20-Apr-23, 05:49:41 AM
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1761
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Rochester Falcons / Rochester Falcon Discussion / Trying to ID KPF (Kodak Park female)
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on: 28-Oct-12, 09:06:34 PM
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Let me look, I know C&C got the photos of her back in 2010 when she was in an aerial fight with Rocky (Lara's mate) and Tracy may have photos of her from Nanticoke. Now that I think about it, it was the tiercel you thought was black/black..it's like a freeway down there  Hmm...no updates since April on this site. Will have to check with Tracy as it seems they weren't sure there was a nest this year. A male was seen all winter but not this spring. There are photos of Marla she posted but I can never view them...grrrrr Here is the page, bottom post with photos of Marla included. Maybe they will work for you. http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/c/sightings/nanticoke-opg-nest/Here are the pics of Marla from the Canadian Peregrine Foundation link you provided, Carly:    |
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1767
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Other Nature Related Information / Falcon Web Cams / Re: Pa & S2 - Netherlands
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on: 20-Oct-12, 06:38:25 PM
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My version of the letter posted by VWG Gemert.
Additional information about the peregrine S2
Gemert, Thursday, October 18, 2012
Dear visitors, peregrine falcon lovers,
We understand your disappointment, anger and the questions which arise therefrom. We too are experiencing emotions and are still wondering why this happened to the peregrine S2, so close to her successful return to the wild. But that is usually not the best moment to debate decisions which had been quietly made earlier by VWG and which have been previously communicated, but which we would like to address once again.
There are many questions which have reached us and we hope to answer those in the following manner.
It has been suggested that the process followed by the falconer should have been different.
The peregrine falcon spent over a year in captivity. This is a very long time, and will inevitably lead to a loss of condition in the falcon. Falconers know better than anyone that a good level of fitness is essential for certain species of raptors to be able to hunt successfully. They train their hunting birds every day and keep them in good condition; otherwise they will not be successful.
The falconer in question is very knowledgeable and has major achievements in the area of the protection of peregrine falcons. He also has extensive experience in the rehabilitation of peregrine falcons, a quality which few people in The Netherlands possess to date. His training was focused entirely on bringing her condition to a certain level. It was not that he would train her to hunt, because she already knew that. The release of the peregrine without this training would at first glance seem to be a good idea, but the chances that once she was out of our sight she would have died of starvation would have been extremely high.
We needed to take this step in the interests of the peregrine S2; it had been expressly and thoroughly discussed with other experts such as BirdLife Netherlands, the Netherlands Peregrine Workgroup, the veterinarian and the falconer and even today, we still stand completely behind this decision.
The date of death of the peregrine S2
On Tuesday, October 9, the peregrine S2 was given her usual prey, and nothing extraordinary was observed. The reasons for this can be read in earlier reports.
On Wednesday October 10, she was found dead by the falconer; upon further investigation he found an infestation of maggots on her lower body, and also in her cloaca. The falconer was and is completely devastated and informed us on Wednesday, October 10 that she was deceased; he is still having a very difficult time with this. Immediately following this discovery the peregrine S2 was placed in the freezer and on Thursday, October 11, she was transferred to us in a frozen state. We placed her in a cooler with freezer components and then she was again placed in the freezer. On the morning of Saturday, October 13, a necropsy was performed by the veterinarian; on Friday, October 12, the peregrine S2 was removed from the freezer. The maggots are killed by direct freezing, and this does nothing to alter the necropsy and the possible cause of death. During the necropsy the gizzard was found to be full of the prey from Tuesday, October 9. We await additional findings and a possible precise cause of death.
Placement of a press release in the Eindhoven Dagblad on Sunday, October 14, 2012
We deliberately waited to post a press release on our website because we wanted to have the preliminary findings on the necropsy of S2 so that we could provide you with correct information. In collaboration with the bird sanctuary, on Sunday we contacted the Eindhoven Dagblad for an appointment to make the death known after we had published the information on our website. Here something went wrong, and the Eindhoven Dagblad immediately proceeded to publication, and included wrong information about her death. After seeing this publication, we immediately posted our full press release on our website, after which the Eindhoven Dagblad changed their press release, giving further details. We are not blaming anyone that this happened, but because it happened in this way, it is understandable that emotions played a role.
Breaking a wing feather or tail feather
It is only to be expected that a bird will break a wing or tail feather. One often sees in raptors in flight that there is a missing feather. In itself this is not a problem, it is just that we and the falconer wanted to take no risks and to give the peregrine S2 her freedom back with her plumage in perfect condition. The breaking of this wing feather had nothing to do with the competence of the falconer or with the death of the peregrine S2!
Rebelliousness of the peregrine S2
This has nothing to do with her death, or damage to her primary wing feather, this is normal behavior; please see earlier reports on our website.
Time of infection and death of S2
The green blowfly infestation probably occurred 24-48 hours before her death. This infestation was not observed by the falconer and is, as a rule, only visible when it is too late, often after death. Please see the various publications on the Internet.
What will happen to her body
The peregrine S2 is currently being kept in a freezer. We are still in discussion about a respectful way in which we would like to provide for her for eternity.
We fully understand that all of you are very upset and mourning the death of the peregrine S2 and have many questions; we only ask that you kindly give a vote of confidence to the veterinarians, the falconers and the many volunteers who have been involved in the rehabilitation of the peregrine S2. In spite of their great efforts, tragedy struck unexpectedly, and it was not to be that she would regain her freedom. With deep respect and gratitude from our side for those who have cared for the peregrine S2, the donors and those who have supported us by way of their expressions of thanks and messages of support on the death of the peregrine S2.
We will keep you informed.
