WILMINGTON ~ MAY 2013, PART I

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

I'M CONFUSED. I THOUGHT THEY WERE BANDING? IS THE ONE IN THE BOX ALREADY BANDED? WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG TO PUT THE OTHER ONES BACK? I CAN SEE THE BROWN IN THIS ONES FACE, OH, THEY ARE SO GROWN!!

Jane · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 10:32 am

Ethel posted a picture of Craig up there at 9:09. The one in the corner sure is giving the evil eye to the opening in the back of the box. Am waiting to see what transpires, but must leave here soon.

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

Jane wrote:

Ethel posted a picture of Craig up there at 9:09. The one in the corner sure is giving the evil eye to the opening in the back of the box. Am waiting to see what transpires, but must leave here soon.

WELL MY GOSH, IT'S BEEN ALMOST 1 1/2 HOURS THEN, SO WHERE ARE THE OTHER CHICKS? IT SURE LOOKS LIKE THAT ONE KNOWS SOMETHING IS GOING ON BACK THERE.

Jane · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 10:41 am

Yeah, it's been a while. I was watching the cam earlier, and didn't see Craig reaching out there. Haven't seen Red Girl or CJ either. Can only watch about five more minutes, and then I must go out for a bit.

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

CHICKS FINALLY PUT BACK NOW. SO FAR I THINK I SAW RED WHITE AND BLUE TAPE. ALSO SAW HE HAD A CAMERA AROUND HIS NECK AND WAS GATHERING FEATHERS FROM THE BOX. STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT TOOK ALMOST 2 HOURS!

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

Jane · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 12:03 pm

Great pictures of the action, Reenie. Now we know what Craig looks like. Not seeing any chicks in the box right now. One is in the lower left corner of the screen, and can see feet on the ledge now. Don't know whose feet are on the ledge.

Faith · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 2:02 pm

OH my gosh!!!! What a day! Craig picking feathers from the box? They are all banded I guess! Whew! That's done. Kim, what's next? A report I hope!!!

YES, GREAT Pictures Reenie!!! Thanks so much for capturing all that!

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

OK, HERE'S WHAT KIM KNOWS SO FAR.

2 FEMALE AND 2 MALE. ORANGE IS A FEMALE, BUT SHE WILL HAVE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE REST OF THEM. ORANGE IS THE ONE THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE NEST BOX FOR A WHILE.

HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET TO SEE SOME PICTURES TOO. KIM WASN'T THERE AT BANDING :-(

Faith · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 2:44 pm

Thanks Reenie for posting that. You mean the one that was taken to Tri-State?

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

Faith wrote:

Thanks Reenie for posting that. You mean the one that was taken to Tri-State?

YEP!

Faith · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 3:04 pm

Thanks. Maybe they checked her out real well!

Jane · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 3:35 pm

Thanks for letting everyone know what Kim knows, Reenie. Was kind of hoping that "Orange" was a male, but I guess that's not the case.

Faith · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 4:08 pm

They must be really tight in the corners. RG and CJ staying away until the "All Clear".

Jane · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 4:10 pm

I've not seen either adult all day. Agreed about hiding in the corners.

Jane · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 4:32 pm

I think it was Red Girl who was just in the box. Couldn't tell if she had food or not, and then the camera froze. Red Girl's mom would go totally ballistic on banding day, often not getting calmed down until evening. And chicks often weren't fed for MANY hours afterwards. I can imagine that RG would act the same. Forgot. Two chicks were in the upper left corner of the computer screen while she was there.

REENIE · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:57 pm **Posts:** 19893

JUST FOUND THIS, BUT IT SEEMS THE LIL ONE WAS A BOY THE WAY HE TALKS. ALSO DOESN'T GIVE ANY INFO ON WHAT THEY WERE.....................

NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

CONTACT: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

PHOTO CREDIT REQUIRED: Craig Koppie/US Fish & Wildlife Service

Wilmington Peregrine Falcons again a full family
unit after revitalized chick’s return to nest box

WILMINGTON (May 14, 2013) – With the recent return to the nest box of a chick that was artificially fed and cared for by human hand while it gained weight and strength to fend for itself in the box, the Wilmington Peregrine Falcons of DNREC Falcon Cam fame have regained the family dynamic as the four chicks prepare to fledge.

Nesting high above the streets of downtown Wilmington, on the 19th floor of the Brandywine Building, adult falcons successfully hatched four eggs in April. The hatching of the fourth egg occurred three days after the first three, leaving a smaller, virtually helpless chick with little chance to compete with its larger siblings and a low chance of survival. After authorization from DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife, U.S. Fish & Wildlife raptor biologist Craig Koppie made an emergency intercession and removed the chick from the nest, nurturing it for two weeks until it reached a size – and had a fighting appetite for life – comparable to its siblings’. (See attached photos for comparison.)

Upon returning the chick to the nest box, Mr. Koppie reported to DNREC biologist Anthony Gonzon that “The mother” – affectionately known as Red Girl” to Falcon Cam devotees – “brought in a small bird and fed the other siblings until the very last piece, which she gave to the little one. My little buddy received his first piece of food from his mother since he hatched!” About an hour and half later, Red Girl “came in with a pigeon. The young male forced his way to the front and was fed by the mother until his crop was full.”

Mr. Koppie himself returned to the nest box Tuesday morning to band the young falcons before their first flight and eventual departure to their own territory. All four chicks from “class of 2013” were found to be thriving. Earlier, he had reflected on his rearing of the fourth chick, which quite likely saved its life, and its return to the nest box: “I liked his overall progress and physical abilities (for returning it to the nest box). I felt confident about the timing and development stages of the other siblings and that he would likely fit in.”

Vol. 43, No. 195

Catbird · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 5:40 pm

Reenie - Thanks so much for all the pictures and for news today from Kim about the banding. And thanks for posting that article with the pictures of the rescued chick. Did you see the size of the feet in that last picture!

I'm looking forward to hearing more about the results of today's banding.

Kim Steininger · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 6:28 pm

Faith wrote:

Thanks Reenie for posting that. You mean the one that was taken to Tri-State?

None were taken to Tri-State. Craig raised the chick until he returned it to nest box.

Has anyone seen all four kids since banding ended? Any feedings? I just looked through archives and could barely see some butts in upper right corner but nothing other than that. Images are only archived every 5 mins though.

Catbird · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 6:32 pm

Kim - I've only seen one or two chicks since the banding, but then I've been out much of the day. I'm assuming they've been hiding in the corners after what must have been a traumatic experience for them.

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WILMINGTON ~ MAY 2013, PART I

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