June 06, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
Hi Mark,
Kariann asked me to send you some of my photos of Majesty. I am a DNR volunteer who has worked with Kariann and monitored the Whittier Building site where your Miriam has been nesting for the last 5 years. It is always so exciting to hear the stories and histories of our Peregrine Falcons. Thanks for all of your help!
Barb
Photos by Barb
Posted on June 24, 2009 3:23 am
June 08, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
Just received some interesting news from Bill and Elizabeth who spotted a Pefa in Wesleyville yesterday equipped with a satellite transmitter. It must be Quest from Rochester N.Y. I just happen to know something about this wayward Pefa, as I was down in Rochester N.Y. just about this time last year deploying this satellite transmitter on this young peregrine with Mike from the New York D.E.C.
Posted on June 24, 2009 2:21 am
June 21, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
Wayward peregrine falcon chick leads to discovery of another nest
Bird fanciers hail peregrine discovery as feather in their cap
By Janice L. Habuda
News Staff Reporter
A peregrine falcon chick that ended up on a barge in the Niagara River led to the discovery of a fourth nest — and another family of five — in this area. “It’s getting crowded in Peregrineville,” Joel Thomas, wildlife administrator for the Erie County SPCA, said Friday. That discovery is another feather in the cap of bird enthusiasts and wildlife experts who have watched three diminished species of raptors — the peregrine, bald eagle and osprey — begin returning to Western New York.
“We are thrilled with the discovery of another pair of nesting peregrine falcons in this area,” said Connie Adams, a senior wildlife biologist with the state Department of Environmental Conservation. “The presence of this new nesting pair is tremendous evidence of this species’ comeback and reaffirms the success of restoration efforts.”
“That bird has made an incredible comeback,” Thomas agreed.
Crews doing maintenance work on the South Grand Island Bridge found a chick on their barge last week and took it to the SPCA to be checked out. Initially, wildlife authorities assumed it was the offspring of peregrines nesting in a man-made box on the north bridge.
But after questioning the crews, authorities learned there was a natural nest — concrete rubble on a girder below the bridge deck. The location is ideal, Adams said.
“It’s incredibly protected from the elements. It’s protected from predators — aerial and ground predators,” Adams said. “But the first step is a doozy.”
Once the chick, a male, got a clean bill of health, Thomas and Adams returned it to its nest, which also contained two female chicks. Female peregrines typically are larger, and, in this case, they were twice the size of the male, Adams said.
Just hours later, the same male chick was spotted splashing around near the riverbank.
“When he fell the second time I thought, ‘They are pushing him out,’ ” Adams said. Most likely the reason is competition for food.
As a result, the male chick is being cared for at the SPCA until next week, when it will be transferred to a wildlife rehabilitation facility until it can survive on its own.
The region is home to six known pairs of peregrine falcons, which have produced 13 chicks this year. According to the DEC, the Buffalo area has the largest urban peregrine falcon population in upstate New York.
Other known nests are at the University at Buffalo South Campus and Statler Towers in downtown Buffalo, both of which are manmade. Another pair of falcons often is seen in the Niagara Gorge.
Peregrine falcons still are on the state’s endangered list, after the effects of pesticides virtually wiped them out in the Eastern United States in the 1960s. Last year, there were 67 territorial pairs documented statewide, according to the DEC.
“We would have to be able to document certainly more than 67 pair, which is not enough to make you feel secure,” Adams said.
The national endangered designation was lifted in 1999.
While the DEC, like wildlife agencies nationwide, bands chicks to monitor their movements, the mother of the South Grand Island Bridge brood doesn’t have one. It may be that she was born in a nest that wasn’t accessible to wildlife authorities, Adams said.
Cliff-dwellers, peregrine falcons once nested predominantly in the state’s mountain ranges. Now they roost in what Thomas described as “21st century” nesting grounds: high-rise buildings and bridges.
“They are actually quite common now, which is a good thing,” Thomas said.
