Bird Cams Around the World

I think that would be great, Bev...

Bev, I'd be very interested in any information on hacking birds that have already flown!

I just e-mailed Gord but I will add another e-mail about birds that have flown.

Well hopefully they will be strong and be able to take good flights.

This was actually the first I heard about the Wilmington falcons going to NRG. CCB works closely with Craig, so I assume that is who made the decision on these birds. Last week they were worried about not having enough, but there are plenty now. There is another hack box on the Virginia/ Tennessee border, so I wonder now if some are going there? I will try and get more details on your two.

To answer everyone's questions about hacking, they are fed through a chute so they don't get imprinted or see humans. They feed them quail. They continue to be fed after the door is open and they are released until none come back, which assumes they either did not make it or they have learned how to eat. There are several adults there, a mating pair on the bridge and a male who was hacked there and comes back to feed. The biologists assume that these adults are at least serving as a role model for flying and hunting. Your concern is a good one, and as a rehabber who releases birds, I always worry. I generally like to release them in my own back yard after they have seen other birds eat off the feeders, and of course I know they have had plenty of time self-feeding before they are released. The Wilmington falcons obviously know how to eat on their own. The Wildlife Center faces this same dilemma when they release the three juvie eagles from Norfolk. They have to learn to fish, which is totally different.

As an fyi, all of our falcons on the east coast are descendants of juvies that were hacked from various locations, including city buildings. One of my Richmond falcons came from a Baltimore building hack.

My personal opinion is that this is a great option for bridge falcons, who generally have a very low survival rate. The mountains are the historical nesting locations for falcons pre-ddt, so it should be natural for them. I worry about the availability of prey versus cities, which is why they all seem to end up there, or in our case the eastern shore where shorebirds are everywhere. They have put plenty of transmitters on hacked falcons from NRG. They go all over, but many hang out in east coast cities. I am guessing since these girls appear to have difficulty managing the man-made obstacles, they thought there survival chances would be better in the mountains.

Here is an interesting article I just found at the National Parks Service website, specifically discussing hacking of falcons at the Shenandoah National Park. Sounds like they have to teach themselves by watching the other nest mates:

Falcon hacking

The preferred method used for peregrine falcon re-introduction is called "hacking." The hacking process at Shenandoah consists of taking at-risk falcon chicks from nest sites in eastern Virginia, and bringing them to the Park where they are placed in protective wooden boxes (hack boxes) for approximately 10 days. The hackbox is placed on a high cliff ledge that mimics a natural peregrine falcon nest scrape. The boxes are constructed so that the young birds can view and acclimate to their environment as they mature, but are protected from predators such as raccoons. While they are in the boxes, park staff provide for their care and feeding, and monitor their condition, all the while minimizing contact with humans.

When the falcons are ready for flight, the boxes are opened and the falcons are allowed to leave. They will continue to be fed and monitored at the hacksite as they learn to hunt for themselves. The young fledglings will often mimic their brood mates as they refine their flight and hunting skills.Generally, the falcons remain in the local area for several weeks. By late-July they begin to take extended "practice" flights of over 200 miles. By late August, they leave the area by wandering into other states and eventually migrating south or east as fall approaches. It is hoped that the birds will imprint on Shenandoah's prominent cliffs and return as breeding adults in 2-3 years. Ultimately, Foster Falcon partners hope that this project will help to meet the USFWS recovery goal of 21 breeding pairs in the Central and Southern Appalachians.

Thanks for the info Barb! I think the main reason they were having difficulty is because they fledged too soon! When I saw Green Girl fly she looked like she was missing tail feathers and the others looked pretty scrappy. Turns out her tail feathers weren't completely out of the sheaths yet!

It was Tri-State Bird Rescue's idea to send the birds and the final decision was made by Craig, along with the DE biologist.

Well, this will certainly keep them from fledging early!

first egg hatched 4/26
three more hatched late 4/26 or early 4/27
late 4/28 or early 4/29 last egg hatched

So today is day 43 for first hatching. I know for a lot of males it's day 37 that they fly but I forget what it is for females. I know they're not all the same but the average.

I have not read the information before this post and will go back but i just heard from our biologist and he said the best thing to do with chicks that have fledged prematurely is to put them back where they fledged from or as close as possible to nest, hight enough away form predators. They will beg for food and adults will provide it. He said their likelihood of survival is best with the adults.

Females usually fledge from day 42 to 44 , on the average. these girls went way too soon and that was the reason why they were ending up on the ground. (in my opinion). We had a male that we put back 3 times and then he did fine. He also went too soon.

I do not think hacking is intended for falcons that have flown already.

I have to go out for a bit but will come back and read. I have jsut read all the other information posted and they keep saying birds that have not flown.

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It was mentioned that it's possible the parents weren't bringing enough food and that's why they fledged early.