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ABOUT THE HARRISBURG FALCONS http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=338&t=1034 |
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Author: | Catbird [ Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:32 am ] |
Post subject: | ABOUT THE HARRISBURG FALCONS |
ABOUT THE HARRISBURG FALCONS Since early June 2012, a new female has joined Lil' Dad on the Harrisburg ledge:
Note: Her father is a brother to the Mom we lost in 2010. As this makes her a niece to Mom, we decided to call her Niecey. Photo of Niecey on the ledge courtesy of Reenie. Background Information Nest Site:
Additional background:
Summary of 2016 Events Nesting Season First egg laid: 3/5 (total of 4 as of 3/12) Hatches: 2 on 4/14; 1 on 4/15 (total of 3) Chicks banded on 5/3: One female and two males
- Blue Boy (black/green band, 07/BP); 535 grams (white feet) - White Boy (black/green band, 06/BP); 535 grams First fledge: 5/23
- 5/24: Blue Boy - 5/25: Red Girl Summary of 2015 Events Nesting Season First egg laid: 3/14 (total of 4 as of 3/21) Hatches: 1 on 4/21; 1 on 4/22; 1 on 4/23 (total of 3) Chicks banded on 5/21: Three females
- White Girl (black/green band, 57/BR); 900 grams - Blue Girl (black/green band, 58/BR); 855 grams First fledge: 5/31
- 6/3: White Girl - 6/4: Red Girl Sadly, Blue Girl did not survive an encounter with a window on 6/3. Summary of 2014 Events Nesting Season First egg laid: 3/12 (total of 4) Hatches: 3 on 4/20; 1 on 4/22 (total of 4) Chicks banded on 5/13: Two females and two males
- Blue Girl (black/green band, 11/BR); 785 grams - Green Boy (black/green band, 54/AP); 585 grams - Jet (male with black band on right leg); (black/green band, 53/AP); 640 grams First fledge: 5/28
- 5/30 Green Boy - 5/31 Blue Girl - 6/3: Red Girl Summary of 2013 Events Nesting Season First egg laid: 3/13 (total of 4) Hatches: 4/20, 4/21, 4/22, 4/23 (total of 4) Chicks banded on 5/21: Three females and one male
- White Girl (black/green band, 32/AR) - Red Girl (black/green band, 31/AR) - Yellow Boy (black/green band, 23/AP) First fledge: 5/31
- 6/1: Blue Girl and Red Girl Summary of 2012 Events NG (New Girl) and Lil' Dad were the resident falcon pair on the Harrisburg ledge at the beginning of 2012.
- Lil' Dad (black/red band, W/V). Lil' Dad fledged from the Walt Whitman Bridge in Philadelphia in 2003. He arrived at the Harrisburg nest in 2005. Sadly, NG is no longer with us. On May 15, it was apparent that she was really suffering from a bad injury and/or an illness. NG was last seen on the ledge on May 16. Despite heroic attempts to locate and rescue her, she was never found. To read our forum members' loving tributes in honor of NG, go to: Nesting Season First egg laid: 3/8 (total of 4) First hatch: 4/17 (total of 2) Chicks banded on 5/9:
- Blue Boy (black/green band, 43/AP) First fledge: 5/26 (Blue Boy)
Post-nesting Season With the disappearance of NG, Lil' Dad became a single parent to the boys. Based on their strong flying skills, he did a great job teaching them to become independent: Blue Boy was last seen on the ledge June 11, and Red Boy was last seen on the ledge on June 13. In the meantime, Niecey and Lil' Dad became the resident falcon pair on the Harrisburg ledge. Summary of 2011 Events In 2011, NG (New Girl) and Lil' Dad - the resident pair since September 2010 - successfully raised one chick. Nesting Season First egg laid: 3/11 (total of 4) First hatch: 4/20 (total of 1) Chick banded on 5/17:
First fledge: 5/27
Post-nesting Season Lil' Dad was last seen in Harrisburg on November 30, which is normal as he usually takes a brief winter vacation to places unknown (we assume he goes south to a warmer climate). However there was much uncertainty in December about the resident falcons because a new, unbanded male (known as NB for No Band) was sighted on the ledge on December 9. While he spent some time on the ledge with NG, this only lasted until Lil' Dad reappeared on the ledge early in 2012. Summary of 2010 Events January - February 2010 The year started off well with lots of activity on the ledge between Mom and Lil' Dad, the resident falcon pair. Mom had been at the Harrisburg nest ever since she arrived in 1999. March - Mid July 2010 Mom and Lil' Dad had been successfully raising chicks together since 2005, and the 2010 nesting season was no different. Together they raised three chicks. First egg laid: 3/20 (total of 5) First hatch: 4/29 (total of 3) Chicks banded on 5/27:
- White Boy - Blue Boy* * It was noticed during banding that Blue Boy had signs of the trichomoniasis (trich) infection, and he was treated for it at that time. Unfortunately, his condition worsened and on 6/1/10, he was retrieved from the nest and sent to a wildlife rehabilitator for treatment. First fledge: 6/7 (White Boy) Mid July - September 2010 This was a trying time for the Harrisburg falcon watchers.
- August 31: When Mom appeared on the ledge on this last day of August, little did we know that this would be the last time we were to see her alive. Sadly, it was later reported that her body was found near the railroad tracks. - September 10: A new female falcon is seen in the nest box. While Lil' Dad accepted her almost immediately, it took us much longer. But accept her we did, and now she's affectionately known as NG for "New Girl." Remembering Mom (1998-2010) Photo of Mom on the ledge courtesy of Reenie. Mom was a beautiful falcon beloved by many of us here. She was a devoted mate to Lil' Dad and a devoted mother to all her chicks, and she will live on in our memories.
- On October 8, a beautiful memorial banner commemorating Mom was presented (by Reenie and others) to the Education Center at the Rachel Carson Building. Conceived, designed, and financed by the BCAW forum members, this banner was a fitting tribute to Mom's memory. Mom's memory also lives on in her daughter, Red Girl, and the many other falcons she and Lil' Dad raised together. In March 2010, we were overjoyed to learn that Red Girl from the 2008 Harrisburg nest was the new female falcon in residence at the Wilmington, DE, nest. We have been privileged to be able to watch Red Girl there as she exhibits many of the same characteristics that endeared us to Mom. Summary of 2009 Events In 2009, Mom and Lil' Dad - the resident pair since 2005 - raised five chicks. Parents:
- Lil' Dad (black/red leg band). Lil' Dad fledged from the Walt Whitman Bridge in Philadelphia in 2003. He arrived at the Harrisburg nest in 2005. 2009 Nesting Summary Note: Detailed nesting information for 2009 is included at the end of this post. First egg laid: 3/21 (total of 5) First hatch: 4/30 (total of 5) Chicks banded on 5/27:
- Green Girl - Red Girl - Yellow Girl - White Boy First fledge: 6/8 (Yellow Girl) Postscript:
- Sadly too, it was noticed on 7/8 that Yellow Girl had suffered an injury to her a beak (she was able to eat, but much more slowly than her siblings). Attempts to capture Yellow Girl for treatment were unsuccessful...but to the best of our knowledge, she is still soaring in the sky with her sisters. Detailed 2009 Nesting Information The following chart, which provides more details on this year's nesting activities and chicks, is courtesy of Reenie. |
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