Author Topic: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt  (Read 25495 times)

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Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #49 on: October 04, 2009, 19:33 »
thanks TPC.  It seems like a hugh job keeping track of the birds?  Thanks for keeping us updated.

I think most of us who are knee-deep in projects like ours like to keep track of who's doing what to/with whom and where.  I like keeping track of Holly's and Zeus' kids wherever they are and Smiley has been a good site for them and the GF peregrine folks have some wonderful photos (hope to add copies to our gallery this winter!).

Offline Helen b

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #48 on: October 02, 2009, 08:30 »
thanks TPC.  It seems like a hugh job keeping track of the birds?  Thanks for keeping us updated.

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #47 on: October 01, 2009, 22:02 »
2008 - Ozzie - he collided with something, a high-tension wire I believe.  And no, you don't get electrocuted from colliding with wires, they actually have to stand on the structure and touch the live line ... we had a couple here over the years.

2009 - Ethel - she was probably electrocuted as she was near a utility pole but I haven't had any confirmations of that.  Smiley and Alice were still doing fine last I heard ... so time for me to contact my guy in Grand Forks - will let you know what I find out!

Offline Alison

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #46 on: October 01, 2009, 21:53 »
Thank you for posting this, Carly. I hope Terminator and Roosevelt will accept their new nest box, but I think TPC has a good idea to move it closer to the river.

It is very sad that only one of the chicks from the last two years now survives. For three out of four to have been electrocuted is a very high percentage. I wonder which chick is still surviving.

Last year's chick is listed as "Aussie" in the article - I thought his name was Ozzie.

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #45 on: October 01, 2009, 21:40 »
Hmm, don't know this Driscoll gentleman ... couple of errors though ... anatum peregrines don't nest in trees, high or otherwise.  And either he or the reporter renamed Bear as Baron.  And a nestbox is not habitat ... its a nestbox!!! the water tower was the nestsite, the area around the nestsite is the territory and both are in peregrine habitat.

It will be interesting to see if they nest in the nestbox where it is being moved to ... they are moving it further away from the river ... all of our birds are within spitting distance of the rivers/lakes - none are as far away as the UND campus is from the Red.  Might have to email them and suggest the install a back up a wee bit closer to the river either in Grand Forks (ND) or East Grand Forks (MN) ...

Terminator grew up with the river at her talon-tips in Brandon .... and Bear and Roosevelt came out of Fargo and I think they were almost as close to the Red there as T2 was in Brandon ....

Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #44 on: September 30, 2009, 21:58 »
Thanks for posting that Carly...here's hoping for Terminator next season that she'll like her new digs!!!
I'm so happy to hear about Terminator.....any news is great news!

Offline carly

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #43 on: September 30, 2009, 18:41 »
Smiley to be razed, falcon habitat saved

With Smiley in its final days, soon to be taken down from it's towering position over the north end of Grand Forks, many area residents will be sad to see it go. But demolition of the 77-year old tower has been stayed in part because a family of peregrine falcons have made their home on the structure.

So on Tuesday last week, crews from UND took to the tower to take down the nesting box that has served as a home for the creatures since 2005. Since then, the birds have had two successful nesting seasons on Smiley.

After the box was taken down, it was moved to the UND water tower about a mile to the east on Thursday and officials hope that the peregrine falcons will take to their new home next season when they return to the area to nest.

Researchers like Tim Driscoll, director of the Urban Raptor Research Project, who has been tracking the birds for the last several years say that the new location and the newly repainted nesting box should suit them well.

"In 2004, the peregrine falcons started hanging out on the Smiley water tower," Driscoll said. "We put the nest box up there in 2005 and we've had nesting peregrines there in the summer of 2008 and 2009 … We've given them a suitable place to stay and we hope they come back next year to nest."

The female peregrine falcon-named Terminator-has been the mainstay on the tower as she has returned to Grand Forks several times during the summer months. Over the last two years, a different male has accompanied her, however-Baron and Roosevelt, respectively.

In the two years that Terminator has used the nesting box atop Smiley, four chicks have been born-Aussie, Alice, Smiley and Ethel.

