chains to high levels in top predators. Levels of PBDEs have been increasing in humans and wildlife but decreased production and bans of some types in recent years in North America may reverse this trend in the future.

Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) feed on other birds like ducks, pigeons and starlings, and are susceptible to accumulation of persistent pollutants because of their position at the top of the food chain. Indeed peregrine falcon populations declined in the 1950s and 1960s because high DDT levels thinned their egg shells, preventing the chicks from hatching.

Though this species is no longer listed as endangered in the US, there may be ongoing threats to their health from exposure to flame retardants. These chemicals are known to affect reproduction and the immune system in other bird species.

In this study, 90 peregrine falcon eggs and 7 chicks were collected during 22 years (between 1986 and 2007) from California cities – including San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles (from nests on top of office buildings) – and from the coast and countryside, areas well away from any large urban centers. These samples were analyzed for PBDEs and PCBs.

Concentrations of the PBDEs were five times higher (10.1 parts per million) in eggs from nests in cities than either the coast or countryside (2.38 and 1.61 parts per million, respectively). This is likely because of the higher use and disposal of these chemicals in urban areas. Levels of these flame retardants in the eggs also tripled over the two decades of the study. In contrast, PCB levels in the eggs did not change in any of the regions over the same time period.

Levels in the peregrine falcon eggs were similar to what is known to cause effects on growth and development in other falcon species. The results of this study show that peregrine falcon living in urban areas are at greater risk from exposure to flame retardants than ones living far away from populated areas.


source: http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/pbde-levels-higher-in-city-than-country-peregrines


: News: USA / Michigan Peregrines
: Alison December 28, 2009, 22:02
Popular power plant peregrines are no snow birds
Holland Sentinel / 26 Dec 2009

Peregrine falcons lingering along the lakeshore have birders and biologists wondering if the part-time residents will again remain in Michigan for the winter.

“Peregrine falcons are migratory birds,” said Nik Kalejs, senior wildlife biologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “Typically, they follow other bird species southward when the weather turns colder. These West Michigan birds stuck around last season and seem to want to remain in the area this year, too.”

Last winter, a pair of peregrines remained all season at the J.H. Campbell Complex in Port Sheldon Township, where an artificial nest placed by employees 200-feet up on an emissions stack has been attracting the birds seasonally for eight years. The nest yielded two peregrine chicks this year, with one of the juveniles sharing the territory with its parents well into the fall, another unusual behavior for the highly territorial species.

Tom Kalkman assisted with placing identification leg bands on the chicks as part of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program to collect data on the reproductive success, migration routes, and health of the species.

“They’re magnificent birds,” said Kalkman, a Casnovia resident and lab technician at Campbell. “It’s fascinating to think of the fastest animal on the planet residing here in West Michigan — and not wanting to head south for the winter. Obviously, they’re remaining for a reason.”


source:  http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x1671986077/Popular-power-plant-peregrines-are-no-snow-birds

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/hollandmichiganpowerplantperegrine.jpg)  (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/hollandmichiganpowerplantperegrine2.jpg)

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: News: USA / Virginia Peregrines
: Alison December 28, 2009, 22:30
Hampton, Virginia

HAMPTON — The sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The conditions were ideal for take-off on a Florida-bound flight path.  By the time Edward Clark, president of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, arrived at Grandview Nature Preserve in Hampton with a rare peregrine falcon Tuesday, a crowd of more than 30 people had gathered to see the release.

The falcon was nursed back to health by staff at the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro after being picked up injured in Accomack County last month. He wasted no time in flying back into the wild, going north before getting his bearings and heading south for warmer climes.  Clark, who drove from the snowy Shenandoah Valley to release the bird, said conditions were ideal for flight. "It's nice and balmy down here," he said.

He addressed onlookers and then drove deeper into the preserve for the release.  "We might get a bit out of these backyards in case it lands in these backyards and a cat jumps on it. We don't want to have to replace someone's cat," Clark said.

Clark said the peregrine falcon, the fastest animal on Earth, could get back to Accomack County faster than he could drive there.  "But I suspect this bird has Florida on the brain, which is not an altogether bad idea."

When the falcon was picked up, he was underweight, missing some feathers on its left wing and had an eye injury.  The bird was treated at the wildlife center and given flight exercises in one of the center's outdoor flight pens.

"It was generally given supportive care and it healed. In the wild it does not have the luxury of getting better on its own," Clark said.

There are only about 20 known breeding pairs of peregrines in Virginia — in the Hampton Roads and Richmond areas and on the Eastern Shore.


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(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/Peregrine-09-24731wildlifecenterofv.jpg)
: Re: News: USA / Kentucky Peregrines
: Alison January 09, 2010, 21:45
Artemis, the juvie peregrine falcon being rehabbed at Southwestern High School in Somerset, has recovered and has been released:

Pulaski students participate in program for the birds
Lexington Herald Leader / 1 Jan 2010

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/01/01/1079060/pulaski-students-participate-in.html#ixzz1ArLFvYVY

SOMERSET — The peregrine falcon, too bruised to fly only three weeks before, flapped away from the thick leather gloves its handler was wearing, circled in the bright, bitterly cold air and headed northeast, disappearing from sight.

That's another success story for the Raptor Rehabilitation Program at Southwestern High School in Pulaski County.

Students in the program help care for injured birds of prey such as hawks, owls and eagles, called raptors, and return them to the wild if possible. The program has taken in more than 1,000 birds since biology teacher Frances Carter started it more than 15 years ago.

Many of the birds must be euthanized, but the number returned to the wild has averaged 44 percent through the years, Carter said.  Other programs and people in the state care for injured raptors, but the facility at Southwestern is the only one in the nation on a high school campus, Carter said. The falcon, which students named Artemis, after the Greek goddess of the hunt, was an arctic bird.

It wasn't clear how she ended up in Kentucky or got hurt, said Noe Avina, 17, a senior who helped care for the bird, feeding her and putting her in a large, mesh-enclosed cage where she could practice flying and build up her wing strength.

Last month, a crowd of students watched as Noe told Artemis good luck and gave her a push to get her airborne. They cheered as she took off. It felt good to get the bird back where she belongs, Noe said. "That, for me, was a big deal."


http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1079060.html

Photos of the release by Pablo Alcala:

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/juvieperegrineartemisreleased2a.jpg)  (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/juvieperegrineartemisreleasedkentuc.jpg)
: News: USA / Pennsylvania Peregrines
: carly January 12, 2010, 18:22
PENNSYLVANIA, USA

Another successful Peregrine Falcon rescue and release

A peregrine falcon was released back into the wild Monday in Lycoming County.  Two sisters are credited with rescuing the falcon last week. The bird is alive thanks to their quick thinking and some help from a rescue clinic. The peregrine falcon was nearly a goner almost one week ago. Now Lucky is healthy again, ready to leave the game commission headquarters near Jersey Shore. Kristina Franklin of the Big Woods Wildlife Rescue Clinic cared for the eight-year-old female after it was injured on the highway in Williamsport.

"It had a head injury, an eye injury and an abrasion on the wing. She just happened to be very strong-willed oriented so therefore she healed quicker," Franklin said.

Lucky's comeback might never have happened if it hadn't been for Marylee and Justina Laird, sisters who were in the right place at the right time.

"I realized it was alive. It started flapping its wings so I turned around and came back," said Marylee Laird.

The Laird sisters came upon the injured falcon on a stretch of Route 220 in Williamsport near the Market Street exit. It was in the middle of the highway. They rushed out into traffic and saved the falcon's life. Now it's free again in the wild.

"We were on the brim of the highway, 30 people are passing and hitting it as we're waiting to get this bird," Marylee Laird recalled. "I didn't care. I knew she needed help and that's all I cared about," added Justina Laird.

The sisters looked on Monday as Franklin let Lucky go, watching proudly as the falcon flew for the first time since they rescued it.

"That felt unbelievable. I loved it. It was," Justina Laird said. "It's good. I'm glad she's back in the wild but I'm definitely. Now I don't know what she's going to be doing. I'm going to worry," Marylee Laird said.


http://www.wnep.com/wnep-lyc-rehabilitated-falcon-released,0,1864119.story
: News: USA / Montana Peregrines
: Alison February 01, 2010, 20:13
Another state authorizes taking peregrine chicks from the wild:  >:(

FWP seeks comment on peregrine falcon, shed-antler hunting proposals
The Independent Record / 28 January 2010

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on proposals for the 2010 peregrine falcon take and on shed-antler hunting on wildlife management areas.

The 2010 proposal on peregrine falcon would authorize five nestlings or fledged peregrines be taken between June 1 and Aug. 31. Only one bird could be collected per successful applicant. Peregrines would not be taken from eastern Montana to help the breeding population there expand, and birds from nests of high value to wildlife viewers would also be excluded.

The proposal on shed-antler hunting on WMAs would create walk-in only access to WMAs for the first three days of shed-antler hunting, beginning the day WMAs open each spring. The proposal would apply to all WMAs that are closed to winter access.

Comments are due by Friday, Feb. 19, and may be sent via e-mail over the FWP Web site at fwp.mt.gov on the Hunting page, or mailed to: FWP – Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701. For more information, check details available on the FWP Web site, or call 444-2612.


http://www.helenair.com/lifestyles/recreation/article_df4c73a0-0bdd-11df-a881-001cc4c002e0.html
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison February 05, 2010, 19:36
Budapest, Hungary

"Wandering falcon" returns to Budapest for winter

A peregrine falcon identified by bird-watchers by the name of Piri has returned to Budapest for the winter and a second peregrine has also been observed, the Hungarian Ornithology and Nature Conservation Society said on Thursday.

Piri used to spend winters in Budapest, finding shelter on the Saint Stephen Basilica in central Budapest, but had not been seen since 2005. The bird was now spotted again, near the parliament building on January 29, and its night shelter has been found on the Basilica.  

A second peregrine has also been observed and identified as a young female born in 2009.

It is not unusual that peregrines move to cities for the winter where they can easily feed with pigeons and other small birds. They usually search for prey from a high perch or from the air and can dive at speeds above 300 kms per hour.

An estimated twenty pairs of peregrines are nesting in Hungary and there are returning birds in several Hungarian cities, including Debrecen, Szeged, Tata and Gyor.


Five years is a long time for Piri not to have been seen.

http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/wandering_f/?cHash=7c26a28efb

: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison February 11, 2010, 19:51
London, England

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2786/4350368174_efa058b942_o.jpg)

THE majestic peregrine falcon has moved into East London.  Two pairs of Britain’s most remarkable bird of prey have set up nests near the north entrance to the Blackwall Tunnel.  Peregrine falcons traditionally nest in coastal areas around Britain—only 20 pairs are believed to be nesting in London.

“They are increasingly moving into cities,” said the RSPB’s Tim Webb. “There is plenty for them to eat here and ledges on tall buildings are similar to their traditional cliff face nesting sites.”

Now the RSPB wants to protect this fledgling group near Canary Wharf and has set up guidelines with the Met Police for anyone who comes across them. “There’s a danger of building maintenance workers facing prosecution by accidentally disturbing nesting peregrines,” Tim added. “We hope the protocol will help people avoid prosecution, allowing peregrines and people to live side by side.”
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison April 15, 2010, 15:55
Peregrine Falcon’s nest brings halt to maintenance work on Silver Jubilee Bridge at Halton
Mark Smith / Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News / 15 April 2010

Extensive maintenance work on the Silver Jubilee Bridge has had to be suspended after contractors discovered a peregrine falcon nest.  The birds are protected under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, meaning that the nest cannot be disturbed. A major Ł18m overhaul of the bridge has been halted and wildlife experts warn it could be September before it is safe to approach the nest again.  Council leader Tony McDermott said contractors had to be pulled off the project and must now be kept employed while they wait.

Cllr McDermott said: “The falcon is a protected species and hence we are not allowed to touch the nest or even disturb the falcon or its young.  “This means that we will probably have to suspend the current works programme and look for ways to keep the contractor employed.  "This will undoubtedly have time and cost implications for the project which we are trying to determine.”

Chris Collett of the RSPB, warned that the pigeons of Halton should keep their eyes peeled.  He said: “They breed between March and August so it will be safe to approach in September. “Their numbers have been recovering since the 1960s when they were often targeted by egg collectors and also fell victim to DDT – which was later banned.  There are about 1,400 nesting pairs in the UK.”  He said: “They nest on cliffs but are drawn to urban areas because of high buildings and also because of the pigeons. They’re the fastest creature on earth and will fly high before ‘dive bombing’ a pigeon at 200mph.”


This is the way peregrines should be treated . . .  :) halting work until September is a pretty major undertaking.
: Re: News: USA / New York Peregrines
: Alison April 21, 2010, 21:35
Female falcon at nest site alone; fate of male remains a mystery (April 2010)
Utica Observer-Dispatch / 20 April 2010

(http://www.uticaod.com/storyimage/NY/20100420/NEWS/304209878/AR/0/AR-304209878.jpg&MaxW=650)

UTICA — When Utica’s resident peregrine falcon couple failed to produce a viable egg last summer, local observers hoped the next mating season would bring them better luck. Instead, the opposite seems to be true.

Maya, the female falcon, has been seen sitting at her M&T Gold Dome Bank nesting site for several weeks. But the last confirmed sighting of her mate, Tor, was nearly two months ago, Spring Farm CARES naturalist Matthew Perry said.  It may be that he’s met an untimely end.

“I’m starting to lean toward the thought that he is gone,” said Perry, who received an unconfirmed report several weeks ago that Tor may have crashed into a Genesee Street window and been injured.

Peregrine falcons typically mate for life and this particular couple is nonmigratory, so it’s unusual that Tor would be missing for so long, Perry said.  Some unofficial falcon watchers believe they’ve seen him since February, however.

“It’s possible he is still alive but isn’t hanging around yet,” Perry said. “We have to remember that this particular pair mated very late.”

The falcons, who have nested unsuccessfully on the bank building for two years, laid their first egg on June 4, 2008, and their second on June 6, 2009, Perry said. In between the two seasons, state Department of Environmental Conservation officials installed a gravel-filled nesting box on the bank’s roof ledge and removed pigeon wire to make it more hospitable for the couple. 

Perry said Tor’s death would not necessarily put an end to Maya’s hopes of becoming a mother, however.

“If Tor is gone, she may hook up with another male coming through the area,” he said. “There was a record number of peregrines that hatched last year in the state. That means there are a lot of peregrines that don’t have a territory that will be in the general area of New York state.”

He added that Maya finding “a new man” would be the clearest indication that Tor has died. If she just leaves the nest in coming weeks, it could mean that she’s single again or that the couple simply found a new nesting site somewhere else.

Both birds were seen together in the city as recently as mid-December, Perry said.


source: http://www.uticaod.com/news/x43863724/Female-falcon-at-nest-site-alone-fate-of-male-remains-a-mystery
: News: USA / Oregon Peregrines
: Alison April 24, 2010, 16:34
Rare Falcon Slowly Recovering from Gunshot (April 2010)

A rare falcon is recovering in Sisters. "The left wing was broken between the shoulder and elbow, and there was a number of shotgun pellets in there that caused the break," says Gary Landers, owner of Wild Wings Raptor Rehabilitation Center.

The adult male Peregrine Falcon is believed to be one of the only pair of falcons in Central Oregon. He was found earlier this month in Culver, illegally shot in the wing. The falcon underwent surgery at Broken Top Veterinary Clinic, two rods are inside its wing holding the bone together. "The healing is progressing so we're guarded but we're hopeful, the pins will come out of the bone in another week and at that point I'll start doing physical therapy to stretch the wing out to get its full extension and we'll start progressing the bird on flying," says Landers.

The Peregrine Falcon is unique, just taken off the endangered species list, it's slowly making a come back here in Central Oregon. Right now is nesting season meaning there very well could be some eggs laid. "Potentially whoever shot this bird if it's unrecoverable and this bird has to be euthanized because it can't be released it's not only this bird that's killed, it's however many eggs were laid because the female is not going to be capable of feeding the chicks," says Landers.

The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal in the world, it can dive at 200 miles an hour. "When you have a broken wing on a bird like this it's absolutely critical that we get everything correct before release because this bird takes extreme G Force while it's hunting," says Landers.

If recovery is successful, the falcon will be released in a few months.


Hoping for a complete recovery for this little tiercel, and that the person who did this will be found and charged accordingly.

There is a photo with the article.

http://kohd.com/page/171243
: Re: News: USA / New York Peregrines
: Alison April 27, 2010, 16:54
Shuttered Statler still home to Peregrine Falcons
National Public Radio / 26 April 2010

BUFFALO, NY (WBFO) - While there are no tenants inside the Statler towers in downtown Buffalo, some outside dwellers remain.

Department of Environmental Conservation wildlife biologist Connie Adams says Peregrine Falcons have been nesting at the top of the Statler for many years now. And even though the future of the building remains uncertain, the Peregrines continue to make the structure their home.

Adams says there are seven known nesting pairs in the Buffalo area. She says Peregrines continue to return to the same nesting spot year after year.

Another set settled into a building on UB's South Campus. The falcons are waiting for three eggs to hatch. Adams has been working along with the UB staff and the Buffalo Audubon Society in keeping watch. UB gained approval to install a nesting box at MacKay Tower because it is a historic landmark. A web cam was also added.

But the Audubon Society had to remove its falcon web cam at the Statler. So anyone who wants to view their activity will have to revert to less modern means -- binoculars, telephoto camera lens or telescope.


source:  http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1641445  (http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1641445/WBFO.News/Shuttered.Statler.still.home.to.Peregrine.Falcons)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison April 27, 2010, 16:56
Watch mounted on peregrine falcons' nest

(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47712000/jpg/_47712302_falcon.jpg)

Ornithologists throughout the south of England are descending on a churchyard in Bath to keep watch over the nest of a pair of peregrine falcons.  The female falcon on the spire of St John the Evangelist church in Bath has laid a clutch of four eggs. The rare birds have fallen victim to egg collectors in the past, and the site will be protected by a 24-hour watch scheme. Ornithologist Valerie James said there were excellent views of the nest.

"We should have wonderful views with the aid of 'scopes and anyone who is really interested should go along and take advantage of a stunning bird on your doorstep," she said.  

The eggs are expected to hatch in early May. Peregrines are protected birds in the UK and the RSPB says their numbers are still low.


Link to story:  BBC News - Watch mounted on peregrine falcons' nest  (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/8642661.stm)

The peregrine in the pic with the article doesn't look too happy . . .
: Re: News: USA / Michigan Peregrines
: Alison May 04, 2010, 20:03
Peregrine falcons nest on International Bridge
Soo Evening News / Jan 2011

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich: Again this spring, the fastest animal in the world is nesting atop pier #22 under the International Bridge. A pair of peregrine falcons returned to the Sault to nest under the bridge.

On Monday, Phil Becker, the General Manager of the International Bridge, reported that bridge workers found four peregrine falcon eggs around 10 days ago. They located the nest and eggs where the falcons had raised their young last spring. Workers immediately moved to protect the breeding pair from disturbances. This is at least the ninth year the falcons have nested at the International Bridge.

The peregrine falcon’s eggs should hatch in the next three weeks and the chicks will begin flying in July. The eggs take 28 to 33 days to hatch, then the chicks — called “eyasses” — leave the nest after 42 to 48 days and depend on the parents for two more months.
 
Peregrine falcons can dive at over 200 miles-per-hour when chasing their favorite prey: Pigeons.

Interested residents can catch a glimpse of these fast falcons flying around the Sault area and sitting on various structures including the arches of the International Bridge.  The nest is sheltered well under the bridge deck near the north end of the second bridge arch over the Soo Locks. The young falcons will not be visible until sometime in July and August when they will fledge from the nest then fly around town.

“For the protection of the falcons and the bridge users, people must not stop on the bridge to try to locate the nest,” Becker warned. “The nest is not visible from the ground and nearly impossible to see from on the bridge.”

A peregrine falcon can be identified by its hooked beak, dark strips under its eyes, pointed wings, blue-gray back, and barred front.

Peregrine falcons have been seen around the Sault area for some 14 years. 

Peregrines were on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s endangered species list, after the pesticide DDT decimated the populations in the 60s and 70s. DDT was eventually banded. Bald eagles, Cooper’s hawks and other birds were also damaged by the pesticide. The captive breeding of peregrines and their release into the wild expanded the falcon’s range to now include places such as New York City, Ontario’s Batchawana River area and Sault Ste. Marie.  The USFWS removed the peregrine from the endangered species list, but this falcon and all birds of prey are protected by Michigan and federal law. It is a felony to shoot any kind of raptor, including the fastest animal in the world — the peregrine falcon.


source:  http://www.sooeveningnews.com/news/x1042480106/Peregrine-falcons-nest-on-International-Bridge

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/image002-106-1.jpg)

: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison May 05, 2010, 16:09
Pigeon fanciers slam city plan

Pigeon fanciers aim to shoot down a scheme to bring peregrine falcons into Manchester after claiming their prized birds are being eaten. Racing fans have slammed the RSPB-backed scheme to build city centre roosts for the birds of prey. A series of man-made nests – known as scrapes – were created in a number of prominent buildings, including Manchester town hall, five years ago.

Last week, the M.E.N reported that a pair of peregrine falcons had moved from their previous city centre home to a new scrape in the CIS tower. But pigeon racers say they are fed up with the presence of the falcons, which are routinely swooping on their birds. Now a veteran racer says he plans a protest.

Albert Langslow, from Salford, says he and other pigeon racers had lost birds due to falcons.  He said: “There are far too many of these birds of prey. They are not in decline any more. All these attempts to bring them into towns are getting out of hand. I can’t let my birds out without worrying that they won’t come back. My friend in Whitefield let his out, they were attacked by a falcon and scattered. He lost the whole lot.

“Some of the pigeon breeds go back years and years but the birds of prey are 10-a-penny. Pigeon racing is an old man’s game. Too many youngsters are interested in other things. But bringing these birds into the city centre is just the nail in the coffin.”  Mr Langslow, 70, a retired hotelier, said he and other fed-up fanciers now planned to stage a city centre demo in opposition to the scheme.

Peregrine falcons were previously listed as endangered species but their numbers have increased in recent years.  There are now 1,400 breeding pairs of the clifftop-dwelling birds. Many have increasingly been spotted on tower blocks and tall office buildings.

But Tim Melling, a senior conservation officer at the RSPB, said research showed birds of prey were responsible for only a sixth of lost racing pigeons. He said: “Pigeon fanciers are actually killing more pigeons than birds of prey. What they do is try to breed them and the ones that aren’t in top condition, they wring their necks.  “If a bird has got lost or disorientated, they are the ones that will be eaten by the falcons. Birds of prey are saving pigeon fanciers the job of killing the weak birds.”  Mr Melling denied falcon numbers were now excessive and said the vast majority continued to live in countryside and coastal areas.


Link to story:  Manchester Evening News - Pigeon Fanciers Slam City Plan  (http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1238787_pigeon_fanciers_slam_city_plan)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison May 07, 2010, 16:37
Drama in the air: Two peregrine falcons in extraordinary battle 250 ft above ground

Framed against the backdrop of a cloudless blue sky, the two male peregrine falcons look as if they have been almost frozen in time like figures on a coat of arms.  In reality it was the frenzied scene being fought out 250ft above the ground at Chichester Cathedral, West Sussex, as a younger bird tried to take over the nesting ground of a cathedral veteran. Although the encounter lasted just a few seconds - with the senior peregrine the victor - the whole sequence was captured frame by frame by wildlife photographers David and Janet Shaw.

