No news is good news at this point and about the only news nest monitor, Mr. Wright, reports after visiting the nest recently is that incubation seems to be going well. He watched a little disagreement between the parents as Buckeye was comfortable sitting on the eggs and did not want to leave.
When the male and female peregrines are together, the biggest clue to tell them apart is their size difference. Female peregrines, as in most species of raptors, are much larger than males, and about a third heavier. While the males and females have similar appearance, there are individual differences.
SW is larger, and she is also darker grey. SW has a somewhat speckled chest, while Buckeye's chest is more white. Buckeye has a gray “helmet” and no white cheek patches. If you can see their bands, compare the USFWS bands on their right legs; SW's is silver and Buckeye's is purple.
SW
For more information about identifying peregrine falcons, visit the Canadian Peregrine Foundation at:
Earth Day is coming on April 22. As we watch the falcon family, we are reminded that the species peregrine falcon had nearly become extinct in North America because of the use of a pesticide called "DDT". Young scientists might like to look at the life of Rachel Carson, a writer and scientist who wrote a famous book called Silent Spring in 1962 that alerted people to the dangers and consequences of the use of pesticides. It is thanks to scientists such as Rachel Carson and concerned citizens that DDT was banned in North America in 1972 and whole species, including peregrine falcon, bald eagle and bluebirds, have escaped extinction as a result. For more information visit: http://www.rachelcarson.org/
Our thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for sponsoring the FalconCams.
Photos are courtesy of Scott Wright, volunteer peregrine nest monitor. They may be used by children for school and/or personal projects, but please give Mr. Wright photo credit. All others must contact Mr. Wright directly for permission to use his photos.
After some discussion - and after SW pecked Buckeye’s tail - he did leave. (Have you ever heard the term “hen-pecked husband”?).
Can you tell which bird is SW and which one is Buckeye?
