Trying to ID New Pair at Kodak Park

[Joyce]

Tuesday evening at Kodak Park (9/21), I was standing behind Carol with my camera braced on a pole, and she was in front of me looking through her scope. We were both looking at the male Silver (banded) Pigeon Eater (SPE) from the same angle.

Carol yelled he is moving. I snapped some shots. When the falcon flew, Carol told the watchers (Dana, Mak, Brian, Shaky, Carrie & me) she thought SPE had an all black band. Since it was a 50-50 chance of being either black/black or black/green, she was strongly leaning towards black/black.

Being that it was dusk, she couldn't be 100% positive. I went through all of my photos this evening, and one photo looks like the falcon has an all-dark band. Because of the lighting and picture graininess when enlarged, I can't tell any colors. See photo below.

So, do we have a Canadian tiercel with a Midwest female (possibly from Illinois)?

I searched the Midwest Peregrie Database (purple USFWS band) for female peregrines with black over red (b/r) band on left leg.  Since PPE has adult plumage, she would have to be born 2008 or earlier. Generally most peregrines stay within a certain radius from the original nestsite. Most of our falcons travel around the Great Lakes.  Based on the numbers, PPE might be from Illinois.

11 possible b/r females hatched in 2008 were from Illinois; 4 from Iowa (not likely)
No b/r banded females in 2007
2 b/r females from Kentucky in 2006
No b/r females in 2001-2005
3 b/r females in 2000 from Illinois
1 b/r female in 1999 from Michigan; 13 other possibilities were from Indiana, Missouri, Iowa (not likely)

Hope we get to confirm the IDs soon.

Joyce

[Bobbie Ireland]

That's some research, Joyce. Another reason for me to be so impressed at the knowledge and dedication of The Watchers.

[Dawn]

Joyce, Where exactly are you watching from at Kodak Park?  ???

[valhalla]

   I think Joyce needs to add the title of Super Sluth  to her signature!   

[carly]

Great sleuthing Joyce, I'll be watching to see if he's one of ours 

[Donna]

Joyce, I'm impressed with your investigations, although, I knew you had it in you to be a great Your going to have that ID yet. Good job. 

[Carol P.]

A huge thanks to Kodak, who has given the Watchers permission to watch from one of their vacant parking lots.

We have rules to follow, but that's ok.  The viewing from this location is perfect for viewing the KP pair.  I've shared the "rules" with the other Watchers.

A few of us showed up Tuesday night, but the pair was not there when we first arrived.  First the female and then the male flew in and landed on the "rockets" (a name picked by Dan for the large, silver tubular structures).  It seems an appropriate name, since there were rockets on the Kodak Tower.

This pair is quite active, but by the time they came in and we were able to get the scope on them, it was already getting dark.  When the male stood up to take off, I'm pretty sure I saw an all black band.  But, I can't be 100% sure because of the lighting.

Now that we have a viewing area, we hope to get an ID on these two beauties.  Stay tuned!

[valhalla]

Thank You Kodak!

[lucy14617]

visiting Roch. Gen. Hosp. today and saw what I think was female  p. falcon not close enough to see any bands etc.

[MAK]

visiting Roch. Gen. Hosp. today and saw what I think was female  p. falcon not close enough to see any bands etc.

Mariah maybe?!

[Donna]

visiting Roch. Gen. Hosp. today and saw what I think was female  p. falcon not close enough to see any bands etc.

Mariah maybe?!

I wish she would show herself!

[Dumpsterkitty]

I searched the Midwest Peregrie Database (purple USFWS band) for female peregrines with black over red (b/r) band on left leg.  Since PPE has adult plumage, she would have to be born 2008 or earlier. Generally most peregrines stay within a certain radius from the original nestsite. Most of our falcons travel around the Great Lakes.  Based on the numbers, PPE might be from Illinois.

Joyce

Not sure if we can rule out a 2009 bird.  Stormin hatched in 2009 and he's in full adult plumage.  Just a thought...

[Joyce]

I searched the Midwest Peregrie Database (purple USFWS band) for female peregrines with black over red (b/r) band on left leg.  Since PPE has adult plumage, she would have to be born 2008 or earlier. Generally most peregrines stay within a certain radius from the original nestsite. Most of our falcons travel around the Great Lakes.  Based on the numbers, PPE might be from Illinois.

Joyce

Not sure if we can rule out a 2009 bird.  Stormin hatched in 2009 and he's in full adult plumage.  Just a thought...

Good grief Ei, you could be right.  That would put 113 more females into the mix.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.  I was using the 2-year theory (2008) because this peregrine was truly all gray, and I didn't see any brown in the feathers.

What makes some peregrines grow up faster than others?

Joyce

[rushhen06]

Carol, would you share the Kodak location with me ??

[Dawn]

I've been trying to find out the exact location, too, but I guess no one wants to say.