Kendal at nest right now 3:25pm

http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/rjhall awesome looking bird! Never saw one so close up!

I just do not know!

http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Publications/eWings/eWingsIssue23August2011/BuzzardsfoundpoisonednearRoscrea/tabid/1194/Default.aspx

(via BirdWatch Ireland. Do join them on FB.)

That's horrific!! I just can't read anymore of these poisonings, it's making me sick!

and I did, a long time ago.

Very nice Bobbie and some are banded too. Wow, that one had a pretty big fish in his mouth. 

I once banded one of these darlings myself - Supervised, of course. What a moment.

Isn't it amazing how they flip the fish around so it goes down head-first?

You got up close and very personal!! Cool Bobbie. Yeah, just like a snake, head first!!!

http://www.ktvu.com/video/28911910/index.html Video

[The whimbrel left the far north of Canada on Saturday, flew down across New England, then out over the open ocean and appears to have encountered the outer bands of Hurricane Irene on Tuesday.]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/08/bird-survive-rough-ride-through-hurricane-irene/1 Story

The whimbrel left the far north of Canada on Saturday, flew down across New England, then out over the open ocean and appears to have encountered the outer bands of Hurricane Irene on Tuesday.

Very nice Bobbie and some are banded too. Wow, that one had a pretty big fish in his mouth. 

Sorry for the short notice. It was an emergency.

Next time we'd like at least a 24 hr notice please.  

Maybe a Tweet?

I talked to Shaky about tweeting that we were working on it, but my tweet would have hit a non-working forum.  lol

and my tweet from around 4 pm did not make it to the forum about seeing Unity up under the pigeon box.

Of course the tweet would hit a blank wall but the ones that follow would get them!! 

Great video nff, thanks so much. She's a doll!!

Sorry for the short notice. It was an emergency.

Next time we'd like at least a 24 hr notice please.   

Maybe a Tweet?

Sorry for the short notice. It was an emergency.

We forgive thee!

Wildlife crime has risen 40% in Scotland, as animals are being accidentally and illegally poisoned. Of the 233 incidents, over two thirds are birds of prey.

August 25, 2011. Shocking statistics for 2010 released by Scotland's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) yesterday, revealed that animals and birds across Scotland are being accidentally or deliberately poisoned at an alarming rate. WIIS said of the 233 incidents reported, some are domestic pets but the majority of them – 69% are birds of prey. This includes red kites, kestrels, peregrine falcons, barn owls and four golden eagles.
Illegal use of pesticides

WIIS, which is operated in Scotland by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) Pesticides & Wildlife Branch, is responsible for investigating suspected poisoning of wildlife, beneficial insects, companion animals and livestock. In a newly released report, the agency said that in all of the reported cases, "46% tested positive for pesticide residues," from "twenty-five different pesticides," an increase of 40% over 2009.

The death of two peregrine falcons has launched a police investigation - Image by Kevin Law


What's going on over there? This is terrible.

Wildlife Preservation

[The rare birds of prey made local news this spring when a pair nesting at 55 Water Street hatched four little ones.]

Harrison Street resident Liz Berger and her son, Winston Kruger, 23, had an unexpected—but decidedly welcome—rare wild visitor on Friday, Aug. 19.

A peregrine falcon—an endangered bird of prey that likes to nest in some of New York’s high bridges and buildings—landed on Berger’s balcony in Independence Plaza, staying for only five minutes but long enough for Kruger to take its portrait.

“It was amazing,� Berger said. “He absolutely was fearless. As we walked closer, he just sat there and stared.�

Falcons are making a comeback in New York, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The birds were nearly wiped out in New York due to the use of the pesticide DDT in the 1960s. After the spray was banned, their numbers began to rebound; in 2003, state conservation officials counted at least 50 nesting pairs in the state.

The rare birds of prey made local news this spring when a pair nesting at 55 Water Street hatched four little ones.

Although the birds are growing in number, they are still a fairly rare sight for most city dwellers.

“It's one of the pleasures of living all the way up here on the river and on the 36th floor,� Berger said.

and it's a Juvie.

Tribeca Trib

["Round up all the pigeon fanciers in the area and kill them at 30 minute intervals until someone confesses. Unless of course the first one you kill is the scum that did this and didn't get a chance to confess. Oh well."]

This has to be the hardest post for me to share. I really shouldn't but this needs to get out.


POLICE have today revealed they are hunting criminals who used a banned industrial grade poison to kill two peregrine falcons.
The birds of prey were found dead at a quarry in the West Lothian town of Kirknewton after being subject to the lethal pesticide aldicarb. Specialist wildlife investigators believe the killings were clearly deliberate and one of the peregrine's head had to be severed to be kept as a "trophy"! The investigation only came to light when a government report into pesticide deaths was published yesterday and police insisted they will keep the case open until someone is caught.

The incident last year was among the worst detailed in the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture report, which also listed a series of incidents in Bathgate last October where cats were poisoned with antifreeze.

Police have described the incredible lengths to which the culprits would have to go to poison a peregrine.

PC Ruaraidh Hamilton, wildlife crime co-ordinator for Lothian and Borders Police, told the Evening News: "Peregrines are a species that feed only on other birds, so it's very tricky and unusual to find they have been poisoned. They don't eat carrion or animals on the ground. Someone would have to have put poison on a bird that they know peregrines hunt and then wait for them to make contact with that bird for this pesticide to be passed on.
"It takes a lot of specialist knowledge to poison a bird that hunts in the sky."
PC Hamilton said it was possible the culprits were collectors of pigeons who have taken issue with the peregrines, who are feared hunters.
The dead peregrines were found in April and May last year and so far police have not identified any suspects.
PC Hamilton said that the kind of poison used is so strong, it could easily be passed between animals, and could potentially affect humans if they came into contact with it.
He added: "This is a pair of birds that could have raised three to four young a year. We will not close this case until someone is caught and we need the public's help in reporting any more incidents of this nature."
Bob Elliot, head of investigations for RSPB Scotland, said every year the conservation body was seeing peregrines killed in attacks.
He said: "This is a pattern I'm afraid to say we're seeing every year now, not just poisoned but shot peregrines as well.
"There are various motivations to doing something like this. "We've had incidents before with people interested in pigeon racing, being convicted of egg theft for collections, stealing chicks that would be laundered abroad.

"Peregrines are of great importance and are a litmus test for many problems with the environment, which become apparent by examining their behaviour.

"They are a fabulous species."

Here's one of the comments "Round up all the pigeon fanciers in the area and kill them at 30 minute intervals until someone confesses. Unless of course the first one you kill is the scum that did this and didn't get a chance to confess. Oh well."

Edinburgh Evening News

I didn't know either, just said crashed! Thanks