Good Evening All,
Some of you may know that over the past several years, I have spent
countless dedicated hours observing our local pair of Peregrine
Falcons here in Annapolis. (here are some photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nervousbird/sets/72157625953204191/ )
Several years ago, I was playing a gig on one of the cruise boats out
of Annapolis when I first found the pair flying around the bridge. It
was an amazing experience to see falcons darting about, whilst singing
and playing guitar on top of a yacht.
Back then, the female was from New York, hatched and banded on the
Tappan Zee Bridge. She had one chick that year, with the un-banded
male *still present*. That chick took a dive in the river on her
third flight. I plucked her from the water with the help of my
friends with a nearby fast boat. We called USFWS and put on her on
the nearest shore for Mom and Dad to look after. Within an hour or
so, the young female fledgling was dry and tried to fly again. She
made it to the top of a nearby home and then, eventually, under the
bridge. After that I never saw her again. Here are some photos from
that rescue: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nervousbird/sets/72157629583483031/
That next spring while working in my yard in West Annapolis, I heard
Peregrines screaming overhead. Three birds flew past in quick
succession. What I had witnessed was the removal of the New Yorker by
the new resident female from coastal Virginia. She is still present
today.
That year, Craig Koppie, the USFWS Eagle Coordinator and Raptor
Biologist, the Severn Riverkeeper, myself and others lugged what
should be considered the 'Taj Mahal' of falcon nest boxes under that
bridge. But, in the following two seasons, there were NO eggs laid in
it and the pair barely ever used it. Instead, she tried laying eggs on
cold, hard metal with a bit of rubble and dust. All of the eggs
failed and she'd move from pier to pier... avoiding the luxury
accommodations that she would perch in front of... daily!
So imagine my delight when I saw the male flying into the box this
past February?! It filled me with hope that THIS might be THE year
she lays her eggs in the box. In the weeks and months that followed,
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the pair go into and out of the box.
Courtship, mating, and then their routine absence had me excited that
she was on eggs.
To get a better sense of timing, I followed the pair (with a camera in
their box) in Wilmington, Delaware. ( http://wilmfalcons.com/ and
http://www.dosbirds.org/wilmfalcons )
Months ago, I emailed Craig the good news about the pair using the
box. With help from SHA, he went to visit the nest box this past
Monday morning. Before his visit, he had predicted that there were
two chicks, four eggs... I predicted three chicks.
Well... I am delighted to tell you that there are two girls and boy
currently being cared for in that Ritz-Carlton of nest boxes by Mom
and Dad Peregrine. What's more, Craig was successful in literally
grabbing the male. So now the previously-unbanded tiercel finally got
some jewelry too.
I'll keep everyone posted on any further news. Since the likelihood
is that one or more of these birds will find themselves wet and in the
river, I'll be arranging a fledgling watch. I'm awaiting word from
Craig as to when (approximately) the birds might be attempting their
first flight, but if you have some time on your hands and would like
to help, please feel free to let me know.
The area closest to where they'll be is all private property, but the
neighbors are all aware of the very special residents they have under
the bridge.
Finally, I posted three of Craig's amazing photos on our Anne Arundel
County Bird Club Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aabirds/ (if that doesn't drive up
the facebook stock, I don't know what will)
Good Birding,
Dan Haas
St. Margaret's, MD
nervousbirdsatgmail.com
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