While the only one of the hatchlings has survived over the last two years, Ken Drees, a research specialist in the biology department, said that so far, he feels the nesting seasons have been "somewhat successful." The other three chicks were found electrocuted by nearby power lines, he said.

Over the past 5 years studying the birds, Driscoll says that they should leave the area around the first of the month on their trip south to warmer temperatures. While he doesn't know exactly where they fly to, similar birds from the Arctic migrate as far south as Central and South America.

"I'd love to be able to find out where they go," he said.
Grand Forks is a rare place for peregrine falcons to take nest, Driscoll said, but it has been a hot bed for similar birds in transit to far north Arctic destinations.

"Birds like this normally nest on cliffs or in high trees," Driscoll said. "We don't have much of that here so the birds we see were most likely born in a nesting box in Fargo or Winnipeg or something like that."

But according to Driscoll, the birds have adapted to the city life quite well.

"I keep track of what they're eating," he said. "When we took the nesting box down on Tuesday, we saw about 15 or 20 carcasses in there. The falcons eat other, smaller birds but we also found a mammal skull for the first time in two years."

He added that last year they collected approximately 238 carcasses that were dropped on the ground surrounding the Smiley water tower. This year, they've found about 150.

Driscoll had been in talks with the city since April, coordinating the removal of the nesting box off the Smiley water tower.

Officials needed the box taken down as soon as possible to keep the demolition on schedule, but Driscoll was successful in lobbying the city to wait until just before the bird's expected October 1 departure date.

Smiley to be razed, falcon habitat saved

« Last Edit: October 01, 2009, 21:35 by The Peregrine Chick »

Offline Alison

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #42 on: August 04, 2009, 23:15 »
I'm so sorry to hear about Ethel. I hope the other two will stay safe.

Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #41 on: August 04, 2009, 09:34 »
Wonderful pictures TPC...Beautiful shots of them all. 
sad for Ethel.   :(

Offline msdolittle

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #40 on: August 04, 2009, 07:40 »
those are great pictures ....

Offline BirdLover

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #39 on: August 04, 2009, 07:12 »
Wingdemonium !  that word needs to be added to the dictionary !  ( the excitement shown when a parent flys by with food !)

 ;D

Well, ya better add it Loriann!!

Offline Loriann

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #38 on: August 04, 2009, 05:35 »
Wingdemonium !  that word needs to be added to the dictionary !  ( the excitement shown when a parent flys by with food !)

 ;D

Offline carly

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #37 on: August 04, 2009, 04:52 »
Great photos TPC, very sorry Ethel didn't make it  :'(

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #36 on: August 03, 2009, 23:37 »
Check out their photo gallery for more shots of Terminator, Roosevelt and their kids ....

Grand Forks Smiley Tower Photo Gallery

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #35 on: August 03, 2009, 22:31 »
Here's an update from July 27th from Dave down in Grand Forks ....

Two of our young birds, Smiley and Alice, are doing well. They have been flying over a week. However last night I was informed that there was a dead falcon in the railroad yard. It turned out to be Ethel who had red/black band with 15 and A. I don't have her USFWS band number. She probably was electrocuted as she was found under a utility pole.

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #34 on: July 09, 2009, 02:02 »
Ya gotta love those Manitoba birds !!!
TPC tell me you are not just pulling this info out of your head, you actually have it written down somewhere, RIGHT  ???

I have written down in lots of places  ;)

Offline Alison

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #33 on: July 08, 2009, 21:32 »
I can check on Bear and Roosevelt for the connection this evening, but Terminator is related through Zeus (from Brandon - and still there) then Phoebe (from the Radisson) then Maud (from Minneapolis) who was MF-1's chick.  Hurricane is through Trey (from the Radisson - and still there) then T-Rex (from the Radisson) then Maud (from Minneapolis) who was MF-1's.    I think that Madame who was Trey's mom (and Hurricane's grand mom) may also be related to MF-1, but will check that this evening as well ...

Thank you for the very interesting information, TPC!

Offline BirdLover

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #32 on: July 04, 2009, 11:44 »
Ya gotta love those Manitoba birds !!!
TPC tell me you are not just pulling this info out of your head, you actually have it written down somewhere, RIGHT  ???

