[There's a New Female in Town!]

2 falcons at Harrisburg now.

In case someone missed this news! 

 Recent News
• 9/14/2010 :: There's a New Female in Town! For the past two weeks there has been a lot of activity at and near the nest ledge. Recently, a new adult female falcon has been seen bonding with the male. The origin of this female is unknown as she is not banded. Email information from web viewers indicates that the resident female is no longer at the ledge. An employee at the Amtrak Station across the street reported seeing a dead falcon near the rail line. No carcass was found there.

The resident female has probably defended the nest ledge from challenging interlopers in the past. One could speculate that at 12 years old, she could no longer fend off younger, stronger females seeking out nesting territory. Any information that web viewers care to share would be appreciated. For now, we have set two close camera views at the nest box and perch for observation purposes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWHjl6oWhe0&feature=player_embedded Video

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Peru was seeing Andean condors in the wild. I knew that they’re the largest raptor in the world, and South America’s largest flying bird—males can weigh a whopping 33 pounds and have a 10-foot-long wingspan—but I didn’t fully appreciate how enormous they are until they soared a mere 20 feet over my head.
 
To find the magnificent creatures, I went to Colca Canyon. It was an experience of extremes—at 10,725 feet, the canyon is among the deepest in the world, and the condors that live there fly to heights of nearly 3.5 miles. If you go early in the morning, however, you can see them fairly close up at Cruz del Condor, a rocky lookout. When showing a patient friend numerous photos when I got home, he joked, “Are those birds going to eat those people?�
 
“Of course not,â€� I said. “They only eat dead things…I think.â€�  In need of more info, I turned to Michael Mace, curator for birds at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park and the coordinator for the Andean Condor Species Survival Plan.

“As big as they are, they just eat carrion,� says Mace. “They’re scavengers.�

They might occasionally go after a downed animal, or a newborn, Mace explains, but the misconception that they hunt cattle, sheep, and other livestock has led ranchers to kill them, causing their population to decline. The birds’ body parts are also used in some traditional medicines; legend has it that the stomach cures breast cancer, for instance, and that roasted eyes will improve eyesight. Today their conservation status is “near threatened.�

Mace has been helping to release Andean condors back into the wild in Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, with the hopes of bolstering populations. Late this year or in early 2011, Mace plans to send two young condors to Colombia, bringing the total released into the wild to 82 since 1990 (the chicks are raised in American and Colombian zoos). One of the two birds was hatched at the San Diego Zoo.

Mace and others are also looking to expand the release program to other areas in South America to create a contiguous population throughout the Andes, rather than isolated populations.

Andean condor conservation can benefit more than just one species, Mace explains.

“When we go into a region to do a release, we also have a public education aspect,� he says. “Getting people to understand the importance of this charismatic species, of a flagship species, and protect their habitat also protects many other animals that are not as charismatic. The two condors Mace hopes to release later this year will each be about a year old when they’re set free. The birds have much in common with California condors, whose numbers plummeted to fewer than two dozen in the early 80s and have climbed to 350 in birds, about 180 of which are flying free in California, Arizona, and Baja, Mexico. As with California condors, Colombian biologists have tracked and monitored released birds, and found that some have begun to breed.

“Both Andean condors and California condors are now raising offspring in the wild,� says Mace. “It’s just incredible to see this go full cycle.�

Wasn't that a red-footed falcon a few years ago that showed up out east and was watched for a while by people coming from all over because one had never been seen in the US?  Maybe by Martha's Vineyard or that area?

Yup, last year I posted an article from Vernon Laux about spotting the Red Footed Falcon on Cape Cod. I believe in October. 

Um...WOW!! He looks like an elephant. 

Look, it's Beauty!
and Archer
"Come on baby, bow to daddy!"
"Look at the little guy go!"
She stays on.
She left at 7:10.

Wow, I remember doing most of them Bobbie, especially looking for tadpoles. We were always in the woods by the brooks and there was a fort built by "the big boys" as we called them back then, right next to the Big Brook. They made a tire swing and we used it til we got caught and chased by the "Big Boys". The good ole days were great. One day the "Bad Boys" set fire to the "Big Boys" fort and the whole woods caught on fire. The firemen had one heck of a time putting it out as it was so deep within.
We also used to play baseball every weekend and a friend of mine threw a baseball at a helicopter going by and he actually knocked it out of the sky. He didn't think he could throw it that high but oh yes, he certainly did. "No one was hurt but the heli had to make a landing on our field. We were all in too much shock to run. Yeah, he got nailed for it, even though the pilot was amazed he threw that ball so high. I believe as a child, I saw more Hawks then I do now! 

