FALCON FLASH
Dateline: Cleveland, Ohio
March 11, 2015
Newton and Boomer continue to bond at their nestbox, but Newton is still adjusting to her new home and new mate. Ever since Newton took over at this nestsite last summer, after she apparently drove away (and may have killed) SW, the previous female, she and Boomer have been bonding. Here is Boomer calling to Newton from the nestbox:
Newton’s previous home, a bridge over the I-90 thruway, was demolished in July 2014. Ohio Department of Transportation officials worked with the Ohio Department of Wildlife to try to help Newton, her mate, and their chick survive the explosion. Newton’s only chick had learned to fly just 2 weeks earlier and was still dependent on its parents for food. Just before the bridge was to be demolished, a pre-explosive charge was set off to warn the peregrines to leave the structure. Then the bridge was exploded. When the dust settled, officials who were monitoring the situation saw that the 3 falcons had flown to safety and were OK. One official saw an adult with food on top of a beam of the fallen bridge, and everyone was relieved to see that the falcons were resuming their activities so quickly. Nest monitors, Mr. and Mrs. Saladin, commented, “Thanks to all who played a part in this... it's a touching example of how human beings can work toward necessary change for a city yet still show respect and concern for the wildlife that is affected by such change!!”
Ever since Newton’s bridge exploded, Mr. and Mrs. Saladin have observed that Newton has been having some adjustment problems to her new skyscraper home. The bridge had been Newton’s home for 13 years. Although Newton’s bridge was near the center of the city, it was in Cleveland's river area and she probably had not experienced windows close up. Mr. and Mrs. Saladin observed her flying past windows and attacking her reflection. She must think she sees an intruding female that she must attack and drive out!
Another thing that may take some getting used to for Newton when she is on the window ledge or at the nestbox is that there may be people inside the skyscraper’s window looking out at her. Mr. and Mrs. Saladin report, “When nesting at the I-90 Bridge she dealt with nearby construction workers regularly, yet she "hid" in the threads of the bridge where she was mostly out of view while nesting. For this reason, during recent visits I've been selective about opening the inner window to take a peek at the nest from the 12th floor and have stayed back and watched a bit more from a distance when I am looking through the window. Boomer,
obviously undeterred by window viewers at this point, has been making frequent nest visits, often trying to draw the female in with soft vocalizations and posturing”. Peregrines have a variety of chirps that mean different things. In the following video, Boomer calls to his new mate with a special chirp, part of courtship behavior: http://vid662.photobucket.com/albums/uu342/CnCSal/MVI_5353_zpsc8ad19fd.mp4
Here's a good idea for young scientists from Sara Jean Peters of the Ohio Division of Wildlife (retired):
"The FalconCam "hour review" of images provides an interesting way for kids to practice "sampling" techniques used by wildlife researchers. One would assume that, as the pair extends its courtship, the birds would be seen more and more frequently at the nest tray. By counting the number of frames that contain a view of a peregrine and dividing by 60, the students can calculate the percentage of time spent at the site during the sample period. They could choose several sample periods during the day and see if visitation varies by time of day... How does it change when the chicks are 12 days old?" What observations can you make from this still taken from the FalconCam?
Mr. and Mrs. Saladin took the following picture in July, shortly after SW disappeared and Newton took over the Tower City nestsite. You can see an injury above her beak. Could it have come from a battle with SW or from
attacking her own reflection in the window?
Click here to read what happened earlier
Thanks to volunteers Mr. and Mrs. Saladin for their pictures and commentary.
To watch the falcons live go to: http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/news.php Our thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for sponsoring the FalconCams and for the still.
Falcon fans were hoping Newton was adjusting to skyscraper life, but recently, Mr. and Mrs. Saladin witnessed her attacking that falcon in the window again.
Mr. and Mrs. Saladin think that “….perhaps her aggressive instincts are escalating as breeding time nears”. In the following picture you can see Boomer close by watching Newton attack her own reflection, but he is used to windows and probably realizes this is not a real fight. If it were a real fight between 2 females, the male would not join in.
To see the "hour review" each day, go to the live FalconCam at http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/news.php
Under each of the 3 pictures of the nest on the front page there is a link that will take you to the archives. The live FalconCam takes a picture each minute of every daylight hour. There are 60 pictures for each hour each day. Looking at the archives will give you a quick review of all the day's activities. As you observe the nest every day, why not take Ms. Peterson's suggestion and record how much of the time the falcons are at the nest in one hour and what their activities are? Sampling the nest every day will give you some interesting information about falcon behavior.
One year ago this week, SW laid her first egg, but Newton is known to lay eggs a little later.
Will she adjust to her new home well enough to lay eggs? Is she young enough to lay eggs?
Stay tuned for falcon news…….
Click here to read what happened next
