Has anyone seen Callidora since Carol's sighting this afternoon? Now would she just take off again? Wonder if she got fed. I'm wondering a lot lately, sorry. Hopefully Dan will spot her in the AM. No MAK tomorrow.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is asking for the public's help conducting a provincewide survey of peregrine falcons.

The peregrine was virtually wiped out in Ontario in the 1950s by the chemical DDT.

But over the last 25 years, the bird of prey has been slowly returning to Ontario's cities and wilderness.

Every five years, the ministry conducts a survey to monitor the population.

"We are asking for birders to report any peregrine falcon nesting activity that they observe, and we'd like to know if there are signs of an occupied territory or single bird," said Lisa Nyman, a biologist in the ministry's Nipigon district.

"If you see a territory with two birds, if you observe a nest, we would like to know the nest's location, the number of eggs or young that are observed."

Nyman told CBC News the peregrine population is getting larger every year, partly thanks to organizations like Thunder Bay Field Naturalists.

Brian Ratcliffe is with the group that for the last 20 years has helped the ministry reintroduce the birds to Ontario.

"This has been one of the best recovery strategies, on the recovery of a species, or of an endangered species, that there's ever been," said Ratcliffe.

Four years ago, the peregrine's status was upgraded from endangered to threatened by a provincial committee on endangered species.

The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on the planet, reaching speeds of more than 300 km/h, with nostrils so adept at breathing during its phenomenal dives that scientists mimicked the function for use in fighter jets.

Princess from Winnipeg
Falcon chics from Winnipeg 2010 nesting

[(What a great rescue)]

The first successful nesting effort by rare peregrine falcons in Lancaster County in 63 years nearly went under last week — literally.

Within a span of three days, both chicks hatched by a pair of adults in a nest underneath the Route 462 bridge over the Susquehanna River were rescued by boaters after the birds fell into the river.

One of the chicks was believed to have foundered in open water for at least four hours.

"I think it's likely that both of these chicks would have died if it weren't for a couple of caring individuals," said John Veylupek, the Pennsylvania Game Commission's wildlife conservation officer for northwest Lancaster County.

"We're very appreciative of the public's assistance in saving these birds."

The two chicks likely hatched in mid-June in a nest on the underside of the bridge, about halfway between Columbia and Wrightsville.

A pair of adult peregrines using that nest produced eggs that never hatched for three successive years prior to this year.

Local birders, who have been following the chicks' growth, had worried about what would happen when the young falcons attempted their first flight because the nest sits over open water.

On July 28, Julie Lehmer of Columbia was boating with her parents, Kevin and Sue Kraft, and her 7-year-old son, Johnes, around 5 p.m.

The family had gone out on the river in hopes of seeing one of the adult falcons, Lehmer said.

"We just spotted one of them flying overhead and we couldn't believe it," she said. "Then we looked down through one of the tunnels and saw something splashing around way out in the middle of the river."

Lehmer said the family started heading down river in the general direction of the animal.

"When we got in range with the binoculars, I knew right away what it was and my heart just sank," she said.

It was one of the falcon chicks, struggling to stay afloat.

Once the boat pulled up near the bird, Lehmer immediately could tell it was in trouble.

"It would flap its wings a little and then start to sink," she said.

Not knowing what else to do, Lehmer called 911 and county dispatchers patched her call through to the Game Commission's southeast regional office.

"Within minutes, I was talking to John (Veylupek)," she said.

Lehmer told him the bird was struggling and she said he told her to "use my best judgment" about whether to pull the bird out of the water.

Veylupek, who was more than an hour's drive away, couldn't offer any immediate assistance.

"I knew we were going to get that bird out of the water," Lehmer said.

Kevin steered the boat so the falcon was at the rear and the bird immediately gripped the outside of the craft with its talons.

Lehmer said her stepfather gently grabbed the falcon from behind and lifted it into her arms, which she had covered with a beach towel that she wrapped around the physically spent, shivering chick.

"It didn't fuss at all," she said. "I couldn't believe it. We went out just in hopes of seeing a falcon, and here I was holding one in my arms. It was incredible."

Lehmer and her family headed to shore, where they eventually turned the chick over to Jack Bennett, one of Veylupek's deputies.

Veylupek later took the falcon to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in York County, who determined the bird was exhausted but not injured.

On Friday morning, Veylupek and Bennett made preparations to return the chick to a small island just upriver from its nest.

"We felt confident the parents would find it and take care of it," Veylupek said.

