Other Peregrine Projects > Canadian Peregrines
QC / Montréal - l'Université de Montréal - 2009-19
Alison:
Here is the article, which I translated from the French.
The story of the falcon named Spirit
Posted December 15 2017
A falcon with a great deal of "Spirit"
In May 2004, in Cleveland, Ohio, biologists banded young peregrine falcons at a nest installed on a bridge structure. Several years later, one of these birds was observed in Montreal on one of the buildings of l’Université de Montréal. It was thanks to the numbers on the bands on her legs that she was identified, and she was named Spirit. Then, in 2009, began a long history of following the reproduction of peregrine falcons in Montreal by means of webcam images on the Internet. You can see Spirit's family tree at https://uqrop.qc.ca/Symfony/web/upload/files/g%C3%A9n%C3%A9alogie%20Spirit.pdf, or follow the activities of these magnificent birds live at http://www.ornithologie.ca/faucons.
In April 2017, webcam surveillance allowed the observation of a fight between two female peregrine falcons at the nest. In July 2017, UQROP received a call from a trucker in Montreal concerning a bird of prey who appeared to be injured. He sent us a photo on his cellphone, which allowed us to recognize an adult peregrine falcon. One of our most valued volunteer transporters, Christian Fritschi, agreed to go and catch the bird and bring her to us at the Birds of Prey Clinic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
During the general examination of Spirit at the Birds of Prey Clinic injuries were observed on the cere and the beak, covered by dry scabs, as well as a major, hot swelling of the right elbow. X-rays confirmed a septic arthritis of the elbow, and we also found an old fracture on the right side of the pelvis (synsacrum). All these injuries were compatible with the famous battle of about 30 minutes duration which took place in April and in June with another female. The X-rays also told us that Spirit had been shot with lead ammunition from a rifle (lead shot) at some point in her life. What a survivor!
Radiography of Spirit where the arrows indicate the swelling of the right elbow (septic arthritis), the fracture of the right hip and the lead shot in the keel bone.
After several weeks of treatment with antibiotics, wound care and physiotherapy, Spirit was able to be transferred into a rehabilitation flight at Chouette à voir! at Saint-Jude. The final stage of her rehabilitation took place in the large flight. Then the great moment arrived on November 19. Spirit reclaimed her freedom at the site of Chouette à voir! at Saint-Jude. We are waitimg to hear news of her when she will be seen and recognized by her bands.
Alison:
There is additional information on Spirit from Union québécoise de réhabilitation des oiseaux de proie (UQROP), posted today:
Did you know that Spirit, the female peregrine falcon star, was a survivor? Learn more about her story of rehabilitation by visiting https://uqrop.qc.ca/fr/actualite/31-l-histoire-du-faucon-spirit. You will learn there, among other things, that she was shot with lead ammunition from a rifle at some time in her life! Our educational work still has a lot more to be done.
burdi:
Thank you for posting the “Saving Spirit” CBC documentary, TPC.
Spirit has suffered so much … I think of her often and hope she is staying well and enjoying her freedom. She must be thinking about her University of Montreal site (I assume), but perhaps she will seek a more welcoming place to call home.
Alison:
I had not seen much of the other female, Eve, recently. However, since the day after Spirit's release she has been at the nest frequently.
The first two pics of Eve are from yesterday; the others are from this morning.
Alison:
The other CBC video, "Polly, Algo & Turcot" is very interesting. I could not access that video on CBC either, but it is also on YouTube, and it worked perfectly there.
I watched Polly and Algo grow up in the nest back in 2009, the first chicks raised by Spirit and Roger. The views of the birds in the video are quite beautiful.
CBC link:
http://watch.cbc.ca/short-docs/-/algo--polly--turcot/38e815a-00d61d463ed
YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7C17tqpMOo&feature=youtu.be
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