A Monday morning Beauty
Then she's gone!

  Yay, thanks BF!

[Peregrine Falcon - 47]

Record Raptor Count and ID’d Peregrine
December 04, 2011 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:

This past fall,the raptor watch I started several years ago had a record count. My buddy Walter carried it on in my abscence this season and did a wonderful job. From mid-August until end November 6626 birds of prey were counted flying in,over and around Rosetta McClain Gardens in Toronto,atop the western end of the Scarborough Bluffs.

The final tally included:
Turkey Vulture - 1866
Osprey - 125
Bald Eagle - 67
Northern Harrier - 212
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1781
Cooper’s Hawk - 96
Northern Goshawk - 20
Red-shouldered Hawk - 29
Broad-winged Hawk - 757
Red-tailed Hawk - 858
Rough-legged Hawk - 9
Golden Eagle - 5
American Kestrel - 624
Merlin - 130
Peregrine Falcon - 47
Total - 6626
The number of Peregrine Falcons was down considerably from last seasons high of 85(the count has run since 2004). This could be owing to many factors,but is definetly something to be aware of in the ongoing monitoring of the Peregrine Falcon’s recovery. This past season,failed nests and unhatched eggs were a widespread issue,not only in southern Ontario,but in other areas of North America. Back in October one of the watches dedicated followers,friend and CPF volunteer Ann Brokelman took some fantastic photos of a young Peregrine Falcon which passed our site. So good  that we could read its band numbers. It was a juvenile bird from 2011. The first 2 years of a falcon’s life it lives up to its name,which means wanderer. Peregrine Falcons fly all over until they are sexually mature and then will search for a mate and territory.  The young Peregrine which Ann photographed was from Ohio. Its band numbers were black over red 79 over H and a purple US Fish and Wildlife band. With that information CPF was able to  obtain her ID. Cententiel as she was named by plant staff,was hatched in East Cleveland Ohio USA,at the Lakeshore Power Plant nest. This sighting and photos have been passed on to Ohio DNR and to the folks at the power plant. We are assured they will be very pleased to hear of Centeniel being reported alive and well.

Both of these reports highlight 2 of the important functions of The Canadian Peregrine Foundation,banding and monitoring. At a time when there are so many environmental threats,additional ones from habitat changes and new chemical threats,these are critical. 
Thanks to Ann  for the continued use of her photos.

http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/2011/12/sightings/record-raptor-count-and-idd-peregrine/ Pics here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vzP4FFNnRF4#! Lucky squirrel, mom calls for dad, he answers!

Wildlife Center of Virginia
Dr. Adam reports that NX kept all her food down last night! She is bright and alert ... and very feisty this morning!   

It's very similar to the video Kris posted in June. I've merged the topics.

I need Ginko!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9juh_dcWkc0#! He's good!!

[Today's greeting is from Dot in PA. Thank you Dot.]

Today's greeting is from Dot in PA. Thank you Dot. 

[On June 13, 2011, biologists visited the Merrill Creek Reservoir eagle nest located in Warren County. The chicks, one male and one female, were each fitted with a transmitter attached by a harness made of Teflon ribbon.]

http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/blog/2011/11/28/tracking-two-new-jersey-eagles/

On June 13, 2011, biologists visited the Merrill Creek Reservoir eagle nest located in Warren County. The chicks, one male and one female, were each fitted with a transmitter attached by a harness made of Teflon ribbon.

Published on Friday 2 December 2011 10:01

A TAWNY owl rescued by firefighters earlier this week has been released back into the wild.

The owl was trapped in a fishing line and suspended by his wing above the river behind the supermarket in Emscote Road.

One fire engine from Leamington attended at 10.20am on Monday and arrived to find the owl trapped three metres above the water, and liaised with the RSPCA.

The bird was found hanging about eight feet over the River Leam and the RSPCA were called but due to his precarious position it was impossible to rescue him without specialist help.

Rescue boats arrived and the crews used inflatable walkways to reach the owl and used a specialist hook devised by firefighters and by 11.30am it had been freed.

by 11.30 it had been released in the care of the RSCPA.

The male owl was taken to vets and remarkably had not sustained any major injuries to his wing. After spending a couple of nights with a specialist wild bird carer in Warwickshire, the bird was successful released back to the wild.

RSPCA animal collection officer Ian Pethick said: “All incidents we attend where we have to rescue distressed wild birds caught up in fishing line are entirely unnecessary.

“The fear and suffering this beautiful bird endured could have been so easily avoided if the fishing line had been safely disposed of.

“I would appeal to people that go fishing to please take their litter home with them at the end of the day.

“There are dangerous consequences for wildlife when litter is casually dropped or discarding on the streets.

“This tawny owl could so easily have suffered a broken wing which would have been devastating news. The fact that he became trapped in such a public place, behind a busy supermarket, probably saved his life.

He did suffer some bruising to the shoulder but otherwise was strong and healthy.

“We were keen to release him back to the wild as soon as possible as owls are very territorial and will be pairing up at this time of year. This might explain why the owl was so vocal while he was in care.�

Anyone that witnesses wildlife in distress can call the RSPCA national cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 99

[The "ghosts of the tundra" have arrived. Three snowy owls have been spotted in the Warren area in November. Others have been seen in Oklee, Red Lake Falls, Viking and Thief River Falls.]

http://www.crookstontimes.com/features/x300719921/Snowy-owls-have-arrived-in-the-Red-River-Valley pic and story
The "ghosts of the tundra" have arrived. Three snowy owls have been spotted in the Warren area in November. Others have been seen in Oklee, Red Lake Falls, Viking and Thief River Falls.

[How awful is that? So young.]

The lead condor biologist for the Ventana Wildlife Society was killed by a falling tree in Big Sur on Wednesday while working on the condor recovery project.

Michael Tyner, 35, was hit by a tree just before 3 p.m. and died instantly, said a news release from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Unit. His death was caused by blunt force injuries the coroner said.

“He was a valuable asset to our organization with his passion and perseverance and his dedication to the safety and well being of those birds – that was his number one goal, the safety of those birds,� said Cathy Hamilton, executive assistant for the society.

Tyner, who was single, was working with four young birds on a “soft release,� where the birds leave on their own, when the accident occurred, she said.

The winds had picked up and Tyner and others had decided to hunker down when the accident occurred, she said.

thecalifornian.com

How awful is that? So young.

[You guys sure "Do it big" in Canada. My kind a Parade! Thanks BF!]

You guys sure "Do it big" in Canada. My kind a Parade! Thanks BF!

Mercury, dead straight ahead!

City of Rochester

What building is that tree on? Looks cool!