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #31 on: July 04, 2009, 09:24 »
All four peregrines - Bear, Roosevelt, Terminator and Hurricane - can also track their family trees back to the famous female (and very fertile), MF-1, who nested in Minneapolis from 1987 to 1994.

How are they related to MF-1? I know she was one of Bob Anderson's falcons, the mother of the legendary Mae, who nested at the King Plant from 1990 to 2004. Mae herself raised 37 babies.


I can check on Bear and Roosevelt for the connection this evening, but Terminator is related through Zeus (from Brandon - and still there) then Phoebe (from the Radisson) then Maud (from Minneapolis) who was MF-1's chick.  Hurricane is through Trey (from the Radisson - and still there) then T-Rex (from the Radisson) then Maud (from Minneapolis) who was MF-1's.    I think that Madame who was Trey's mom (and Hurricane's grand mom) may also be related to MF-1, but will check that this evening as well ...

Offline Alison

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #30 on: July 04, 2009, 00:33 »
All four peregrines - Bear, Roosevelt, Terminator and Hurricane - can also track their family trees back to the famous female (and very fertile), MF-1, who nested in Minneapolis from 1987 to 1994.

How are they related to MF-1? I know she was one of Bob Anderson's falcons, the mother of the legendary Mae, who nested at the King Plant from 1990 to 2004. Mae herself raised 37 babies.

Offline sami

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #29 on: June 26, 2009, 23:05 »
Love the comment "I take it they are home schooled?"

Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #28 on: June 26, 2009, 20:01 »
Well well well...look at me!  Beautiful and bright white!

Offline Alison

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #27 on: June 26, 2009, 19:37 »
Thank you for the update on the chicks, TPC! Well done, Roosevelt and Terminator!

There is an article in the Grand Forks Herald today on the banding:

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/124128/

Alice at banding: photo by Eric Hylden.



Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #26 on: June 26, 2009, 18:45 »
GREAT NEWS!!  Way to go Terminator and Roosevelt!

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #25 on: June 26, 2009, 13:45 »
Update from Grand Forks ...

The banding of peregrines went well today. There were three very lively chicks, approximately 20 days old. The boy was named "Smiley", after a recent suggestion from Ron Fischer. The two girls were named Alice and Ethyl. This is because there dad is named Roosevelt, and President Theodore Roosevelt had daughters with those names.
 
Roosevelt is a 2-year-old male from Fargo. Terminator is a 3 year-old female from Brandon, MB.
 
The tag numbers are: Smiley, W/63 on black over green; Ethyl is 15/K, black/red; and alice is 16/K, black/red.

Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #24 on: June 03, 2009, 21:34 »
GREAT NEWS!!!!!!! 3 chicks!

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #23 on: June 03, 2009, 21:32 »
Received this note from Wick in Fargo today ....

"The Fargo babies are older than expected, but otherwise doing fine.  I went up on the roof today for a quick look, primarily so we could finalize the banding arrangements.  Three healthy chicks.  Based on development, they appear to be about three weeks old.

This means the banding will have to be moved up.  I need to confirm this with BOTW, but we are shooting for this Friday at 11:00 AM.  Confirmation will follow.  I may also have a photo to share before long."

Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #22 on: May 16, 2009, 12:11 »
thanks TPC..

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #21 on: May 16, 2009, 11:45 »
I'll check with my contacts ... last I heard Terminator was hooked up with the brother of her mate from last year.  Last year was Bear, this year its Roosevelt.  There isn't a webcam on the nest, so they may have to wait to confirm eggs/nesting behaviour, etc.  Will post what I find out.

Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #20 on: May 15, 2009, 20:17 »
I haven't seen anything Alison...sorry!  I was hoping that we would hear something. 

Offline Alison

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #19 on: May 15, 2009, 20:10 »
Does anyone have any updates on what is happening at this site?

Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #18 on: April 29, 2009, 19:43 »
Great find Carly!  Put a smile on my face while reading...