"I have taken photographs of wild animals all of my life all over the world but this is one of the most remarkable sequences I have ever seen," Mr Shaw said. "It was totally stunning."  The couple, from nearby Worthing, were on one of their regular pilgrimages to see the peregrines who have been nesting at Chichester since 2001 when the drama developed.

Mrs Shaw said: "There has been a resident pair of peregrines at the cathedral for ten years and this year the male was sitting on the pinnacle of one of the turrets when the youngster came along. He is one of the young males born last year at a site called Sussex Heights in Brighton and was obviously on the look out for some new territory."


For the rest of the story and photos:  (Well worth the read & photos are great)  The Daily Mail - Peregrine Falcons fight 250 ft above ground  (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1272139/Peregrine-falcons-fight-250ft-ground.html)

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/image002-174-1.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison May 08, 2010, 15:47
Man tried to smuggle 14 rare Peregrine falcon eggs on a plane to Dubai from Birmingham Airport

Anti-Terror police arrested an alleged thief trying to smuggle rare birds eggs from Wales to Dubai at Birmingham Airport on Bank Holiday Monday.

Jeffrey Lendrum was charged with climbing a mountain in south Wales to steal peregrine falcon eggs from their nest at Solihull Magistrates’ Court.  West Midlands Police said it is the first case of its kind for 20 years.  The 48-year-old, who has dual Zimbabwean and Irish nationality, was said to have the eggs strapped to his body to keep them warm.  He was charged with four offences involving the taking of the eggs from a peak in the Rhondda and hiding them to evade export restrictions. He was also charged with the possession of climbing gear, an incubator and other equipment to take and keep wild bird eggs. Twelve of the 14 eggs are believed to be alive.  Officers said they kept them safe by nesting them on their office computers and turning them regularly until wildlife rescue centre staff arrived to collect them. It is hoped they will eventually be returned to the wild once they are hatched.

Lendrum was remanded in custody on May 5 and he is due to appear at Warwick Crown Court later this month.


Link to story:  Birmingham Mail - Man tried to smuggle 14 rare Peregrine falcon eggs on a plane to Dubai from Birmingham Airport  (http://www.birminghammail.net/news/solihull-news/2010/05/07/man-tried-to-smuggle-14-rare-peregrine-falcon-eggs-on-a-plane-to-dubai-from-birmingham-airport-97319-26393018/)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison May 08, 2010, 15:55
Bird of prey found hanged on Cumbrian allotment

A wildlife officer for Cumbria police has said they are looking for a key witness after a falcon was found hanging in an allotment. The bird of prey, believed to be either a peregrine falcon or a buzzard, was found on a plot of land near to Kilbride Place, Frizington, on Sunday morning.  Officers believe the bird may have been killed in suspicious circumstances.

PC John Shaw, Cumbria police’s wildlife crime officer, said: “We believe it is either a peregrine falcon or a buzzard. It was found hanging from a fence in the allotment. We have not established a cause of death at the moment. We know someone placed the bird on the fence. We are trying to get that witness to come forward and tell us under what circumstances the bird was found dead.  “It’s quite a problem for birds in the west of the county. We want to get the message across that we will seriously investigate it. It was possibly shot dead. It’s difficult to tell until we do an X-ray. If we are talking about small pellets it is difficult to see them unless X-rayed. We really want to talk to any witnesses who might be able to help with the circumstances. They can speak in confidence with me. Unfortunately Cumbria has quite a lot of bird persecutions. We get birds that are shot, poisoned and trapped illegally. When it comes to birds of prey most of the incidents are deliberate. Birds of prey are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. They are vulnerable to persecution.”

Anyone found to have killed the birds can face a hefty fine and up to six months in prison.  Anyone with information is asked to contact PC John Shaw on 0845 3300247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.


Link to story:  News & Star - Bird of prey found hanged on Cumbrian allotment  (http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/bird-of-prey-found-hanged-on-cumbrian-allotment-1.703828?referrerPath=1.53382)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison May 08, 2010, 16:14
Llanito, Gibraltar

The Llanito Peregrines

In a quiet corner of Windmill Hill flats, the first of two yearly clutches of captive-bred Peregrine falcons is growing up fast.  Reared in captivity and trained by experienced falconers at the Raptor Unit of the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society, the three birds will eventually be released into the wild.

Some will settle in Gibraltar, while others will move further afield. Thanks in part to this breeding program, this majestic bird now has a firmly-established presence in Gibraltar. There are currently seven pairs living and nesting on the Rock, as well as one lone falcon trying to establish itself. The birds normally nest in the nooks and crannies of the sheer north face of the Rock, where access is tricky and young birds are relatively safe.

Vincent Robba, who heads the Raptor Unit, said he and his team coordinate the first clutch of captive-bred birds to coincide with birds breeding in the wild. It means that once the captive-bred birds are trained and released, they are more likely to find birds of a similar age.

The birds are trained from seven weeks of age using traditional falconry methods aimed at refining their flying and hunting skills. Over time, they gain confidence in the wild until eventually, their hunting skills perfected, they stop returning to the falconer’s lure.

Sometimes during training, the GONHS raptor team has introduced young captive-bred birds into area where they know wild birds of the same age are learning to fly and hunt. They call this “synchronised hacking”.

“Once we saw our young falcons playing for hours in the air with wild birds,” Mr Robba said.

Two Peregrines were successfully released this way last year and were adopted by Peregrine families in the wild.  

Although the Peregrine breeding program has been underway since the mid to late 1990s, it took several years before the first fertile eggs were laid. It was 2004 before the first Peregrine was born in captivity to a disabled female – she had a broken wing - that had been artificially inseminated with semen from a bird in Spain. The chick was reared and trained in captivity and later released into the wild.

But although the GONHS team took encouragement from this success, the program was often frustrating. Sometimes the male falcons were reluctant to mate. On other occasions when they did mate, the eggs produced were infertile. Over the years, the number of successful clutches increased and these days, several falcons are reintroduced into the wild every year. Remarkably, all were born from the same female. In all, she has produced 21 birds, of which 15 have already been released into the wild.

Through its contacts with Spanish ornithologists, GONHS believes some of those birds may have established themselves in the Cádiz region.


http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=18914

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/image002-177-1.jpg)  (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/image002-177-2.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison May 08, 2010, 16:19
Lovebirds home to nest at Sebel Cairns

A SWEET romance has blossomed above as two peregrine falcons come home to roost on the Sebel Cairns Hotel sign.

The Weekend Post photographer Marc McCormack has been following the life of a peregrine falcon at the Abbott St hotel for months and has recently noted the bird’s single life is over.  Ornithologist and Birds Australia representative for Mossman and the Daintree, Del Richards, said the peregrines, the fastest birds in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 260km/h, have come back to nest.

"These birds might live for 30 years and mate for life," Mr Richards said. "They start their courtship and mate this time of year, have their chicks in August, and move to the mountains around October to take their young from the city."

While they live in Cairns, the falcons feed on pigeons and lorikeets. Mr Richards believes the same pair has a long history in Cairns and has previously nested on a balcony of an Esplanade hotel for many years.


http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/05/08/108815_local-news.html

I remember seeing photos of this pair in the past.
: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison May 10, 2010, 19:20
Breeding success

Open-mouthed and featherless, three falcon chicks crane their necks toward their mother as she tears chunks of meat from a fresh quail and gingerly feeds her wide-eyed young.  Safe beneath their mother's vigilant lookout, the shrill crying of the hungry brood in the nest is a scene that has played itself out in remote rocky reaches of the globe from time immemorial.

But in this instance, the gravel substrate beneath the chicks is part of a triangular man-made nest positioned in a breeding chamber deep inside the UAE's only commercial falcon breeding facility — the Nad Al Sheba Avian Reproduction Research Centre.
The fabled goose that laid the golden egg, it would appear, has changed its feathers.

Today, it is the rare and magnificent falcon raised in captivity that is laying four to 15 golden eggs a year, that ultimately, as adults, fetch more than $30,000 (Dh110,100) apiece when sold as full-grown hunting birds. Breeding, raising and selling falcons is big business for the centre, producing more than 200 fully grown specimens a year for sale in an international industry worth untold billions annually.

Opened in the spring of 2001 by owner Mohammad Suhail Bin Tarraf, 36 falcons were raised in the centre in its first year.  By the end of this year's spring-breeding season, there could be more than 250 fully grown falcons in the most productive year ever, said David Le Mesurier (pictured below), avian centre manager.

"I don't count my chickens before they're hatched but I have a lot of eggs at the end of the month," Le Mesurier told Gulf News during a tour inside the facility.  A UK expatriate who has raised falcons since the age of 12, Le Mesurier helped custom design the avian centre to create a comfortable environment for the hundreds of breeding falcons he maintains, as well as the hunting-bird offspring that are sold each year to enthusiasts both domestically and abroad.

In five large breeding buildings, 112 specially designed breeding chambers include, for example, one-way observation windows that face away from nests at a 45-degree angle to avoid birds seeing their reflections.  Chamber entry doors open into the room rather than against the wall, he said, to prevent birds from flying out into the long hallways where clipboards hang at each chamber doorway, with charts carefully logging all aspects of the young birds' formative years, before release and sale.

Attention to detail is the backbone of Le Mesurier's business acumen when it comes to caring for each and every falcon, he said.

"It makes good business sense," he said. When people shell out large amounts of money, they want only the best money can buy.

"As far as I'm aware, we're the only commercial breeding project in the UAE. We produce very high quality birds. They will always sell," he said, adding that it's all about "selling high quality product at a good price".

On the business front, Le Mesurier said the yearly market strategy is to stay ahead of competitors by offering its birds for sale at the beginning of the autumnal falconry hunting season, at a time when foreign falcon representatives enter the UAE to offer their birds as well.  The falcon reproduction centre sells about 80 per cent of its birds to Emirati Shaikhs in the UAE, he said. "Within three or four days, all of our birds are sold."


For the rest of the article:

http://gulfnews.com/business/features/breeding-success-1.624947

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/image002-1208-1.jpg) (http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/image002-200-1.jpg)


: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison May 14, 2010, 15:52
Man in court on rare egg theft charges

Counter-terrorism officers recently arrested a man who has been accused of scaling a mountain and stealing rare bird’s eggs – in the first case of its kind for 20 years.  The suspect had been stopped by police at Birmingham International Airport, as he was about to board a plane to Dubai earlier this month.  He has been charged with stealing 14 peregrine falcon eggs, from a nest in Rhondda, South Wales. It’s alleged that he’d strapped the eggs to his body, in order to keep them warm. He was arrested at the airport on Bank Holiday Monday.

Last Wednesday (May 5), Jeffrey Lendrum, 48, appeared before Solihull Magistrates.  He faces four charges involving the taking of eggs, and hiding them to evade export restrictions.  He was remanded in custody, and is due to appear at Warwick Crown Court later this month.Twelve of the 14 eggs are thought to have survived, and have been placed in the care of a local wildlife charity.  Before the experts arrived, officers had kept the batch warm by putting them on top of office computers, and turning them regularly.

If they hatch, it’s hoped that the birds-of-prey will eventually be released into the wild. Peregrine falcons (pictured) are a protected species – they were previously culled during World War 2, because they preyed on carrier pigeons.  But following a change in the law, the population has recovered, and bred locally. In previous years, the falcons have nested at Fort Dunlop, Erdington, and the Chamberlain Tower at Birmingham University.

It’s thought that this is the first time someone has been charged with attempting to smuggle bird-of-prey eggs out of the UK, since 1990.
: Re: News: USA / Iowa Peregrines
: Alison May 14, 2010, 16:15
Department of Natural Resources is reporting number of nesting peregrines has grown
WQAD TV / 13 May 2010

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is reporting the number of nesting pairs of peregrine falcons has grown to 16.

According to DNR officials, that is the most nesting pairs counted since the department launched its falcon restoration program in 1989.

According to wildlife diversity technician Pat Schlarbaum, there were 13 nesting pairs of peregrines in Iowa last year. The new nesting sites this year are near Lansing and in Clinton and Muscatine.

There were just two nesting pairs of falcons in Iowa a little over 10 years ago. At the time the restoration began, officials said the goal was to establish five nesting pairs in the state.


http://www.wqad.com/news/sns-ap-ia--iowa-peregrinefalcons,0,4815476.story
: News: USA / Washington Peregrines
: Alison May 14, 2010, 16:18
3 falcon chicks spotted in nest at city's port
 
State will put ID tags on birds in 10 days

OLYMPIA — A pair of peregrine falcons is raising three chicks this spring in a nesting box perched high on the railing of a Port of Olympia crane.

It marks the eighth straight year that the pair used the southernmost of the two cranes during nesting season, rearing their young amidst the occasional bustle of marine terminal operations.

The number of chicks successfully hatched each year has ranged from zero in 2003, when they didn’t have a nesting box, to four in 2009.

State Fish and Wildlife biologist Steve Desimone confirmed last week the presence of at least two chicks approximately one week old. Black Hills Audubon member Whittier Johnson spotted three chicks on Wednesday, including one that was somewhat smaller than the other two, suggesting it had hatched later.

Desimone and Johnson used spotting scopes set up in the Olympia Farmers Market to view into the box in the morning when the adults bring food to the chicks.

The chicks are old enough now to hold their heads up and peer over the edge of the nesting box.

If history is any indicator, the chicks will leave the nest in late June. Roughly 30 percent of all peregrine falcons hatch each year survive to age 1, according to state Fish and Wildlife studies.

The department plans to place identification tags on the chicks in about 10 days. The 2009 offspring were banded, but there’s been no sign of their whereabouts, Desimone said. The state is home to about 150 nest sites in rural and urban areas from Bellingham to Olympia. Not all nest sites are occupied each nesting season.


http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/14/1186142/3-falcon-chicks-spotted-in-nest.html
: Re: News: USA / Washington Peregrines
: Alison May 22, 2010, 15:21
The three chicks from the Olympia nest have now been banded:

3 baby peregrine falcons taken from Olympia nest for banding

Three baby peregrine falcons hatched on a marine terminal crane at the Port of Olympia were brought down to earth Friday afternoon so identification bands could be attached to their legs.

The hourlong effort involved volunteers and port staff members who climbed the crane, retrieved the falcons – one female and two males – and carried them to the marine terminal so two aluminum bands could be connected to the raptors’ legs. After the bands were affixed, the falcons were returned to their nest.

One band was a federal Fish & Wildlife band and the other was a visual identification band, said Glenn Phillips, a volunteer with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The bands are used to track the falcons; one falcon that was hatched at the port in 2008 has been tracked to the Ballard Bridge in the Seattle area, he said.

The falcons showed up at the port in about 2003 and nest in a plywood box, said Mike Crawford, marine terminal maintenance foreman for the port. The marine terminal has two cranes, and the falcons have settled in on the crane to the south, near the port’s public plaza.

The baby falcons at the port are 15 to 25 days old and should take flight after about 45 days. In 18 months, they will be considered adults, Phillips said.


http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/22/1196524/3-baby-peregrine-falcons-taken.html


Another article on the Olympia banding has some great photos:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/22/1196502/stay-away-from-my-baby.html

Photos by Tony Overman.

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/olympiachickmay212010banding.jpg)

One irate, and fearless, peregrine:

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/olympiabandingmay212010.jpg)

One equally irate chick:

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/olympiachickmay212020banding2.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Alison May 26, 2010, 19:11
Rare falcon chicks stolen from Chorley nest

Newly-hatched chicks from endangered peregrine falcons have been stolen from a protected nest in Chorley.  Bird enthusiast Richard Todd, 36, visits the site in Whittle-le-Woods, on a daily basis to monitor the falcons’ progress. He, along with other spotters and conservationists, had recorded four eggs in a cliff-side nest, which hatched on Friday, May 14.  Mr Todd observed the chicks on Sunday evening at around 9pm, but was told early on Monday that there appeared to be nothing left in the nest. He believes the nest was raided by thieves. He said: “I’m disgusted that someone could do this, presumably with the intention of selling the chicks into captivity for breeding. The adult pair have been here for a couple of years and to have four chicks born was exciting. I often bring my five-year-old son Finlay to see the falcons and just can’t bring myself to tell him they’ve gone. I don’t want him to know that there are people who can be so cruel and take these wonderful creatures.”

Mark Thomas, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ investigations unit, said: “If it is a theft of chicks, then they could fetch anything from Ł300 to Ł500 for falconry.”  Some chicks are even sold abroad as British falcons are believed to be from pure, wild stock. Experts say there is a slim chance that the chicks were targeted by ravens but said theft was more likely. Bird recorder Judith Smith said anyone found guilty of stealing the eggs could be facing a jail sentence because peregrine falcons are a schedule one protected species, along with golden eagles, kingfishers and barn owls.

Ivan Lynas, who runs the Imperial pub on Union Street, Chorley, is a peregrine expert whose passion has taken him and his wife Natasia across the country observing them. He had lent a powerful telescope to Mr Todd to help him monitor the nest at close quarters. Mr Lynas said: “It’s quite rare to have four chicks from one breeding pair and to have them taken is very distressing. These birds need to be out in their natural habitat. I’m appalled that someone could do this.”

Lancashire police confirmed that they had been made aware of the theft and said a specialist wildlife officer had begun an investigation.


Link to story:  The Chorley Citizen - Rare Falcon Chicks Stolen from Chorley Nest  (http://www.chorleycitizen.co.uk/news/chorley/8184039.Rare_falcon_chicks_stolen_from_Chorley_nest/)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: Eye-spy August 19, 2010, 15:14
Former special forces soldier jailed in UK for stealing rare falcon eggs for rich Arab buyer

A former special forces soldier was jailed Thursday for attempting to sneak out of Britain with a stash of 14 rare peregrine falcon eggs hidden in socks strapped to his body.  Jeffrey Lendrum, 48, was trying to get to Dubai, where falconry is a national sport and such eggs can fetch 5,000 pounds ($11,000) each on the black market. He was caught when a cleaner spotted him behaving suspiciously in a business class lounge at Birmingham International Airport on May 3.  Lendrum originally told police he was carrying store-bought chicken eggs, which he said he used to treat a bad back, but he pleaded guilty Thursday at Warwick Crown Court in western England, standing with his arms crossed and his head bowed for nearly the entire hearing.

Prized in falconry for their phenomenal speed — they are thought to reach up to 200 miles (320 kilometres) per hour when they dive — the birds are a protected species under British law, which bars their export.  

Judge Christopher Hodson said Lendrum's crime hurt not only the local area "but in some measure to the planet and its future" and sentenced him to 30 months in jail.  Lendrum, an Irish citizen, has previous convictions for stealing rare eggs in Canada and Zimbabwe. A former member of the special forces of Rhodesia, as Zimbabwe was known before its independence, he has apparently put his military training to use — at various points either rappelling down a cliff or lowering himself from a helicopter to reach particularly remote nests.  

Guy Shorrock, with The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said he believed Lendrum had been stealing eggs for years.  "It's clearly very lucrative," he said. "He has a very good buyer in the Middle East for these birds and he probably receives tens of thousands of pounds (dollars) for his trouble."  Retired police officer Andy McWilliam, who worked on the case for the National Wildlife Crime Unit, said he was hoping to meet Lendrum behind bars to learn more about his tactics.

As for the eggs themselves, quick-thinking police made sure they were kept warm. Eleven out of the 14 have hatched, and most of the falcon chicks have since been returned to wild.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: The Peregrine Chick September 07, 2010, 13:50
Peregrine falcons return to a greener London
by Yuki Takayama, The Asahi Shimbun

A peregrine falcon with a wingspan of almost a meter wheels above the Houses of Parliament and alights on the Victoria Tower, gripping a pigeon in its talons.  It is 5 a.m. in early July, and high above Westminster, the falcon begins tearing into its freshly killed breakfast. White feathers ripped from its prey flutter and dance in the breeze around the tower.

This magnificent bird was once endangered in Britain.  Peregrine falcons used to inhabit cliffs and rocky outcrops around the southeast of England, but they were targeted for extermination during World War II in an effort to prevent attacks on carrier pigeons used by the military. After the war, the use of the agricultural chemical DDT and other factors caused a collapse of the population of these birds of prey.

About 10 years ago, however, peregrine falcons began to appear in the center of London. The city's high buildings offer them prime vantage points from which to look for prey. At the Houses of Parliament, to which the birds returned in March 2009, a square plywood tray measuring 50 by 50 centimeters was affixed about halfway up the 100-meter-tall Victoria Tower to help the birds nest. David Morrison, 50, who has been involved in falcon conservation efforts in London for nearly 10 years, says 18 falcon chicks were born this year and that numbers are increasing annually. Currently, 24 peregrine falcon pairs have been identified in the central part of London.


This is just the beginning of a neat story about "greening" cities - well worth the read:  The Asahi Shimbun - Peregrine falcons return to a greener London  (http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201008240366.html)
: Re: News: USA / New York Peregrines
: carly September 27, 2010, 20:39
A Fishy Peregrine
WQED / 27 Sept 2010

As we all know, peregrine falcons eat only birds and they catch them in the air.  Or do they?

Last Wednesday I received an email from Dan Yagusic, an excellent birder who watches the peregrines on the Allegheny River bridges.  (He’s the one who first found Mary Cleo (Dori) at the 62nd Street Bridge.  She now lives at Gulf Tower.)

Here’s what Dan saw at dusk on Tuesday, September 21:

Last evening at dusk I was passing Washington Landing’s Marina (Allegheny River) at a no wake speed in our boat. In the near darkness I spotted a large bird flying fast downriver.  All of a sudden, directly across from me about five Mallards took flight squawking very loudly as they went. This bird (unidentified as of yet) started making repeated swooping turns down to the water, but appeared to be chasing nothing at all!  I grabbed my binoculars at this point and lo and behold to my utter amazement it was a Peregrine Falcon!!  I continued watching as this Peregrine made at least 20 passes over the water, each time rising 30 feet or so in the air before dropping down and dipping it’s talons into the water as if to make a splash.  Running through my mind were the likes of “What the heck is this bird doing?” and “Just what is making him/her do this?”  After who knows how many trips down to the water the Peregrine came up with a FISH in it’s talons. It proceeded to fly directly to the nearest tower where it immediately started eating its catch. Perhaps you or others know of this behavior in Peregrines, but in my limited experience I have never seen a Peregrine even attempt a shot at fishing.  That sure did make my evening, let me tell you!   Variety can be the spice of life, even for Peregrines???     — Dan Yagusic

Amazing!

