Other Peregrine Projects > USA Peregrines
NY / Rochester - 2008-15
carly:
Thank you Tracy, that does explain things. From what I remember they actually physically relocated her nestbox to one of the other locations and put up 1 or 2 other ones to give them a choice. She is aware of the boxes they say as she was around in the Fall when all this work was going on but she has not gone near them. She keeps hanging out on the Kodak and reports say she even mated with TC there.
I know we've had cases here they tell me where they've had to move boxes but not with a peregrine who had nested in the same spot for so long - Mariah has been at Kodak for 11 years so it seems like uncharted territory but they worked with experienced biologists and seem to have done alot of planning - no doubt they know what they are doing but Mariah is a woman with a mind of her own.
That netting makes me queezy as well, I think your idea of plywood sheets is a good one. I think the fact Mariah can see her old ledge means she won't give up for awhile, let's hope she doesn't get tangled in the nets.
The Peregrine Chick:
Had a look at the slideshow, and as a project manager, my concern is the netting. It looks like pigeon exclusion netting, which is really the only way to keep pigeons off a building, particularly older buildings with their ornate architecture. And pigeon droppings are brutal on stone/brick, corrosive in fact, not to mention the health problems that can arise. For peregrines, I would have chosen something else, perhaps plywood sheets on an angle so she wouldn't have enough room to nest without the potential for her getting caught in the netting. If she should get caught, it is hoped that a) someone notices quickly and b) access to the site is available, which I assume is so since she has nested there before. And it wouldn't just be her, both birds could be caught.
Now, before y'all panic folks, peregrines are predators and predators, because they have to rely on their ability to catch things in order to survive, take fewer risks than say a prey species. Birds in particular, and raptors for sure, are very aware of how close they can get to things and when, without injuring themselves. If you watch that slideshow again, Mariah is actually a very savvy and adept little flyer, it looked more nerve-wracking to us than it probably was for her. But that doesn't mean she's safe, a gust of wind or a moment of inattention and anything can happen, just means that she's being careful and has the skill to keep herself out of trouble under normal conditions.
Help any?
The Peregrine Chick:
--- Quote from: carly on March 16, 2009, 07:26 ---Tracy, Do you think she would eventually give up and go to one of the new nest boxes or her old box or will this stress jeapardize her egg production/laying? Also, since the Tiercel is usually the one who choses the box - will he view her wanting to be at Kodak with no access to a box as a rejection of himself? Or will he follow where she leads?
--- End quote ---
In the wild it is not unusual for a "natural" (ie: cliff-face) peregrine territory to contain more than one potential nestsite - even in urban sites pairs have been known to move around a bit if there are suitable sites. The Radisson has two (as we all know) and Princess & Trey as a pair move more frequently than any of our previous pairs. Other pairs, like Holly & Zeus (or Holly & Screech and Mufasa & Phoebe) have only ever used the nestbox in Brandon. Now whether that is because there are no other suitable sites or preference, is up for debate. At the Radisson, it appears to be preference on the part of our pairs. As for Mariah, depends on her preferences. If she prefers nestboxes, she'll probably go to another nestbox in the territory. If she has/does nest without a box, she may try for awhile to get to where she wants to be. (I'll check the links tomorrow during the day and give you a better answer then). As for the stress, it will be stressful, annoying/frustrating (only words I can use on this PG-13 site) stress than perhaps the stress of a serious territorial dispute. On the upside, she will be driven (by hormones) to find a spot to nest which might be all it takes to get her into a new nestbox. Her mate will also have the same hormonal drive. If he's a new male, that might help, he won't be "attached" to the old nestsite and more willing to look elsewhere. And yes, both the birds are involved in the nestsite location decision.
One thing I will look for is whether or not they have left the old nestbox in place ... if they have (keep in mind its midnight right now and I haven't yet seen or read what's up) that may not have been their best move. It would also be interesting to see when the put the new nestboxes out ... we put up a new nestbox in West Winnipeg last year and the pair that hung out on the building on an almost daily basis, didn't show any interest in the box until September/October (and no, the box isn't hard for them to find :D). If they knew they were going to do work a year or more in advance, I would be interested in knowing if they put the boxes out at that time to get the pair familiar with their presence. Anywho, will check it out tomorrow in daylight and add anything I think is pertinent ...
Answer your question a bit Carly?
Alison:
The photos in the slideshow are beautiful, and absolutely heartbreaking. I had no problem accessing the link.
Since Kodak has not started work on the Tower, it would be a really good gesture to remove the netting and allow Mariah to return to the place where she raised her babies for eleven years in a row. The Terminal Tower in Cleveland has been undergoing restorations for about three years now; Buckeye and SW have adapted to all the disturbances, and have successfully continued to raise their babies there. (SW laid her third egg this morning.)
Mariah and Kaver are the first falcons I ever watched, and they are very special to me. I still hope Kaver will return, but in the back of my mind I think about the tiercel they found last fall. I know they decided it wasn't Kaver, but I wonder. Tybropa-Cree is a very handsome tiercel, but there is only one Kaver.
carly:
Heartbreaking pictures on the web this morning of Mariah trying so hard to get to her old nestbox :'( :'( She's hovering in the front of the netting, lands on it several times and is trying to figure out how to get past it to get to her ledge. Poor girl, she seems determined and confused.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=tq6stye.8b4hxlp2&x=0&y=2xhkln&localeid=en_US
Tracy, Do you think she would eventually give up and go to one of the new nest boxes or her old box or will this stress jeapardize her egg production/laying? Also, since the Tiercel is usually the one who choses the box - will he view her wanting to be at Kodak with no access to a box as a rejection of himself? Or will he follow where she leads?
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