[pcarey2786 (patsy6):]

pcarey2786 (patsy6): Elevator went down & got stuck in shaft soon after my last tweet. It got unstuck at about 11:45. Walked to Radisson - no falcons in  shaft.

Link:
http://twitter.com/pcarey2786/statuses/515175669530382336

If a Falcon was sitting on a ledge in the elevator shaft and the elevator moved, could the Falcon get hurt or fall into the shaft and not be able to get out? Just wondering if anyone would know.

I'm so glad there is finally closure as to what happened to SW.  She was a beautiful Peregrine, a wonderful mother to many and a great mate.  Fly free, SW! 

                       Happy Birthday, BC! 

This is a disgraceful blot on Central Park management and the DEC who approved the nest box removal. Shades of Pale Male ...

Dot in PA

But at least some people in PM's building and others fought to have the pair continue to nest there and they did..don't see that happening in this case though.

MAK said that maybe Veteran migrated! Was he not spotted here last Winter?? I hope migration is the key to his disappearance! 

I hope he is alive and safe too.   

Me too.

Videos - Hunters attack birdwatchers in Buskett after Valletta protest - one birdwatcher hurt

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140921/local/videos-hunters-attack-birdwatchers-in-buskett-after-valletta-protest-one-birdwatcher-hurt.536660  This place is absolutely INSANE!!!

I totally agree..so many birds killed.

emotional investment in the animals can blind them to what the consequences are for people.�

People's rights should not trump those of the species we share the planet with.  Plain and simple.  What are the consequences?  You're inconvenienced a few months of the year?  Go live in a third world country if you want to learn about 'inconvenience'.

I'm so sick of listening to the rich whine about their rights...take your money and go elsewhere is my response.  In fact take that shuttle to Mars - the planet would be better off without the likes of you!

              Right on, Carly!

I think it is really important to have the eggshell tested for contaminants, whether it is DDT, DDE or something else.

Does anyone have an idea of what it costs to do this?

The other two eggs a little earlier, when Swift took a short break:

Cilla had said she was looking into the cost..hope they can do it.

I know Beauty and DC are the odd couple but I find it really strange there's been no bonding at the box since the end of July. They did a lot of bonding before egg time this year and Peregrines all over appear to be bonding and spending time at the nest but nothing with this pair.  Even Pigeons are getting comfortable around the nest box because there's no Falcons around to scare them off. Just weird..

They never have done a lot of off season bonding at the box. They're bonding at their other favorite places as they usually do.

I thought maybe without Pigott around things would be different this year but guess not.

Quite how Nature decides to do these things is beyond me!

http://www.boredpanda.com/hummingbird-bird-photography/

Gorgeous!

I know Beauty and DC are the odd couple but I find it really strange there's been no bonding at the box since the end of July. They did a lot of bonding before egg time this year and Peregrines all over appear to be bonding and spending time at the nest but nothing with this pair.  Even Pigeons are getting comfortable around the nest box because there's no Falcons around to scare them off. Just weird..

My thoughts exactly, Donna.  And thanks for the article, Kris.  I didn't realize that DDT wasn't banned in Australia until 1987, several years after it was banned here in the US. 

I didn't realize they banned it that many years after we did either plus the half-life of DDT was quite surprising!

I seem to recall a discussion of this last year. And I wonder if there has been any research into whether DDT could be stored in the polar ice that's melting...

http://www.geotimes.org/aug08/article.html?id=nn_glaciers.html

My thoughts exactly, Donna.  And thanks for the article, Kris.  I didn't realize that DDT wasn't banned in Australia until 1987, several years after it was banned here in the US. 

I didn't realize they banned it that many years after we did either plus the half-life of DDT was quite surprising!

Postings on webcam blog:

broken egg retrieved
Published 19 September, 2014 | By Cilla Kinross
I went up to collect the broken egg today and caused some disturbance, so the remaining eggs were uncovered for about 25 minutes. Will get back to you with results on egg thickness as soon as possible.

egg shell thickness
Published 19 September, 2014 | By Cilla Kinross
I took 20 measurements of the egg using calipers on the broken edges to try and avoid the curve and the average was 0.31 mm (standard deviation of 0.02).

According to USGS Biological and Ecotoxicological Characteristics of Terrestrial Vertebrate Species Residing in Estuaries ‘Peregrine Falcon’ pre DDT shell thickness is generally around 0. 35-36 and post DDT it dropped by 10-22 % to 0.27-0.29.

So our Swift’s eggs would seem to be quite thin.  This may reflect the high percentage of starlings and pigeons in their diet as contaminants tend to accumulate particularly strongly in these species.

I’ll see what it costs to have the eggshell (which is now in pieces) tested for contaminants.

Comments are welcome.

Seems strange they did fine with their eggs previous to last year, could they be using DDT again in this part of Australia?  Or is it just the age of Swift?  Hope it's not too expensive to test for contaminants, because this would definitely answer the question!  Praying the remaining 2 eggs have a bit thicker shell!

Interesting read on DDT:

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2007/10/09/2054547.htm

Postings on webcam blog:

broken egg retrieved
Published 19 September, 2014 | By Cilla Kinross
I went up to collect the broken egg today and caused some disturbance, so the remaining eggs were uncovered for about 25 minutes. Will get back to you with results on egg thickness as soon as possible.

egg shell thickness
Published 19 September, 2014 | By Cilla Kinross
I took 20 measurements of the egg using calipers on the broken edges to try and avoid the curve and the average was 0.31 mm (standard deviation of 0.02).

According to USGS Biological and Ecotoxicological Characteristics of Terrestrial Vertebrate Species Residing in Estuaries ‘Peregrine Falcon’ pre DDT shell thickness is generally around 0. 35-36 and post DDT it dropped by 10-22 % to 0.27-0.29.

So our Swift’s eggs would seem to be quite thin.  This may reflect the high percentage of starlings and pigeons in their diet as contaminants tend to accumulate particularly strongly in these species.

I’ll see what it costs to have the eggshell (which is now in pieces) tested for contaminants.

Comments are welcome.