Falcon Chat Transcript - May 24, 2000
Comment
 Welcome
to the live chat about the falcon family living on the ledge of
the 15th Floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building here in
Harrisburg, Pa. We are ready for your questions!
Question
Mr. Brauning I've been watching a falcon pair since late last summer
in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh. I did see them mating on 4/26/00,
the last time I saw her was 5/4/00. I have seen the male on occasion
flying around the top of the building I think the nest could be
located. If there is a nest and eggs do hatch when could I start
to look for the fledglings.
Answer
Karen, Thanks for your question. In fact this year we have identified
the nest site on the Cathedral of Learning. A couple eggs have been
found and we're monitoring the progress.
Answer
Young birds fledge, or take their first flight, at between 40 and
45 days. Keep watching.
Question
What are the sexes?
Answer
At this time, we do not know the sexes of the chicks. However, at
the time of banding next week we may be able to determine the sexes
of the chicks based on size. Adult females are up to 30% larger
than males and this size difference is discernible in especially
older chicks. The differences between the sexes, other than size,
are often subtle and difficult to determine.
Question
The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that the female falcon was from
the Girard Point bridge near Philly, do you know if there are still
any falcons near the bridge and if they have any eggs?
Answer
The nesting female here at the Rachel Carson Building in fact was
raised on the Girard Point bridge in 1998. The nesting pair on the
bridge have 2 young again this year. I banded them yesterday.
Question
What is the connection between Rachel Carson and the Falcons? -
Brad
Answer
You asked about Rachel Carson. It's a happy irony that the Harrisburg
peregrines are nesting on a building named for her. Carson's work
had a lot to do with saving the peregrine falcon from near-extinction
due to DDT in the fifties and sixties. Carson was born in 1907 near
Pittsburgh and spent her childhood watching hawks circle above the
banks of the Allegheny River. She became a biologist in the 20s,
at a time when few women attempted it. She wrote pamphlets, studies
and radio programs for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. From field
work at places like Pennsylvania's Hawk Mountain Sanctuary she saw
firsthand the effects of DDT and other pesticides on birds and wildlife.
In 1962 she published Silent Spring, a book that changed the course
of environmental history. She connected pesticides, the food chain
and the disastrous population crashes of birds like the bald eagle
and the peregrine falcon. And she further connected the whole mess
to human health. Public opinion exploded. Less than ten years later
w
Question
I would like to know what the pricipal prey for the falcons is,
and whether all four chicks are likely to survive. Here in the UK
the youngest often do not make it.
Comment
speaking of the book "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson... it's good
if anyone has yet to read it.
Answer
Prey for falcons is songbirds the size of pigeons and smaller. Also
starlings. And flickers.
Question
in the winter where will they go
Question
Are your cities plagued with thousands of pigeons like ours? That
should keep the chicks fed. What is a "flicker"?
Comment
Silent Spring. You know, the neat thing about it was that it was
one of the first books dealing with heavy environmental science
that's written for ordinary people. Carson was good at that.
Answer
Where will they go in the winter? Truth is, we don't know. The young
could disperse to South America. But we don't know much for sure.
Question
What is the average lifespan of the hawks?
Answer
Peregrine falcons can live up to 12 to 15 years in the wild. However,
their average life span is less than 5 years. In fact the annual
mortality rate of adults is 20% per year and in the bird's first
year, their mortality can be as high as 60% to 70%.
Question
what does "Peregrine" mean? where does the word come from?
Answer
Peregrine in Latin is "Peregrinus" which means traveler. Peregrine
falcons are well known for their long fall and spring migration
flights.
Question
about how old are the adult hawks?
Answer
The female is two years old. The male is six or more years old,
since he was first observed as an adult here in Harrisburg in 1996.
Question
Do you know where Hawk Mountain is located?
Answer
Hawk Mountain, a nationally-recognized site of hawk migration, is
on the Schuylkill-Berks county line near Kempton.
Question
Will the eyases be individually color-coded to identify each?
Question
How fast have the hawks been recorded when diving?
Answer
In a vertical dive, also known as a stoop, adult peregrines have
been clocked at speeds up to 220 miles an hour. However, this is
an estimate as it is very difficult to measure the speed precisely.
Comment
I saw raptor migration on Sandia Peak Albuquerque in '98. Lots of
harriers and accipters, and a pair of eagles, but no peregrines.
Question
Will the eyases be individually color-coded to identify each?
Answer
On June 1 we plan to place permanent identification bands on the
young (known as eyasses). Each young will get 2 bands, a silver
band with a unique identification number, and a color band, that
is more easily legible from a distance.