Greg Czechura – Thursday, August 19, 10 (11:10 am)

First of all, thanks to Lynn and Cookie for the news. I will have to get over to the AMP Building area for a look.

It is good to know that our city Peregrines are still active. There has been a bit of activity over South Bank as well of late - the warning calls from the local Noisy Miner population are a good indication.

I was giving a workshop on raptor identification at Osprey House (on the Pine River, near Dohles’s Rocks last Saturday). During the proceedings we were treated to a fine female Peregrine, flying overhead and making an occasional stoop at passing birds. She was in moult, judging from a missing central tail feather and mirror image missing secondary feathers. For some of the attendees, this was their first wild Peregrine as well as the first record of a Peregrine at Osprey House.

Osprey House has a tower with an Eastern Osprey nest that is being monitored by CCTV. It looks as though the ‘original’ female has been usurped by another female in the last couple of weeks. This is a good spot for watching some our coastal raptors, as well as Pacific Bazas, Brown Goshawks and other species not so dependent on the river, mangroves and other coastal habitats.

Regards
Greg

Not sure if this was posted but no updates since Aug.

I wonder if there's room on that tower, (with no nest box) for eggs. Seems that's where they want to stay. Poor falcons. She should be laying them or has-soon!

TWO angry parents swoop for his scalp as he perches on a narrow gutter 33 storeys above the city.


Victor Hurley is living on the edge. He has just climbed to the top of the pecking order on the city's peregrine falcons' hit list.

The fastest species on earth, known to travel at up to 300km/h, they are also very protective parents.

And they didn't hold back as Mr Hurley, co-ordinator of the Victorian Peregrine Falcon society, went to check on their eggs.

"To protect their nest from a potential predator, which is how they view me, they can dive bomb at speeds up to 60km/h," he said.

"They weigh 1.2kg so that will definitely deter you from wanting to get too close to the nest.

"I've been hit by about five to seven of the females personally and I've got the scars to show it."

It was all screech as he took the small speckled eggs, about the same size as a chicken egg, and placed them gently in a plastic bag with tissues.
Then he retreated slowly along the concrete tightrope to the safety of 367 Collins St to measure and weigh the three eggs, laid less than a week ago.

By doing this, Mr Hurley is able to predict when they will hatch. For almost 20 years he has tagged the chicks to ensure their survival.

"We first reported them in 1991. They were nesting inside a gutter. The eggs were getting chilled from the rain so they weren't hatching," he said.

"The next year we put in a little wooden tray, filled with some sand. They are voting with their very clawed feet.

"This is where they want to be, they are on a southeast corner in the morning. The sun warms up the nest and then in the afternoon, it's in shadow so the chicks don't get cooked."

Flying feasts are their delicacy of choice, such as pigeons, starlings and sparrows.

 http: //player.video.news.com.au/heraldsun/?mnUng8DIXogrc2_BKCrcP1D7qsLelvSk video YIKES!

[( This all because of the racing pigeons) Kill many birds of prey to save a racing pigeon?? Give me a BREAK!!!)]

A peregrine falcon found dead in a Gloucestershire quarry had been poisoned, tests have revealed.

The female bird was discovered in the quarry in Coleford by a member of the public in June, and an officer from the RSPB abseiled down to recover it.

Toxicology tests were carried out by Natural England under the government's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme.

It is not known whether a chick also found dead in the nest was poisoned or starved to death after its mother died.


Birds of prey are a protected species which means it is illegal to harm or kill them.

A joint investigation has been launched by the RSPB, police and Natural England.

The offender, if caught and convicted, could be sentenced to up to six months in prison and fined up to £5,000. (That's it)?

It is thought that peregrines may be illegally killed as a result of concerns about predation of game birds or racing pigeons.

Last year, at another site near Coleford, a peregrine was found shot dead.

Jon Palfrey, rural and environmental crime officer for Gloucestershire Police, said: "We don't know why whoever did this would want to harm the bird and the incident is being thoroughly investigated.

"We'd also like to continue to encourage local residents to report any information they have about anyone harming these, or any other, birds of prey."

17 September 2010

( This all because of the racing pigeons) Kill many birds of prey to save a racing pigeon?? Give me a BREAK!!!) I actually feel sick  right now.