Bennett called Jim Cox, owner of Chiques Rock Outfitters in Columbia, to arrange to have canoes available to return the young falcon.

During a follow-up call, Cox told Bennett he had just rescued the other chick from the river.

"We got back to shore after taking a group out on the river and this fisherman told me he had seen one of the falcons flapping on the water," Cox said. "That was at, like, 8 a.m. and it was about noon when I went out."

Cox paddled his kayak out across the river and quickly found the bird in open water, south of the bridge.

 He tried coaxing it toward an island with his paddle.

"Every time my paddle got close, the bird grabbed it in his beak, like he wanted to climb up on it," Cox said. "I could tell he was pretty tired."

So Cox scooped his paddle under the bird and lifted it up onto the bow of his kayak.

"We had a staring contest for a couple seconds, and I just said to him, 'If you stay cool, I'll give you a ride to that island over there,' " he said.

The bird sat tight as Cox delivered it to a small island.

"I pulled up and nudged him off my boat with the paddle," he said. "He just crawled under some branches and sat there, shivering."

With one chick already sitting on an island near the falcon nest, Veylupek and Bennett decided to take the other chick, which they had stashed in a cardboard box, to the same location.

Cox took them out to the spot where he had delivered the chick he rescued and Veylupek placed the second one beside its sibling.

"The one that had just been rescued looked pretty good," Veylupek said. "It was wet, but it wasn't shivering anymore. I think they'll be OK."

After Veylupek released the bird that had fallen July 28, it started screeching and two adult peregrines quickly arrived on the scene, soaring overhead and calling back to the young falcon.

"They know where the chicks are. They'll take care of them," Veylupek said. "Quite frankly, they're better off now learning to fly from that island, than up on the bridge."

On Sunday, Lehmer said she saw both young peregrines still together on an island in the river.

Through binoculars, she said she watched one of the adult falcons catch and kill a small bird, which was then delivered to the chicks.

"I really hope they make it," Lehmer said.



(What a great rescue)

1st time posting - it's Debbie MAK!!  OMG - Thank you!!!  I thought maybe she headed for Syracuse to get her brother!!  Tough day!

 bguitar

Hi Debbie and Welcome, MAK has mentioned you. You told her about the Hawk? Hope you enjoy our forum. 

That girl is going to be crying for food all night...(unless she caught her own), on her mini vaca.

I'm going to hope that "my" Helga Jean turns up in Arlington, VA - lots of pigeons and some good nesting spots!  Of course, Paul and I would be out of work 

Maybe in a couple weeks Janet! Hope she stays put for now!

YIPPEE.....Callidora is BACK!!!! Whining as always....yay...thanks Carol! What a relief.

Close-up of the "Lady of the Lockes" Momma Osprey.
She's so beautiful, I sure hope she comes back next year. Godspeed Momma.

[Yeah but considering all that, ya put in a good 15 hours yesterday. That would so be me if I lived there. Told ya, I'd pitch a tent. Well, it's been over 48 hours since Callidora was seen last. I have a feeling she's on her way to .....where ever she want's. I hope I'm wrong and she went on a fly-a-bout and will be back soon. "Callidora, where ever you are, please make it so someone can read your bands." Seems like yesterday, she was an egg! and now she's all grown up!]

   I never had a slipped disc but I've had a few herniated discs.  Hopefully you'll be good to go for next years watch! 

Yeah but considering all that, ya put in a good 15 hours yesterday.  That would so be me if I lived there. Told ya, I'd pitch a tent.  Well, it's been over 48 hours since Callidora was seen last. I have a feeling she's on her way to .....where ever she want's. I hope I'm wrong and she went on a fly-a-bout and will be back soon. "Callidora, where ever you are, please make it so someone can read your bands." Seems like yesterday, she was an egg!    and now she's all grown up! 

I could sure go for a dose of callidora or Jemison right now. 

JACKSON, S.C. --- Wood storks don't win beauty contests, but they sure can eat.

A wood stork sits on a dead tree near the Audubon Center in South Carolina. The Silver Bluff sanctuary is designed to create an ideal habitat for the endangered birds.

This summer, the federally endangered wading birds are spending a lot of time at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center, where the restaurant is always open.

"We've had about 100 birds here so far this year," said Paul Koehler, who manages the 3,250-acre sanctuary and its series of ponds built especially to cater to hungry storks.