I did some research and found two (only two!) references that said peregrines occasionally eat fish though one said they took them from ospreys.  So what was going on here?  Dr. Tony Bledsoe of the University of Pittsburgh’s Biological Sciences Department explained that our mid-latitude peregrines focus on birds but that peregrines occur nearly worldwide and are quite cosmopolitan.  Right now peregrines from Canada and the Arctic are migrating south through Pittsburgh.  Those birds travel to South America and have skills and tastes that our local birds never had to cultivate.  If they know how to fish and the ducks aren’t cooperating, why not?  Even so, it’s very unusual!


source: http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2010/09/27/a-fishy-peregrine/
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: The Peregrine Chick November 26, 2010, 16:53
Moscow, Russia

Woman detained after falcons found in luggage

Customs officials seized eight rare falcons at the Moscow airport after a woman tried to smuggle the wrapped, boxed birds out of the country, the International Fund for Animal Welfare reported.

The gyrfalcons were found in two cartons being loaded into the hold of a plane bound for Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, the group said. The woman who checked the cartons as her luggage was detained and released pending a court appearance.

“At least 100 wild gyrfalcons are smuggled out of Russia each year, primarily driven by demand from the growing popularity of falconry in the Middle East,” said IFAW’s Russia director, Masha Vorontsova, in a statement.

The fast and powerful predator is the world's largest falcon. It breeds in arctic and subarctic regions and preys primarily on large birds, according to the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology.

They can command as much as $50,000 on the black market. Officials believe the birds seized at Sheremetyevo International Airport were captured in Russia’s Far East and transported through two security checkpoints and a customs inspection before being detected.

The birds are expected to survive and will reside at IFAW’s raptor rehabilitation center until they are ready to be released into the wild, likely sometime next month.

The gyrfalcon is listed in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red Book of endangered species and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species’ Appendix I. The latter designation, says IFAW, makes any commercial trade involving the birds illegal.


http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/22/report-woman-detained-after-falcons-found-in-luggage/?hpt=Sbin

(http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/11/22/c1main.gyrfaclsons.jpg)
The eight gyrfalcons were swaddled in pillow cases and other cloth when customs officials discovered them at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2010
: The Peregrine Chick December 03, 2010, 13:46
Olympic sailing team recruit a peregrine falcon

(http://newsliteimgs.s3.amazonaws.com/101105_bird2.jpg)

The British Olympic sailing team have recruited a new teammate who they believe will help them secure gold… a peregrine falcon called Felix. Team bosses decided to bring in the bird in a bid to keep away noisy seagulls which disrupt the athlete's sleep and training.  Seagulls squawking is said to have become a huge problem at the 2012 Olympic Games sailing venue in Dorset where the team train. Squad members are constantly having their routines disturbed by the squawking waking them up at 5am. Enter Felix, who now patrols the sky a couple of mornings per week… and had unsurprisingly put the the seagulls off the area.


Link to story (with photos):  NewsLite - Olympic Sailing Team Recruit a Peregrine  (http://newslite.tv/2010/11/05/olympic-sailing-team-recruit-a.html)
: Re: News: USA / Washington Peregrines
: Alison December 23, 2010, 18:39
Where are they now?

Injured falcon to become education bird

In the news: In late January a young peregrine falcon -- not often seen here -- was recovering after nearly dying from major injuries. No one can say exactly how it got hurt, though wildlife experts said it might have crashed into a car or other object in a high-speed dive.  Peregrine falcons, endangered for years by the pesticide DDT, once had few nests east of the Mississippi but now migrate through the state on their way to South America.

Dr. Mark Gendzier, a veterinarian from St. Johns Veterinary Clinic, placed pins in the radius of the bird's left wing and repaired the tibiotarsus in its right leg.  The bird was released to wildlife rehabilitator Melanie Stage of H.A.W.K.E., a nonprofit that cares for injured local wildlife.  Stage did not expect the bird to recover enough to be released into the wild.

What the bird's doing now: Stage said it took six months for the bird, whose name is now Kenya, to totally heal from its injuries. Stage can't tell yet whether the young bird is male or female.  The pins were removed from its wing and physical therapy helped get its leg working again.

"The leg had to be fused in a comfortable position because it was too bad to be fixed," she said. Stage said the bird can't fly any more but is in training to be an education bird.

"It wouldn't survive in the wild but it's doing great in captivity," she said. She said the bird, which gets regular meals of quail, can now sit on a glove or a perch and will soon be making the rounds.


(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/November%202010/image002-1613.jpg)

http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2010-12-18/where-are-they-now
: News: USA / Indiana Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick January 12, 2011, 22:45
Endangered Peregrine Falcon Shot and Killed Near New Albany (11 Jan 2011)

(http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/files/2011/01/Falcon.jpg)
Peregrine Falcon (not the bird shot)

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is seeking information involving the shooting and subsequent death of a 16 year old Peregrine Falcon. The bird was bred in captivity, tagged and released to the wild along with 15 other falcons near Evansville in 1994. Why someone would target this bird remains unclear, but migratory bird biologist John Castrale says it could have easily been a mistake.

“There are a number of birds that can be confused with Peregrines, especially Cooper’s Hawks, so my guess is someone was just taking a pop shot at a bird of prey,” said Castrale.  “I don’t think they probably knew it was a Peregrine Falcon”.

In 1989 Indiana saw its first pair of nesting Peregrines in more than five decades. Two years later the Peregrine Falcon Reintroduction Program was started and since, their population in Indiana has risen to 130. The Peregrine Falcon is no longer a federally endangered species but remains on the state endangered species list and intentionally killing or disturbing ones nest could result in serious charges says DNR lieutenant Mark Farmer.

“If someone was apprehended or if enough proper cause was developed where we could file charges then those penalties could be pretty severe,” Farmer said.

Officials say the chances of finding the culprit are slim. Anyone with information on the shooting should call 800- TIP- IDNR or go to TIP.IN.gov


http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/endangered-peregrine-falcon-shot-killed-albany/#


New Albany is just across the river from Lexington, Kentucky.  

As the story mentionned there were 14 birds hack released in 1994 in Evansville.  The article does not identify who the bird is, if it is an Indiana breeding bird or even what gender the bird was.  Now unless I have mis-read something, this looks to be math ...

reported as deceased prior to 2010:
  PF Flyer (f) - died in 2001 due to a collision with a vehicle in Evansville, Indiana
  River Ace (m) - died in 2002 in Cleves, Ohio

no reports since fledging from Evansville in 1994:
  Dedalus (m), Merlin (m), Pajaro Bonita (f), Ranger (m), Rapptor (f), Speedy Gonzalez (m),
  Stealth (m), Thunder (f), Yeager (m)

observed/identified post-fledging prior to 2000:
  Echo (f) - seen in Michigan in 1995, then in Ohio in 1999
  Phoenix (f) - failed nesting in Evansville, Indiana in 1995
  Skyrunner (m) - seen in Evansville, Indiana in 1994

observed/identified post-fledging after 2000:
  Freedom - nesting in Fort Wayne Indiana with Roosevelt since 1995  

If anyone sees any updates in the news, please copy and post here - Thanks!
: News: Peregrines / 2011
: The Peregrine Chick February 07, 2011, 12:13
Rare birds’ egg thief has jail sentence slashed

A FORMER Special Forces soldier from Towcester, who sparked a terrorist alert trying to smuggle Ł70,000 of rare birds’ eggs out of the UK, has had his sentence almost halved by judges at The Court of Appeal.

Jeffrey Lendrum, aged 48, was caught by police at Birmingham Airport with 14 eggs strapped to his chest, about to board a flight to Dubai, when a cleaner in the Emirates business class lounge grew suspicious over him repeatedly visiting the showers. The falcon eggs, bound for the black market, had been placed in socks before being taped to his body in May last year.

At yesterday’s appeal hearing, Sir Christopher Holland said Lendrum, who once served in the Rhodesian SAS, pilfered the extremely rare eggs from nests in the Welsh mountains, hoping to trade them at lucrative overseas markets in the Middle East.

He had climbed into tree tops to bag the eggs, before abseiling down with his catch, the court heard. When caught by police at the airport, he was trying to examine the condition of the 14 eggs, fearing they may have perished. The appeal judge said the eggs were “happily still in good order” when recovered and 11 later hatched, with the chicks released into the wild.

Lendrum, of York Close, Towcester, who also has an Irish passport, tried to talk his way out of trouble by telling counter-terrorism police they were chicken eggs which he had brought from Waitrose, but he eventually came clean.

He was jailed for 30 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court in August after admitting trying to evade UK customs controls and theft.  But he challenged his sentence, which Sir Christopher, sitting with Lord Justice Moore-Bick and Mrs Justice Cox, agreed was “excessive”, slashing it to 18 months.

There are only 1,400 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons in the UK with the birds regarded as an endangered species.


http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/rare_birds_egg_thief_has_jail_sentence_slashed_1_2370428
: News: Peregrines / 2011
: sami February 07, 2011, 20:30
Sounds like the justices don't put much importance on endangered species.
: News: Peregrines / 2011
: Cooper March 09, 2011, 11:19
Just came across this news report of a female peregrine shot in Lincoln.  >:(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-12682039
: News: Peregrines / 2011
: Kinderchick March 09, 2011, 13:33
Very, very sad & also causes me to feel angry when hearing of this. :'( >:(
: News: Peregrines / 2011
: carly March 09, 2011, 17:29
And they dare to criticize other cultures about living in the dark ages...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in this case.  >:(  >:(
: News: Peregrines / 2011
: The Peregrine Chick March 09, 2011, 20:09
This is from last year but it is priceless ....

Hurt Guernsey peregrine falcon was struck by gull vomit
6 July 2010

The falcon was taken to the Hawk Conservancy in Andover to be treated A peregrine falcon found injured in Guernsey and nursed back to health in Hampshire was probably left unable to fly after a seagull vomited over it.

The female bird was found hopping in the road in early June with its wings coated in an unknown substance.  Conservationists initially thought it had been caught in a glue trap but tests showed the oily substance was "partially digested fish matter".

The falcon was released into the wild again last week.

It was flown in a private plane from Guernsey for treatment at the Hawk Conservancy Trust's specialist bird of prey hospital in Andover, and back again.  Scientists analysed a sample of the bird's feathers and found that the substance coating them was a natural ester-based oil - which includes vegetable, seed and fish matter - with a high presence of sand and soil.

Ashley Smith, chief executive officer of the Hawk Conservancy Trust, said: "The results have presented a totally different scenario to the one first imagined when she was found.  We now believe that the peregrine may have preyed upon seabirds, possibly a gull, which has used its primary defence mechanism of projectile vomiting to escape her. The partially-digested fish matter would have coated her feathers and she would then have tried to clean herself by dust bathing. This would explain the high presence of sand and soil in the sample, which had encrusted her feathers and prevented her from flying."

Paul Betchley, falconer with the trust who released the bird into the wild last week, said: "It was an amazing moment. We opened the door to the carrying-box and she hopped out, got her bearings and then took to the skies.

"Let's hope she's learned her lesson and will avoid gulls in future."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10526278
: News: Peregrines / 2011
: Kinderchick March 09, 2011, 21:15
Well, now I've just about heard everything! ::) :P :-X
: News: Peregrines / 2011
: birdcamfan March 10, 2011, 06:36
I've seen lots of stuff come out of gulls but it wasn't vomit. Truly a weird defense mechanism but I guess quite effective.
: News: Peregrines / 2011
: birdcamfan July 27, 2011, 07:00

We often see unhatched eggs on the various webcams and it is sometimes mentioned that they are removed and used for research. I often wondered what type of research was done. This short article describes some important research done on PF eggs in Spain and Canada.

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/04/18/new.pollutants.detected.peregrine.falcon.eggs

: News: Peregrines / 2011
: Kinderchick July 27, 2011, 10:00
Very interesting article about flame retardants., bcf. I imagine there may be other chemical pollutants possibly affecting the viability of eggs. Very important research, for sure.
: News: Peregrines / 2012
: The Peregrine Chick January 01, 2012, 16:40
Genomic Sequences of Two Iconic Falconry Birds -- Peregrine and Saker Falcons -- Successfully Decoded
ScienceDaily (Dec. 16, 2011)

A group of scientists from United Kingdom (UK), China and United Arab Emirates (UAE) jointly announced the complete sequencing of peregrine and saker falcons genomes at the 2nd International Festival of Falconry held in Al Ain, UAE. The study is a part of Falcon Genome Project, launched and funded by the Environment Agency -- Abu Dhabi (EAD) in this January. The results will enable biologists to better study the basic biology and genetics of falcons and provide new insights into understanding the origin and populations of these species.

Two particular species of birds, peregrine and saker falcons, are widespread but heavily exploited birds of prey that exhibit migratory habit and are popular hunting falcons commonly found in the country. In particular, the saker is the national bird of United Arab Emirate. In the past century, the two falcons have been listed as endangered species with population decline, caused by a wide range of factors including migration obstacles, environmental changes, habitat loss, use of pesticides (e.g. DDT, PCBs), among others. In the late 1990s, the peregrine has been successfully removed from the endangered species list through the increased recovery efforts, but the saker is still facing this challenge.

Since this January, researchers from UK, China and UAE have been working together to conduct the genomic studies of peregrine and saker falcons, aiming to identify the genome sequences of the two species and enhance their future conservation to face the unforeseen challenge of the rapid changing environments and human activities. Abu Dhabi's Falcon Hospital (ADFH) provided the blood samples collected from male specimens of peregrine and saker falcons, and BGI were responsible for sequencing these samples on its large-scale next-generation sequencing platforms and producing high-quality data output. The bioinformatics analysis is conducted by the scientists from the School of Biosciences, Cardiff University (UK) and BGI.

Dr. Ning Li, CEO of BGI Europe, said, "The complete genome sequencing of the two falcons will lay a solid scientific foundation for identifying the origin and populations of falcons and accelerating the selective breeding of high-quality varieties. We believe we will make more breakthroughs in this project to help researchers better protect these endangered species."

"This study will open the door to an unparalleled understanding of falcon biology and help us to manage and conserve wild falcon stocks in the future" said Dr Andrew Dixon, Head of Research at International Wildlife Consultants Ltd (IWC).


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111216112802.htm
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: Kinderchick January 09, 2012, 15:42
Traffic Warden "honoured" by Peregrine Falcon rescue...
BBC News (Jan. 3, 2012)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-16397848
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: Kinderchick January 09, 2012, 15:47
Peregrine Falcon found dead in downtown Canton... :'(
Canton Repository (Jan. 5, 2012)

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x1569737054/Peregrine-falcon-found-dead-in-downtown-Canton
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: RCF January 09, 2012, 20:42
Peregrine Falcon found dead in downtown Canton... :'(
Canton Repository (Jan. 5, 2012)

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x1569737054/Peregrine-falcon-found-dead-in-downtown-Canton

The falcon found dead is Maverick from Columbus who was nesting in Canton Ohio with Mystic and is the father of Matrix.

Matrix 19/B. Matrix - son of Mystic and Maverick - fledged from Bank One (now Chase Bank) nest in Canton, Ohio, in 2010.
He arrived at the Columbus nest in early June, 2011.

Durand 32/X. Durand – daughter of Madame X and Surge – fledged from the Sheraton Hotel nest in Hamilton, Ontario, in 2009. She arrived at the Columbus nest on July 11, 2010.

Durand and Matrix are the resident falcon pair on the Columbus ledge. The nest is located on a ledge of the 41st floor of the Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, Ohio.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: The Peregrine Chick March 01, 2012, 20:48
US Postal Service - Birds of Prey Stamp Series

(http://www.uniquebirdhouseboutique.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/f-2012-birds-of-prey.jpg)

more information:
https://store.usps.com/store/browse/uspsProductDetailMultiSkuDropDown.jsp?productId=S_115240&categoryId=subcatS_S_Sheets

(if I posted this before, sorry for the duplication!)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: Kinderchick March 01, 2012, 21:46
These are great stamps, TPC! Going to see if a friend can get some, when she is in the States. :)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: carly March 13, 2012, 15:43
Ohio has had a bit of a tough year losing some legendary falcons.  A while back Hillary from the Hilliard Road Bridge was displaced by a new female named Mckees.  Not sure if she went on vacation shortly after but a few weeks ago yet another new female Green Girl (GG) moved in and set up house with Titan.

Well Mckees came back last week and an epic battle ensued between her and GG which Chad and Chris just happened to witness.  I don't mean to be the bringer of doom and gloom however the sequence of photos they shot are quite outstanding.  As Frank commented, they are National Geographic worthy.  Rapid fire shots of the entire fight from begining to end.  I've never seen anything like it.    

Both females survived so no worries,but Mckees was injured but she did fly off so hopefully she has survived.  The shots are quite graphic and intense but for those of you who can appreciate them for what they are, here is the link to the page that starts the story and photos.

http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?63402.90#post_64244 (http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?63402.90#post_64244)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: The Peregrine Chick March 27, 2012, 18:06
Peregrine falcon lays egg on Wrexham Police Station
27 March 2012 Last updated at 11:56 ET

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/59323000/jpg/_59323825_wrexhamperegrinebydesjames.jpg)

Telescopes and binoculars are at the ready in Wrexham to monitor a peregrine egg laid on the town's police station.  For the fourth year running Royal Society for the Protection of Bird (RSPB Cymru) staff and volunteers will monitor the nest allowing visitors a close-up view of the birds.  Last year the pair laid five eggs, three of which hatched and fledged.

The peregrine is the largest British breeding falcon with a wingspan of 95-110cm (37-43in). This latest egg will be incubated in around 30 days with hatching due at the end of April.

"There peregrines are here all year around the city centre and returned to their traditional nest site at the start of the month," said Julie Rogers from RSPB Cymru. "Last year the pair laid five eggs, three of which hatched and fledged - we hope the family will be as successful this year," she added.


link to story (with photo):  BBC News (Wales) - Peregrine falcon lays egg on Wrexham Police Station  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-17520859)
: News: Maine Peregrines / 2012
: The Peregrine Chick March 27, 2012, 19:24
Falcons Force Trail Closures
Fenceviewer / 26 March 2012

ACADIA NAT’L PARK — To protect the nesting efforts of peregrine falcons, park officials closed hiking trails at the Precipice and at Valley Cove as of March 20. Spotters have observed peregrines defending nesting territories and exhibiting courtship behavior at the two sites. The trails will remain closed until late July or early August when chicks are no longer dependent on the nest sites.

Research has shown that nesting falcons are particularly vulnerable to human disturbance in the immediate vicinity of nest sited. Continued disturbances can lead to chick mortality or complete nest failure, both of which further slows the recovery of the species in Maine where the birds are listed as endangered. On a national level, peregrines are listed as threatened.

Trails closed at the Precipice include the popular Precipice Trail on the east face of Champlain Mountain and the equally popular East Face Trail. In addition to the trails, the closure applies to the surrounding cliff face area. The closure at Valley Cove includes the north section of the Flying Mountain Trail and the entire cliff area directly west of Valley Cove and below St. Sauveur and Valley Peaks. The closed trails are clearly marked with signs that identify the reason for the closure, the dates, and include a map delineating the area of the closure.


Link to story:  Fenceviewer = Falcons force trail closures  (http://fenceviewer.com/site/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=73210:falcons-force-trail-closures&Itemid=938)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: RCF April 20, 2012, 09:15
From the Montreal Gazette

Animal rights activists, concerned about falcons performing in Vancouver Opera's upcoming production of Aida, have succeeded in getting them dropped from the show.

http://shar.es/rIu2t
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: deedream April 23, 2012, 12:21
I was very excited to read today on cbc.ca about a couple of peregrine falcons who have made a home in Moncton, NB. That's only a little over an hour and half's drive for me! Yahoo!! They have laid 4 eggs and are expected to hatch mid May! here is the link to the article.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/04/22/nb-peregrine-falcons.html
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: Jazzerkins May 11, 2012, 05:48
I am not sure where this type of post belongs but I am sue TPC does.

This was in the Winnipeg Free Press today:

Don Marks, editor of Grassroots News, was barbecuing on the 26th-floor balcony of his penthouse apartment in Osborne Village last week when a large visitor flew in and stole a pork chop. "I was sitting there in my living room and I saw this big shadow. It was a bird with a four-foot wingspan. I think it was a falcon, just gorgeous with a grey-and-white chest. I guess he smelled the meat." Marks wanted to see him again, so left another pork chop on the balcony table, and it was gone by morning. "It had to be him, because we never get birds up this high." The next day, Marks left a wiener. Not interested. The next day, the big bird brought his own prey, ate it on the balcony and left a pile of feathers as a hot hint to the human -- REAL MEAT! Marks laughs and adds hastily: "He doesn't live here. I think he lives at the Radisson. I'm just having fun and I'm hoping I can get a good picture. But I am a little nervous about leaving my bedroom balcony window open now."

I find it hard to believe that a falcon would go after a pork chop, but TPC could answer this best.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: The Peregrine Chick May 11, 2012, 09:25
And nor should you believe it ... peregrines don't eat pork chops .... no matter how well Mr Marks bbq'd it
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: Elaine L May 11, 2012, 10:25
I cannot imagine what this guy saw.  What bird with a 4-foot wingspan would land on a balcony in the city and eat a porkchop?  Methinks that this guy is a bit of a joker.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: RCF May 11, 2012, 10:37
I cannot imagine what this guy saw.  What bird with a 4-foot wingspan would land on a balcony in the city and eat a porkchop?  Methinks that this guy is a bit of a joker.

Maybe to much sauce, and I am not talking about BBQ sauce. ::)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: Kinderchick May 11, 2012, 12:53
Maybe to much sauce, and I am not talking about BBQ sauce. ::)
LOL! You could be right about that, rcf. ;)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: Cooper May 11, 2012, 14:16
Well I don't know, we live in strange times. Birds adapt. I suspect it was a big seagull of some sort and it seems seagulls have learned to eat just about anything. Certainly I've seen sea gulls flying over the tallest of buildings in Winnipeg.

But, I wouldn't dismiss Mr. Marks' claim out of hand. He saw what he saw. He said he "thought" it was a peregrine falcon, not he "knew" it was. And I'd suggest, given that the bird subsequently brought its own prey to the balcony to eat, it may well have done so many times before. Who knows, perhaps it has or has had a cache there, in which case I'd think a raw pork chop might be indistinguishable from any other dead meat.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: Moonstar May 11, 2012, 14:39
Well I don't know, we live in strange times. Birds adapt. I suspect it was a big seagull of some sort and it seems seagulls have learned to eat just about anything. Certainly I've seen sea gulls flying over the tallest of buildings in Winnipeg.

But, I wouldn't dismiss Mr. Marks' claim out of hand. He saw what he saw. He said he "thought" it was a peregrine falcon, not he "knew" it was. And I'd suggest, given that the bird subsequently brought its own prey to the balcony to eat, it may well have done so many times before. Who knows, perhaps it has or has had a cache there, in which case I'd think a raw pork chop might be indistinguishable from any other dead meat.

