Internet users can follow peregrine progress (Ohio)

[Donna]

COLUMBUS — The 2010 peregrine falcon nesting season is underway in Ohio, with peregrine pairs at 25 sites and eggs being incubated at least three sites in the state — Canton, Dayton and Lakewood.

Internet users can follow the progress of these and other peregrine nests at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife’s peregrine falcon Web page at wildohio.com. By April, most of Ohio’s peregrine falcons will have chosen or re-bonded with a mate and selected a nesting site.

As the nesting season progresses, key events such as egg laying, hatching and fledging will be noted on the Web page for each nest. Additional nests are expected at sites in Cleveland, (Seneca),Toledo and several other communities within the next month. Because of nesting success in Ohio and across the nation, the peregrine falcon was removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999; it is listed as threatened in Ohio, downgraded from endangered in 2008. Along with several other Midwestern states, Ohio began introducing the birds in 1989. Several pairs were released in cities between 1989 and 1992. Last year in Ohio, 19 nesting pairs of peregrine falcons are estimated to have successfully hatched and fledged 64 young. An estimate was made because actual counts were unavailable due to site access for some nests.

Federal funds for the peregrine falcon project and other wildlife diversity efforts of the Division of Wildlife are provided through the State Wildlife Grant Program, which targets species with greatest conservation need. The division’s peregrine falcon management program is funded by the sale of cardinal license plates, the division’s new Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp and contributions to the state Wildlife Diversity & Endangered Species Check-off Fund.

Taxpayers may donate directly or designate all or part of their state income tax refunds to the effort by checking the box on line 25C of the 2009 Ohio Income Tax Form or line 18C on the Ohio 1040 EZ form. Donations can also be made online at wildohio.com. Click on Falcon Watch 2010 and then the column on the right side of the page.