Peregrines & the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

[bcbird]

Hey, PrairieSailor, this forum is huge, and it's easy to forget where things are. 
Hope you have time to look around at the variety of information.

[PrairieSailor]

Oops - totally missed that thread. Will look through the links. Thanks.

[Ellie]

This is a good question(s), and I think TPC has some remarks about this somewhere on the forum, back when the oil gush first started. 
Anyone remember where to look for that?

I checked back in the threads in "Ask The Peregrine Chick" and found some of her answers on this subject dated June 9, 2010.  She also gave us addresses to some places that we could check to perhaps find out more information.  TPC always has info on almost everything..........we are so lucky!

[bcbird]

This is a good question(s), and I think TPC has some remarks about this somewhere on the forum, back when the oil gush first started. 
Anyone remember where to look for that?

[Ellie]

Glad you asked that question as I have been wondering the same thing............waiting for an answer from TPC.

[PrairieSailor]

Many biologists are now concerned about the potential impact of the Gulf oil spill on Canada's migratory birds with loons, cranes and pelicans et all at significant risk. What do we know about the migration routes of our Manitoba raptors in general - and the Peregrines in particular, and  should we be concerned about their safety or health ?

[The Peregrine Chick]

For those of you wanting some links to more information, here are a few ..

American Birding Association's Gulf Coast Oil Spill Coverage - they have photos, videos and a blog
BP's Gulf of Mexico Response - revenue from the leak is being donated to protect & rehabilitate wildlife in the Gulf States
DU Inc's (USA) Gulf Coast Oil Spill Action Centre - waterfowl and shorebirds (both peregrine prey species) overwinter in this area

[The Peregrine Chick]

Is the Gulf oil spill going to impact the migrating peregrines ?

Hey Peaches,

Realized when I saw your question that someone had asked a similar questions so scooped up the conversation and merged them all together here as I'm sure lots of folks are wondering the same thing!

[peaches123]

Is the Gulf oil spill going to impact the migrating peregrines ?

[The Peregrine Chick]

Wasn't one of the Edmonton birds coming back from Guatemala (sp?). I thought they could go as far as Central and South America. TPC can tell us for sure.

Ours have been observed as far south as Brazil ... other locations: Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Florida, couple more but I don't remember them right now ...

[The Peregrine Chick]

Hi TPC - I'm wondering how far south our falcons go in the winter. Will they be affected by the eco-disaster along the Gulf Coast?

They probably won't be directly, but their prey will be if that is their migration route - our birds use a variety of routes to get where they are going - some go south via Mexico, some hop the islands from Florida.

[sami]

Wasn't one of the Edmonton birds coming back from Guatemala (sp?). I thought they could go as far as Central and South America. TPC can tell us for sure.

[Ellie]

A disaster for sure...........what worries me also is that I heard on the TV the other day that our water fowl migrate to the  Mississippi along the Gulf coast.  This is going to affect more than water fowl in the long term. As of now who knows how far reaching this whole situation  will become.........very scary!  I really don't know where our Peregrines migrate but seems I heard that at the beginning of the spring migration season back to Canada they were counting birds through Mexico.  I'm sure TPC can give us a better idea.

[eagle63_1999]

I have been wondering the same thing Gale.  With that disaster getting worse every day in the Gulf coast it makes me wonder.....

[Gale]

Hi TPC - I'm wondering how far south our falcons go in the winter. Will they be affected by the eco-disaster along the Gulf Coast?