Well put Cooper.
: Re: Looking for I.D. on falcon seen in Indiana
: The Peregrine Chick June 27, 2012, 17:12
This female is still around Terre Haute ... in 2012 she was paired with a Wisconsin male (neither of them have names so far as I can tell) and they produced 3 chicks - Sycamore, State and Rex.  Nice to see she is passing along her very pretty genes!
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: RCF June 28, 2012, 20:24
This was posted this morning on CBC

Brandon falcon chicks to get leg bands  Winnipeg chicks get names from online voting

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/06/28/mb-falcon-chicks-leg-band-brandon-winnipeg.html
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: pmg July 26, 2012, 14:26
Glasgow's 'first' Peregrine chick raised in Red Road flats

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18988842
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: The Peregrine Chick August 07, 2012, 10:30
Interesting little piece and nice photos about a pair on the cliffs in California

 A pair of peregrines and their nest on the beach  (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=2407)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: bcbird August 07, 2012, 14:07
Would this pair be of the nonmigrating subspecies, TPC? 
They didn't seem different in appearance to the Anatum, though I'm not certain what different features distinguish the two.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: The Peregrine Chick August 08, 2012, 10:01
Would this pair be of the nonmigrating subspecies, TPC? 
They didn't seem different in appearance to the Anatum, though I'm not certain what different features distinguish the two.

No, they are anatum and migrators, they may not migrate as far as our birds do given their geographic location, but they do migrate to the same places.  Individual birds may not migrate (think of all the birds in the NE USA who don't migrate these days) and individual populations, like the California anatums may not migrate far, but its in their DNA.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: dupre501 October 15, 2012, 00:53
My husband found this today - though I can't get the video, the pictures still tell the story.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2217357/Amazing-video-captures-falcons-200MPH-feeding-frenzy-shape-shifting-starlings-skies-Rome.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2217357/Amazing-video-captures-falcons-200MPH-feeding-frenzy-shape-shifting-starlings-skies-Rome.html)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: The Peregrine Chick October 15, 2012, 01:58
My husband found this today - though I can't get the video, the pictures still tell the story.

Some UK and US videos are not licensed to be played in Canada - sucks actually - same thing happens with Nature on PBS.
Thanks for posting this despite the unavailability of the video the still photos are quite amazing!
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2012
: RCF November 10, 2012, 07:20
Endangered peregrine falcon rescued from plant 

OAK CREEK — Eclipse, a 3-year-old peregrine falcon, was in trouble.

The bird had found its way into a water treatment building at the WE Energies Oak Creek Power Plant. Perched in the building's rafters, the bird had shown no inclination to fly down and out open doors.


http://www.htrnews.com/viewart/20121108/WOF08/121108020/-Endangered-peregrine-falcon-rescued-from-plant

From Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Bird in hand leads falcon to safety http://tinyurl.com/au85fx9

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/US%20Falcons/eclipse.jpg)
 photo by G. A. Septon
: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF January 24, 2013, 06:33
January 21, 2013
Peregrine on window ledge outside Vancouver Sun newsroom.  :)

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Peregrine+window+ledge+outside+Vancouver+newsroom+good+news+story/7850246/story.html

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/Canadian%20Falcons/VANSUN.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: bcbird January 28, 2013, 11:35
The type in BC is nonmigratory and apparently a bit different in appearance and size from those in most of the rest of Canada. 


From Wickipedia: 
Falco peregrinus pealei, described by Ridgway in 1873, is also known as Peale's Falcon, and includes rudolfi.[36] It is found in the Pacific Northwest of North America, northwards from the Puget Sound along the British Columbia coast (including the Queen Charlotte Islands), along the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to the far eastern Bering Sea coast of Russia,[36] and may also occur on the Kuril Islands and the coasts of Kamchatka. It is non-migratory. It is the largest subspecies, and it looks like an oversized and darker tundrius or like a strongly barred and large anatum. The bill is very wide.[37] Juveniles occasionally have pale crowns. Males weigh 700 to 1,000 grams (1.5–2.2 lb), while females weigh 1,000 to 1,500 grams (2.2–3.3 lb).[26]

: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick January 28, 2013, 19:37
The type in BC is nonmigratory and apparently a bit different in appearance and size from those in most of the rest of Canada. 


From Wickipedia: 
Falco peregrinus pealei, described by Ridgway in 1873, is also known as Peale's Falcon, and includes rudolfi.[36] It is found in the Pacific Northwest of North America, northwards from the Puget Sound along the British Columbia coast (including the Queen Charlotte Islands), along the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to the far eastern Bering Sea coast of Russia,[36] and may also occur on the Kuril Islands and the coasts of Kamchatka. It is non-migratory. It is the largest subspecies, and it looks like an oversized and darker tundrius or like a strongly barred and large anatum. The bill is very wide.[37] Juveniles occasionally have pale crowns. Males weigh 700 to 1,000 grams (1.5–2.2 lb), while females weigh 1,000 to 1,500 grams (2.2–3.3 lb).[26]

Given the geographic location (BC) it is easy to assume that it is a Peale's but the only way to tell for sure is genetic.  Size and plumage are the next best ways to make an educated guess - pealei are larger and often darker than anatum.  And there are anatum birds from the BC interior observed on Christmas bird counts (Dec & Jan) in southern BC, and very often urban areas along the coast where there is prey.  In this case, given how white this bird's breast is, it could very well be one of these anatum birds.  Without a scale, no way to tell if this peregrine is larger than an anatum.  In fact, this bird could just as easily be a pre-Princess Manitoba anatum bird, in fact with a couple fewer speckles on his/her breast, this bird looks alot like Trey and T-Rex. 

Really wish the photographer had managed to get a photo of a band!!
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: Kinderchick January 29, 2013, 18:40
Thanks for the information, bcbird & TPC. Interesting... Hopefully, if he/she returns to the newsroom ledge, someone will get a photo of a band, if there is one. :)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF March 16, 2013, 10:58
 AGGRESSIVE PEREGRINE FALCON  :o   This seems a little extreme in my opinion.  ??? ::) >:(

BUFFALO, NY~2013 (U. of B. & Central Terminal)

State wildlife officials have safely captured BB, a female peregrine falcon that had been nesting in MacKay Tower on the South Campus.

http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/featured-stories.host.html/content/shared/university/news/ub-reporter-articles/stories/2013/falcon_relocation.detail.html

Discussion from Bird Cams around the World 

http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=351&t=1390&start=0

http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?p=228147#p228147


(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/US%20Falcons%202013/BuffaloBB.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: Kinderchick March 16, 2013, 13:14
That does seem a bit extreme, as RCF says.  >:( To my understanding, BB was only "aggressive" while attempting to protect her newly hatched chicks. The university supported the installation of a nest-box and it seems that BB has been nesting there with Yankee for a few years now. As well, I don't understand the assertion that "this type of behaviour is unprecedented" among peregrine falcons. Is this not the typical behaviour of a female peregrine falcon protecting her offspring? ???
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick March 16, 2013, 18:06
As well, I don't understand the assertion that "this type of behaviour is unprecedented" among peregrine falcons. Is this not the typical behaviour of a female peregrine falcon protecting her offspring? ???  

There is aggressive defense and there is aggressive offense.  I don't know much about BB but it could be that she was the latter and not the former.  Do we know how high her nestsite was above street level?  T-Rex was a very aggressive bird but he didn't go after pedestrians - he did go after folks on rooftops but fortunately the site had few visitors to the roof.  At the Radisson when there was a lot less equipment on the roof (so early 1990s), the adults used to hit everyone who visited and hotel staff wore hardhats when they had to visit.  Nesting 30 storeys about the ground our early Radisson pairs weren't aggressive toward pedestrians, though they did take potshots when workers came out on nearby buildings.  If BB's nestsite were higher, it might be that she would have concentrated her "attention" only on the rooftops, but attacking folks at street level is dangerous not only for the pedestrians but also for her - not just pedestrians down at that level, collisions with vehicles would pose a definite risk to her health and by association the health of her chicks.  

It would be a tough call to have to make and all I can say is that we haven't had to do something similar yet in Manitoba. Though Jules is coming close and we are having to get very creative ...
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF March 16, 2013, 18:41
The nest is 13-story-high on the MacKay Heating Plant tower at the UB campus.

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/US%20Falcons%202013/uofBuffalo002.jpg)  (http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/US%20Falcons%202013/uofBuffalo.jpg)
                                                                                      Looking out from inside.

: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF March 16, 2013, 22:41
The male has already accepted a new female, who is unbanded and they have been observed bonding.  The male is a Canadian bird from the Niagara Falls site, his name is Yankee (black/black 42/Y).

Yankee was one of four chicks hatched at a nest site in the Niagara Gorge in 2008 to an unbanded male and an unidentified female.

Photo of Yankee with article
http://flic.kr/p/bo7h8f

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/US%20Falcons%202013/uofBuffalo003.jpg)
Photo courtesy of Sage
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF March 21, 2013, 08:03
March 20, 2013
Idaho sets rules for falconers to take wild peregrines

Idaho will allow up to two peregrine falcons a year to be taken from the wild by selected falconers under rules adopted by the state Fish and Game Commission Tuesday. Rules allow the take of nestling or juvenile wild peregrine falcons during open seasons from 2013 through 2015. The capture season runs May 1-Aug. 31.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2013/mar/20/idaho-sets-rules-falconers-take-wild-peregrines/
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick March 21, 2013, 11:10
Hmmm, just looking at these new rules the following comes to mind ...


Will be interesting to see if they report the results of these rules as well as announcing the start of them.

Nice find RCF!
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick March 25, 2013, 12:59
Science Codex - 25 March 2013
The genomes of peregrine and saker falcons throw lights on evolution of a predatory lifestyle

http://www.sciencecodex.com/the_genomes_of_peregrine_and_saker_falcons_throw_lights_on_evolution_of_a_predatory_lifestyle-109160

interesting ...
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick April 08, 2013, 14:46
Tracking falcons' comeback along the Mississippi
WJAL


http://www.wral.com/tracking-falcons-comeback-along-the-mississippi/12304235/
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF April 09, 2013, 21:02
Stillwater, MN Area High School Science Department Hatches Baby Falcons

Pictures & more article here:  http://patch.com/A-34fs


(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/US%20Falcons/Stillwater002.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: Kinderchick April 10, 2013, 11:27
Interesting article. But I have a few questions, TPC... If these chicks are being raised from birth in captivity, then can they only be used for falconry purposes, since they will have been imprinted? Also, the article says that they are a cross between a white Gyr Falcon & a Peregrine Falcon. Is it typical for different species of falcons to cross breed? Or would the mother have been artificially inseminated? And if so, why would a scientist who's interested in the restoration of the peregrine falcon population support cross breeding? ???
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick April 10, 2013, 13:53
If these chicks are being raised from birth in captivity, then can they only be used for falconry purposes, since they will have been imprinted?

Yes they will imprint and yes, at this stage they are falconry birds.  But being a falconry bird would preclude these birds from one day taking off from their falconer and reverting to a wild life.  Whether or not they are successful as a "wild" bird would depend on the bird. 

Also, the article says that they are a cross between a white Gyr Falcon & a Peregrine Falcon. Is it typical for different species of falcons to cross breed? Or would the mother have been artificially inseminated?

The article doesn't say but I am assuming they are man-made through AI, most hybrids are these days.   Hybridization is relatively new and at first it was an unanticipated accident between a peregrine and a saker owned by a falconer (http://www.pauldfrost.co.uk/hybridf.html).  Gyr x Peregrine crosses are popular - big bird and fast.  Other popular falcon species to cross are Lanners and Sakers along with the Gyrs and Peregrines. (check out Wikipedia for good information on these species if you want more details)

And if so, why would a scientist who's interested in the restoration of the peregrine falcon population support cross breeding? ??? 

The article didn't say he was a scientist, rather that he is a biology teacher and a falconer who worked on the recovery project.  That a falconer worked on the recovery project isn't usual, remember most of the techniques used to reintroduce birds are modified from falconry techniques.  And his interest in hybrid birds is as a falconer not related to his work with the recovery project.  This biology students get to see bird development up close (just like on a webcam) and they he presumably will train the chicks and either keep them to hunt with or sell them to another falconer or maybe a birds-of-prey show.

Just in addition:  In Europe, hybrid birds can't be released into the wild (http://www.birdlife.org/eu/pdfs/Nature_Directives_material/BHDTF_Position_Hybrid_Falcons-2008_04_23.pdf).  Same here in Canada I believe and I assume the same in the USA.  Reason being they are reproductively viable, they can breed unlike other hybrids like mules, which could/can pose a problem for the species they are breeding "other" genes into.  And though they can't be released, they do escape.  We had two male Gyr-Peregrine hybrids escape from a falconer in Saskatchewan the year before last (I think) - one was found dead a couple of months later but don't know about the other one.  The one who died was a fledgling just like our birds so his death was not unnatural and had he survived he would have been just like any other wild bird but a little confused genetically.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: MayShowers April 10, 2013, 15:35
Very interesting information TPC.  Thanks for the explanation.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: Doreen April 12, 2013, 18:04
Is it spring? For some places in the Midwest yes, but in MN and WI I would say NO! I say this, based on this image of a female peregrine incubating 4 eggs in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area just a few days ago.
(http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n506/DoreenHebert/69044_614650768564066_906243002_n.jpg) (http://s1137.photobucket.com/user/DoreenHebert/media/69044_614650768564066_906243002_n.jpg.html)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: susha April 12, 2013, 18:07
Wow!  Poor bird.  Bizarre weather, this... :P
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick April 12, 2013, 18:43
Is it spring? For some places in the Midwest yes, but in MN and WI I would say NO! I say this, based on this image of a female peregrine incubating 4 eggs in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area just a few days ago.
(http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n506/DoreenHebert/69044_614650768564066_906243002_n.jpg) (http://s1137.photobucket.com/user/DoreenHebert/media/69044_614650768564066_906243002_n.jpg.html)

Ahh, that looks familiar, Princess and Trey had a couple of years like that on the nest ledge ...
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: Cooper April 30, 2013, 16:44
Oh, to be in Paris in the spring time.
For the first time since the 19th Century, peregrines are:

http://phys.org/news/2013-04-falcons-born-paris-19th-century.html
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF May 08, 2013, 19:13
Peregrine falcons to be removed from endangered species list.

Indiana’s wildlife regulators are poised to remove the peregrine falcon from the state’s endangered species list this summer.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20130508/NEWS/305080075/Peregrine-falcons-removed-from-endangered-species-list?nclick_check=1
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF May 29, 2013, 19:55
Scotland
Appeal after 'hand-reared' peregrine falcon chick found

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-05-29/appeal-after-hand-reared-peregrine-falcon-chick-found-in-a-box/

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/UK%20Peregrines/scotland.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF May 29, 2013, 20:06
Davenport, Iowa

On Wednesday, five employees of MidAmerican Energy Co. crowded around a 10th-floor window of the utility's downtown Davenport office building, trying to extricate this year's lone falcon chick while its mother, Scorpio, dive-bombed the nest, squawking and slamming her beak against the window.

Falcon-grabbing is dangerous work http://bit.ly/118xz10

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/US%20Falcons%202013/sandy.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF June 06, 2013, 22:08
Peregrine falcon hunts downhill rider ~ http://youtu.be/jTJYc8O1ocM

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/ffffffff.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: Kinderchick June 07, 2013, 09:26
Very cool video! 8)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF June 07, 2013, 22:07
Question: How do you stop pigeons from pooping all over your roof?

Answer: Build a robot falcon to scare them away!
http://www.dailywhat.org.uk/2013/03/robot-falcon-gets-pigions-in-a-flap.aspx

Interactive Robop diagram
http://www.dailywhat.org.uk/2013/03/robot-falcon-gets-pigions-in-a-flap/interactive-diagram.aspx

Video from 2003 of ROBOP ~ http://youtu.be/PaZFN3P7Dt0 (http://youtu.be/PaZFN3P7Dt0)
(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/robop.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick June 11, 2013, 19:14
Police search to find falcon chick thieves after raid at the Roaches
The Sentinel - 10 June 2013


THIEVES are suspected of stealing four peregrine falcon chicks from their nest at a beauty spot.

Police and wildlife experts are investigating the disappearance of the young birds of prey from a nesting site at the Roaches, in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust (SWT), which had been keeping the nest under observation, believes the chicks were just two weeks away from being able to fly.

Now SWT – which has just taken over the running of the Roaches – is working with Staffordshire Police and the Peak District National Park Authority to find out what happened to the birds.


Read whole story here - http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Police-search-falcon-chick-thieves/story-19240022-detail/story.html#axzz2VtNLLQxB
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF June 11, 2013, 19:23
Knowing it costs money, but having a camera there may have prevented the theft or shown who the culprits were.  :-\   
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: Kinderchick June 11, 2013, 22:48
...THIEVES are suspected of stealing four peregrine falcon chicks from their nest...
Unbelievable! >:(
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF June 23, 2013, 08:32
93 UAE falcons released into the Kazakhstan wild

The release which was carried out through May 16 to 18 of this year included a total number of 46 Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and 47 Saker falcons (Falco cherrug) which were released in Kurchum, eastern Kazakhstan, for the fifth consecutive year.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/93-uae-falcons-released-into-the-kazakhstan-wild-1.1200757

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/abudhabi.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: allikat June 23, 2013, 19:15
93 UAE falcons released into the Kazakhstan wild

The release which was carried out through May 16 to 18 of this year included a total number of 46 Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and 47 Saker falcons (Falco cherrug) which were released in Kurchum, eastern Kazakhstan, for the fifth consecutive year.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/93-uae-falcons-released-into-the-kazakhstan-wild-1.1200757

This is absolutely wonderful news!  Go falcons go!!!
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick July 13, 2013, 17:07
Lowestoft, Suffolk

According to a twitter post from a photographer, apparently the first peregrines in 200 years just fledged from the Lowestoft area in Suffolk

(http://home.clara.net/ammodytes/NEWS0713Peregrines.jpeg)

And a note from a local birding group:

Here's some background -  the Return of the Peregrine  (http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/lowestoftbirds/Peregrines.html)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: RCF October 20, 2013, 14:14
Feds: Falcons recovered; no more chick rescues

After decades of scrambling on the underside of California bridges to pluck endangered peregrine falcon chicks from ill-placed nests, inseminating female birds and releasing captive-raised fledglings, wildlife biologists have been so successful in bringing back the powerful raptors that they now threaten Southern California's endangered shorebird breeding sites.

As a result, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it will no longer permit peregrine chick rescues from Bay Area bridges, a move that they concede will likely lead to fluffy chicks tumbling into the water below and drowning next spring.


http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_24348854/feds-falcons-recovered-no-more-chick-rescues
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: Jazzerkins October 20, 2013, 17:11
Wouldn't a better idea be to somehow block off the know sites under the bridge(s) to discourage nesting at all, rather than let the chicks drown if they fall.  :'(  Maybe chicken wire or something similar?
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick October 20, 2013, 17:43
Wouldn't a better idea be to somehow block off the know sites under the bridge(s) to discourage nesting at all, rather than let the chicks drown if they fall.  :'(  Maybe chicken wire or something similar? 

I daresay with the "changes" someone will propose that and/or propose changes to nestsites - modified nestboxes or nestbox locations or some such ... don't know much about how the birds use the underside of bridges as nesting areas other than they do look like cliff ledges ... someone will experiment, no one really wants chicks to die if they can find a way to modify the sites to give them a better chance ...
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: dupre501 December 04, 2013, 19:14
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/arctic-rain-threatens-baby-peregrine-falcons-1.2450721 (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/arctic-rain-threatens-baby-peregrine-falcons-1.2450721)

An article about Arctic peregrines, and their struggles.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2013
: The Peregrine Chick December 04, 2013, 21:50
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/arctic-rain-threatens-baby-peregrine-falcons-1.2450721 (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/arctic-rain-threatens-baby-peregrine-falcons-1.2450721)

An article about Arctic peregrines, and their struggles.

Glad you posted this Dupre, meant to find it myself  :)

The researchers told me a story a few years ago about one year at Rankin Inlet when they had 24 nests and they banded about 60 chicks.  Next year they had 24 nests again and one storm (not unlike the 2008 storm or the storm we had this year when our first Radisson chick died) and only one nest with 3 chicks survived.  North or south, cliff ledge or nestbox, it's not easy being a peregrine chick ...
: News: Peregrines / 2014
: The Peregrine Chick January 01, 2014, 00:57
Births on high
31 Dec 2013 - Fort Wayne News Sentinel

For the first time in three years, peregrine falcons successfully hatched chicks in the nest box on the roof of One Summit Square. Moxie and her mate, Jamie, jumped right into family life, too, hatching four chicks around May 1.

Moxie, a 2-year-old bird from Canton, Ohio, and Jamie, a 3-year-old male from Port Sheldon, Mich., took up residence in Fort Wayne in 2012, but Moxie was too young to lay eggs. Their flock soon had names — male Maverick and females Electra, Skyler and Soara — thanks to a naming contest sponsored by Indiana Michigan Power and won by students at Deer Ridge, Harris, Whispering Meadows and St. Vincent de Paul elementary schools in Fort Wayne.

Both the federal government and state of Indiana listed peregrine falcons as an endangered species decades ago because exposure to pesticides caused a steep drop in their population. Indiana started a peregrine falcon reintroduction program in 1991, and it has been successful. Statewide, a record 44 chicks were checked and banded for identification this year.

Peregrines recovered enough to be taken off the federal endangered species list in 1999. They remained an endangered species in Indiana until the Indiana Department of Natural Resources took them off the list in October.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2014
: The Peregrine Chick January 01, 2014, 01:34
Banner Year For Banding Peregrine Falcon Chicks
15 July 2013 / WBIW News

(UNDATED) - DNR wildlife biologists recently completed banding efforts with a record number of peregrine falcon chicks that were hatched this spring at 15 successful nesting sites across Indiana.

"As a species that is dependent on man-made structures in the lower Midwest, peregrine falcon numbers are at unprecedented levels due to the efforts of many agencies, organizations, companies, and individuals," said John Castrale, nongame bird biologist with the Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. "In return, these spectacular birds give wildlife watchers unique viewing opportunities as they hunt and raise their young in urban and industrial areas."

DNR biologists monitor peregrine falcon nesting every year, and most young falcons are banded with leg identification tags to help monitor their movements and survival.  The 44 falcon chicks that were banded this year topped the previous high mark of 38 set in 2012. Two additional chicks left their nests this year before biologists could get to them to attach bands.

"Once again, building and plant managers throughout the state were cooperative in allowing access for banding at nest boxes," Castrale said. "Volunteers were invaluable in monitoring nesting, identifying adults, and keeping young falcons out of harm's way."  Nesting sites in East Chicago, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Madison, Michigan City and Whiting had the most banded chicks with four each. Three chicks were banded at two sites in Gary and at single nests in Indianapolis, New Albany and Porter County.

Once threatened with extinction in North America, peregrine falcons represent one of the most successful restoration stories in the 40 years of the Endangered Species Act. Their recovery resulted in removal from the federal endangered species list in 1999. A recommendation is pending to remove them from the Indiana list of endangered species.  A half century ago, habitat loss and decreased reproduction resulting from use of pesticides, such as DDT, put peregrine falcons in peril of surviving as a species. By 1965, no peregrine falcons nested east of the Mississippi River, and western populations had declined by 90 percent.  Efforts to study, breed and restore peregrine populations began in the 1970s. Through these efforts, it was discovered that urban settings are successful nesting areas because the skyscrapers mimic the peregrine's natural cliff-side habitat.