Typically, storks seek out a wetlands habitat that partially dries out in late summer, concentrating on the small fish and crustaceans that make up the bird's diet.

Because those habitats have vanished, storks have, too -- prompting their addition to the federal Endangered Species List in 1984.

Silver Bluff is one of the major inland feeding areas for the birds, which require about 440 pounds of fish per breeding pair during the March-to-August breeding season.

The ponds at Silver Bluff were designed and built in the early 1980s to be packed with small fish, and then slowly drained in late summer to create the sort of habitat that lures in storks from a radius of more than 50 miles.

"We get assistance every year from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service," Koehler said. "We also have fundraisers to support the programs out here."

This year, the Fish & Wildlife Service hatchery in Orangeburg, S.C., stocked the three ponds with more than 1 million small bluegill -- most of which will be eaten by the end of the summer.

"They just finished feeding out the first pond, so the numbers drop when the fish are gone," he said. "Now we're drawing down the middle pond, so in a few more days, the bird numbers will rise again."

Many of the storks are believed to travel in from rookeries in Jenkins County, Ga., where nesting habitat in Carolina Bay formations is used each spring and summer.

This year, researchers from Savannah River Ecology Lab even climbed the tall trees to band stork chicks as part of a study to see how many of them will show up at Silver Bluff and other areas, Koehler said. "So we'll be watching for banded birds. It'll be interesting to see if they turn up here."

The Silver Bluff sanctuary is open to visitors, but one of the site's main fundraisers -- Storks & Corks -- will be held Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., offering visitors an opportunity to sample fine wines and food while observing the storks.

Tickets are $35 per person and reservations -- which are required -- can be made by calling (843) 462-2150.

RIVER FRIEND: Dick Fox, who died in March, was one of the Savannah River's most persistent supporters.

Last Thursday, he was honored as recipient of the second annual River Advocate award bestowed by Savannah Riverkeeper.

"He had always been a friend of the river, an advocate for all the events, he was instrumental in getting some of the rowing programs going and he was an original member of the Augusta Canal Authority," said Tonya Bonitatibus, the organization's director.

Accepting the award during the group's membership meeting was Fox's daughter, Ginger Fox Connell.

MEGA RAMP: Georgia's Department of Natural Resources opened a new mega-ramp in July at Lake Hartwell's Tugaloo State Park.

The facility includes six boating lanes, plenty of parking and restrooms. It will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Georgia received funding for the ramp as part of a natural resource damage settlement related to PCB contamination of Twelve Mile Creek which feeds into Lake Hartwell. The PCB contamination resulted from discharges from a manufacturing plant formerly located along the creek.

  A wood stork sits on a dead tree near the Audubon Center in South Carolina. The Silver Bluff sanctuary is designed to create an ideal habitat for the endangered birds.

Oh Nicole,  I'm sorry for your loss.  I have been in tears all morning realizing that my dear little boy, Abner (only 6 years old) is going much quicker than I expected.  He was diagnosed with cancer right before the watchers weekend.  So Panpan will have a playmate soon.  I understand how hard it is.  You are in my thoughts.

Colleen, so sorry. Poor baby. Prayers to you and Abner, (cute name) and so young, 

Did any of you ever hear about the Rainbow Bridge? Which all good pets cross on their way to Heaven? That's what our family always says... "They are crossing the Rainbow Bridge." I think it is from a children's story but cannot remember... Panpan and Abner now get to meet "our lot"... Dulcie, Ceili, Holly, Solo, Rinka, the Panther Cat (our only feline), and Bleireau...

Oh Bobbie, of course, we all know about the Rainbow Bridge. It's where all the doggies and kitties go.

Oh Nicole,  I'm sorry for your loss.  I have been in tears all morning realizing that my dear little boy, Abner (only 6 years old) is going much quicker than I expected.  He was diagnosed with cancer right before the watchers weekend.  So Panpan will have a playmate soon.  I understand how hard it is.  You are in my thoughts.

Colleen, so sorry. Poor baby. Prayers to you and Abner, (cute name) and so young, 

Hi everyone. I want to let you know the loss of my Panpan. He was euthanasied this morning after a short illness ( not even 12 hours ). Probably a lightning cancer. Foudroyant in french.
Thanks for the listening. Nicole

I'm sorry Nicole, I know how you feel. Our Smokey, 2 yrs ago, had a rapid type of cancer. She lost weight, took to vet and that was it. She had Cancer of the stomach. Prayers to you dear. Panpan was a beauty.

Ahhhh