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FALCON FLASH
Dateline:  Cleveland, Ohio
May 26, 2004

The following names have been chosen for the 2004 chicks:

Female: Amelia = 09/B  (after the pioneer aviator, Amelia Earhart)

Female: Tempest = 10/B (after the spring storms in Cleveland)

Male: Tory = 49/P (after famous bird expert, Roger Tory Peterson)

After the peregrine falcon becomes a mature adult, it is at the top of the food chain and does not fear other predators, but while the chicks are helpless, the peregrine parents must watch over their young to protect them from predators, especially great-horned owls.  It is possible that one reason that many peregrine couples have decided to nest in cities across North America is because there few if any predators on skyscrapers, especially the great-horned owl.  However ……  Scott Wright, volunteer peregrine falcon nest monitor was told by the Ohio Division of Wildlife that last fall peregrines forced down a great-horned owl near the nestsite.  When the owl was found on a roof near the nest, it was missing an eye!  The great-horned owl is a very large bird of prey, with a wingspan of nearly 5 feet.  For more information visit:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i3750id.html

                     SW or Buckeye are always closeby watching over the chicks.

Thanks to everyone who submitted name ideas and congratulations to those that were chosen.

Many people are wondering what happened to the chicks because the nest seems to be empty much of the time.  Don't worry, the chicks are out exploring the skyscraper ledge.

The chicks will be fledging very soon, perhaps within a week.  Watch for a lot of wingflapping as they practice for their first flight.


Watch the falcons live at http://www.falconcam.apk.net/  
Our thanks to EcoCity Cleveland for providing the FalconCams as a public service.  The dated pictures are stills from the FalconCam.

The photo of the chicks on the ledge is a file photo courtesy of Dave Snyder.  

Thanks to Scott Wright for his file photo of SW watching over her chicks.  It may be used in any non-commercial publication, electronic or print, but please give him photo credit.

The biggest change is the appearance of the chicks, as they lose their down and it is replaced by juvenile feathers.

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