Peregrine falcon soap opera turns Delaware skies into theater

[Donna]

There may be the makings for a country song in the drama playing out in the skies over Wilmington.

We've got the loving couple, the homewrecker, a fight, more fights and even death -- in the form of a turkey vulture.

It's a story that few in Wilmington even know about, though when a turkey vulture came tumbling out of the sky and landed on the sidewalk near the Brandywine Building, that may have attracted a little attention.

Our lovers are peregrine falcons -- a pair that has been living their own little "happily ever after" for nearly a decade in a nesting box on the Brandywine Building, where West Street meets 10th and 11th streets.

A few weeks ago, though, a homewrecker showed up.

The rogue bird is probably a female, said Bill Stewart, with the Delmarva Ornithological Society.

"It's highly unlikely a male is going to come in and break up a couple," he said.

So for several weeks now, the hussy has been at it.

The thought among birders and bird experts is that she is probably trying to break up the couple and move in on the territory.

"She could really wreak havoc on that nesting pair," said Anthony T. Gonzon Jr., a state biologist who monitors breeding birds.

Most birds of prey have large foraging territories and will defend their turf, he said.

When an interloper arrives, it causes a battle in the skies.

"It's kind of like if your neighbor built a shed on your property," Gonzon said.

The Brandywine Building pair have been nesting happily in the area since at least 2002. No one is quite sure where the third bird came from.

"I'm hoping that this third bird won't cause any problems with this pair," Gonzon said.

As it now stands, there are three birds competing for the same turf -- and the sky show has been amazing, according to those who have seen it.

Stewart said he got a phone call recently from a fellow who witnessed one of the peregrines attacking a turkey vulture. In three hits, the vulture tumbled to the sidewalk.

Gregory A. Inskip works at Potter, Anderson & Corroon and has been watching the nesting pair since 2002

[Bird Crazy]

poor TV


hope that "hussy" isn't one of our girls

[Donna]

poor TV


hope that "hussy" isn't one of our girls

I felt the same BC.