Comments on: Peregrine banding at Gulf Tower

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:58:17 +0000

I finally found the nest of some of the Oakland red tailed hawks. Can’t tell if there are chicks, too far away. (I know they aren’t peregrines.)

By: Alice Cottone

Alice Cottone — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:51:47 +0000

Wonderful articles and photos!!

By: Kate StJ

Kate StJ — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:55:36 +0000

Now that the chicks can walk there’s a much larger area available to them than what you see on the camera. There’s a ledge at the right and a ramp down to the area at the base of the camera. There’s even room to squeeze BEHIND the nest box. (You won’t see the chicks hide there until end of next week.)

Meanwhile the parents are present and actually very close to their young. They are just out of camera view. They perch on top of the camera or on one of the stone pedestals to the right and left of the camera view.

When the chicks look up to right, left or center with their mouths open, you can be sure they are looking at their parents and asking for food.

By: Anita Gallagher

Anita Gallagher — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:27:14 +0000

I have not seen the parents at the Gulf Tower nest since the banding yesterday. Now there is only one chick in the nest. What has happened?

By: Kate StJ

Kate StJ — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:57:31 +0000

Peregrines do migrate but not all of them migrate in the traditional way. The word "peregrine" means wanderer and it describes where they go when they're on the move. Peregrines live on every continent except Antarctica. Those who nest in the Arctic usually migrate the furthest south - as far as South America. Those who live in temperate zones, like Pennsylvania and Ohio, generally move shorter distances and may even go east and west as well as north and south. The young are the most likely to migrate because they don't have home territories. Adult peregrines in temperate zones often remain year-round on their home territories. The PA Game Commission used satellite telemetry to track young peregrines born in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. The results are on interactive maps found here and they may surprise you! (Click on the link for each bird to see its path. The Pittsburgh Male link is a good example.)

By: Kitty

Kitty — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:11:37 +0000

The peregrine is known as a migratory bird. I thought a migratory bird goes south in the winter and north in the summer but the peregrine doesn’t go anywhere or does it? Does the peregrine have a season that it leaves and comes back?

By: Kate StJ

Kate StJ — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:23:51 +0000

Great photos of the banding, Amy F!

By: Kate StJ

Kate StJ — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:22:17 +0000

Peregrine falcons are under the management of state wildlife agencies – the PA Game Commission in Pennsylvania. In most states, including Pennsylvania, peregrines are not named when they are banded. This is so that people don’t get the idea that the birds are tame.

In PA peregrines only acquire names when they nest – and that’s only done for the convenience of the observers. (It is just too hard to continue to refer to an unnamed bird as “adult female at University of Pittsburgh.”) The Gulf Tower and Pitt chicks were not and will not be named at banding.

Now for the exceptions: Ohio & Wisconsin name peregrine chicks at banding. That’s why we learned Erie & Dorothy’s given names. Erie was banded in Columbus, Ohio; Dorothy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

By: Barbara C. Simon

Barbara C. Simon — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:02:20 +0000

What were the new names that they received at banding time?

By: Amy F

Amy F — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:58:27 +0000

I got lucky and visited the webcam just in time to see the start of yesterday's adventure (just before someone's legs blocked the camera). Banding 1, Banding 2, Banding 3, Banding 4 The KDKA article gives a great view into how the rest of the process went. Thank you for the links, Kate!