Indiana started its peregrine falcon reintroduction project in 1991, and by 1994 the DNR had released 60 young falcons in Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and South Bend.  The number of nesting pairs in the state has slowly increased. Nests are located on buildings, under bridges, and on smokestacks along the Lake Michigan shoreline, at power plants, and in major urban areas.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2014
: The Peregrine Chick January 01, 2014, 01:51
Peregrine falcons put on a show at Tate Modern
by John Dunne / London Evening Standard / 13 Sept 2013

(http://www.standard.co.uk/incoming/article8813983.ece/ALTERNATES/w620/13-falcon2.jpg)
City dwellers: Houdini on the Tate Modern

A pair of peregrine falcons have  ruffled a few feathers in the art world with regular appearances at the Tate Modern.  Misty and Houdini nest in the City of London but often spend their days on the roof of the Tate where they have a bird’s eye view of the capital.  

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds volunteers Evie Prysor-Jones and Celia Leam were offering passers-by a chance to spy the pair using a telescope yesterday. The RSPB regularly sets up the telescopes to monitor the progress of the birds who came to London eight  years ago and were the first to return after the capital’s peregrine falcon population disappeared during the Forties.  Tim Web, the charity’s London spokesman said: “We regularly offer people the chance to use the telescopes down by the Tate Modern and it has proved very popular.

“The birds eat pigeons and like to spend time on high buildings because they are like cliffs which makes London ideal.”  There are now 24 pairs of peregrine falcons across London according to the RSPB.

: Re: News: Peregrines / 2014
: The Peregrine Chick January 01, 2014, 02:09
FWS investigating falcon death near unfinished California solar plant
by Scott Streater / Greenwire / 19 Sept 2013

The Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is once again investigating a bird death at a Southern California solar power project, this time involving a peregrine falcon discovered at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in San Bernardino County. USFWS has become increasingly concerned about bird deaths at utility-scale solar plants, including the discovery in May of a dead endangered Yuma clapper rail at another solar project under construction in the nearby Chuckwalla Valley (E&ENews PM, July 11). The service earlier this year began asking project developers to increase avian monitoring activity during project construction, said Jane Hendron, an FWS spokeswoman in Carlsbad, California.

USFWS is currently conducting a broader analysis of solar installations in the West in an effort to determine if they are contributing to bird mortalities and injuries. If so, it could create a new layer of regulatory concerns at a time of unprecedented growth in the industry that is expected to continue after President Obama in June challenged the Interior Department to add 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020.

"It's all about trying to figure out what are the aspects of these projects that are posing risks to birds, and then, hopefully, we can all put our heads together and try to devise measures that would be successful in reducing those risks," Hendron said. "But that is still something that has to be worked on."

The latest incident involves the discovery of a severely injured peregrine falcon at the nearly completed Ivanpah solar project, which is being developed by Oakland, Calif.-based BrightSource Energy, along with investment partners NRG Solar and Google. The $2.2 billion project, which has been under construction since October 2010, will use hundreds of thousands of heliostat mirrors to reflect sunlight on solar receivers atop three 459-foot-tall power towers in the Mojave Desert near the California-Nevada border.  The peregrine falcon was discovered Sept. 6 by one of the project's on-site biologists, who "promptly delivered it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for further evaluation and care," said Jeff Holland, an NRG spokesman, in an email.

Holland said that in accordance with the project's avian monitoring plan, the biologist contacted USFWS, the Bureau of Land Management and the California Energy Commission.  "Late yesterday we were informed by the USFWS that the bird had unfortunately expired and that a cause of death has yet to be determined," Holland said in the email.

A necropsy will be performed at USFWS's forensics laboratory in Ashland, Oregon, in an effort to determine the cause of death, Hendron said. Among other things, the service wants to know if the bird collided with the power towers, or whether the bird was burned or blinded while flying between the mirrors and the power towers, referred to as "solar flux."



Read the rest of the story here: http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059987532
(sorry, whole story is too long to post here ...)

: Re: News: Peregrines / 2014
: The Peregrine Chick January 01, 2014, 02:20
Falcon study hits the mark: Rare to find change in hunting habits and have Inuk coauthor
Darrell Greer / Northern News Services / 3 Oct 2013

(http://nnsl.com/northern-news-services/pics13/oct3_13brdz.jpg)

A study on peregrine falcons near Rankin Inlet has produced impressive results on two fronts. The study was done during the summers of 2007-09, as part of Vincent L'Herault's master for the University of Quebec with the help of Inuit guide Poisy Alogut and project leader Alastair Franke of the Canadian Circumpolar Institute. L'Herault said the goal of the study was to monitor the falcons to better understand what they eat and their reproductive outputs during those years.

He said Alogut did an amazing job and became much more than just a guide. "He really became a leader and influenced the way we viewed the tundra and the birds," said L'Herault. "We had a paper published in the internationally known journal, Ecology and Evolution. I had Poisy listed as one of the authors, and it's very rare for scientific research to acknowledge a local person. But I had a strong argument that his contribution was unique, particularly his willingness to share his knowledge of the land."

L'Herault said the study discovered peregrine falcons eating a great deal of ground animals, such as lemmings and ground squirrels.  He said it was always thought, from studies in other systems, falcons only fed on small birds such as snow buntings, passerines and shorebirds. "We were very, very amazed to discover the falcons were preying on lemmings. We had inland nests up to nine km in length, and others covering up to 4 km of shore on small islands, and all of these nesting birds were feeding their young a huge proportion of lemmings and ground squirrels. That was a spectacular result, based on the fact previous literature has always documented falcons hunting bird prey only."

L'Herault said about 30 pairs of adult falcons come to Rankin every spring. He said each pair tries to lay eggs and hatch young.  Depending on local meteorological conditions and food availability, about 20 pairs will successfully fledge their young to the pint where they can fly and hunt themselves. One year, we only had three successful pairs produce young, while other years saw as many as 30 pairs produce chicks. So it can be extremely variable, depending on local conditions."  

Franke tracked the Rankin falcons back to their wintering grounds in South America at Peru, Chile and Argentina. The falcons fly across the North, South America and Central America to breed in the Arctic every summer before returning south. The falcons spend about three months in the Rankin area, which is enough time for the chicks to be ready to head south with the adults.  

L'Herault said fluctuating meteorological conditions due to climate change have become a problem to the migrating birds recently. He said some conditions may influence the young falcons' ability to learn to hunt before fall arrives. "If the fall comes sooner and their adults are already gone, the young chicks could have a problem getting their food until the end of their growing season. We're just starting to see evidence the variable meteorological conditions may influence the capacity of the birds to survive and leave on time."

A falcon egg and/or chick has its share of enemies around Rankin, including the Arctic fox, ermine (short-tailed weasel), wolverine and a very rare polar bear attack. L'Herault said the adult falcons dive bomb the predators to scare them away. But, he said, just about any predator would be interested in an egg or a chick if the chance presented itself. "It's rare for any young falcon to be attacked in the air here, because the only predator with that capacity is the snowy owl. It's really the only winged predator that will bother the falcons. We don't know too much about when they're migrating, but the great horned owl would be a great threat to them in the temperate forest. So as far as winged predators, the owl is the falcon's main enemy."

Alogut said he totally enjoyed working on the study with L'Herault and his group. He said he became deeply interested in the falcons as the study went on and found himself wanting to do more. "I developed a real interest in the birds," said Alogut. "The falcons are all over the place here, and I enjoyed showing the group where the birds nest and hunt.  Most of them are on the cliffs or high grounds, but some prefer a little lower, just out of reach of the foxes." Originally from Coral Harbour, Alogut is highly skilled on the land.  He said it was fun to be part of a project where his knowledge was valued and he also learned a lot.  "I never thought of getting my name on the paper that was published, but I was excited to find out it is. I was told the door is open for me to do more work like this. But while I do enjoy it, I have other priorities now."
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2014
: The Peregrine Chick January 01, 2014, 02:26
Hmmm, sounds like Ivy and Jules and Smiley and Joli and Ivy and Joli ....  ::)

Ever heard of a peregrine falcon ‘love’ triangle? There’s one in North York
Quest and Kendal were a devoted falcon couple, but fate intervened. Enter Skye, a male teenager falcon.
by Valerie Hauch / Toronto Star / 24 Oct 2013

Older, comely female. Young male, eager to get to know her better.  Two North York peregrine falcons – a mature female named Quest, 5, and a “teenager’’ of about 2, named Skye, have been getting very chummy since last August, according to volunteers from the Canadian Peregrine Foundation who have been monitoring their movements. (Peregrines have an identifying band put on when they’re chicks, as part of a Ministry of Natural Resources program.)

“There’s quite a little love story going on,’’ says Mark Nash, president of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation.

Quest, like all female Peregrines is a lot bigger than Skye and could easily drive him out of her territory. But she seems comfortable with him and they’ve been seen “rubbing beaks together,’’ and occasionally sharing an office tower ledge, directly across the Harlequin Enterprises building on Duncan Mill Rd., where her nest box is, says Nash.

But no sex yet. While there are cases of peregrine copulation in late October (hormone stimulation depends on periods of sunlight), female fertilization doesn’t happen until March, says Nash.  It may be Skye’s first foray into falcon ‘romance.’ But his partner is more experienced. Quest has been nesting at the same place for the last few years, successfully raising broods of off-white fluffy feathered chicks with her previous mate, Kendal, 4.

They were a devoted couple, until the storms of fate intervened. Literally.  Following a terrible deluge last summer, Kendal was found on the ground with fractures on his wrist and wings. He was immediately taken to Toronto Wildlife Centre and treated and then went to the Canadian Peregrine Foundation Raptor Centre in Woodbridge to continue healing and start rehabilitation. He’s now at the Owl Foundation in Vineland where a larger confinement space will allow him to fly more and exercise his muscles.

Kendal’s ultimate fate is undecided. He still has to go through a spring moult. And he has to show that he has recovered to the point where he could survive in the wild, says Nash.  Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals on the planet – they can reach speeds of up to 320 km/hour on a dive. Kendal has to be able “to perform like an F16 (jet fighter),” says Nash. But because of his injuries, he has “lost some symmetry...we don’t know yet if he can hunt like a peregrine and keep himself alive as well as hunt for his family.’’

It will eventually be up to the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources to “make the call’’ as to whether Kendal will be released to the wild. If not, he could be sent to a sanctuary or possibly euthanized, if deemed unsuitable to living in captivity. Some wild peregrines just can’t adapt and it creates huge stress for them, he said.

However, if Kendal is released next spring, there’s likely some drama ahead.  “The first thing he’s going to do is come back to the nest,’’ says Nash. That will mean some sort of clash with Skye — in those situations the female generally hangs back and the “males work it out.’’

Sometimes, these altercations do result in the death of one bird. The Canadian Peregrine Foundation will know if Kendal is released to the wild and will monitor the nest. Quest did show signs of distress after Kendal disappeared, says Nash. And generally, peregrines will mate for life. But when one bird in a couple dies, the one left behind will often accept a new mate.  That seems to be the case here.  

Although Skye is ahead in the courtship game with Quest, it’s still not a done deal, says Nash. Skye will have to clearly demonstrate “that he can protect his territory...chase away all competitors’’ as well as prove his hunting prowess. Nesting pairs stay in Toronto all year, but young unattached peregrines migrate south before winter and then come back towards spring.
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2014
: The Peregrine Chick January 03, 2014, 19:58
Injured falcon, found on streets of Detroit, lands new home
By Wayne Peal / Detroit Free Press / 2 Jan 2014

Allegro, a Peregrine falcon found this spring dazed and injured on the streets of Detroit, has a new, permanent home at the Howell Conference and Nature Center.  He had been receiving care at the Marion Township facility since April with the intent of eventually being released back into the wild.  His injuries, however, proved too severe for that to happen and, last month, the center gained U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval to make him a permanent resident.  

Even though Allegro only has a slight metatarsal injury, center Director Dana DeBenham said that condition threatens his ability to survive in the wild.  “For us, it would be like having an injured finger, but for a falcon, it greatly impacts their ability to target food from the air,” DeBenham said.

Peregrine falcons, with dive speeds approaching 200 mph, are considered the fastest birds in the sky. Allegro’s speed nearly proved his undoing.  It is believed his injuries came from crashing into a window near his previous nesting place.  At the time of his injury, Allegro was nesting at Whittier Park, a high-rise senior center on the Detroit riverfront.

Allegro at first received received fluids and specialized medication and now exists on a diet of diced mouse parts. He’s bonded with the center’s other Peregrine falcon, Rocky, and staff members believe he’s happy at his new home.  “He’s 14, so he is pretty far along in his lifespan,” DeBenham said. “But we’re hoping to have him for a while.”  Allegro is expected to be part of the center’s education programs.

Peregrine falcons are listed as an endangered species in Michigan, and Allegro was identified from bands on both legs.  The falcons are large birds, with wingspans of up to 4 feet. They are noted for their bluish-gray backs and dark tips on their yellowish bills.

As Allegro survived, the fates weren’t as kind to another rare bird that was found injured this week in Livingston County.  After hearing a loud thump at their door, Coy and Char Wilder were surprised to see an injured Merlin falcon outside their Howell Township home.  They promptly saw to it that the falcon was transported to the nature center, but efforts to save it were unsuccessful.  It it believed that the falcon was on a migratory flight, most likely south from Canada.  “It’s rare that you see them in this part of Michigan unless they are migrating,” DeBenham said.

Smaller than Peregrines, Merlins are best identified by their dark coloring and “mustache”-style striping on their faces. Kept by falconers since the Middle Ages, they were once known as “lady hawks,” according to information on the website All About Birds.

The Howell Conference and Nature Center is the state’s largest care center for birds of prey.


source: http://www.freep.com/article/20140102/NEWS05/301020054/Injured-falcon-found-in-Detroit-lands-new-home-at-Howell-Conference-and-Nature-Center
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2014
: The Peregrine Chick January 10, 2014, 12:53
Where have all the falcons gone? Dramatic decline has set alarm bells ringing among conservationists.
Cahal Milmo / the Independent / 14 Oct 2013

(http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article8879751.ece/ALTERNATES/w620/v2-24-falcons-pa.jpg)

Once described as the “Switzerland of England”, the Forest of Bowland offers an ideal habitat for the peregrine falcon. With its rocky outcrops and vast tracts of upland, it was until recently home to a thriving population of some 15 pairs of Britain’s fastest bird of prey.  But almost as rapidly as Falco peregrinus sweeps from the sky to secure its quarry, the number of the species in the 880-square-kilometre beauty spot stretching across Lancashire has plummeted. In just five years, the population has tumbled from 30 birds to just a single breeding pair.  The dramatic decline has set alarm bells ringing among conservationists, who point out that there are now more of these graceful predators living in England’s cities than across a vast swathe of the North stretching from the Peak District to the Yorkshire Moors and the Pennines.

The reasons for the disappearance of Bowland’s falcons are still not fully understood. But the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds say that elsewhere the illegal killing of raptors – birds of prey – by rogue gamekeepers on moorland used for shooting red grouse is thwarting attempts to conserve species. Hen harriers, once abundant in the UK, are on the verge of extinction in England after the last two pairs this year failed to breed.  The crisis is also causing strains within the conservation movement, sparking an unseemly row between the RSPB and a group of local raptor campaigners.  The Independent can reveal that the charity, Europe’s largest dealing with wildlife, has used one of the world’s biggest law firms, Clifford Chance, to write to the North West Raptor Group demanding the removal of “libellous” material from its website. The NWRG claims the RSPB has failed to protect the local peregrine falcons, and has not been candid about the scale of their decline.  

Terry Pickford, the NWRG’s founder, accused the RSPB of “intimidation”, saying the group, which had its licences to monitor bird-of-prey nests in Bowland restricted in 2010 by the Government’s wildlife adviser Natural England, was raising legitimate concerns about the decline in peregrine numbers and the safeguarding of the species. The group had previously complained to the RSPB after two of its members were approached by a warden earlier this year while watching a peregrine site and later asked to attend a police interview. The two men were told they had no case to answer but the RSPB said its warden had acted appropriately.  Mr Pickford said: “It feels like the RSPB does not like criticism and is going to extraordinary lengths to stop it. We are a small group in Lancashire who believe passionately in what we do and here we are receiving letters from a giant firm of London lawyers threatening legal action. It’s hard not to see it as anything other than intimidation. It makes us even more determined.”

The RSPB denied its actions were heavy-handed, saying it respected the right of others to criticise but the legal letter had been sent to protect volunteers from what it believed were unsubstantiated and defamatory allegations on the NWRG website. It said Clifford Chance had sent the letter without a fee as part of a “pro bono” charitable partnership. A spokesman said: “Normally we take this type of criticism on the chin but we have a duty of care towards our staff and we must protect them from untrue claims. We are not a litigious organisation and the decision to send this letter was not taken lightly.”


... part two continues below ...

Link to story:   The Independent - Where have all the falcons gone?  (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/where-have-all-the-falcons-gone-dramatic-decline-has-set-alarm-bells-ringing-among-conservationists-8879908.html)
: Re: News: Peregrines / 2014
: The Peregrine Chick January 10, 2014, 12:54
Where have all the falcons gone? Dramatic decline has set alarm bells ringing among conservationists.
Cahal Milmo / the Independent / 14 Oct 2013

... continued from part one above ...

The row is symptomatic of rising anxiety among conservationists as they see the success stories of bird-of-prey conservation in recent years, such as the widespread return of the red kite across England and a rise in buzzard numbers, offset by problems for some of Britain’s most iconic hawks.  Despite its problems in Bowland, which experts said could be related to natural causes ranging from last year’s harsh winter to competing bird species as well as human intervention, the peregrine falcon has recovered strongly from near extinction in the 1970s due to use of DDT pesticides. There are now some 1,400 breeding pairs across Britain.  Sources told The Independent that many of the abandoned peregrine sites in Bowland were on land owned and managed by energy and water company United Utilities, which is regarded as a model of sustainable moorland management. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the company.

But conservationists say the falcon and other species are also markedly absent – or have had numbers dramatically reduced – in areas that coincide with the 850,000 acres of upland moor in northern England where some 500,000 grouse are shot annually in an industry worth Ł67m a year.  David Morris, the RSPB’s area conservation manager in the North-west, said: “We are deeply alarmed and concerned by this drop in numbers of peregrines in Bowland. We don’t know what is causing it.  “We have seen a pattern elsewhere where commericially-driven grouse moors have in recent years geared up in the intensity of their management of the land. There is no escaping that in these areas species like peregrines or goshawks are just disappearing. They have become absolute black holes for the birds of prey. We are not anti-shooting but grouse shooting has become commercialised to an unsustainable level and that has included rogue gamekeepers on some estates persecuting birds of prey and systematically removing them.”

Some 70 per cent of the 152 people convicted for persecution of birds of prey under the Wildlife and Country Act were employed in the game industry, according to the RSPB.  Among the measures being sought by conservationists to tackle the problem is the introduction of vicarious liability, making the owners of grouse moorland estates responsible for the actions of employees. The introduction of the measure in Scotland last year has seen a sharp drop in the number of poisonings of bird of prey.  Moorland owners strongly denied any systematic destruction of birds of prey, pointing out that it was only because of the habitat created by estate workers, for wild birds including grouse, that species like the hen harrier were present in the first place.  A spokeswoman for the Moorland Association said: “We would condemn any illegal killing of birds of prey. We believe very strongly that there is room in the uplands for the full sweep of birds that should be there. There must be a balance and we are working with all sides to explore ways to manage birds of prey numbers sustainably.”


Link to story:   The Independent - Where have all the falcons gone?  (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/where-have-all-the-falcons-gone-dramatic-decline-has-set-alarm-bells-ringing-among-conservationists-8879908.html)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick January 21, 2014, 15:29
Peregrine falcons halt Essex reactor decommissioning plan
BBC Essex /  19 April 2013

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/67105000/jpg/_67105159_falcon_reactor.jpg)

Nesting peregrine falcons have halted work to decommission a former nuclear reactor in Essex.  The pair were spotted on the roof of one of two reactors at the Magnox Bradwell-on-sea site, which were about to undergo maintenance work.  Because the birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, the company has had to "pause" the work. 

A spokesman said it had taken advice to ensure other work at the site "would not distress our new residents".

There are about 1,400 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons in the UK. They normally favour rocky cliff tops to make their nests.  However, the two birds have this time chosen to build a nest more than 50m (165ft) up at the industrial site.  It is not the first time peregrines have chosen the reactors as a nesting spot. In 2008 another falcon was filmed in its nest on the reactor.  The latest residents, however, have chosen a less accessible spot and filming the nest has not yet been possible, the spokesman said. 

Steve McNitt, the site's safety and environment manager, said: "It's difficult to know how long the falcons will stay.  We are hoping for a successful brood and are planning on having them around through the summer. Eggs normally hatch after around four weeks, and the chicks begin to fly about three weeks later.  They tend to stay close to the nest and remain dependent on the adult falcons for around a further two months."

Members of Essex Birdwatching Society have confirmed seeing the falcons returning to the reactor nesting site. 

The twin reactors at Bradwell-on-sea are currently undergoing decommissioning work. The site was shut down in March 2002 after 40 years of operation.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick May 03, 2014, 18:26
Found this on a tweet (never thought I would say that  ::))


Migration pathways of Peregrines fitted with satellite tags in five regions of Arctic Eurasia.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BmXfXsSCIAAcbsT.jpg) (https://twitter.com/TheFalconBirder/status/461020134983737345/photo/1)

Click on the image to see a larger version of the picture
: Re: News: Peregrines
: RCF May 15, 2014, 10:35
Peregrine falcons eggs hatched in police custody after smuggling swoop Birmingham airport.

A man tried to smuggle the peregrine falcon eggs out of Birmingham International Airport

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/05/15/peregrine-falcons-eggs-hatched-in-police-custody-after-smuggling-swoop-birmingham-airport/ (http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/05/15/peregrine-falcons-eggs-hatched-in-police-custody-after-smuggling-swoop-birmingham-airport/)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Kinderchick May 15, 2014, 13:53
4 week old Peregrine Falcon chick found abandoned by the roadside in Scotland

The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after a peregrine falcon chick was found abandoned in a box by a roadside...

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/05/15/4-week-old-peregrine-falcon-chick-found-abandoned-by-the-roadside-in-scotland/
: Re: News: Peregrines
: RCF May 15, 2014, 17:08
4 week old Peregrine Falcon chick found abandoned by the roadside in Scotland

The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after a peregrine falcon chick was found abandoned in a box by a roadside...

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/05/15/4-week-old-peregrine-falcon-chick-found-abandoned-by-the-roadside-in-scotland/

Your link doesn't work Kinderchick.   ???  I tried it a couple of times and got this.

Not Found
Sorry, but you are looking for something that isn't here.


or this

The requested URL "http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/05/15/4-week-old-peregrine-falcon-chick-found-abandoned-by-the-roadside-in-scotland/" cannot be found or is not available. Please check the spelling or try again later.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: RCF May 15, 2014, 17:17
4 week old Peregrine Falcon chick found abandoned by the roadside in Scotland

The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after a peregrine falcon chick was found abandoned in a box by a roadside...

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/05/15/4-week-old-peregrine-falcon-chick-found-abandoned-by-the-roadside-in-scotland/

Your link doesn't work Kinderchick.   ???  I tried it a couple of times and got this.

