The little one with M15:



Harriet came back to take over. M15 did not want to leave the nest, but after many gentle nudges and hints, he realized it was time to go.

Feeding the tiny eaglet:





Too tired for any more food:

After reading yesterday's post, I tried to keep hoping that PPO might recover and return, despite how bad the situation seemed.

But having just read today's post, I am heartbroken and devastated that PPO was very probably poisoned. This is a huge loss. PPO has simply been the most remarkable, most beautiful owl anywhere for the past number of years, and she has taught and charmed countless people in so many countries.

I also feel so bad for Pappa and their young owlet. I so much hope that they will stay safe.

Cannot write anything more at the moment . . .     

Welcome to the world, little one!

I am very happy for Harriet that she found a new mate and has a beautiful brand new eaglet. I still miss Ozzie; what a truly great eagle he was.

Second visit:







I think this looks like the same female as last year; banded silver on the right leg, black/green on the left, bottom part of the band is an "X".

Thank you, Donna and Coriena! Love the video, especially the long-legged power walk by the female.

I saw the female at the nest twice this morning:

The cams were knocked out and destroyed by a storm last year and it's estimated the cost to replace will be in the $4000 range.  They don't have any fund raisers like we do so now they're trying to figure out how to raise the money.  Hopefully they can find a way to get the money to replace it. 

Kris, you must be psychic. I was just about about to ask these questions. The only news I see on the Syracuse nest site is on this forum.

The cams are back up at the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge nest site, and at least one of the peregrines has started to visit the nest.

I think it would be very difficult for chicks to fledge into the maze of metal surrounding the nest, with the river below.







I hope they will have a successful year. Last year, this pair raised one chick.

http://www.palmyracove.org/FalconCam.aspx

[Windsor — Ambassador Bridge]

Windsor — Ambassador Bridge

There is very sad news today about Gwennis, a daughter of Freddie and Voltaire at the Ambassador Bridge, born in 2013.

From the Canadian Peregrine Fpundation:

Marilyn Weller Reports:

Greetings Friends,

There was a posting on Facebook out of Ohio, about a female Peregrine from Windsor that perished from injuries sustained from what may have been an encounter with power lines. I am sad to report that Gwennis has died from her injuries which included multiple fractures and burns. The Facebook group is for “Back to the Wild� from Castalia, Ohio and they have posted a couple photos on their group site.

She had a great start and a couple of great years in the sky. Sure wish she had longer to enjoy the skies though.

Gwennis was a hatchling from the nest of Voltaire and Freddie in 2013. At the time of her banding, she was estimated to be 29 to 30 days old and weighed 1016 gms. She was always a big female and we here in Windsor, certainly enjoyed hours of watching her learn to fly with her hatch mates, Hercules and Tecumseh.

She was named in honour of Windsor Watch Coordinators Gwen and Dennis Patrick. We are very sad to learn this news and wanted to pass this on to you all.

  \

Poor little Gwennis. I wonder what actually happened to cause her to be so badly injured. 

https://www.facebook.com/Back-To-The-Wild-Castalia-Ohio-119099281488306/

Clara and Fernando el Cohete have both been visiting the nest box recently. I have seen them together in the nest box, and a little work being done on the scrape.

This morning, one of the birds was on cam for some time.

Glad to hear that Pigott is around. Wish the cams were active . . .

Thank you for posting the video, Donna! Great to see the birds bonding.

Thank you for the update, Kris. This is really bad. I don't want to see any birds poisoned, and of course I am especially concerned for Ares and Astrid. I know some people don't like pigeons, but there is no excuse for poisoning any bird or animal. And perhaps two different poisons here?

Is there an ongoing investigation into who might be doing this? It is very concerning. 

I understand the need for captive birds to replenish a declining species, but that's a very long time to be held out of the wild. Hopefully he is enjoying his freedom in the skies.

Dot in PA

It is such a long time for AC-4 to have been kept in captivity. With 30 chicks released to the wild, he has made an invaluable contribution to the return of the condor. I hope he will find a new mate, have many more chicks, and many more decades flying safely in the wild.

The number of 420 birds given in the article is a little misleading. Only 235 of these condors are in the wild; the rest are in captivity. And according to Ventana Wildlife Society, the California wild population is still at only approximately 140 birds.

The Los Angeles Times also had an editorial on condors on January 7.

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-0107-california-condor-20160107-story.html

There is good news today about one of the 2014 chicks from the Woodmen nest. Elsa, a daughter of Hera and Mintaka, banded black/red D/43, has been spotted in western Iowa, some ten miles from the Omaha nest site. Her grandparents are Alley and 19/K at the Lincoln nest; her great-grandparents are Princess and Trey at the Radisson nest in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

She is absolutely stunning. The beautiful photos are by Cary Smithson.





More photos and information on Joel Jorgensen's blog:

http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2016/01/peregrine-falcon-news-from-frozen-and-iowa/