Peregrine Observations
2001
by Elli Jilek, Jean Moore and Eric Tull
2001 Observations
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April 16 - two Peregrine Falcons are present and interacting on the nest
ledge on Craigie Hall
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April 17-24 - the Peregrine Falcons were in a dispute with a pair of Canada
Geese who also wanted to nest on the same nest ledge
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April 25-30 - the Peregrine Falcons appear to be in sole possession of
the nest ledge
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May 7 - Pat Young of Alberta Environment reported that the peregrines have
two eggs. The female, which has a black band, was hatched in 1999 at the
Clinical Sciences building of the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
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May 14 - Pat Young reported that there are four eggs in the nest. The male,
which has a red band, is the same bird that has been here since 1998. He
was hatched in 1994 along the Red Deer River.
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June 14 - Pat Young reported that there are four young in the nest, and
that they are very recently hatched, possibly earlier that day. Both adults
were in attendance on the nest ledge and the female was very reluctant
to move away from the young.
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July 4 - Elli Jilek and Nancy Ritchie assisted Pat Young from Fish and
Wildlife to band the 4 babies. 2 males, 2 females. The females are the
heaviest at 820 grams and 780, and the males at 630 and 610. This makes
12 youngsters born this year, as opposed to 6 last year.
They were weighed, banded and put back in their nest area. The females
were especially feisty, and the adults we swooping in front of the ledge
area the whole time, calling and complaining quite frantically. The youngsters,
when being handled and banded were also very verbal, but very quiet in
the holding box (they were banded one by one and placed in a bird box awaiting
their turn) and on the weigh scale.
- July 25 -- Two falcon chicks have managed to
take off, with one falcon managing to do a 'walk-about' in the road and
parking lot area around Craigie hall.