Other Peregrine Projects > Canadian Peregrines

AB / Red Deer - Capri Centre - 2009-11

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The Peregrine Chick:
2010 NESTING SEASON

Last year was the first year a pair has nested at the Capri Centre Hotel in Red Deer and though they lost chicks due to exposure the one they did raise and the Edmonton chick they fostered did well.  Hopefully the pair will be back again to try again.  The Hotel was talking about installing a nestbox at this site but I haven't heard anything about that ... there could be one from now or not.  Nor have I heard anything about putting a webcam at this site so we will probably just have to wait until the birds return to find out what they are returning to!

bev.:
This is great. I am glad they did well. You can see I am just catching up on all the news :) :)

Alison:
An update on the falcon family at the Capri Hotel in Red Deer from the Red Deer Advocate yesterday:

Falcons thriving atop city hotel
Red Deer Advocate - 20 August 2009

A family of four peregrine falcons seem to love their stay at one of Red Deer’s biggest hotels. The parents and two chicks have made a temporary home on the rooftop of the Capri Centre, which suits the hotel general manager just fine. When Gil Vallee gets the chance to step away from his desk, he heads outdoors to see what the peregrines are doing 14 storeys up. He’s not disappointed.

The parents are teaching their young to hunt prey “very aggressively.” Vallee has even seen the parents catch some kind of bird and then drop it, while a young one swoops down to grab it.

“They perch on the side of the building throughout the day,” Vallee said. “It’s really great watching, when the (chicks) were so young and helpless, to being very graceful and beautiful birds.”

Alberta Fish and Wildlife and hotel staff initially had concerns about how the family would fare. Four out of five chicks born on top of the hotel died due to exposure from wind and rain. The remaining one was barely surviving, so Red Deer wildlife biologist Dave Prescott gave it some raw chicken.

A male chick from Edmonton was brought to the roof in mid July. A three-sided plywood box was added to help protect the two youngsters from the cold. Since then, no one has returned to the roof so that the chicks could feel safe as they learned to fly. Vallee understands the birds will fly the coop towards the end of August or early September. Peregrine falcons migrate south, with some heading as far away as Argentina. Wherever this foursome travels, Vallee said he’d hold out a ‘Welcome’ sign upon any of their return.

“They took care of my pigeon problem,” he said, laughing.

Fish and Wildlife officials believe this is the fourth time that the falcons have chosen the Capri Centre for their high nesting spot. Another three peregrine falcons are believed to be living on top of the Telus tower, on the north side or Red Deer, where a manmade nesting box was set up.

Alberta has developed a recovery program for the peregrine falcon, which is legally a threatened species in Alberta. The peregrine can reach speeds over 322 km/h in a dive, making it the fastest animal in the world.

To view the original including photos ... http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/local/Falcons_thriving_atop_hotel

Photo by Jeff Stokoe.

birdcamfan:
Thanks for following up on this story.

Alison:
Thank you for the additional information, Bev. I hope the two chicks will continue to do well, and I'm glad that a nest box has been installed for next year.

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