Manitoba Peregrines > U of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
U of Alberta - 2010 / ? & Radisson
bob:
Hi LinderLou
We do, indeed, have good news concerning Ms Blue and Mr, Red. Carol and I watched the festivities during our Friday evening shift with Mr. Bev, Becky and Dave. The excitement that night included an episode where mama flew towards the chicks with food dangling from her talons. Mr Red jumped off his perch and started to chase her. He's turned into a very strong flyer and he is using his games to learn how to hunt. Then we watched as an intruder (another peregrine) came within range of the nestbox and the two parents took off after it and engaged in an aerial dogfight: the parents attacked, dive-bombed the intruder at least eight times until the intruder gave in and left the area. Had it not given up, the parents would have killed it. There were other flights where all four peregrines were on the wing.
We dropped our daughter off at work at the UofA hospital and took advantage of being in the neighbourhood to drop in on Elaine and Bev who were doing the Saturday afternoon shift. Miss Blue was over on College Plaza engaged in a Mexican standoff with her mother over some food that we sitting on one of the ledges while Mr. Red stood on a balcony of a nearby apartment building. We didn't witness any air time but Bev indicated that Red and one of the parents were riding thermals earlier in the day and went so high they were out of sight.
Bob
Linder:
The saying is "No news is good news". Have been waiting for reports. Guess I've been spoiled and will have to have more patience.
The Peregrine Chick:
While I was hunting through my Google Alerts I found this news story about Radisson & the family ... I hope you haven't already posted this somewhere Bev, I tried to find it, but if I am duplicating your efforts, sorry!! :-\
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2010/07/13/14700776.html
Viewers flock to watch falcons
Baby peregrine falcons are being watched from around the world, as the chicks learn to fly near their University of Alberta nest.
Each day hundreds of viewers from as far as England, Germany and the United States have been watching the three five-week-old falcons online, born atop the clinical sciences building.
"It's popular. A lot of people get very attached to these birds," said Ian Moore, of the Students' Union at the U of A.
The webcams offer three views, one inside the nest and two outside.
Since Sunday, volunteers have also been keeping a close eye on the birds -- born June 5 and 6 -- as they begin to fly, said Moore.
If the fledglings run into trouble learning to fly, a volunteer contacts a biologist who then returns the falcon to the nest.
Peregrine falcons -- capable of reaching speeds of more than 320 km/h, making it the fastest animal in the world -- were nearly extinct due to the use of now-banned chlorine pesticides such as DDT.
Populations have since recovered but are still threatened, with about 50 peregrine falcon mating pairs in the province.
Last year, more than 14,000 people viewed the webcam, which helps educate people about urban wildlife, said Moore.
"Not a lot of people know about the extent and diversity of wildlife that exists in Edmonton," he said.
RCF:
I'm glad they are doing so well, wonderful pictures too! :-*
bev.:
slideshow from july22(yesterday) we have videos but they will come last as they take longer to process
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