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #17 on: April 29, 2009, 19:40 »
Tried to post a comment to expand on their family tree discussion but couldn't. Have sent them a message and hopefully they will repair the function and I can post my note, but until then, here's what I was going to add ....

There is another genealogical twist to this story.  Before Roosevelt turned up in Grand Forks this spring, another young male named Hurricane came by for a visit on his way back north.  Hurricane fledged from the Radisson Hotel in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba and is a cousin of Terminator's on their father's side.  All four peregrines - Bear, Roosevelt, Terminator and Hurricane - can also track their family trees back to the famous female (and very fertile), MF-1, who nested in Minneapolis from 1987 to 1994.

Best of luck to Terminator & Roosevelt from their fans, and family, in Manitoba.

Offline carly

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #16 on: April 29, 2009, 18:14 »
Just found a great story about Terminator, Bear and Roosevelt on the web, hopefully ok if I post it here TPC?  It's well written and I hope you enjoy it!!

http://www.northlandoutdoors.com/index_articles.cfm?id=16964&property_id=15

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #15 on: April 19, 2009, 00:40 »
Actually, the loft was too old and had to be taken down last year.  Since we haven't had birds hanging around out there I didn't worry about it last year, but I am working on getting some grant money and permission to install a couple of nestboxes out there this year. 

Offline Liz

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #14 on: April 18, 2009, 17:00 »
I hear there's an empty loft in the U of M area!   ;)

Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2009, 20:28 »
Very true...you go T2!

Hurricane..may the wind take you to new pastures and single female falcons  :D

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2009, 20:20 »
T2 is happily spreading family genes in Grand Forks, hopefully Hurricane will find new pastures to procreate in  ;D

Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2009, 19:51 »
Awwwe...

That's too bad, I was hoping that Hurricane would stay and spread the family genes  :D

Let's hope he finds his way and stays safe and mates.

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2009, 19:43 »
Just heard from Dave in Grand Forks and Hurricane seems to have moved on, so hopefully we will hear about him soon from somewhere else.

And T2/Terminator is back and awaiting her beau, Bear.  Roosevelt, a 2-year-old male from Fargo is on-site at the moment but haven't heard if there is any "hanky-panky" occuring.  T2 has been back since April 10th, so its a waiting game now with regards to Bear now ...

And I have added a link to Dave's gallery from last year on the GF Project thread.

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #9 on: April 13, 2009, 11:41 »
Thanks for the news link MaggieBlue!  I'm sure I will hear from Dave as soon as they have confirmed the third bird's identity and if Bear returns in the next couple of weeks.

Offline maggieblue

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #8 on: April 13, 2009, 11:31 »
Here is a recent story about the Grand Forks falcons and a mention of Hurricane.  It is possible Terminator has returned but they don't appear to have confirmed that.  :)

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/114434/

Offline allikat

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2009, 23:57 »
What exciting news about Hurricane!!
I watched him fledge as well and it's wonderful to hear that one of our (Winnipeg) falcons is strong and doing well!
Can't wait to see what he's going to do  :P

Offline Pam

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2009, 23:17 »
Hurricane - what great news that he is around and about!  I remember watching him fledge from the Radisson two years ago, very exciting!

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2009, 12:00 »
We'll have to see what he thinks he wants to do ... he's still hanging out in Grand Forks but we will all keep our eyes open of course  ;D

Offline maggieblue

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2009, 10:24 »
Dave from Grand Forks just notified me that they have had some travelling peregrines visiting the Smiley Tower in Grand Forks over the last couple of weeks.  Here's what he said ...

Thanks for the details! Smiley Face water tower is checked more than once each day and so we can keep pretty good track of the comings and goings of Peregrines. Over the last five years or so we have learned that Peregrines really like Smiley. This was the case even before a nest box was placed there.  Bear and Terminator have not returned yet. Bear appeared last year on about Mar 31/Apr 1. Terminator about Apr 9. I thought Bear would have returned already, but migration is really behind for all sorts of species. Hurricane is the 3rd peregrine to appear this year. Image attached. Today he seems to just be hanging out there. On Apr 4 and 5, we had Roosevelt, a male from Fargo raised in 2007. The 1st peregrine was (we think) a female, Mar 23-24. She looked a lot like Terminator and I thought I could wait for better light to try to  get a read on the band. Should have tried earlier. We think she was banded.  Smiley is safe this year so long as a pair of Peregrines claim it. It seems likely it will be taken down in the Fall.