[All I can say is... WOW! What a list!]

All I can say is... WOW! What a list!

 I agree...WOW WOW!!

Anytime Suzanne and MAK.

2009 was another shocking year for the persecution of birds of prey, with 384 reported incidents of shooting, trapping and poisoning, according to the RSPB's 20th annual Birdcrime report, launched today [16th September, 2010]. This makes 2009 the second worst year for these crimes in the last decade, with only 2007, with 389 cases, worse.

Twenty years of reporting on Birdcrime has revealed that several police force areas suffer higher levels of bird of prey persecution than others. In England, top of the league are North Yorkshire, West Mercia, Northumbria, Devon & Cornwall and Cumbria. In the report, the RSPB has identified 11 recommendations for government action, so that these appalling crimes can be eradicated.

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's Conservation Director, said: "Wildlife crimes are an abhorrent feature of our countryside. And for the sake of eagles, kites, harriers, buzzards, falcons and Ospreys, we have to take more action to consign these crimes to history. Over time, egg collecting has diminished, but the killing of birds of prey is as big a threat today as it was two decades ago. Earlier this year, the former Wildlife Minister — Huw Irranca-Davies — was one of more than 210,000 people to sign a pledge to protect birds of prey. This is a powerful voice and we will not rest until their cries have been heard by government."

In 2009, the government announced that bird of prey persecution was one of the top wildlife crime priorities. In view of the current spending review, the RSPB is concerned that resources to tackle wildlife crime will be seen as a soft option. The RSPB wants to see a commitment from the government to tackling these crimes, long-term funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit and a full wildlife crime review in England.

During 2009, there were 384 reported incidents of bird of prey persecution in the UK, including 224 in England, 123 in Scotland, 17 in Wales and 11 in Northern Ireland. Nine crimes against birds of prey could not be assigned to a country and were recorded at a UK level.

The Hen Harrier  is on the brink of extinction in England as a breeding species, with just six successful pairs in 2009. This is the species most affected by persecution, despite the fact there is sufficient habitat to support well over 200 pairs. A report published by Natural England in 2008 showed that nest failures as a result of adults 'disappearing' were seven times more common on grouse moors than any other land type. Modelling suggests the UK's driven grouse moors could support 500 nesting pairs of Hen Harriers: in 2008 there were just five.

The conflict with land managed for the shooting of game birds remains the main problem for birds of prey, particularly the upland grouse-shooting estates in northern England and Scotland. The main birds of prey affected are Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Goshawk, Peregrine and Red Kite.

Although crimes against birds of prey are widespread across the UK, analysis of the figures by the RSPB over the past two decades shows that some constabulary areas are hotspots for wildlife crime. In England, since 1990, the five police forces with the highest levels of 'confirmed' crimes against birds of prey have been:

    * North Yorkshire, with 64 confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents;
    * West Mercia, with 61 confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents;
    * Northumbria, with 58 confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents;
    * Devon & Cornwall, with 57 confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents;
    * Cumbria, with 47 confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents.

Shot Peregrine Falcon found dead in Gloucestershire in June 2009. 

Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies (left) accepts a 210,567-name petition from Dr Mark Avery, RSPB Director of Conservation, calling for an end to the killing of brids of prey. The giant Peregrine mosaic was held aloft by RSPB supporters in Westminster 

[21 red-footed falcon carcasses]

.....bu then I found this also! 

The storms came

This was the nest that got away!

It leveled everything

The sad account: just what we found, 21 red-footed falcon carcasses in the region during the nest-box colonies, including 7-ring, marked copies of the previous years.

How horrible! Poor Falcons.

July this year was the first time in the Carpathian Basin westernmost steppe habitat, the plane-Moson-footed falcon chicks  This bird, the Hungarian-Austrian-Slovakian border region below the limit of the spread, just west of here  occur.  Partly it is a major improvement to this year, found in the outskirts of Mosonszolnok költőpár two-fledged have seen a color ring.  On this basis, without any additional capture - of course using a good pair of binoculars - will be able to identify them.  (This is the best translation I could find.

I'm surprised you can't see the bands good enough to ID from the pics with PPE standing backwards on that railing.  The effort is appreciated Joycie and Brian!  

Joyce is right, I tried it too, blew it up, cropped it, enhanced it.....magnify....NADA.