For Release: Monday, June 8, 2009
DEC Biologists Band Peregrine Falcon Chicks Recently Hatched at UB's South Campus
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that four Peregrine Falcon chicks have successfully hatched in the newly constructed nesting box recently placed by the University of Buffalo (UB) at its South Campus.
Today, DEC biologists worked to access the nest - located 137 feet above the ground near the top of the MacKay Heating Pant tower -- to carefully place leg bands on the four chicks (3 male, 1 female) and examine their health. The chicks, also known as eyases, are estimated to have hatched in mid-May, only about a month after the nest box was placed.
Banding young Peregrine Falcons provides biologists with important information on the bird's movements and survival, and is critical to understanding their year-round habitat needs. The banding process involves briefly removing the chicks from the nest when they are about three weeks old and gently placing a colorful metal band around one of their legs and an aluminum U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service band on the opposite leg. These bands are uniquely lettered and numbered so that the birds can be identified and data can be collected on their movements, population, feeding habits and survival. After banding, the birds are quickly returned to their nest and the care of their parent birds.
"During the next few weeks, the Peregrine chicks will lose their immature feathers and grow adult plumage necessary for flight," said Connie Adams, Senior Wildlife Biologist for DEC. "After fledging (or becoming capable of flight), the young falcons will typically stay in the area for about six weeks while they develop their flying and hunting skills."
The idea of placing a nesting box at UB took shape when local birdwatchers Vicki Kadow and Roger Johnson observed a pair of peregrine Falcons frequenting areas around UB's South Campus and notified DEC. DEC Biologists confirmed the sighting, and asked the university to consider hosting a nest box. UB Facilities staff built and installed an ideal nest box, which was inhabited by the peregrine Falcon pair almost immediately.
Peregrines typically build their nests on high ledges or cliffs that are 50 to 200 feet off the ground, but are also known to readily adopt artificial nest boxes placed on tall buildings or bridges in urban areas where cliff sites are unavailable. Unlike hawks that build their nest of sticks, Peregrine Falcons simply make a shallow depression (or scrape) for the eggs in whatever substrate is available.
"When placed on buildings or bridges, Peregrine Falcon nest boxes can greatly increase nesting productivity by providing a tray of fine gravel that keeps eggs from getting damaged or rolling off, as well as by providing some shelter from the weather," Adams said. "Nesting peregrine falcon pairs typically return to the same nesting site year after year."
Peregrine Falcons feed almost entirely on birds, and are known for their dramatic dives on prey, attaining speeds of over 200 miles per hour. Classified as an endangered bird species in New York State, they were completely eliminated from the Eastern United States in the 1960s, mainly due to pesticide residues in their bird prey which caused reduced breeding success. Due to state and federal regulation of pesticides and reintroduction efforts started in New York State and followed by other eastern states, this species' population has grown steadily.
Western New York is already home to several Peregrine Falcon nest sites, including the nest box located atop the Statler building in downtown Buffalo, the nest box on the North Grand Island Bridge, and a nest in the Niagara Gorge. Three chicks were banded at the Statler Building earlier in May. An additional pair Peregrine Falcons has also recently been observed in the Central Terminal area in Buffalo.
DEC recently published the "2008 State Peregrine Falcons Report," which documents the presence of 67 territorial pairs of state endangered Peregrine Falcons, of which slightly more than half were recorded in upstate New York. In 2008, 60 of these pairs bred and hatched 130 young. New York State now has the largest population of peregrines in the eastern United States. Additional information on Peregrine Falcons is available on DEC's website.
