IN / Fort Wayne - 2009-18

[carly]

I know this is a topic from last year but I found some related news to share and I wanted to ensure Alison saw it in case she is not on Facebook:  This falcon is the son of Freedom and Roosevelt!


Peregrine Falcons Southeast Michigan

Corey VanStratt, MDNR has solved the mystery of the identity of the resident male at University of Detroit Mercy. For many years, Kariann Reno Anderson, Christine Becher and Barb Baldinger were only able to read the 9 on the top of the bi-colored recovery band. The tower is so tall, that the rest of the band was either hidden by a ledge or just blurry. Corey said the band was faded and the lettering only showed on part of the band, but he did it! This 16 year old Peregrine Falcon is named Kekionga (black/green, 9/*R). He hatched in 2002 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Thanks, Corey!

[Cooper]

2013 NESTING SEASON

New parents here with their first eggs!  

http://www.aep.com/go/FalconCam

From the AEP website:

Moxie and Jamie hatched their first set of four chicks in 2013. The pair first got together in 2012, but the IDNR tells us that Moxie was too young to lay eggs that year. We're looking forward to another great year in 2014.

[Alison]

So sweet!  No eggs for three years, but still together!  Do the Peregrines in Indiana migrate? 

Freedom and Roosevelt don't migrate - they may be seen visiting their nest all year. Freedom likes to spend the night in her nest box during most of the year. She can often be seen coming home when it is getting dark, and settling in the back left hand corner of the nest box for the night.

Bonding at the nest box today: Freedom is on the right.

 

[susha]

So sweet!  No eggs for three years, but still together!  Do the Peregrines in Indiana migrate?

[carly]

Boy, she's a real beauty 

[Alison]

Freedom surveying her territory:

[Alison]

Roosevelt looking particularly handsome at the nest today:

[Kinderchick]

What beautiful looking peregrines! I guess Roosevelt & Freedom have earned their retirement wings!

[Alison]

 
Freedom                                                                                Roosevelt

Freedom in front, Roosevelt at the back:

[Alison]

There are no eggs at this nest for the third year in a row. It seems that Freedom and Roosevelt have now retired from laying eggs and raising chicks.

With or without eggs, they are a wonderful falcon pair to watch. They have now been together for fourteen years, and their bond is as strong as ever.

Roosevelt at the nest today:

[Alison]

Roosevelt relaxing at the nest today:

 
                                                                                     You can read his band in this pic: R/*4.


Time for a nap

[The Peregrine Chick]

American Electric Power Building
Fort Wayne, Indiana

 
nest is couple of floors from the top where there is a narrow ledge (photos from LoopNet & Froona's blog)

For almost two decades, peregrine falcons have made their homes in a nest high atop the 26-story AEP Building in Fort Wayne, Indiana. You can watch nesting families of this raptor species via webcam, thanks to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Soarin’ Hawk Avian Rescue, and Indiana Michigan Power.  

webcam link:  http://www.aep.com/go/FalconCam

The nestbox is on the 26th floor.  Check out the "falconcam" tab/link on the above link, its a very nice and informative introduction to the Fort Wayne peregrines, the project and AEP's corporate citizenship involvement in environmental projects in addition to the peregrines.

AEP Building location on map - click on "satellite" and zoom right in, you can actually see where the nestbox is ...

Resident Pairs

• 2014 - (fingers crossed)
• 2012-2013 - Jamie & Moxie
• 2010-2011 - Roosevelt & Freedom

how could anyone resist this little contortionist?    

[Alison]

Beautiful Freedom at the nest today: she returned just before dark to settle in her favourite corner for the night.

 

[The Peregrine Chick]

Has it been raining in Fort Wayne today?  Looks like raindrops on the camera ... might be why the pigeons are hanging out in there so much, despite the death and nibbling-on of one of their compatriots .... Got to be cold if its raining in Fort Wayne in February, I'd hang out in the box too!

[Alison]

The pigeons had taken over the nest box this afternoon:



But on the next refresh, there was Freedom with a pigeon:

 

The next pic showed an empty nest box. A little while later, a few pigeons returned.