Peregrine Diary
February - March, 1996
by Eric Tull [ET] and Jean Moore [JM]
- February 8. I received a phone call from Ellenora Jilek that the
falcons were back, as one was perched on the Social Sciences building. This
is much earlier than I had expected the Peregrines to return. Ellenora had
a telescope that I used to view the bird. It was certainly a falcon of
Peregrine size, but the telescope gave a very poor view. I could just
make out a facial stripe, but somehow the bird did not seem quite right for
a Peregrine. I phoned up some birders (Jean and Rodger Dunn) to come over and
went out to get a better look. I did not have my binoculars with me.[ET]
- The bird was on the top (13th) floor and I could not see it at all well. So
I went up to the top floor of the building and walked along to the last office.
I knocked on the door and asked the professor there if there was a falcon on
his window ledge. He turned around and the falcon was four feet behind him,
just outside the window. I went up for a look and it was immediately evident
that the bird was a Prairie Falcon and not a Peregrine.[ET]
- The bird noticed my movement and cocked its head in my direction, but was
not bothered by my close presence. The back of the Prairie Falcon is paler and browner than that of the Peregrine. It has a brown cap with a light line above the eye, and a thin dark line extending down and back across the face from in front of the eye. The facial stripe is much thinner and less prominent than the dark mark of the Peregrine. In flight the Prairie Falcon has dark feathers at the base of the underwings. Peregrines and Prairie Falcons are about the same size, and both nest in the Calgary area.[ET]
- When I went outside I met the Dunns, who had a telescope trained on the bird.
While we watched the bird flew off and landed on the Earth Sciences building.
I had been aware of reports of a Prairie wintering on the Earth Sciences building, but had not seen it any time that I looked for it. One wintered in
the same location during 1990-91, but I am not aware of any wintering during
the intervening years.[ET]
- February 22 - March 1. I saw the Prairie Falcon a number of times during this period, perched on the Earth Sciences building. Sightings were usually early in the morning or late in the afternoon or early evening. On one occasion,
when I could see the bird with binoculars, the belly seemed quite dark. The bird was not there on some occasions when I expected it to be, including after dark, and it must have another roost that it uses on some nights.[ET]
- I am not sure when to expect the Peregrines back. And I am not sure how long the Prairie will stay around. I wonder how the birds will interact if the
Prairie is still here when (if) the Peregrines return. I have not seen the
Prairie show any interest in the nest ledge.[ET]
- March 2. Saw the prairie falcon perched on the south side of Earth
Sciences between 5 and 6 pm. Just dropped in on speck on my way home from
Co-op and there
it was in the same spot that the peregrines liked, up against
the stairwell projection on the top ledge. The cold weather
front was just starting to move in and the falcon was
protected from the north wind where it was perched.
Went home and got my scope to be sure of the id.[JM]
- I wonder if the bird droppings on the building act as a visual
cue for falcons or if they try out various perches and just find
this one the best.[JM]
- The falcon is a lot lighter and sandier in colour than the
peregrines. I didn't remember the very white markings on the
face from watching the other prairie at UofC, but never got as
close with a scope before.[JM]
- March 26. I have not see the Prairie Falcon or heard of any sightings since Jean's on March 2. On several occasions yesterday and today I have seen a pair of ravens flying back and forth over the campus. At one time they made a couple of passses near the Peregrine nest ledge on craigie Hall. I do not know if they are looking for a nest site. I am not aware of ravens nesting in the Calgary area, but I suppose it is possible. I suspect the Peregrines would not get along well with ravens as neighbours.[ET]
- If the Peregrines return to the campus, I expect them to return in early April. If anyone sees a Peregrine, would they please call Eric Tull at 220-5650(o) or 295-0830(h).