IN THE NEWS~2015

kittenface · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2015 9:59 pm

Peregrine falcon soars to victory in Vancouver city bird election

The Peregrine Falcon will rule as Vancouver’s official city bird in 2016 after garnering the most votes in the second annual city bird contest.

The falcon, which can reach speeds of up to 320 km/h when it dives for its prey, beat the Western Grebe, the Barn Swallow and the Barn Owl in the online election to draw attention to rare birds that were once abundant in B.C.
http://metronews.ca/news/vancouver/1365 ... -election/

kittenface · **Posted:** Tue May 12, 2015 10:44 pm

Peregrine Falcon Recovery Takes a Big Step
Posted: 05/12/2015
It’s a big year for peregrine falcons on the Mississippi River with additional nesting pairs being reported at Bellevue, Dubuque, Clinton, Muscatine and Keokuk.

Having five additional pairs show up in one year hasn’t happened before.

“Getting these birds on the river was really the key to bringing them back,” said Pat Schlarbaum, wildlife diversity technician with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Bob Anderson with the Raptor Resource Project and Lowell Washburn who was the chair of the Iowa Falconry Recovery Team complemented each other in releasing wild birds back in 2000 that started this successful reintroduction.”

The new falcon pairs have set up nests on the Dubuque courthouse, on a huge rock near Bellevue State Park, on a large building at ADM by the river in Clinton, in a smokestack box at the Muscatine Light and Power, and at the energy plant dam in Keokuk.

“The Clinton site is increasingly exciting as Clinton County is the southern extent of their historic nesting range,” said Schlarbaum. “With the inclusion of the new pair, Clinton has three nesting pairs. Predictably there will be a lot of falcons flying over this stretch of the Mississippi River in early summer.”

Young falcons hone their flight skills engaging in mock combat flights that provide incredible visual, high speed chases and maneuvers. And peregrines attract non-breeding peregrines, so it will be quite a show.

The Mississippi flyway has seen falcon nesting increase on the historic cliffs since 2000. Last year, 15 falcon pairs were successful at 13 sites that produced 34 young. It is Iowa’s falcons along the Mississippi that are driving the increase in numbers, said Schlarbaum.

Established wild pairs on cliffs include Agee’s Bluff, north of Lansing; Lansing Power Plant cliff; Leo’s Bluff, south of Harper’s Ferry; Bungee Elevator at McGregor and at the quarry near Eagle Point Park in Dubuque.

Established pairs at Louisa Generating Station and the Great River Bridge in Burlington are active this year as are the sites at the I-80 Bridge in Davenport and the Alliant Energy smokestack at Chillicothe.

In Des Moines, pairs will be hatching young on the east side of the state Capitol and downtown at the American Enterprise building. The Cedar Rapids pair on their US Bank building will begin hatching soon.

Iowa’s first nesting pairs in 1993 occurred at Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. Iowa skies have included falcons with incremental growth in nesting numbers since those first attempts.
Elsewhere, falcons are hatching at Mid-American Energy headquarters in Davenport.
Go to http://wqad.com/falcon-cam/ to watch the nest.

kittenface · **Posted:** Wed May 13, 2015 10:38 pm

Man Arrested for Eating Bald Eagle

DALLAS, Texas –

Texans are calling for the death penalty for a man accused of disrespecting America in the worst possible way, shooting and eating a bald eagle.

Larry Tucker says the eagle asked for it. “Damn bird kept picking off my chickens so I shot it. A man has a right to protect his livestock from predators.”

Arrested under the Eagle Protection act, Tucker expected to be fined for poaching and sent on his way. Because he admitted to broiling the bird, he now faces additional charges. Although his lawyer advises him there is no way he will actually get the death penalty, the public outrage against him has really hurt Tucker’s feelings.”

“I’m not un-American. Got a flag on my front porch like everybody else. I’ve always liked to try different meats, and it would have been a waste if I didn’t eat the damn thing. I truly regret it. Damn thing didn’t even taste good.”

kittenface · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2015 11:01 pm

Allentown's peregrine falcons nestlings get banded

3 females 1 male got 2 of the 4 band numbers between this article and another @

After reading this now I know why the Allentown nest wasn't used. Shame that they chose the bridge, but they are all good and healthy so thats what matters.

Tsusan · **Posted:** Tue May 19, 2015 11:37 am

Thankyou for the interesting articles, Kittenface! Really enjoyed the first article, and the third article...

kittenface · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2015 12:18 pm

Banding at the George Washington Bridge in New York
I wanted to throw this in in case someone can see any band numbers.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Cassie, Faith, Myah [sp] (b/g 15/BA) William

kittenface · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2015 2:47 pm

Thanks SGB :clap:

gigi · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2015 8:18 pm

Rare 27-year-old bald eagle spotted on Lake Monroe near Bloomington Indiana

(Photo Provided/Monroe Lake via Teresa Bass)

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12717

Thanks Gigi!

Dutch Eagle Fan · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:31 am

kittenface wrote:

Man Arrested for Eating Bald Eagle
<<<SNIP>>>
I’ve always liked to try different meats, and it would have been a waste if I didn’t eat the damn thing. I truly regret it. Damn thing didn’t even taste good.”

Sorry but this last sentence made me laugh :teehee:

I don't if it's already posted here, but there is an amazing rescue story from C&C Saladin about a falcon chick falling into the river from it's nest at the Hope Memorial bridge:

(66 pictures)

kittenface · **Posted:** Fri Jun 12, 2015 2:05 am

Rare Falcon Chicks Nesting Atop Newport Beach High-Rise Survive 18-Story Fall

Video and article here:

gigi · **Posted:** Fri Jun 12, 2015 11:30 am

beagles-r-us · **Joined:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:50 pm **Posts:** 36

Peregrine falcons, the other raptor in Pennsylvania, flying high in Lancaster County

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/p ... dca5d8.htm

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Thanks beagles-r-us!!!

beagles-r-us · **Joined:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:50 pm **Posts:** 36

OMG a falcon on a kayak! :eggroll:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/v ... b72c6.html

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12717

gigi · **Posted:** Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:40 pm

beagles-r-us wrote:

Peregrine falcons, the other raptor in Pennsylvania, flying high in Lancaster County

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/p ... dca5d8.htm

Thanks beagle-r-us! Love your name. I had a beagle for 16 years. Maggie was a great dog and never missed a treat! :teehee:

Oh and the kayaking falcon is a great story too!

Carolyn · **Posted:** Tue Jun 16, 2015 9:21 pm

Falcon ‘employee,’ family move in at North Omaha

One employee at OPPD’s North Omaha Station has decided to make his workplace a home for his family.

Last fall, the employee, a peregrine falcon, took up residence in a falcon box installed high on one of the power plant’s stacks. Such boxes are frequently installed at plants to attract the raptors in hopes that they will build a nest. In recent weeks, workers noticed a second adult falcon and baby chicks. The chicks appear to be only a few weeks old, since they still have a downy covering. Peregrine falcon chicks generally stay in the nest for six weeks until they are ready to fly.

kittenface · **Posted:** Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:02 pm

WOW!! thats awesome, and to think it might be from Woodmen Tower, COOL. Thanks Carolyn.

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IN THE NEWS~2015

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