In mid-June this year, Genesee Operations staff found three Peregrine Falcon nests inside the vent of one of the Genesee Units. The nests contained five eggs. It’s thought since the usual male was late returning from his migration that a young male introduced these new nesting sites to the females rather than the existing nesting box. It appeared that the adults were not sitting on the eggs in the multiple nests so a decision was made by Gordon Court of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development to remove the eggs to a local raptor nursery. These eggs will be incubated to see if they are viable; if they are not, they will be used to monitor DDT levels in the eggs.
Determined to see falcons raised on the Genesee site this year, three falcon chicks were transported from a local raptor nursery and introduced to the nesting box on June 14. It was thought based on Court’s experience that the adult falcons, once they no longer had their own eggs to look after would accept and care for the chicks.
That same day, both a male and a female falcon were observed at the nesting box but did not return to care for the chicks. After two days of observation and hand feeding, it was concluded that the adults were not displaying any nesting habits. As a result, the chicks were removed from the nesting box and returned to the nursery under the care of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.
From this it was concluded that there are no other nests at Genesee and unfortunately signifies the end of the nesting season at Genesee for 2010. We remain committed to maintaining and monitoring the Genesee nesting box and we will provide the public with updates if any nesting activity is observed.