The peregrine falcon is enjoying a rebirth in Western New York, but it is not alone. The area also has seen a return of ospreys with nests on Grand Island and Town of Tonawanda.
And bald eagles, which were so close to being extinct in New York in the 1970s that state officials asked that any sighting be reported and documented, are routinely seen south of Buffalo.
Posted on June 21, 2009 6:21 am
June 07, 2009 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Peregrine falcons nesting under bridge
WILDLIFE: Mother dive-bombed bird banders
Posted By STEPHEN TAIT, SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER, PORT HURON TIMES HERALD
As Tonga dive-bombed them, biologists from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) banded her babies — four fledgling peregrine falcons that live beneath the Blue Water Bridge.
The biologists also gave the birds names — Helen, Desmond, Claire and Liberty — and determined their sex — two males and two females.
DNR biologists banded Helen and her siblings Tuesday morning at the bridge with a handful of Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) workers, some media members and DNR volunteers looking on.
MDOT workers have built a nesting platform for the rare and endangered birds on the underside of the old westbound span of the twinned bridges, 150 feet above the St. Clair River.
It was there this week — with a stiff, cool wind from the north — that Tonga, an adult falcon, and her unnamed mate put on a show for onlookers.
As a cherry-picker bucket was put into position, Tonga started swooping toward the workers, producing a loud and constant scream, what DNR volunteer Tom Heatley called an “alarm call.”
Occasionally, Tonga dove toward the workers, causing MDOT worker Larry McClelland to duck and flinch on several occasions.
“They are getting dive-bombed,” said Barb Baldinger, another volunteer from the DNR.
At times, Tonga would land on a nearby beam and watch as the workers handled her offspring, producing her menacing alarm call.
“She’s right there on the beam, right in their face,” said Bill Fockler, MDOT’s maintenance supervisor for the bridge.
Baldinger, Heatley and others looked on from the eastbound bridge as the small falcons were banded.
The male falcon, which is not named, remained quiet but fly around the area, landing on the bridge and its cables.
As it did, about a dozen people on the bridge looked on with cameras and binoculars and others watched from the ground.
Dan Miller, who watches the birds as a hobby, used a long-lensed camera to capture the action. The Fort Gratiot resident said he especially likes watching the birds take flight.
“They are just like little jet fighters, dog fighting down here.”
Posted on June 11, 2009 3:57 am
June 10, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Kathy Reports:
Found a great falcon news story today in the Buffalo News that I wanted to share with falcon fans. Given that peregrine falcons still suffer from a high mortality rate, this is truly amazing!
By Jake May
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
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.”
Posted on June 10, 2009 10:02 pm
June 04, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
June 1, 2009
Mystery solved! We are happy to share with you the identity of the adult female Peregrine falcon currently raising one healthy chick on the Durant Hotel in Flint, Michigan. Her band was read and confirmed as Black 7 over 5, according to the CPF (Canadian Peregrine Foundation) the University of Michigan Flint has welcomed ‘Majesty’ to their campus! She was born at the 18 King Street nest site in downtown Toronto in 2002. Her parents were non-other than Ponce-Kingsley and Victoria - Toronto’s first nesting peregrines on record in 100 years. Majesty was one of five hatchlings produced that year and all of her siblings have been reported dead over the years. Majesty is the last known living legacy of Ponce-Kingsley and Victoria - Mark Nash from the CPF was very excited to hear that she is doing well and has successfully reared young. Majesty was undetected for seven years, and some people wonder why we band?
Kariann R. Anderson
SE Michigan Peregrine Falcon Coordinator
Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division
Ponce Kingsley and Victoria were also the parents of Cabot-Sirocco-Mariah’s first mate.
Posted on June 4, 2009 12:16 pm
May 28, 2009 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
With a big than you to Sandy for sending in these interesting photo’s of there unexpected diner guest. The raptor dropped in for diner but forgot to knock first giving the Schadewald family time to open the window.
