Harrisburg, PA Falcons

[Donna]

Teachers, students invited to falcon banding event on May 17

The Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Game Commission will conduct the annual peregrine falcon banding event from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, in the auditorium of the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg.

DEP invites teachers, non-formal educators and students to attend the event, where biologists will weigh and band the newly-hatched nestlings, called eyases. The event will also be streamed live on the DEP’s website.

On May 17, biologists will retrieve the young peregrines from the nest located on the 15th Floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building and place a metal band with a falcon-specific code around the left leg of each of the eyases. The band code will be used by wildlife officials and bird enthusiasts to monitor the birds once they leave the nest. In addition, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife band will be placed on the eyases’ right leg, registering each on a federal banding database.

This event offers a unique opportunity to witness wildlife management techniques used to reintroduce and monitor endangered species.

Since 1997, a pair of peregrine falcons has made their home on the 15th Floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building. While their numbers are increasing, peregrine falcons remain an endangered species in Pennsylvania. Through reintroduction programs, peregrines have adapted to life in urban environments like Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Williamsport. Each year, DEP and the Game Commission track the activities of these birds and share their findings on the web.

The Rachel Carson nest site has been active and reproducing young peregrine falcons for the past eleven years. This year, there is a new female in the nest who arrived in September and has laid a clutch of four eggs.

[Donna]

Look how big??? Of course....it gets all the food!!!  

[MAK]

The crop is as big as its head!   

[Donna]

5/16/2011  ::   Banding Event Tomorrow
The banding event for 2011 will take place tomorrow, May 17th at 1 PM. The nestling appears to be in good health though it will get a thorough physical examination at the event. More than 170 students, teachers and volunteers will view the event live at the Rachel Carson State Office Building, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The event will also be live webcast through streaming video. Web users can view the streaming video by visiting the DEP Home Page at www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on the falcon link.

[Annette]

I have created Banding day in Harrisburg.
Sign in not required.

http://tinyurl.com/679fkev

Enjoy!

[Donna]

Girl or boy Annette?

[Kris G.]

Great album, Annette!  Thanks for posting!!

[Annette]

Girl or boy Annette?

I not know it.

[MAK]

  I like pics 11 and 15 the best! Thanks Annette! 

[Donna]

IT'S A BOY for Harrisburg  



5/19/2011  ::   Banding Results
This year, for the first time, there is only one nestling at the ledge. Based on weight(660 grams)and the diameter of the legs the nestling was determined to be a male. The banding team placed an alphanumeric band on the nestling with characters large enough to read with binoculars and another US Fish and Wildlife band with a code that can be read with the bird in hand. The nestling was in good health. Watch and rescue teams are now forming in anticipation of the first flight this young bird will take. He should fledge in about two weeks.

He's got the whole floor to himself and is he ever exploring.

[Donna]

5/26/2011  ::   Nestling Update
The eyas has been really active at the nest ledge. He's exhibiting behavior that suggests he may fledge prematurely. Watch and rescue crews are watching him closely in case he does fly and would have to be rescued from the street. The camera views, although not very appealing, provide the best view of the edges of the ledge where the eyas would take flight from. Our first priority is to have this view on streaming video so we can react if and when he does fledge.

Stay put little boy!

[Annette]

5/27/2011: The Fledge!
The little male ran the length of the ledge and took flight at 9:15 AM. He landed on nearby building. Within 15 minutes he was on top of the Rachel Carson State Office Building, his home building. Soon after, he returned to the nest ledge where he was rewarded with a meal. This fledgling now holds the record for earliest fledge and quickest return to the ledge. Watch and rescue crews will continue to track his whereabouts and ensure that if he gets into trouble they can respond and keep him out of harms way.

[Donna]

5/27/2011: The Fledge!
The little male ran the length of the ledge and took flight at 9:15 AM. He landed on nearby building. Within 15 minutes he was on top of the Rachel Carson State Office Building, his home building. Soon after, he returned to the nest ledge where he was rewarded with a meal. This fledgling now holds the record for earliest fledge and quickest return to the ledge. Watch and rescue crews will continue to track his whereabouts and ensure that if he gets into trouble they can respond and keep him out of harms way.

He's still white! OMG....what a daredevil! 

[margaret]

Be safe little one.  Stay put for just a bit more.  Still, it's good to read some happy news!   Fly safe!

[MAK]

5/27/2011: The Fledge!
The little male ran the length of the ledge and took flight at 9:15 AM. He landed on nearby building. Within 15 minutes he was on top of the Rachel Carson State Office Building, his home building. Soon after, he returned to the nest ledge where he was rewarded with a meal. This fledgling now holds the record for earliest fledge and quickest return to the ledge. Watch and rescue crews will continue to track his whereabouts and ensure that if he gets into trouble they can respond and keep him out of harms way.

He's still white! OMG....what a daredevil! 

Just amazing!