PA / Harrisburg - Rachel Carson Building - 2008-21

[Alison]

One adult at the nest today; perhaps Lil Dad, since he likes to perch on the stick:

 

[Alison]

I hadn't seen Mom and Lil Dad together at the nest for a while:

 

 

[Alison]

This bird went to California earlier this year I believe ... will have to see if I can find the story to be sure though ...

You're right, TPC! I remember this story; the peregrine was transferred to California. The story was in the Honolulu Advertiser, but it is not there any more.

Here is a pic of the juvie:

[allikat]

I'm also curious about this story......hope to hear some good news!

[The Peregrine Chick]

This bird went to California earlier this year I believe ... will have to see if I can find the story to be sure though ...

[carly]

Hopefully she's hanging with a sibling, I worry about how she will survive on her own.  

Here is an older story from earlier this year about a peregrine juvies artificial beak, we may posted this before but I couldn't remember.
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/hawaiinews/20090130_Wayward_peregrine_falcon_under_care_of_Honolulu_Zoo.html

[Alison]

Still no sightings of Yellow Girl. I hope we will have some better news of her soon.

Pics of her before her injury:

 

 

[Alison]

An eagle had its beak shot by a poacher and s/he got a prothesis ....

I remember that story, TPC! I posted the link below on another forum at the time. The idea was to make life somewhat easier for Beauty, not to attempt to release her to the wild, where she would not have been able to survive.  (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/06/06/eagle-beak-prosthetic.html)



Back to Yellow Girl - I have the impression that not much is being done to try to help her at this stage. I feel that she deserves every possible chance. She is trying her best to survive on her own.  Every beak injury is different, but I think it is very unlikely that her lower mandible would regrow. The keratin layers can regrow after an injury (although they don't always), but below those layers is a vascular layer and then bone. If the vascular bed is damaged, the beak will not regrow.

TPC, do you have any ideas about how to help her?

[The Peregrine Chick]

An eagle had its beak shot by a poacher and s/he got a prothesis ....
Bald Eagle Gets Prosthetic Beak, Much Like Uncle Sam's Bionic Plasma Arm

[Alison]

This is very sad news, indeed! How on earth could that have happened?! Another bird of prey? Or humans?! And what are her chances of survival in the wild, even with intervention?!

Poor little Yellow Girl. I think this probably happened in a collision of some kind, either with a building or possibly with a vehicle. I think it is less likely to have happened in a battle with another raptor, since they normally fight with their talons, not their beaks. Since the beak is extremely well supplied with blood vessels and nerves, any beak injury is extremely painful.

At least her parents are feeding her, although it is amazing that she is managing to eat. She would not survive in the wild with this type of injury. She is just learning to hunt for herself, and although she might be able to catch prey, she would not be able to tear up the meat.

If she can be caught and cared for somewhere like The Raptor Center, the Raptor Trust, or the Wildlife Center of Virginia, perhaps they will be able to help her.

She would not be able to be released, but she could still have a life at a wildlife centre, or possibly as an education bird.

I am hoping for the best for this little one. 

[Kinderchick]

Tragically it appears she has lost her lower beak.

This is very sad news, indeed! How on earth could that have happened?! Another bird of prey? Or humans?! And what are her chances of survival in the wild, even with intervention?!

[carly]

Thanks for the update SGB, I have been following the story on your site.  I hope they can get her some help...poor girl. 

[skygirlblue]

I just wanted to update everyone on the drama unfolding in Harrisburg...I'll give you the short version.  A little over a week ago, it was noticed that one of the females, yellow girl, just didn't look right.  Through persistence, by a BCAW forum member who works in the Rachel Carson building, and a really good photographer, they were able to gather more information and take several pictures.  Tragically it appears she has lost her lower beak.  The proper authorities were notified, but they declined to intervene...Several trappers and rehabbers were contacted, and while they were very sympathetic, they declined to help until she grew so weak, she ended up on the ground.  Needless to say, we were all frustrated, especially our BCAW forum members who live in the area and have been very involved with falconwatch, etc.  So several of us decided to email the media...Thankfully, WGAL TV was very interested and ran the story last evening.  Here's the link:

http://www.wgal.com/video/20067848/index.html

Please note, the pictures of Yellow Girl are quite disturbing.  We are very hopeful that the Pennsylvania Game Commission will follow through with their plans and are able to trap her.  We are hopeful that she can be trapped and helped, but if not, that she will not be allowed to suffer.

On a positive note..she is eating, she still appears strong and very vocal.  I don't know how she is doing it. I would think she must be in a great deal of pain.. I watched a feed this evening that took her almost 2 hours to complete.  It appears that Mom and Lil' dad are making sure she is still getting food...(bless their hearts-I wonder if they sense something is wrong..who knows)  One correction from the report...we are pretty sure the upper beak is intact.

so please keep Yellow Girl and the Game Commission in your thoughts and prayers...

[Pchemist]

Gotta root for good fledges at Elk River - three males and one female!

[bev.]

me too. I follow both of these nests but do not post much on them . No time
Not that I want to see females die but we need more males.