The hawk literally flew into a window and knocked himself out. This picture was taken from the room where it recovered before being let back loose.
Pictures taken by Sandra in San Mateo County CA, USA on May 28, 2009.
Thank your for sharing these great photos. Very glad to hear that the bird recovered and was successfully released back to the wild.
Posted on June 2, 2009 12:23 am
May 27, 2009 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
We have just received a call from the Etobicoke SPCA that they responded to a call of an injured peregrine with a broken wing. After rescuing and retrieving the bird, and many calls trying to find medical assistance for a qualified avian vet, they were finally let the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. While this is no surprise to us, given that very few vets here in Toronto and surrounding area can deal with wildlife - (let alone avian wildlife), we were glad that they found us. With a huge thank you to Jerry for his determination and persistence in finding us, as his initial efforts had him being transferred from one call to another with absolutely no success. We are pleased that we could help getting both he and the injured peregrine to proper medical assistance before the bird ended up being just another dead statistic . The injured peregrine was transferred to the Owl foundation, one of the only raptor rehabilitators in the area with large enough facilities and the expertise to deal with a raptor of this size.
Posted on June 1, 2009 11:50 pm
April 27, 2009 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
With a huge thank you to Kariann in Michigan USA, we have received some great news about Miriam and Tonga, two Canadian produced peregrines that have not only beat the mortality odds of survival, but have continued to go on and produce their own families in the USA.
Miriam (blk 89/H) successfully hatched three male peregrines last season in 2008 and is still paired with the same male (Allegro) at the Whittier Apartments in Detroit Michigan. She is currently incubating. Tonga (blk 85/H) successfully hatched three peregrines last season in 2008 (2 male and 1 female) and is still paired with an unbanded male at the Blue Water Bridge site in Port Huron Michigan. We have a new Peregrine nesting at our DTE Monroe Powerplant, we are yet to hear any origin information (blk 8/K).
Kariann, SE Michigan Peregrine Falcon Coordinator DNR.
Miriam was hacked-out and released to the wild from the CPF’s Richmond Hill Hack site in 2003, see CPF Project Track-Em and Project Release sections on the CPF web site at - http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/programs/trackem/track2003.html All 3 hacked birds survived and fledged and were closely monitored by the hack site attendants until they were finally hunting on their own and later disappeared by mid October of that year. Miriam was also involved in the CPF’s Project Track-Em and was tracked by satellite up and until she got into trouble in Detroit Mich. USA. Miriam was later found and rescued the following winter of 2003-2004 in Michigan USA during a bad winter storm of freezing rain and snow having been frozen by her tail to a concrete ledge of a office tower. She was rescued and spent a number of weeks in rehabilitation, and was later released back to the wild.
Tonga was produced at the Mississauga Ontario MEC nest site in 2003 and was one of the best fliers of the bunch. He has obviously survived the test of time and both of these birds continue to remind us all of the importance of banding for many reasons, in particular for the purpose of monitoring the species, and a reminder that the urban produced birds do in fact contribute to the restoration and recovery of the species - North American wide!
We wish both Miriam and Tonga continued success, and extremely pleased that they have chosen a home where they are so appreciated and so lovingly cared for by the great folks in Michigan USA.
Posted on May 22, 2009 7:01 pm
May 22, 2009 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
We have received some very interesting news of a new peregrine being observed in the Ottawa area and we hope that he/she will stay around.
It has been reported that a regular presence of an immature peregrine in and around 10 Wellington. The peregrine has been using the slightly lower roof section on the west side as a roost, and has definitely dispersed pigeons who once occupied it. It is plainly visible from west facing windows of 23rd to 26th floors when it is in residence.
Brown immature colouring phase, slightly larger than usual - perhaps female. Seems to be solitary at present. Active hunter - usually overlooks Chaudière falls and the green area along Ottawa river. Have not been able to discern a band.
Greg
Posted on May 22, 2009 1:08 pm
