On banding day the eyasses were brought inside the skyscraper where Ohio Division of Wildlife biologists determined that there are two females and one male. They were checked over and blood was drawn. The three-week-old eyasses seem to be developing well. Bands were attached to their legs using a special tool. On one leg is a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service band with a unique identifying number. On the other leg is a color band with a unique alpha-numeric code that can be read at a distance. This year's color bands are black over red.
Arrow (female) 58/H
Note: The name “Spike” came from a student in the afterschool program at HighRise Services in Dayton, Ohio, whose mission statement is “ to perform as a model youth development organization to improve the lives of at-risk youth and their families. We utilize innovative family and community based approaches to promote academic achievement, social improvement, and self-sufficiency”. Since February, students in grades 1-9 have participated in in-depth falcon study. Congratulations to these urban children for learning about the fastest creatures on earth that soar among the skyscrapers.
Our thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for sponsoring the FalconCams. Our thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for sponsoring the FalconCams and for the still.
Photos are courtesy of Scott Wright. They can be used in any non-commercial publication, electronic or print, but please give him photo credit.
Spike (male) 15/B
Thanks to all those who suggested names this year. The Ohio Division of Wildlife chose names with a theme of sharp pointed objects. Arrow and Dart came from falcon fan, William, in Connecticut. Spike was suggested by a student in Ms. Bryenton’s afterschool computer lab at Highrise Services in Dayton, Ohio.
Before long, the eyasses were returned to their nestbox and to their worried parents.
That’s when Arrow, who was probably upset and scared, fell out of the nestbox.
This year, you have probably noticed there is a very small eyass. Mr. Harvey Webster of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History tells us, “This chick was the last to hatch putting it 2 to 4 growing days behind the size of its siblings. The size difference was accentuated because his older siblings were females, who grow larger than the males. Adult male Peregrine Falcons are one third smaller than the females. By all accounts all three chicks are healthy and well fed”.
The eyasses are beginning to get real feathers, walking, and thinking about flying. Believe it or not, they will be as big as their parents and will take their first real flights in just a few weeks.