Not Found Sorry, but you are looking for something that isn't here.
or this
The requested URL "http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/05/15/4-week-old-peregrine-falcon-chick-found-abandoned-by-the-roadside-in-scotland/" cannot be found or is not available. Please check the spelling or try again later.

I found this link though and it seems this was from May 2013.
  ???

http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/appeal-as-peregrine-falcon-chick-found-abandoned-1-2948034
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Kinderchick May 16, 2014, 14:56
Your link doesn't work Kinderchick.   ??? 

Weird... it doesn't work for me now either, RCF.
It did work when I came across the article a few days ago.
Very strange.

Thanks for posting a new link about the article, RCF.  :-*
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Doreen June 11, 2014, 09:12
South Coast Peregrine with an interesting brood
South West Peregrine Group / 10 June 2014

Tracy I'm not sure where to post this. Nice video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08eDN1csgRA&feature=youtu.be
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick June 11, 2014, 10:36
Tracy I'm not sure where to post this. Nice video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08eDN1csgRA&feature=youtu.be

Nothing wrong with it's location :) as it is more of a news story than just a video.  I've tweaked your title to make it easier for folks to find later.

I'm interested in this phrase from the text below the video: "The outcome is not likely to be a good one for the young."  Not sure why they say this ... other than perhaps imprinting on peregrines but I don't know how much gulls will imprint on another bird species.  As for diet, Herring gulls are omnivores so they can digest meat just fine - not sure what the proper balance is for growing chicks but so far this peregrine seems to have managed very nicely.  As for when they fledge, according to what I know about herring gulls, they often get separated separated from their parents, live on their own before hooking up with other gulls - sounds like that part is hardwired in which case, they may be a herring gull with an odd background but still a herring gull.  Since peregrines don't as a species demonstrate any infanticide or siblicide behaviour, not sure that's a big issue ....

Also, the herring gull is a "red" listed species by the RSPB in the UK
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/h/herringgull/index.aspx (click on the Red button to find out more about the classification)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Kinderchick June 11, 2014, 16:53
This is, indeed, very strange, but also very interesting - peregrine falcons raising herring gulls. Do you think what they mean by "the outcome is not likely to be a good one for the young" could mean that after they fledge & become self sufficient, they could then become prey for the peregrine falcons? ???
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick June 11, 2014, 17:26
This is, indeed, very strange, but also very interesting - peregrine falcons raising herring gulls. Do you think what they mean by "the outcome is not likely to be a good one for the young" could mean that after they fledge & become self sufficient, they could then become prey for the peregrine falcons? ???

check my note below  ;)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: RCF June 11, 2014, 19:27
Endangered falcon shot in West Allis, Wisconsin
Mar 11, 2014
Someone opened fire with a shotgun on this beautiful bird. The x-ray shows her body full of pellets, and it's particularly troubling.  Peregrine falcons are an endangered species, and Madame X is a mom, expected to mate again this spring.

http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/news/Endangered-falcon-shot-in-West-Allis-249645131.html (http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/news/Endangered-falcon-shot-in-West-Allis-249645131.html)


(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/MadameX.jpg)

UPDATE June 11 2014


Endangered peregrine falcon shot in March learns to fly again

WEST ALLIS -- Madame X, an endangered peregrine falcon shot in March, is learning to fly again.

"When she first came to us with multiple shot gun pellets in her body, her prognosis for release was guarded," said Scott Diehl with the Wisconsin Humane Society.


http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/Endangered-peregrine-falcon-shot-in-March-learns-to-fly-again-262705721.html (http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/Endangered-peregrine-falcon-shot-in-March-learns-to-fly-again-262705721.html)

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/MadameX002.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Kinderchick June 11, 2014, 22:00
That is very sad news about Madame X being shot. But wonderful news that she is learning to fly again & with determination, may actually be released into the wild before too long. Amazing. :D
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick June 11, 2014, 22:56
That is very sad news about Madame X being shot. But wonderful news that she is learning to fly again & with determination, may actually be released into the wild before too long. Amazing. :D

Note about peregrines getting shot ... peregrines have a bad habit of chasing crows and they are dark and crow-sized and unless you can tell the difference in flight (most folks can't), they are often mistaken for just one of a murder of crows.  And folks like to shoot at crows and while many more crows have been shot, peregrines mistaken for crows have been as well.  I'm not saying this is what happened to Madame X or that it is okay to shoot peregrines or heck shoot crows, I thought I would share a piece of peregrine trivia ...
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick October 15, 2014, 13:10
Pere­grine Fal­con found on City Bal­cony
Anna Mar­grét Björns­son /MBL / 13 Oct 2014

A fam­ily in west-cen­tral Reyk­javík found a sur­prise vis­i­tor on their bal­cony on Thurs­day. Their guest was of the winged kind, a pere­grine fal­con who stayed on the bal­cony for the whole night. "He was hud­dled up on the bal­cony and we thought he would fly away but he was still there in the morn­ing, poor thing," said fa­ther Trausti Ţorgeirs­son.

In an in­ter­view with mbl.is news, Ţorgeirs­son said that it seemed that the fal­con had been knocked out ei­ther by fly­ing into the win­dow or onto the bal­cony rail­ing. "It looked like he was try­ing to fly away but could­n't take off." The bird hud­dled in­stead by the bal­cony door and stayed there un­til the fol­low­ing day, when Ţorgeirs­son called the po­lice.

(http://www.mbl.is/tncache/frimg/dimg_cache/e360x205/7/70/770060.jpg)  (http://www.mbl.is/frimg/7/70/770061.jpg)
Peregrine falcon on a balcony in west central Reykjavik. Photo/​Trausti Ţorgeirs­son

Nei­ther he or the po­lice of­fi­cers who ar­rived dared to go out on the bal­cony to cap­ture the fal­con. "The po­lice force has no train­ing in how to cap­ture a fal­con on a bal­cony.

In­stead, they got an ex­pe­ri­enced fal­con han­dler from closeby Melaskóli el­e­men­tary school who ar­rived armed with a spe­cialised glove," said Ţorgeirs­son. "But when the guy tried to get close to the bird, he flew up on the bal­cony railng and then flew off into the world, prob­a­bly with an in­jured leg."

Ţorgeirs­son added that the spar­rows in the area had re­acted strongly to the fal­con's pres­ence when he flew away, fly­ing to­wards him and fol­low­ing him some dis­tance.

Last month two pere­grine fal­cons were spot­ted in the south penin­sula, one of them a young bird and the other one older. Ac­cord­ing to or­nithol­o­gist Jóhann Óli Hilmars­son it is quite pos­si­ble that the bal­cony fal­con was the younger bird. The pere­grine fal­con is some­what smaller than the Ice­landic fal­con. The species nests in all con­ti­nents ex­cept for the Antarc­tic and is a rare sight in Ice­land.


Source:  http://www.mbl.is/english/news/2014/10/13/peregrine_falcon_found_on_city_balcony/
: Re: News: Peregrines
: RCF January 06, 2015, 16:26
Banded Canadian peregrine falcon spotted in San Diego

Tracking a Wandering Peregrine Falcon from Mission Bay

http://obrag.org/?p=90352 (http://obrag.org/?p=90352)

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/PEFAblueband.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: dupre501 January 06, 2015, 23:53
Cool! Glad to hear about Canadian birds.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: RCF January 07, 2015, 09:41
 :)
   
Toronto Sheraton juvenile - (named Trout) - Solid Black band W over 79 with Yellow Tape has been sighted in Florida USA on December 12th - 2014

More info and photos at this link

http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/2015/01/sightings/13556/
: Re: News: Peregrines
: irenekl March 13, 2015, 10:12
On the next episode of The Nature of Things on CBC is "Songbird SOS" The vanishing of the music from songbirds is increasing. 

Thursday, March 19th at 8:00pm (ch. 209 on Shaw)


(if this is in the wrong thread I apologize.  Please move if necessary)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: allikat March 13, 2015, 11:21
On the next episode of The Nature of Things on CBC is "Songbird SOS" The vanishing of the music from songbirds is increasing.  
Yes, unfortunately the small song birds are in fact disappearing - they get caught during migration and fly toward large buildings with their lights still on, when no one is home.  
It's been an ongoing major problem in large cities between their migratory paths. They just fly toward the light and get caught.  The birds will literally try to fly up against the windows, getting mesmerized by the light, eventually tiring them out, then die of stress and exhaustion.  Bird specialists as well as enthusiasts have complained about buildings keeping their lights on, but, obviously, nothing has been done about it, which is so very sad.
There are other contributing factors as well, but this one is a major one.
: Arctic rain threatens baby peregrine falcons
: GCG April 09, 2015, 05:14
Arctic rain threatens baby peregrine falcons
Heavier summer rain leading to chick deaths from hypothermia, or even drowning
CBC News / Dec 04, 2013

(http://i.cbc.ca/1.2450718.1386175865!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/peregrine-flight.jpg)
When it rains, adult falcons crouch above their chicks, wings spread like a canopy, to keep them dry. But warmer temperatures and more frequent heavy rains in the Arctic are, in some cases, forcing adult falcons to give up on their chicks. (Erik Hedlin)


Warmer Arctic temperatures and changing weather patterns are introducing a new problem for peregrine falcons breeding on the west coast of Hudson Bay: rain.

When it rains, adult falcons crouch above their chicks, wings spread like a canopy, to keep them dry. But warmer temperatures and more frequent heavy rains are, in some cases, forcing adults falcons to give up, leaving the chicks exposed in the nest.

The chicks can die from hypothermia, or even drown.

“They’re completely covered in fluffy down,” says Alastair Franke, of the University of Alberta’s Circumpolar Institute. “That down gets wet very quickly.”


(http://i.cbc.ca/1.2450989.1386185872!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_300/peregrine-falcon-nest.jpg)
A peregrine falcon tries to brood two nestlings who succumbed to exposure. (University of Alberta)


The latest research looked at 30 pairs of falcons near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. It found that after a heavy summer rain, more than a third of the chicks died.

Researchers watched one case where a healthy adult mother saw her well fed chicks succumb to the cold and damp. When attempts to revive them with more food didn’t work, she killed and ate both chicks.

While infanticide is not uncommon in other raptor species, Franke says this is the first time it’s been documented in peregrine falcons.

“In extreme weather conditions where adults are exposed, at some point they give up,” Franke says.

He says this is done likely to save their strength for the next breeding opportunity.

The research found that offering protection to the falcons, in the form of nest boxes, made a difference, but some birds who used the nest boxes still died of starvation. That prompted concerns that heavy rainfall is also affecting creatures lower down the food chain, such as lemmings, ground squirrels and other birds.

Right now, Franke says, it’s not clear what action should be taken. The study was limited to one small population in a species that is, overall, doing very well.

Peregrine falcons were in steep decline in the 1970s because of the heavy use of pesticides such as DDT. Now peregrine falcons can be found around the globe.

However, one N.W.T. bird expert says the plight of the falcons shows action needs to be taken on climate change.

"We are not doing much in response to climate change in terms of mitigating it or stopping the causes of it,” says Bob Bromley, a Yellowknife ornithologist and a member of the Northwest Territories legislature.

"They are sort of a canary in a coal mine," Bromley says.




source:  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/arctic-rain-threatens-baby-peregrine-falcons-1.2450721



Sorry, TPC, I didn't know where to post this post I saw on the CBC site this morning. Please repost where necessary. Thank you!
: Re: Arctic rain threatens baby peregrine falcons
: Kinderchick April 09, 2015, 21:55
Like the article implies, the plight of these PF's are "sort of the canary in the coal mine" where climate change is concerned.
Very interesting article... thanks for posting it, gemcity.
: Perigrine falcons/Vancouver
: GCG May 14, 2015, 07:48
While looking for something from the Vancouver Sun, I came across this article.  :)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Peregrine+falcon+named+Vancouver+bird+year/11053469/story.html
: Re: Perigrine falcons/Vancouver
: Kinderchick May 14, 2015, 18:49
Interesting... Haven't ever heard of peregrine falcons in Vancouver.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick August 29, 2015, 11:43
Don't think anyone has posted this story yet ... I thought it an interesting read ...

Object of Intrigue: A Passport for Falcons
Ella Morton / Atlas Obscura / 04 Aug 2015

(http://assets.atlasobscura.com/article_images/800x/17170/image.jpg)
A blindfolded falcon ready to rack up some sweet frequent flier points.
(Photo: yeowatzup on Flickr/Creative Commons)


If you're boarding a flight to or from the United Arab Emirates and spot a blindfolded falcon hanging out in first class, do not be alarmed. The bird of prey is allowed to travel in the cabin and has been subjected to the same stringent security checks as you have—including passport control.

In the Emirates, falcons get issued their very own forest green passports. The unusual documentation scheme is due to the fact that, in the U.A.E, falcons are highly prized and therefore attractive to smugglers. Falconry, in which the birds of prey are trained to hunt, is a significant part of the region's Bedouin heritage.

Though the U.A.E.'s desert dwellers no longer rely on falcons for food delivery, falconry continues as a sport and source of national pride. An annual falconry festival in Abu Dhabi lures hawks and their trainers from around the world. Falconers from the region travel the Persian Gulf and beyond with their birds to engage in festivals, competitions, and displays. Hence the need for passports and first-class accommodation.

A top falcon can sell for up to $1 million, writes Ali Al Saloom in The National. The high value of well-bred birds has led to an illegal trade—which is why, in 2002, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) moved to crack down on falcon smuggling by introducing a mandatory falcon passport for jetsetting birds of prey.

(http://assets.atlasobscura.com/article_images/800x/17169/image.jpg)
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital director Dr. Margit Muller displays the relevant falcon documentation.
(Photo: Eric Elder)


Each passport corresponds to a particular falcon. That falcon must also be fitted with a leg ring inscribed with an identity number that ends up on the passport. This guards against one bird impersonating another. Sadly, the passports do not require photos, but falcons, you'll find, are somewhat hard to tell apart based on their head shots alone. They also travel with tiny, eye-covering leather helmets on their heads in order to stay calm, making face-based identification even more difficult.

CITES stipulates that, when flying with an avian companion, a falconer must present the bird's passport to a border control officer, who, as with human passports, "should validate it with an ink stamp, signature and date to show the history of movement from State to State." Passports are issued by the UAE's Ministry of Environment and Water for a fee of 500 U.A.E. dirhams—around $136 USD—and remain valid for three years.

The passport "certifies the legal origin of the falcons used for falconry and ensures smooth and easy documentation for falcon travels," says Maribel Broso of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. After being issued a passport, the birds may fly accompanied by their falconers to eight countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Morocco, and Syria.

In September 2013, Gulf News reported that over 28,000 falcons had been issued with passports since 2002. The UAE's scheme—the first falcon passport in the world—has also influenced other countries in the Gulf. Last year, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia all agreed to issue their own CITES-approved passports for falcon travel.

(http://assets.atlasobscura.com/article_images/800x/17177/image.jpg)
Fly, my pretty! But get the required documentation first.
(Photo: cloudzilla on Flickr/Creative Commons)



source:  http://tinyurl.com/o5tgnzu
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Kinderchick August 31, 2015, 22:23
Interesting... but I have a question - why are falcons used for falconry blindfolded? ???
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Jazzerkins September 01, 2015, 08:04
From what I have read, Kinderchick, the falcons are blindfolded when being transported, to keep them calm.  The blindfold is removed when they are "home" or are ready to be released to hunt. 
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick September 01, 2015, 12:10
Technically they are called hoods and they are custom designed to fit the bird so there is space around their head and eyes - and can be put on and taken off with one hand by the falconer while the bird is sitting on their other hand/arm.  There is a basic design but flourishes have been added over the centuries by falconers ...

Some are very simple, others have more panache ...

(http://artoffalconry.com/storemaker/images/CH5403.jpg)  (http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p229/crazypurplewaterbug/IMG_0695.jpg)

Some are quite ornate ... these ones have gemstones ... diamonds I believe ...

(http://lostinasupermarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Falcon-Hoods.jpg)


Covering an animal's eyes tends to reduce their stress and keep them calmer.  Like when you have a songbird that hits your window - you put it in a box with the lid on (no food or water) and put it in a quiet dark room for an hour.  Then take it back outside and the songbird will a) fly away (brain has rebooted and no lasting injuries), b) they will not fly away usually a sign of an more serious injury but one they could recovery from with some veterinary care so take to local wildlife rehab organization or c) injury was fatal and bird has died but died in a less stressful environment.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Kinderchick September 01, 2015, 23:29
Very interesting! Thanks for your explanations, Jazzerkins & TPC.
And now I know exactly what to do, if a songbird ever hits our living room window.
I actually did not know to put it in a box for an hour, to relieve it's stress.
I thought it was to be left alone, wherever it landed, till it recovered.
Thanks for the advice, TPC! :-*

BTW, very fancy, schmancy hoods, indeed! ;)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: GCG September 02, 2015, 04:13
Love their bling on the hoods.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: RCF October 12, 2015, 08:53
Florida Keys Hawkwatch

1506 Peregrine Falcons in 1 Day Count – New World Record

https://floridakeyshawkwatch.wordpress.com/2015/10/11/1506-peregrine-falcons-in-1-day-count-new-world-record/ (https://floridakeyshawkwatch.wordpress.com/2015/10/11/1506-peregrine-falcons-in-1-day-count-new-world-record/)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick October 12, 2015, 09:24
Thanks for posting this RCF - I've been watching the Florida numbers as well and it's been amazing watching the daily counts. Hadn't checked in the last couple of days so glad you caught this one!

And for those wondering, yes some of our birds migrate/have migrated to/through Florida Over the years.  No idea how many though because mostly the sightings are as a result of an injury or death. But that is true of all reports of our birds from down south - except the few Manitoba birds with transmitters of course.  There are only two transmitters still active I believe and so far none of the birds that had transmitters birds went the Florida route as far as I know.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison December 31, 2015, 12:07
A work in progress from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: The Feather Atlas. This is quite an undertaking.

For example, here are the scans for peregrine feathers:

http://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/browse-species.php?CommonName=Peregrine_Falcon (http://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/browse-species.php?CommonName=Peregrine_Falcon)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick February 06, 2016, 10:11
From our cam guru ...

Falcon gets bird's-eye view of Ottawa commuters
CBC News / 5 Feb 2016

(http://i.cbc.ca/1.3435204.1454681278!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/falcon-traffic-camera.jpg)

An Ontario Ministry of Transportation traffic camera caught what looked to be a peregrine falcon perched high above Highway 417 near Churchill Avenue in Ottawa this morning.  The bird refused to show its face on camera. (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)  Or at least some of it.  The camera-shy bird chose not to show its head for a glamour shot. 

It'll have to work up its courage if it ever wants to become as famous as this Montreal snowy owl, which was also caught on a traffic camera.

(http://i.cbc.ca/1.3393358.1452183154!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_620/snow-owl.jpg)


Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/traffic-camera-bird-ottawa-1.3435183
: Re: News: Peregrines
: RCF March 16, 2016, 20:54
2,500-year-old bird's nest found

A 2,500-year-old bird's nest has been discovered on a cliff in Greenland.

The nesting site is still continually used by gyrfalcons, the world's largest species of falcon, and is the oldest raptor nest ever recorded.

Three other nests, each over 1,000 years old, have also been found, one of which contains feathers from a bird that lived more than 600 years ago.

However, ornithologists fear climate change may soon drive the birds from these ancient nesting sites.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8103000/8103872.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8103000/8103872.stm)

An ancient nest, this one dated at a mere 1000 years old.
(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/_45933854_billoncliffagain.jpg)  (http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/_45933830_thulebooth.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: dupre501 March 17, 2016, 13:13
So ... um ... Is that rock the man is climbing on permanently white washed?
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick March 17, 2016, 14:20
So ... um ... Is that rock the man is climbing on permanently white washed?

Probably :)   Lots and lots of Poop-Art ...
: Re: News: Peregrines
: GCG April 22, 2016, 07:08
This progression chart shows the chicks as they grow. Click on a photo for comments.

http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/info/ageguide.html
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 02, 2016, 22:47
Concord, New Hampshire

A young female peregrine falcon was released near Horseshoe Pond in Concord on Friday, August 26, two days after it was spotted nearby on an Interstate 393 exit ramp. When found, the bird appeared uninjured but remained where it was on the pavement when approached by people. It was eventually placed in the care of Wings of the Dawn, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Henniker, and cleared for release by Weare Animal Hospital before being banded and released by New Hampshire Audubon.

It's always good to see a rescued peregrine flying free again. There are about ten photos of this beautiful juvie which accompany the news item. I noticed that the banding process was a little different.

http://www.concordmonitor.com/New-Hampshire-Audubon-releases-peregrine-falcon-4347733 (http://www.concordmonitor.com/New-Hampshire-Audubon-releases-peregrine-falcon-4347733)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick September 03, 2016, 16:51
Concord, New Hampshire

A young female peregrine falcon was released near Horseshoe Pond in Concord on Friday, August 26, two days after it was spotted nearby on an Interstate 393 exit ramp. When found, the bird appeared uninjured but remained where it was on the pavement when approached by people. It was eventually placed in the care of Wings of the Dawn, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Henniker, and cleared for release by Weare Animal Hospital before being banded and released by New Hampshire Audubon.

It's always good to see a rescued peregrine flying free again. There are about ten photos of this beautiful juvie which accompany the news item. I noticed that the banding process was a little different.

http://www.concordmonitor.com/New-Hampshire-Audubon-releases-peregrine-falcon-4347733 (http://www.concordmonitor.com/New-Hampshire-Audubon-releases-peregrine-falcon-4347733)

some banders are good enough to band fast and without a second person to hold or restrain the bird (adult or chick) in some way.  Certainly solo bandings on chicks are easier because they don't have flight feathers on their wings which make it much more difficult and the tail feathers don't get in the way.  The rest of us I would say have considered what we would do if we were ever in a position where we didn't have an extra pair of hands.  I know I have a plan in my back pocket in case it ever happens to me.  When the juvenile is being held by his feet, it is probably to a) not restrain the juvie until needed and b) let the chick cool off after banding - they don't perspire rather pant through their mouth but it helps if they can get a breeze across their breast and under their wings.  The ice-cream-cone hold doesn't hurt the bird - trick is to be able to do it securely (no strain on their legs/feet) and so they rest their body on the top of your hand otherwise they feel unstable and protest.  Its a nice secure hold if your hands are big enough/strong enough - but you can't use it on all birds - some just try to eat your hands  ::)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 25, 2016, 16:45

some banders are good enough to band fast and without a second person to hold or restrain the bird (adult or chick) in some way.  Certainly solo bandings on chicks are easier because they don't have flight feathers on their wings which make it much more difficult and the tail feathers don't get in the way.  The rest of us I would say have considered what we would do if we were ever in a position where we didn't have an extra pair of hands.  I know I have a plan in my back pocket in case it ever happens to me.  When the juvenile is being held by his feet, it is probably to a) not restrain the juvie until needed and b) let the chick cool off after banding - they don't perspire rather pant through their mouth but it helps if they can get a breeze across their breast and under their wings.  The ice-cream-cone hold doesn't hurt the bird - trick is to be able to do it securely (no strain on their legs/feet) and so they rest their body on the top of your hand otherwise they feel unstable and protest.  Its a nice secure hold if your hands are big enough/strong enough - but you can't use it on all birds - some just try to eat your hands  ::)

Thank you for the reply, TPC. What you say makes perfect sense, and certainly banding with only one person could be very tricky.