Hurricane's photo is startlingly like one of the Terminator photos from last year - check out the 2009 Peregrines & 2008 Peregrines Galleries

Oh,oh,oh|  How wonderful to know that Hurricane is O.K.  ;D  And to see a picture of him in the photo gallery.  ;D  Here's hoping for more sightings.  Wouldn't it be great if he headed back to his birthplace, away of course from the territory of mom and dad and the West Winnipeg pair?

« Last Edit: April 09, 2009, 10:26 by maggieblue »

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2009, 02:59 »
Dave from Grand Forks just notified me that they have had some travelling peregrines visiting the Smiley Tower in Grand Forks over the last couple of weeks.  Here's what he said ...

Thanks for the details! Smiley Face water tower is checked more than once each day and so we can keep pretty good track of the comings and goings of Peregrines. Over the last five years or so we have learned that Peregrines really like Smiley. This was the case even before a nest box was placed there.  Bear and Terminator have not returned yet. Bear appeared last year on about Mar 31/Apr 1. Terminator about Apr 9. I thought Bear would have returned already, but migration is really behind for all sorts of species. Hurricane is the 3rd peregrine to appear this year. Image attached. Today he seems to just be hanging out there. On Apr 4 and 5, we had Roosevelt, a male from Fargo raised in 2007. The 1st peregrine was (we think) a female, Mar 23-24. She looked a lot like Terminator and I thought I could wait for better light to try to  get a read on the band. Should have tried earlier. We think she was banded.  Smiley is safe this year so long as a pair of Peregrines claim it. It seems likely it will be taken down in the Fall.


Hurricane's photo is startlingly like one of the Terminator photos from last year - check out the 2009 Peregrines & 2008 Peregrines Galleries

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2009, 00:19 »
There is an error in this article - Terminator received her band from us (Manitoba Peregrine Project) when she was just over 3 weeks old.  She was banded in Brandon in 2006 and is the offspring of Holly (from Brandon) and Zeus (from Brandon).  Just to keep the records straight.

If it is indeed Terminator, this will be her second year nesting in Grand Forks and only the second time (I believe) that Grand Forks has had nesting peregrines.  They are still waiting for the/a male to turn up.


Offline Alison

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Smiley Tower - 2009 / Terminator & Roosevelt
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2009, 22:51 »
I'm not quite sure where to post this. It would seem that Terminator has returned to Grand Forks.

From an article in the Grand Forks Herald this week:

Peregrine lands at 'Smiley'

A banded peregrine falcon showed up Monday at the Smiley water tower in Grand Forks, suggesting a pair of the birds that nested on the tower last year is planning another go-round this year.

Tim Driscoll, a UND professor and local birding enthusiast, said he'd been looking for peregrines on the tower the past two weeks. He saw a lone peregrine about 10 a.m. Monday and reported the sighting on the Grand Cities Bird Club's e-mail list.

Driscoll, who returned for another look at the peregrine Monday afternoon, said he's almost positive the bird is "Terminator," the female that nested last summer on the Smiley tower.

"It sounds goofy, but I can almost recognize her from last year," he said.

Driscoll said the peregrine is hanging out in a nest box installed on the tower in 2005. A dark-colored band on one leg is consistent with the band Terminator received last year in Grand Forks, Driscoll said, but he hasn't yet been able to read the band number for a positive ID.

The hope, he said, is that "Bear," the male that mated with her last year, won't be far behind. Peregrines will choose the same mate each year, if possible, Driscoll said, but they don't migrate together either to or from their wintering grounds in South America.

Bear and Terminator made news last summer in Grand Forks when they nested on the tower. The birds were the first peregrines to nest in Grand Forks, producing four eggs and successfully fledging a baby. Dubbed "Ozzie" by local birders, the young peregrine was just learning to fly when it flew into an electric wire in mid-July and died.