Other Peregrine Projects > Canadian Peregrines
ON / Etobicoke - Bloor & Islington / 2008-21
carly:
Thank you TPC, I will do my best and thank you for the pointers on what to look for. I know what you mean about the malar stripes, Mathew and I had that challenge with Jack photos the other day - in one photo you would have sworn it was another bird if not for the band number!
I wish the darn cam worked, that would be a good indicator but in the mean time I will go through old photos. Thanks again TPC.
The Peregrine Chick:
Specific shapes of bird parts (nice scientific wording I know) isn't an accurate descriptor for anything, so I wouldn't include that in your identification criteria. The peregrines can do so many things with their feathers and posture that it is really impossible to get a handle on their shape and use that for identification. Size is something different, particularly when you are in the field, you can get a sense of size in relation to things and other birds, but things is better, as they don't change. So for example, he looks bigger in the nestbox, that's a pretty good warning flag. My suggestion would be to go back through photos and webcam images and look at Angel and look for things like Princess' head patter, the breadth/depth of the white on Trey's chest, Trey's black cap, Princess' speckles etc. Don't look at the pink/salmon coloured wash on the breast though, that changes through the season. Sometimes you can look at the width of the malar stripe, but that can change depending on how the bird is sitting/looking. Try to look at images where the bird is in different postures too - and in different locations and look for relative size in the box, on this sign etc. My question about the male at the Radisson is based on those kinds of assessments - and considering your familiarity with Angel, you are probably right, its not her - peregrines tend to get lighter with age, not darker so that is your first warning flag. Now break it down, feature by feature.
Oooooo, homework for Carly ;D Lucky Carly!!
carly:
Here is my other question: I have for the past few days been wondering if Angel is really Angel...not just because I saw brown on her but because she seemed different somehow. She seems darker than Angel normally is and a bit smaller. Now I will be honest that I've not seen her up close in person like I have seen Jack and he's got some physical attributes that are quite noticeable from the ground not to mention he's banded so that helps. And can I just say that Jack from the ground and from directly across the ledge - as compared to the cams is different. The cam really distorts some things, well our cams do.
Yesterday I was watching her from my window at work and I kept thinking she's somehow different but in the end couldnt' put my finger on it. When I was folding my laundry last night it finally came to me, a week ago she was bottom heavy, you know how they get when they are going through mating and egg laying and this female wasn't bottom heavy. It just hit me like a flash and I could see it clearly in my mind. Sadly I couldn't see her legs to see if they are bare and given another female unbanded has been photographed in the area - I can't rule out anything.
Would the stress of defending the territory affected her somehow and she'd not be errr...swollen there ? Sorry I know that sounds strange but I don't knwo the proper biology to describe it.
carly:
Well both falcons were on site today - most of the day. Mathew reported that Jack went over there too and mated with TR mom as well so things are back to normal after a few days of weirdness. I guess whatever happened threw them off for a few days but today was much better.
Saw a few mating sessions, some chupping iin the nestbox a few times and saw him bringing her food as well. As soon as he'd leave she'd take off down towards the lake though. I had her on the condo today and from my office window I could see her pretty well but it was so cold and so windy I couldn't get a look at her legs to see if they were indeed bare. I don't know something about her just seems different..can't put my finger on it yet but I will!!
The Peregrine Chick:
--- Quote from: carly on March 25, 2010, 17:18 ---First time in a week I saw them together this morning, they had a quickie on the condo and then she went to eat - saw her backside and saw ...brown mixed in with the black?? That was a shock. Both flew off in separate directions again and that was that. Saw one or the other today but never together at the same time and other times - the site was desserted. It's been that way since mid week last week.
--- End quote ---
Don't fret about the brown, some birds just keep the brown longer than others - Jules had more than I'm used to seeing last year and we know she was at least three last year so all the juvenile plumage should have disappeared.
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