In the instance above, the juvie was placed in a cylinder with only the feet showing at the bottom of the cylinder. There was one person banding and another holding the feet and/or the cylinder. I was wondering about the need for the cylinder, which is visible in three of the photos with the article. I have never seen this done before, and thought it could possibly cause feather damage or other injuries.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 25, 2016, 17:09
Part of an article from The Globe and Mail, Johannesburg. I have made certain portions of the text bold.

September 23, 2016

Soaring peregrine falcon population pivotal to conservation discussions

Wildlife conservationist Peter Ewins remembers finding abandoned nests and broken eggs when he searched for peregrine falcons in the 1980s in places where they had nested for centuries.

The world’s fastest animal, a magnificent raptor that can hit speeds of nearly 400 kilometres an hour as it swoops on its prey, had tumbled to the brink of extinction as a result of devastating damage from pesticides.

But at a conference beginning on Saturday, the Canadian government will call for the international trade in peregrine falcons to be permitted again. It is a testament to the success of conservation efforts – and a potential boost for a global treaty that is battling to prevent the extinction of elephants, rhinoceroses and other animals.

The treaty, known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), is one of the last lines of defence for animal species that face an overwhelming threat from poachers and traffickers. An alarming rise in the illegal trade of elephant ivory and rhino horn, among other products, will be a key focus for the 183 nations that gather in Johannesburg for the start of the 12-day conference.

For the treaty to keep its credibility in regions such as Africa and Asia, where trafficking has escalated, it needs success stories. And Canadian officials believe they have found three such stories: the peregrine falcon, the wood bison and the cougar. Canada is proposing that CITES should loosen its restrictions on the global trade of all three species.

It might sound counter-intuitive, but analysts say the loosened restrictions on newly healthy species could strengthen the CITES treaty, offering an incentive to hesitant officials and discouraging key nations from dropping out.


Canada argues, for example, that a controlled trade in peregrines can be allowed because the world now has at least 228,000 adult peregrines, and the trade would be insufficient to threaten them.

The pesticides that reduced raptors’ fertility and made their egg shells brittle are no longer used in Canada.

Mr. Ewins, a conservation specialist at WWF-Canada who has studied the peregrine falcon for decades, said he is “relieved and delighted” that some species have rebounded to the point where the trade ban can be lifted.

“There are very few examples of this in the world,” he said. “It’s the beacon shining down the path we need to tread.”


I completely disagree with the reasoning put forth in this article. Peregrines are still endangered in many parts of the world, and while DDT is banned in Canada, it is still in use in many African countries and in South America, where many peregrines migrate to spend the winter. And the close relative of DDT, DDE, with only one molecule of difference, is still out there, along with deca, neonicotinoids, and so many other toxins. There has also been an alarming increase in the last few years in the number of peregrines being shot and intentionally poisoned.

CITES is an organization which is generally regarded as having no real power.

Peregrines have been through more than enough already. Leave them alone.

The full article:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/soaring-falcon-population-in-canada-pivotal-to-conservation-discussions/article32041622/
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick September 25, 2016, 17:51
CITES is an organization which is generally regarded as having no real power

The organization may not have teeth (and that is up for some debate :)) but if you are trying to move a bird of prey across an international border, the paperwork and time it takes to get it organized is mind-blowing.  That was the reason the Winnipeg Mississippi Kite chick never made it back south to be rehabbed and released down south where they are more common.  To get the necessary paperwork in place was going to take so long that the chick would be imprinted on its handlers up here (because of its age/stage of development) so not a good candidate for re-release and finding a home for it down there was going to be more than difficult - they are specialized birds.  On the other end of the spectrum, we had some folks who donated money to purchase a captive-bred chick for release in memory of their late wildlife biologist daughter.  When the chick was a foster chick and I was luck enough to be able to catch a feather one day while it was preening at the Radisson.  As a thank you, I framed a photo of the chick when it came in and later when it was fledging and wanted to include the feather.  I had to do the same amount of paperwork for the feather as I would have had to do for the whole bird and I needed to make sure that the gift could go anywhere with the family.  Took me the better part of the year.  Which was fine, it should be just as difficult for parts of a CITES-listed species as it is for a live, healthy specimen otherwise there is an incentive to transport parts (eggs, feathers, skulls, whatever) which undermines the whole idea of being listed at all.

But then, that's just my opinion from my limited experiences.

As for delisting the birds nationally ... you should know that peregrines are already legally being taken from the wild in some states and provinces.  Usually young birds (easier to train and not intefering a breeding pair) on migration north or south - usually south if I recall.  This would loosen up the permitting process, but migratory birds like peregrines would still require permits to be transported across borders - international and inter-provincial (I assume inter-state as well but don't know that for sure).
: Padre Island Survey news
: Jazzerkins December 26, 2016, 17:01
Sad new today :'(:

"The Padre Island Survey must tearfully advise its friends and supporters of the untimely passing of Earthspan Director and founding member Tom Maechtle. A talented biologist and internationally known expert on peregrines, he directed the Padre Survey for many years. Tom was a key figure in most Earthspan projects for decades, working alongside us on peregrine projects in Greenland, Alaska, Mexico, South America and Russia. He authored or co-authored many scientific publications, built his highly successful Bighorn Environmental Consultants firm in Sheridan, WY, and still found time for a rewarding family life with daughter Ireland and wife Kathy. Tom was a brother and steadfast friend to us, and his importance in our lives and those of countless others cannot be measured. His health took a sudden and unexpected turn since visiting our Assateague Island survey in October, and we must now endure the incalculable personal and professional loss of this seminal figure in peregrine research. As Earthspan’s important projects continue, Tom’s influence and ethic and spirit will always be an integral part of them."
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Kinderchick December 28, 2016, 15:12
Very sorry to hear this news.  :'(
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison March 23, 2017, 23:36
Did Beatrix start a trend?

(https://picload.org/image/rlpiglwi/peregrines-on-a-plane-1a.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison March 23, 2017, 23:40
This plane was seen in Chicago at O'Hare. I like the design.

(https://picload.org/image/rlpiglwl/peregrine-on-plane-1a.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison March 23, 2017, 23:48
Turkmenistan

This airport, shaped like a falcon, was built in the capital city of Ashgabat last year at a cost of about $2.3 billion.

(https://picload.org/image/rlpiglwa/airport-shaped-like-falcon-kaz.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison March 31, 2017, 16:41
An article published March 31 2017 on the shooting of a peregrine. At least this one survived; I hope he/she will make a full recovery.

Salisbury Cathedral Peregrine found shot near Stockbridge

(https://picload.org/image/rcgoiwrw/salisbury-peregrine-shot-mar-3.jpg)

Police are appealing for information after a peregrine falcon was found shot on farmland near Stockbridge.

A peregrine falcon is a Schedule 1 protected bird and killing or injuring it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The injured bird was found by a member of the public on Saturday 11 March on a farm at King’s Somborne.

The bird was taken to the Hawk Conservancy Trust in Amport, where it underwent treatment for a fractured wing.

The peregrine falcon, originally ringed at Salisbury Cathedral in June 2014 when it was three weeks old, is expected to make a full recovery.
 
“The bird may have either been shot at on purpose, or recklessly, due to its predatory nature on rural estates. The falcon was in fairly good condition when it was located. It was not malnourished and there were no signs of other injuries, which would suggest it had been shot in the local area fairly."

– PC Stephen Rogerson, Wildlife Crime Officer at Hampshire Constabulary


http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2017-03-31/rare-peregrine-falcon-found-shot-near-stockbridge/ (http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2017-03-31/rare-peregrine-falcon-found-shot-near-stockbridge/)

I think the quote intended to say "fairly recently."
: Re: News: Peregrines
: carly March 31, 2017, 19:10
 :'( :'( :'(
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick May 09, 2017, 15:14
I've added this here mainly because of the photo ...

Robird drones deployed at Edmonton International Airport to keep birds at bay a first in the world
Gordon Kent / Edmonton Journal / 9 May 2017

(http://wpmedia.edmontonjournal.com/2017/05/uploaded-by-gordon-kent-email-gkentpostmedia-com-p2.jpeg?quality=55&strip=all&w=840&h=630&crop=1)

The Robird is coming to Edmonton International Airport (EIA), and he has a message for his feathered friends — dead or alive, you’re coming with me.  The airport will start using a falcon-shaped drone this spring that flaps its wings and mimics the flight patterns of a real raptor to scare away birds that pose a danger to aircraft.

“Birds can get habituated, especially if there isn’t any kind of lethal reinforcement, but they’re hard-wired to respond to a predator,” airport wildlife specialist Jul Wojnowski said Tuesday.

“They react to preserve themselves and fly off to seek shelter.”

The device will be operated by Calgary’s Aerium Analytics, which is also providing EIA with drones for surveying and mapping.  It can run for 12 minutes before the battery runs out.

Wojnowski expects to deploy it over the nearby golf course, ponds, disturbed soil and other locations that attract gulls, geese and ducks, keeping it hundreds of metres away from such critical sites as runways and approaches.  It’s the first time such technology has been incorporated into an airport’s regular wildlife management plan, he said.  During the summer, EIA brings in a falconer on weekends with real peregrine falcons and a Harris’s hawk to help keep down a local avian population, which can grow to flocks of thousands moving through the property at migration times.  The electronic version should be easier to guide than the flesh-and-blood Falcon 1.0.

“It will put a chase on … You can control the direction you want to send the birds, if there’s an area you want to steer them clear of, or a flight path.”

The airport also uses pyrotechnic bangers and screamers to shoo away troublesome fowl, sometimes shoots them to reinforce that the noise means danger, and traps and relocates wild prey birds because they can cause problems hunting near the runways, Wojnowski said. The Robird will be deployed during the week for about three months, then EIA staff will assess how well it works.

“My hope is that we will see a reduction in birds using the airfield and the property too. Hopefully, a predator exhibiting hunting behaviour will discourage them.”

gkent@postmedia.com / twitter.com/GKentEJ


source:  Edmonton Journal - Robird drones deployed at Edmonton International Airport to keep birds at bay  (http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/robird-drones-deployed-at-edmonton-international-airport-to-keep-birds-at-bay-a-first-in-the-world)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: dupre501 May 10, 2017, 13:22
Interesting idea!
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison July 18, 2017, 14:32
Two pairs of breeding peregrines found in South Dakota

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Breeding peregrine falcons have been found in South Dakota for the first time in 50 years.

The Game, Fish and Parks Department confirmed that two pairs of peregrines successfully nested in the Black Hills earlier this year, the Capital Journal reported. A third pair was spotted but didn't appear to have a nest.

American peregrine falcons were removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999 but are still listed as endangered in South Dakota, where there's limited habitat.

The birds were found in part because of the department's effort to establish delisting criteria for all the species on the state's threatened or endangered-species list. The effort led the department to hire retired Wyoming biologist Bob Oakleaf, who specializes in peregrine falcons, to help identify potential nest sites.

The search included an aerial survey of the Black Hills to identify which cliffs peregrines may use, as well as a ground survey to see if any birds were already there.

"We basically sat in lawn chairs and watched," said Casey Heimerl, a wildlife biologist with the department.

The criteria are expected to be finalized over the next few months. They will require a certain number of nesting pairs over a certain number of years. Currently the falcons can only be removed from the list if the department finds five nesting pairs for five consecutive years, but Heimerl said those numbers may change as new data is evaluated.


http://www.aberdeennews.com/wire/ap-state-sd/breeding-peregrine-falcons-found-in-south-dakota/article_6ad1e034-b106-5a08-8a89-220eb4b1b037.html (http://www.aberdeennews.com/wire/ap-state-sd/breeding-peregrine-falcons-found-in-south-dakota/article_6ad1e034-b106-5a08-8a89-220eb4b1b037.html)

I wonder if any of these birds were originally from Winnipeg, or are descendants of Winnipeg peregrines.

It seems much too early to consider removing peregrines from the endangered species list in South Dakota.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick July 18, 2017, 15:52
Two pairs of breeding peregrines found in South Dakota

I wonder if any of these birds were originally from Winnipeg, or are descendants of Winnipeg peregrines.
It seems much too early to consider removing peregrines from the endangered species list in South Dakota.

I'm going to have to do a bit of snooping and talking to buddies of mine south of the border to find out if there are any Manitoba birds in the mix - not impossible by any stretch - we are nesting north and south of them.  Will let you know if I hear anything.

As for endangered species lists - it would just be a state protection as they are completely off the federal recovery lists.  North Dakota and South Dakota aren't that different from southern Manitoba, just not a lot of places to nest here before we started building cities here so the population was never particularly prolific - with buildings and nestboxes we can have birds breeding where they didn't before - good for the species overall but urban nesting peregrines in Canada only make up a small fraction of all the peregrines nesting in our country.  I'm going to assume that it is not dissimilar in the US - they may not have the dense arctic populations we have but they do have more natural nest sites in the east than we do.  Will have to see if I can find out what the ratio is of urban vs non-urban nests south of the border.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison July 18, 2017, 16:24

I'm going to have to do a bit of snooping and talking to buddies of mine south of the border to find out if there are any Manitoba birds in the mix - not impossible by any stretch - we are nesting north and south of them.  Will let you know if I hear anything.

As for endangered species lists - it would just be a state protection as they are completely off the federal recovery lists.

Thank you for the reply, TPC! I would be interested to know if you do hear anything. Since South Dakota is pretty much within the corridor the Winnipeg birds like to travel, I thought it was possible that at least one of them might have decided to look around  for a nest site.

And yes, I was referring to state protection, which is still good to have. Some states take it very seriously, some less so.

I don't know the ratio of urban to non-urban sites in the U.S., but it seems that the birds are becoming less and less interested in utilizing, for instance, natural cliff sites.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison July 25, 2017, 23:48
Peregrine juvie survives collision with commercial airliner

(https://picload.org/image/rwgcplgw/morgan-july-25-8a.jpg)

This beautiful young peregrine collided with a plane which was taking off from Wisconsin Central Airport. The little juvie was rescued, and a volunteer transported him to the Raptor Education Group Inc. (REGI) for care.

X-rays showed that he has a wing fracture (a fractured ulna), but remarkably he has no other injuries.

He is banded black/blue 73/E, and is from the Weston Power Plant nest in Rothchild, Wisconsin. He was named Morgan by school children.

Morgan is expected to make a full recovery and to be ready for migration in the fall.

(https://picload.org/image/rwgcplgi/morgan-july-25-5a.jpg)  (https://picload.org/image/rwgcplrr/morgan-july-25-11a.jpg)

Photos: Raptor Education Group Inc.

https://www.facebook.com/RaptorEducationGroupInc/posts/10155726337221019 (https://www.facebook.com/RaptorEducationGroupInc/posts/10155726337221019)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: burdi December 05, 2017, 00:32
Peregrine falcon no longer a threatened species after four decades

For the first time in four decades, a bird known for its speed could be removed from the list of threatened species in most of Canada.

The peregrine falcon, which can fly at speeds up to 320 kilometres per hour, was listed as endangered in 1978. At the time, there was only one active nest east of the Rocky Mountains and south of the 60th parallel, and the northern population was also struggling.

Its numbers have increased steadily to 600 birds in southern Canada and 1,500 in northern Canada after a ban on DDT, a toxic pesticide. There has also been a captive breeding program in the southern population that has helped in the bird's recovery.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada is now recommending to the federal government that the peregrine be delisted as a threatened species.


Read the entire news story (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/peregrine-falcon-threatened-species-1.4433052)

I noticed that Dr. Gordon Court is listed as a member of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

COSEWIC website (https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/committee-status-endangered-wildlife.html)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: burdi December 08, 2017, 01:23
Windsor bird watcher wants peregrine falcons to stay on endangered list

Steve Atkins thinks the species need 3-5 more years to recover

CBC Posted: Dec 07, 2017 2:46 PM ET Last Updated: Dec 07, 2017 3:09 PM ET

A Windsor bird watcher believes the peregrine falcon should not be taken off the endangered species list.

Earlier this week, a federal committee recommended the birds be seen as a self-supporting species for the first time in 40 years, but Steve Atkins, a member of the Canadian Peregrine Falcon Watch, said it's not actually good news for the falcons, which still face a long road to recovery.

"It's not going to do any good whatsoever at all, because they're still on the comeback," he explained.

A pair of falcons currently roost under the Ambassador Bridge and call Windsor home. This year they had four hatchlings, according Atkins, whose volunteer group watches out for baby birds.

He pointed to the high mortality rate and burgeoning black market for the falcons, which can be easily trained when young, as reason to keep them on the list.

This year, one of the four hatchlings was hit by a car. Atkins said falcons fly low to the ground, so they face multiple hazards.

"The bird flew out through a fence and ran into the back of a car and knocked him down on the ground," he explained. "They're not like robins that have to deal with cats, raccoons and rats to survive. They just don't know."

Atkins added resources are still scare for the species — the falcon watch group relies heavily on volunteers who spend whatever time they can watching the small birds.

"I think they need to remain on the endangered species list for another three to fives years," he said. "Bring the population up more to where it is actually sustainable."


Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/falcons-stay-endangered-species-list-1.4437773 (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/falcons-stay-endangered-species-list-1.4437773)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick December 08, 2017, 14:20
Windsor bird watcher wants peregrine falcons to stay on endangered list

Urban peregrine population numbers are much lower than some southern non-urban (Alberta, Ontario) and northern populations and it is overall national population numbers and distributions for anatum and tundrius subspecies that are major considerations in determining if a species remains on the "at-risk" list.  Peregrines (anatum & tundrius) haven't been an endangered species federally for more than a decade, but individual provinces have their own lists.  In Ontario they are "special concern" the least of the at-risk categories.  In Manitoba they are still endangered for the moment.  They haven't been on Saskatchewan's SAR list for years and have been "threatened" in Alberta since 2014 and Alberta is a peregrine powerhouse province both north and south. 
: Re: News: Peregrines
: burdi December 11, 2017, 16:28
Windsor bird watcher wants peregrine falcons to stay on endangered list

Urban peregrine population numbers are much lower than some southern non-urban (Alberta, Ontario) and northern populations and it is overall national population numbers and distributions for anatum and tundrius subspecies that are major considerations in determining if a species remains on the "at-risk" list.  Peregrines (anatum & tundrius) haven't been an endangered species federally for more than a decade, but individual provinces have their own lists.  In Ontario they are "special concern" the least of the at-risk categories.  In Manitoba they are still endangered for the moment.  They haven't been on Saskatchewan's SAR list for years and have been "threatened" in Alberta since 2014 and Alberta is a peregrine powerhouse province both north and south.

Thank you for providing this information on provincial and federal lists, TPC.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick January 26, 2018, 11:26
This is courtesy of BCBird


Avro alert: new cop in sky
Rob Gibson / Castanet / Jan 25, 2018

(https://www.castanet.net/content/2018/1/peregrine_p3282406.jpg)

There's a new transit cop in the sky.

TransLink has unleashed a team of peregrine falcons to scare off the pigeons.  Pigeons may seem harmless but their droppings and other antics are responsible for issues at stations throughout Vancouver.  As CTV reports the team of peregrine falcons and their handlers are taking part in a six-week pilot project meant to scare off pigeons.  The pigeons wander onto tracks and set off intrusion alarms, bringing the trains to a halt. In 2015, a nest fire caused hours-long delays on the Expo Line.



Source: https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/217198/Avro-alert-new-cop-in-sky
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick January 26, 2018, 12:29
BCBird has been busy tracking down more information for you all!  ;D
Be sure to check out the link - there is a video!!

Millennium Line falcon: TransLink using birds of prey to scare pigeons
Kendra Mangione / CTV Vancouver / 25 Jan 2018

TransLink has employed a team of winged avengers as part of an aerial assault on a common cause of SkyTrain maintenance issues.  A team of peregrine falcons and their handlers are taking part in a six-week pilot project meant to scare off pigeons, which are often a cause of issues at stations. 

The cooing convicts leave droppings and make passengers nervous. They also wander onto tracks and set off intrusion alarms, bringing the trains to a halt. In 2015, a nest fire caused hours-long delays on the Expo Line. "They're very frustrating," TransLink spokesperson Chris Bryan said.

So TransLink is using peregrine falcons, a natural predator of pigeons, to scare the birds out of the way. Handlers and birds from Raptor Ridge Birds of Prey began wandering SkyTrain stations last month as part of an $18,000 trial.   The results have been mixed.  Pigeons are stubborn, and often return to the dry, heated stations once the falcons have left. "They've got pretty good eyes too," Raptor Ridge Birds of Prey owner Kim Kamstra said.  So the falcons have to hide in carriers, then come back out when the pigeons return. The hope is the pesky birds will learn the stations aren't safe, and move on to other locations.

The peregrine falcon is a common bird of prey found in most parts of the world. The species is known for its speed and can fly at more than 320 km/h when chasing prey.


Source: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/mobile/millennium-line-falcon-translink-using-birds-of-prey-to-scare-pigeons-1.3775759


Love the last line in this story - I suspect the author is perhaps too young to know how close we came to not being able to say that in North/South America and in Europe.
And check out Kim talking to Avro and Avro talking to Kim  ;D
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick January 31, 2018, 15:51
https://twitter.com/mbperegrines/status/958819753061179398
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison February 01, 2018, 12:50
https://twitter.com/mbperegrines/status/958819753061179398

I don't understand why the peregrine falcon is being named the Swiss bird of the year. Switzerland has an abysmal record with respect to peregrines. I remember reading an article two or three years ago which stated that all the peregrines in the Zurich area had been poisoned, one by one, over some years.

And as far as I am aware, nothing has improved. There have been no peregrines at the webcam site for years now.

Some time back, the first conviction was obtained against a pigeon breeder who had used a poisoned pigeon to kill a peregrine. The article I read was in German, but there are English articles on this also.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3675567/Swiss-bird-fancier-convicted-killing-peregrine-falcon-kamikaze-PIGEON.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3675567/Swiss-bird-fancier-convicted-killing-peregrine-falcon-kamikaze-PIGEON.html)

Back in 2011, the much loved female at the Zurich nest, Carla, brought what turned out to be a poisoned pigeon back to the nest to feed her chicks. She died there, on the platform, right in front of her three little chicks. No one was ever prosecuted.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/686954/Horrific-moment-falcon-is-killed-by-a-pigeon-smeared-with-poison (https://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/686954/Horrific-moment-falcon-is-killed-by-a-pigeon-smeared-with-poison)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick February 01, 2018, 18:38
I wondered the same thing Alison ... but peregrines are always award-worthy!

Seriously though, perhaps it is the start of a campaign to rehabilitate their image and that it is a precursor to more work being done on the peregrines behalf.  Wishful thinking perhaps but ...

For those who want a crash course in lousy human-raptor relations in the UK check out the Raptor Persecution UK's blog (https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/) and/or twitter posts (https://twitter.com/RaptorPersScot).  If you haven't visited them before, you might want to go with Twitter first so you don't get overwhelmed and utterly disappointed in humankind quite so quickly.