Vogelwerkgroep Gemert,
Arno Teunissen and Martin Vink
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1769
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Other Nature Related Information / Falcon Web Cams / Re: Pa & S2 - Netherlands
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on: 14-Oct-12, 08:05:05 PM
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The news about the tragic loss of S2 is absolutely devastating. She was so close to being able to go home and reunite with Pa, and now she will never have that chance. I am still in shock and disbelief about what has happened.
I just finished translating the post on the site:
The peregrine S2 has died unexpectedly
Gemert, Sunday, October 14, 2012
The peregrine S2 died unexpectedly earlier this week. A necropsy by a veterinarian has revealed that her death is the result of an invasion of fly larvae. Everyone involved is very upset by the death of S2. This feeling is further exacerbated by the fact that she was on the verge of making a successful return to the wild.
The well known peregrine S2, who since 2007 successfully raised her chicks at the nest on the tower at De Mortel, was found last year with a fractured wing. Upon closer examination, it became clear that the wing fracture was caused by a shotgun. The veterinarian Caroline Hommers, along with Dirk Riemersma. successfully performed surgery to repair the wing fracture. After several months, the injured wing had made a good recovery. The release of S2 was postponed until this fall. Her place on the tower had in the meantime been taken over by another peregrine, and we wanted to protect her from a territorial battle.
Under the authority of the Someren bird sanctuary, the peregrine was provided with accommodations in a quiet environment where she could continue to recover and go through her annual molt, while awaiting her release. Last month, she was moved from there to a falconer for the final phase of the rehabilitation process. The falconer would work to correct the loss of conditioning resulting from her captivity. Then she would be able to catch prey for herself.
The falconer, who is very knowledgeable and experienced with peregrine falcons, was on the verge of beginning the training. This was delayed until the last flight feathers had grown in completely. It was believed that S2 could fly well, and that her release could reasonably take place within a few weeks.
The falconer found the peregrine falcon dead one morning earlier this week. S2 had eaten the previous evening, and had shown no sign of illness. Raptors usually show signs of illness only at a very late stage, because in the wild they cannot afford to appear ill. Even if they should recover from an illness after a few days, in the wild they are by then so weakened by lack of food that they are no longer able to catch prey and often will not survive. The probability is great that the predators will then themselves become victims. For these reasons they will continue on to the bitter end.
Upon closer examination by the falconer, it appeared that the lower part of the body was affected. Precisely because the falcon was given a rest to complete her molt, the damage was hidden by the feathers and the falcon herself had shown no sign of illness that he could detect. The falconer is very upset about what happened to this very special bird, at this stage, while she was in his care.
The peregrine S2 was then transferred to the veterinarian Caroline Hommers to be examined. She found that the cause of death was the result of an invasion of maggots or fly larvae, called Myiasis. At a certain stage of their lives, the larvae feed on the dead or living tissue of a host. Maggots usually live in cadavers, but may also invade living tissue, primarily through an open wound. An adult fly lays eggs in the site, which hatch shortly after they are laid. Under ideal conditions, within a few hours of the eggs hatching, the larvae may travel through the skin towards the abdominal cavity. They cause massive tissue destruction. This can result in death within 24-48 hours of suffering pain. A final X-ray confirmed unmistakably that this was indeed S2. The white color leg band with the number S2 and the leg band from the migration station had been removed temporarily because of the anklets and jesses involved in the training. A brief statement from Caroline Hommers is attached at the end of this message.
Alas, alas, this brings to an end the extraordinary story of S2. One of the most famous, perhaps the most famous, peregrine in recent years. We wanted so badly to give her a new future, and were already preparing to release her. Dutch Radio Engineering had designed a special transmitter by means of which we would be able to follow S2 for a few months after her release, and which would then fall off. Enting Films was ready to film her first wing beats as she took flight, for a documentary which would be made about S2.
It was not meant to be; the story comes to an abrupt end here.
Vogelwerkgroep Gemert thanks all those who in recent months have made efforts on behalf of the peregrine S2. The veterinarians, the Someren Bird Sanctuary, the falconer, BirdLife Netherlands, the Netherlands Peregrine Workgroup, all the donors who have contributed to the rehabilitation of S2 and all the faithful followers who have admired her during all these years.
Statement of the Veterinarian:
Cause of death of the peregrine S2
To be 100% sure that we are indeed dealing with S2, there is first of all an X-ray of the right wing. In this, the old fractures are clearly seen. However, it is also clearly seen that the bones grew back together well. There would therefore be no doubt that the wing would be able to function correctly again. Unfortunately, we will not have the opportunity to observe this.
During the necropsy which was performed on S2, it was found that the cause of death was an invasion of maggots or fly larvae, called Myiasis. At a certain stage of their lives, the larvae feed on the dead or living tissue of a host. Maggots usually live in cadavers, but may also invade living tissue, primarily through an open wound. An adult fly lays eggs in the site, which hatch shortly after they are laid. Under ideal conditions, within a few hours of the eggs hatching the larvae may travel through the skin towards the abdominal cavity. They cause massive tissue destruction. This can result in death within 24-48 hours of suffering pain.
With pain in my heart, I say goodbye to S2.
It has been very enjoyable to work with S2 and to collaborate with all the people involved, in order to contribute to the preservation of wildlife in The Netherlands. Sadly, this particular bird left us much too soon.
Dr. Caroline Hommers
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We have been waiting for these preliminary findings of Caroline Hommers concerning the death of the peregrine S2, and unfortunately we have to provide you with this very sad message. She was so close to being successfully released, and then it still went wrong!
VWG Gemert
Arno Teunissen and Martin Vink
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