PA / Harrisburg - Rachel Carson Building - 2008-21

[RCF]

News from the site:

4/30/2012  ::  Egg Update
This female was very young last year, and typically young peregrine females will lay eggs that are not viable. Even with adult females, one of four eggs not viable is not unusual.

Did I miss mention earlier of how old this female is?  Does anyone know?

She is unbanded, so who knows.  
http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?p=159752#p159752

[The Peregrine Chick]

News from the site:

4/30/2012  ::  Egg Update
This female was very young last year, and typically young peregrine females will lay eggs that are not viable. Even with adult females, one of four eggs not viable is not unusual.

Did I miss mention earlier of how old this female is?  Does anyone know?

[susha]

Thanks Linder.  These two are awesome, aren't they?  Can't believe how they've grown

[Linder]

News from the site:

4/30/2012  ::  Egg Update
There will be two nestlings banded at the May 9th banding event. Last year, one chick hatched for a total of three young produced at the nest over two years. This female was very young last year, and typically young peregrine females will lay eggs that are not viable. Even with adult females, one of four eggs not viable is not unusual. So there is reason for optimism in the sense that this pair has doubled the number of nestlings this year and as she matures, this female should produce eggs with a greater hatch success rate. The unhatched eggs in the nest will be added to the eggs from last year's nesting season and submitted for testing.

[susha]

So the odds are getting better!  Thanks for remembering, Linder!

[Linder]

Last year only one chick from the 4 eggs laid. So this year they have two mouths to feed.

[susha]

Two adorable fluffies and two unhatched eggs.  Don't think any more hatching will be happening

Didn't the same thing happen last year at this site?  I seem to recall the chicks having unhatched eggs as their siblings for quite awhile.

[Linder]

Checked in again today and still 2 chicks. It's been 2 days since they hatched so hoping the other 2 eggs might still have a chance.

[Linder]

Had a look today and still 2 eggs and 2 chicks. If this is it, they have one more than last year to look after but I guess there is still hope for more.

[RCF]

NG is hacking up a pellet at the moment ...  

Two chicks and one egg visible - don't know if #4 is still egg or now a chick ...

I was watching her do that, doesn't look like a pleasant experience.......like dry heaving. 

[The Peregrine Chick]

NG is hacking up a pellet at the moment ...  

Two chicks and one egg visible - don't know if #4 is still egg or now a chick ...

[The Peregrine Chick]

Just checked the cam and I like the image but I hate the still photo above the link to the cam - the poor bird has her mouth wide open and it makes her look like a wide-mouth bass    Hopefully they will change it once there are cute chicks to look at ...

Something else I noticed, she has a very long, currved beak ... or is it just the camera angles I'm see her at right now ... maybe its just the way the light and the pebbles behind her make it look ...

[Linder]

Checked the site and can see one chick for sure. Will check back on whether or not there are more. Checked on the BCAW site and they have pictures of two chicks so far. Two hatched and two to go. As usual they are cute as can be. 

[Linder]

It is a month today since the 4th egg was laid. Should be hatchings sometime in the next few days. Will try to check in every so often and keep you all informed.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Kind of neat program ...

DEP offers peregrine falcon workshop
posted: 26 March 2012

HARRISBURG — The Department of Environmental Protection invites teachers, non-formal educators, homeschooled students, youth groups and scout leaders to attend a Peregrine Falcon Educators’ Workshop, “WILD in the City,” on April 3 in Harrisburg.

The workshop is sponsored by DEP and the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) in cooperation with ZOOAMERICA North American Wildlife Park. It will be held in the Rachel Carson State Office Building auditorium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Since 1997, countless Peregrine falcons have made their home on a ledge off the 15th floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building. Peregrine falcons, which are an endangered species in Pennsylvania, were extremely rare in the state for many years. Through reintroduction programs, they have adapted to life in urban environments like Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Williamsport. Each year, DEP and PGC track the birds’ activities and share educational information through, among other things, the popular online Falcon Cam. The Rachel Carson nest site has been active and reproducing young Peregrine falcons for the past 12 years.

Workshop participants will explore the successes of Peregrine falcon reintroduction in Pennsylvania, examine falcon specifics, learn about endangered species and observe falcons in Harrisburg. Several Peregrine falcon experts will speak to the group, including Dan Brauning, Chief of PGC’s Wildlife Diversity program; ZOOAMERICA education coordinator Elaine Gruin; DEP environmental educators Jack Farster and Ann Devine; and Project WILD coordinator Theresa Alberici.

To register for the free workshop, call DEP’s Environmental Education and Information Center at 717-772-1644 or email adevine@pa.gov by March 27. Space is limited, so registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who have not attended the workshop in the past will be given first consideration, while others will be placed on a waiting list. Participating teachers are eligible for 5.0 Act 48 credit hours. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

For more information about this and other environmental education opportunities through DEP, visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click on the “PA Falcon Cam” button on the homepage

Link to the story: The Mercury = DEP offers peregrine falcon workshop