: Re: News: Peregrines
: burdi July 13, 2018, 03:10
Montreal bridges home to growing numbers of peregrine falcons — with a little help from their friends

Raptors like to nest in and around bridge structures because they're akin to cliff habitats

CBC News · Posted: Jul 11, 2018 5:00 AM ET | Last Updated: July 11

Read entire CBC news story here (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/falcons-champlain-bridge-1.4741529)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison August 07, 2018, 22:03
Bradenton, Florida

(https://picload.org/thumbnail/dlooipgr/laughing-gull-2a.jpg)  (https://picload.org/image/dlooipga/laughing-gull-4a.jpg)

This poor Laughing Gull was hit by a car, and ended up embedded in the front of the vehicle. Great work by the Bradenton Police Department to rescue him! He is now recovering from his ordeal at Wildlife Inc.

BPD Animal Services to the rescue! This poor little guy was struck by a car then stuck in the grill. Thankfully, Detective Lixa Moyett and her team were able to get him out safely. He has a minor wing injury but is well on his way to recuperating.

https://www.facebook.com/BradentonPoliceDepartment/posts/1791781784272162 (https://www.facebook.com/BradentonPoliceDepartment/posts/1791781784272162)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison August 07, 2018, 22:15
Cardiff, Wales

Peregrine falcon rescued from home's TV antenna in Wales

(https://picload.org/image/dlooipgl/peregrine-rescued-wales-1a.jpg)  (https://picload.org/image/dlooipgi/peregrine-rescued-wales-2a.jpg)

Animal rescuers in Wales said they are searching for the owner of a peregrine falcon found tangled in a home's TV antenna.

RSPCA Cymru said rescuers responded to the home in the Pontcanna area of Cardiff on Monday after a witness reported spotting the bird of prey entangled in the antenna atop a home.

The rescuers called in help from the South Wales Fire & Rescue Service, which dispatched firefighters from Ely Station with a ladder to reach the distressed falcon.

The bird was found to be distressed but managed to escape serious injury. The RSPCA said it is trying to find the falcon's owner.

"This poor bird was in a real mess, found hanging upside-down from a television aerial in Pontcanna," RSPCA animal welfare officer Sian Burton said. "Fortunately, despite such a distressing encounter, the peregrine falcon initially seems to be doing well, and is now being checked over by vets."


https://www.upi.com/Peregrine-falcon-rescued-from-homes-TV-antenna-in-Wales/6081533054231/ (https://www.upi.com/Peregrine-falcon-rescued-from-homes-TV-antenna-in-Wales/6081533054231/)

I am very glad this little juvie was rescued. Not sure why he/she would have an owner.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: GCG August 13, 2018, 03:31
Falcon revival breeds resurgence through falconry.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/falcon-revival-breeds-resurgence-1.4777794 
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 05, 2018, 16:28
Major explosion at a refinery in Vohburg, near Ingolstadt, Bavaria

This past weekend, there was an explosion at a refinery near Ingolstadt, Bavaria. Not only were eight people injured, but an adult peregrine falcon was also found injured by the fire department. She is still alive, although almost all of her feathers are scorched. She is now being cared for at the Bird Station in Regensburg, where the staff will do their very best to restore her to health.

I realize that she will need to be in care for a long time, perhaps a year or more, to be able to replace her feathers, but I very much hope she will be able to recover from this horrific experience.

(https://picload.org/image/dlipgdol/peregrine-regensburg-sept-5-3a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/dlipgdor/peregrine-regensburg-sept-5-1a.jpg)

(https://picload.org/image/dlipgdoa/peregrine-regensburg-sept-5-2a.jpg)

From the Bird Station in Regensburg:

If you would like to support us, you are welcome to join us and help with a donation. The address is:

Raiffeisenbank Regenstauf, IBAN: DE75 7506 1851 0000 0490 34


https://www.facebook.com/rathausturm.wanderfalken/ (https://www.facebook.com/rathausturm.wanderfalken/)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 05, 2018, 16:52
More information on the refinery explosion:

Major explosion at refinery near Ingolstadt, Bavaria

(https://picload.org/image/dlipgdoi/refinery-explosion-ingolstadt-.jpg)

Eight people were injured in an explosion and a subsequent major fire on the grounds of the Bayernoil refinery in Vohburg on the Danube. According to information from the BR, a strong explosion on the grounds took place ar 5:30 a.m. in the district pf Irsching. The area was cordoned off over a wide area.

Initially, according to police, 1,800 people from surrounding homes were forced to leave their homes because of the smoke.

After about three hours, the cloud of smoke partially dissipated - and people were able to return to their homes, as a spokesman for the Police Headquarters in North Upper Bavaria stated.

Disaster alert and large-scale deployment

According to police, the district office of Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm triggered a disaster alarm. How the explosion and the fire happened was initially unclear. "The fire fighting is running at full speed," the spokesman continued. "The situation has only relaxed to the extent that the evacuation of local residents is no longer necessary." Furthermore, there were several fires on the site; the flames were not under control.

Police, fire and rescue workers were on site with a large contingent of about 400 forces. A thick column of smoke had been seen over the area in the morning. Sirens howled.

Local residents said that the bang was heard for miles in the morning. Residents were asked to keep windows and doors
closed.

The injured are, according to police, co-workers of the enterprise.


https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/explosion-raffinerie-101.html (https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/explosion-raffinerie-101.html)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 06, 2018, 19:14
An update on the falcon injured in the refinery explosion, posted three hours ago:  :(

There is news about our lady falcon, whom we have named Phoenix. The burnt skin on the foot is now peeling. That looks really bad. Today there was an appointment in the morning with the vet. What worries us a lot is that she has probably suffered from smoke poisoning and may have had to inhale various toxic fumes. The food intake is also rather hesitant. "It is far from over the mountain," says Ferdinand Baer, ​​our head of the bird station. So, keep your fingers crossed!

(https://picload.org/image/dlipwddr/falcon-phoenix-sept-9-1a.jpg)

https://www.facebook.com/rathausturm.wanderfalken/photos/a.857341854326481/1955142121213110/?type=3&theater (https://www.facebook.com/rathausturm.wanderfalken/photos/a.857341854326481/1955142121213110/?type=3&theater)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: carly September 07, 2018, 07:03
Thank you for the update Alison.  Poor girl  :'(
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 07, 2018, 11:52
This morning's update on peregrine falcon Phoenix, injured in the refinery explosion:

(https://picload.org/image/dliwlgil/phoenix-sept-7-1a.jpg)

Today, Ferdinand Baer took our Phoenix to the veterinarian again for pain treatment. Unfortunately, it turned out that the skin on the wing also shows burns. But at least she was able to keep down the food she was given yesterday. Her condition continues to worry us greatly. In this context, a heartfelt thank you to the practice of Dr. Cronenberg, from whom Phoenix receives medication.

I also read this morning that three of the eight people injured in the blast were hospitalized with severe injuries.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 09, 2018, 09:45
September 8 update on Phoenix. What a sweet and beautiful falcon she is.

(https://picload.org/image/dlpgcwli/regensburg-phoenix-sept-7-2a.jpg)

Today, Ferdinand Baer took our Phoenix to the veterinarian again for pain treatment. Unfortunately, it turned out that the skin on the wing also shows burns. But at least she was able to keep down the food she was given yesterday. Her condition continues to worry us greatly. In this context, a heartfelt thank you to the practice of Dr. Cronenberg, from whom Phoenix receives medication.

And a short video:

https://video.mittelbayerische.de/region/regensburg/vogelschuetzer-bangen-um-phoenix-23815-vid61708.html (https://video.mittelbayerische.de/region/regensburg/vogelschuetzer-bangen-um-phoenix-23815-vid61708.html)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 09, 2018, 09:49
This morning's update on Phoenix, which is an encouraging one:

The fate of our falcon, Phoenix, is very important to many. A king of the skies is robbed from one second to the next of his vital flying ability. Therefore, I am very pleased to publish today's picture of her. She is agile and her appetite is increasing. This gives reason to hope that it could not have come to heavy gas poisoning.

(https://picload.org/image/dlprccil/phoenix-regensburg-sept-9-1a.jpg)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: carly September 10, 2018, 07:48
Very encouraging!!   Thanks again.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 12, 2018, 10:08
Update on Phoenix this morning, September 12:

Meanwhile, our Phoenix was allowed to move into an outdoor enclosure. However, she still needs a lot of rest to recover from the hardship and stress she has endured. Tomorrow, she will visit the veterinarian again to check the status of her health. It is very positive that she eats well independently, and has already gained 90 grams of weight. However, she has to reach over 800 grams, and she is not there yet.

(https://picload.org/image/dlplcagr/phoenix-sept-12-1a.jpg)  (https://picload.org/image/dlplcaga/phoenix-sept-12-2a.jpg)

She has made an incredible amount of progress in just ten days. I know she will be in care for a very long time, but it is very clear that she is determined to recover. I believe she can do it.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 21, 2018, 15:00
On September 14, there was word that Phoenix's visit to the veterinarian had gone well, and that she was continuing to improve.

On September 19, the news was not so good. Phoenix's condition was described as stable, but she was not eating well. She was being examined regularly, and those caring for her continued to hope that she would recover.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison September 21, 2018, 15:18
This morning brought the worst possible news from Regensburg.

Unfortunately, today I have sad news. Last night, the health of our Phoenix deteriorated rapidly. She could no longer keep food down, and became weaker and weaker. Ferdinand, our head of the bird station, drove her immediately to the vet, but there was no way to save her. There were, as we feared at first, severe internal injuries in the gastrointestinal tract, which were probably caused by the heat, or even by toxins or chemical burns. This, of course, is very bitter, especially for those who have been intensively concerned about the recovery of Phoenix. Thanks again to all of you who have generously sent donations to us. Such setbacks hurt, but do not dampen our zeal and commitment to nature and animals in emergency situations. We cannot allow ourselves to grieve for a very long time, because the next patients are waiting for our help. Thank you for your interest and your support!!

I had so much hoped that Phoenix was going to recover. This beautiful and courageous peregrine fought so valiantly to survive, and for a while she seemed to be winning her battle.  :'( :'(
: Re: News: Peregrines
: carly September 21, 2018, 21:36
How very sad.  Rest in peace Phoenix  :'(
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick September 27, 2018, 11:29
This one I can't put on the Forum, the photos are just too lovely & large, you need to see them on the Nat Geo website!!


Inside a Sheikh's Plan to Protect the World's Fastest Animal
National Geographic - October 2018
Raising and training falcons in captivity can help conserve these beloved symbols of the Arabian Peninsula.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/10/protecting-falcons-worlds-fastest-animal/

: Re: News: Peregrines
: Jazzerkins September 28, 2018, 18:08
That was a great read, TPC!  What gorgeous pictures of gorgeous birds.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison November 17, 2018, 22:41
An interesting article on Greg Septon, who has been the driving force behind the restoration of peregrines in Wisconsin for several decades.

Decades after getting it started, Racine native still guides state's peregrine falcon recovery

(https://picload.org/image/dcocwldl/greg-septon-4a.jpg)

Greg Septon, founder of the Wisconsin peregrine falcon recovery project, holds a male peregrine chick at a We Energies plant in Port Washington. The chick was the 1,000th peregrine Septon has banded in Wisconsin over the last 30 years.

(Photo: Paul A. Smith)

https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2018/11/16/peregrine-falcon-recovery-wisconsin-racine-natives-life-work/1760759002/ (https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2018/11/16/peregrine-falcon-recovery-wisconsin-racine-natives-life-work/1760759002/)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick November 18, 2018, 16:39
Set your PVRs folks!

Nova - World's Fastest Animal - The Peregrine Falcon
Wednesday, Nov 21 @ 8pm CST


See the world through the eyes of nature’s fastest animal: the peregrine falcon. Though once perilously endangered in the U.S., this spectacular predator is now thriving again in American cities and on every continent but Antarctica. What is the secret to its predatory prowess? To find out, follow a young family of peregrines in urban Chicago as the chicks hatch and learn from their parents to fly and hunt. And join expert falconer Lloyd Buck as he trains a captive peregrine and puts its hunting skills to the test. What’s the secret behind the peregrine falcon’s blistering speed, able to reach nearly 200 mph?

link to Nova website = https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/worlds-fastest-animal/
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison November 20, 2018, 10:56
Set your PVRs folks!

Nova - World's Fastest Animal - The Peregrine Falcon
Wednesday, Nov 21 @ 8pm CST


See the world through the eyes of nature’s fastest animal: the peregrine falcon. Though once perilously endangered in the U.S., this spectacular predator is now thriving again in American cities and on every continent but Antarctica. What is the secret to its predatory prowess? To find out, follow a young family of peregrines in urban Chicago as the chicks hatch and learn from their parents to fly and hunt. And join expert falconer Lloyd Buck as he trains a captive peregrine and puts its hunting skills to the test. What’s the secret behind the peregrine falcon’s blistering speed, able to reach nearly 200 mph?

link to Nova website = https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/worlds-fastest-animal/

That sounds interesting . . . probably will not be available here. I am wondering if the "young family of peregrines in urban Chicago'" refers to Steve and Linda, who raised their chicks on a Chicago apartment balcony from 2015 - 2017. If so, Dacey Arashiba, who used to live there, moved away. Steve and Linda moved elsewhere to another apartment balcony which they had used in the past. They had two chicks this year, who were doing very well until, very close to fledging, both chicks were found dead on the balcony. I strongly suspect that this was not accidental.  :'(
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick December 03, 2018, 23:23
Had a little springtime mystery peregrine fun on the weekend.  The photographer that spotted Bridget at this time last year sent me a photo of another banded bird.  Not ours, but it is still fun tracking down who is who :)

The who was Frisco from Minnesota and here's what I found out about him.
For those who were counting - he's twelve years old, has had two mates and produced/raised (as of 2017), 31 chicks that fledged - 14 males, 17 females.
A nice impressive record by anyone's standards!

He was one of the first birds Jackie banded and has always been a favourite of hers ... she was thrilled to hear he hadn't just survived but that he appears to be thriving down south.  Hopefully that means she will be seeing him again next spring in Minnesota.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick December 03, 2018, 23:24
The who was Frisco from Minnesota and here's what I found out about him.

Here's what Jackie had to say on the Midwest Peregrine Society Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pg/Midwest-Peregrine-Society-354352871260525/posts/?ref=page_internal):

State coordinators get phone calls at all hours of the day (and sometimes night), throughout the year. During the "off season" October-February, most of those phone calls can be dreaded, because of the probability of a bird being found injured during their migratory wanderings.

However, today one of those phone calls turned out to be a happy call. Manitoba coordinator Tracy Maconachie had received word from a photographer in Texas of a banded peregrine. When he sent the photo to Tracy, she immediately looked the band up in our data base and discovered that Frisco, 2006 hatch from Minnesota, was alive and well! This was the first time we learned of his winter wanderings, ~1400 miles from home.

This was especially good news since Frisco had been brought to The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota on two separate occasions in 2018 during the late winter, with every indication of being poisoned. A tiercel peregrine was identified on Frisco's traditional nesting territory this summer, but a full band confirmation couldn't be made, and no further sightings had been done.

While we wait for approval from the photographer in Texas to use his photo, we thought we would post some images of Frisco from his banding on May 26, 2006 as well as his defensive flying in 2009 when on territory in Minneapolis.

We want to thank all of the photographers who submit images to us. The information greatly enhances our knowledge of the birds. Keep the photos coming!
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison December 08, 2018, 14:32
December 4, 2018

A short update on Frisco from the Midwest Peregrine Society:

Just a follow-up post of the photo by Joe Hernandez of Texas, who informed us of "Frisco" b/g K/13, 2006 fledge from Lock and Dam, at his layover in North Padre Island. Whether Frisco will stay at Padre the entire winter or travel farther south, no one really knows. We just hope he returns safely to nest in Minnesota in 2019.

This update also has a beautiful photo of Frisco, a very handsome tiercel.

https://www.facebook.com/354352871260525/photos/a.359308187431660/2359148080780984/?type=3&theater (https://www.facebook.com/354352871260525/photos/a.359308187431660/2359148080780984/?type=3&theater)

Frisco is the father of Genie, Triumph's mate at the Multifoods site (and former mate of Younger), and also the father of Hattie, the resident female at the Mayo Clinic.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick January 31, 2019, 17:29
https://twitter.com/mbperegrines/status/1091053943185117185
: Re: News: Peregrines
: dupre501 February 12, 2019, 13:04
 ;D
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison April 15, 2019, 14:19
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is on fire

This is a massive fire; the spire has already collapsed.

Apart from being a national disaster for France, peregrines nest at the Cathedral. I can only hope that they were able to escape, and that there were no chicks in the nest.  :'(


(https://i.ibb.co/rwz4sQd/cathedrale-notre-dame-de-paris-en-feu.png) (https://ibb.co/P6PwQrD)

(https://i.ibb.co/gyzhdCg/notre-dame-april-15-2.png) (https://ibb.co/G7cN9jP)

(https://i.ibb.co/XLzT1KQ/notre-dame-april-15-4.png) (https://ibb.co/Kh9HdfP)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick April 15, 2019, 16:20
Holy cats, was there not so long ago ... and a family member was literally just there a week ago!

That will be a huge loss, not just the Cathedral, but anything close by (and everything is cheek by jowl on the island).  You can see the Palais de Justice lit up (with lights not fire) in the background of one photo - and the Conciergerie is just next door and Sainte-Chapelle.  Really like Sainte-Chapelle.

Oh that is just so sad, going to have to revisit my Paris photos this evening!  :'(

another link to add to Alison's - includes video and photos - https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/notre-dame-paris-fire-1.5098604
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick April 15, 2019, 16:30
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is on fire

Apart from being a national disaster for France, peregrines nest at the Cathedral. I can only hope that they were able to escape, and that there were no chicks in the nest.  :'(


Had the peregrines moved back to the Cathedral?  I know 5-6 years ago they were on a tower near the Eiffel Tower and that historically (pre-1900) they had nested on the Cathedral, but hadn't heard they'd made it back to the Cathedral ...  ???
: Re: News: Peregrines
: RCF April 15, 2019, 17:15
They were doing restorations on the building. Sometimes they don't like all the disturbances, so maybe the falcons were not there.  :-\
: Re: News: Peregrines
: Alison April 24, 2019, 22:21

Had the peregrines moved back to the Cathedral?  I know 5-6 years ago they were on a tower near the Eiffel Tower and that historically (pre-1900) they had nested on the Cathedral, but hadn't heard they'd made it back to the Cathedral ...  ???

That information was provided on the day of the fire by reliable sources in France, people who have studied peregrines for many years and have a great deal of knowledge about them.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: burdi September 23, 2019, 17:43
A beloved male peregrine falcon has died in Manayunk, Philadelphia. He was banded, 10 years old, and nicknamed Manny. Sadly, one of his legs was severed, quite possibly by a drone.

https://6abc.com/pets-animals/beloved-peregrine-falcon-dies;-questions-raised-over-cause-of-death/5551071/

https://www.inquirer.com/science/climate/falcon-manayunk-steeple-peregrine-death-20190918.html
: Re: News: Peregrines
: carly September 21, 2020, 19:26
TPC...Chicago Peregrine Program just posted to their FB site that they had a late re-nest at one of their nests and just banded the chicks last week!!  I have never heard of kids this late in the year...and Chicago's winters come early and are cold.  Wow....it's the top post on their page if you want to check it out.  Have you heard of such a thing this late in the year?

https://www.facebook.com/IllinoisPeregrines/ (https://www.facebook.com/IllinoisPeregrines/)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: BirdLover September 24, 2020, 21:35
TPC...Chicago Peregrine Program just posted to their FB site that they had a late re-nest at one of their nests and just banded the chicks last week!!  I have never heard of kids this late in the year...and Chicago's winters come early and are cold.  Wow....it's the top post on their page if you want to check it out.  Have you heard of such a thing this late in the year?

https://www.facebook.com/IllinoisPeregrines/ (https://www.facebook.com/IllinoisPeregrines/)

WOW! I hope the weather cooperates and these young uns are fledged before the winter comes.
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick April 09, 2021, 12:17
This is from awhile ago but still ...

Peregrine falcon talons tangled in discarded face mask
BBC / 24 July 2020

A photographer has captured images of a peregrine falcon with its talons caught in a discarded face mask.  Steve Shipley, from Driffield, spotted the juvenile falcon on the Yorkshire coast.  He said it was very sad to see it struggling because someone had failed to dispose of a mask properly.

(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/149CF/production/_113613448_dsc_6351.jpg)

Mr Shipley is urging people to take more care and consider the risks posed to wildlife.  "It is a matter of people being a bit more responsible and disposing of the masks properly," he said. "They are there to protect us, and the least we can do is not put anything else in danger."

(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/6357/production/_113613452_dsc_6293.jpg)

The photographer encountered the bird on Sunday and said it eventually managed to free itself. However, the mask would have prevented the bird being able to hunt and feed itself, and could have resulted in death, Mr Shipley said. "There are only about a 1,000 breeding pairs in this country, and to lose one in this way would be a big loss," he added.
An RSPB spokesperson said: "This is incredibly disappointing to see. We all have the responsibility to clear up after ourselves and we should make sure that we dispose of facemasks and all other types of litter, properly and responsibly. By not doing so it's a danger not only to people but as we see in this case our wildlife too."

Earlier this week, a gull was rescued in Chelmsford, Essex, after getting its legs trapped in the elastic of a disposable face mask.

The RSPCA said it feared there could be a rise in similar cases as a result of the introduction of new face covering rules in England and Wales.

source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-53530961


If you want to check out what else has gotten caught up, check out this site:  https://www.covidlitter.com/ 
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick November 04, 2021, 22:30
Really nice story about the appeal of webcams on/in nestboxes and the peregrines' legions of online fans in the North America, Europe & Australia. 
It is too long to post in its entirety here and it has some lovely photos, so you will have to click on the link  :)

Campanile Peregrine Grinnell Suffers an Injury, and Falcon Fans Around the World Watch to See What Happens Next (https://baynature.org/2021/11/04/campanile-peregrine-grinnell-suffers-an-injury-and-falcon-fans-around-the-world-watch-to-see-what-happens-next/)
by Lia Keener / Bay Nature / 4 Nov 2021



Enjoy!
: Re: News: Peregrines
: The Peregrine Chick April 16, 2022, 20:45
Good video of an annoyed peregrine falcon ..

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/videos/gallery/angry-falcon-attacks-men-working-on-highrise-near-its-nest/sharevideo/6304146212001 

(Hope this link works - if not, check it out on the Weather Network)
: Re: News: Peregrines
: GCG April 17, 2022, 00:26
Good video of an annoyed peregrine falcon ..

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/videos/gallery/angry-falcon-attacks-men-working-on-highrise-near-its-nest/sharevideo/6304146212001 

(Hope this link works - if not, check it out on the Weather Network)
Thanks for posting this video TPC. Could not tell if he was laughing or crying.  :o
: Re: News: Peregrines
: dupre501 May 05, 2022, 12:27
His line at the end "This is not a safe work environment!"  LOL