Question
One chick is significantly smaller. Is this a male, or just at the
end of the line for food?
Question
How old will the chicks be when they start flying?
Answer
Normally, the young birds take their first flight (called fledging)
at 40 to 45 days since hatch. Great question!
Comment
My name is Steve Hoffman and I am the founder of an organization
called Hawk Watch International, which started the Sandia Peak Hawk
Watch back in 1984. Peregrins are seen at this site each spring
and the total numbers per season can exceed 100 individual falcons
in a good year. They are observed any time from mid-February through
early-May. It's great that you made the hike in spring '98 and hope
you can visit some of Hawk Watch International's other migration
sites in the West.
Question
One chick is significantly smaller. Is this a male, or just at the
end of the line for food?
Answer
The smaller young is probabily the last one to hatch. At this age,
it is difficult to tell males from females. But, you are correct,
that males are smaller!
Question
How many hawk eggs are normally laid by one female in a season?
Answer
Peregrine Falcons normally have 4 eggs, sometimes 3 or 5. Other
hawks, like red-tailed hawks, normally have 3. Each species is adapted
to its environment in many ways, including its clutch size (number
of eggs).
Question
When the babies take their first(and possibility last) flight will
the parents fly with them? Also in what direction from the building?
Toward the railroad tracks.
Answer
When the chicks make their first flight from the nest, they can
fly in any direction. However, because it is their maiden flight,
they generally land below the level of the nest and sometimes may
land on the ground (or in this case, in the street or on the sidewalk).
Thus, the bird's first flight is extremely dangerous and the hazards
are particularly severe in a city environment. No one understands
exactly what stimulates the birds to make their first flight. One
theory is that the parents withhold food at the time of fledging
to encourage the birds to jump.
Question
How long will the chicks stay with the parents once they are flighted?
Answer
We normally see young stay in the area of the nest until late summer
or early Fall. Normal fall migration for Peregrines is in late-September
and early October, and the young often disperse then.
Question
Where do the hawks migrate from and to?
Answer
Most adult peregrines in Pennsylvania seem to stay relatively close
to their nesting territory in the winter. We do not know where the
young birds go when they disperse in the fall. However, we suspect
the young birds spend the winter at least a few hundred miles south
of their natal territory. Some birds could migrate to Mexico or
Latin America.
Question
what are the best time to watch mom look for food
Answer
Each morning DEP staff find the mom feeding young at about 7 am.
It is typical for hawks to feed at first light and again in the
evening. Watch for feeding then.
Question
How big is the peregrines wing span now and when and the are adults?
Answer
Adult peregrines have a wing span of about three and a half feet.
The nestlings are approximately half grown at this time. However,
their feathers are just starting to grow. So their total wing span
now is probably about 15 inches.
Question
How much food do hawks eat in a year?
Answer
CHA3rdgrade -- adult Peregrines eat about 10% of their weight per
day, about 3 ounces. Why not figure it out yourselves for 365 days?
Question
Are rock doves the main food supply?
Answer
In Harrisburg, rock doves are the most abundant, available food
supply in the area and very likely are the number one food item
in their diet. However, specific quantitative studies of the birds'
diet have not been conducted.
Question
Will the young stay in the same general vicinity or return to the
nesting area?
Answer
The young will leave the Harrisburg area in early fall for parts
unknown. They will begin looking for a nesting territory next spring.
They could return to eastern Pennsylvania, but could just as likely
go hundreds of miles away.
Question
How long do the parents have to feed the young; when are they capable
of taking care of themselves?
Answer
The parent birds feed the young for 40 to 45 days while they are
in the nest. Once the young leave the nest, they are fed by the
parents for an additional 3 to 5 weeks. During this period, they
gradually learn to hunt and capture food on their own. Slow learners
could take 6 or 7 weeks after leaving the nest to be completely
independent.
Question
Have you ever considered tracking the birds?
Comment
Well, sorry guys and girls - thanks for the chat but over here it
is time to go and close the UK connection. Have a nice day!!!!!!!!
Question
are male and female adults colored differently, or is the main difference
between them size?
Answer
Male and female Peregrine Falcons are colored the same, but the
adult female is about one-third larger than the adult male. You
might NOT be able to tell this on the web, unless the pair are standing
side-by-side. The female here at Rachel Carson carries a band placed
on her as a nestling, and the male is not banded.
Question
what areas of the world contain the most Peregrine Falcons, and
what is there typical habitat?
Answer
Peregrines are most abundant in areas where there are lots of cliffs,
lots of water, steep canyons and abundant avian prey. The one area
that may contain the highest peregrine density in the world would
be the coast of Alaska. Another area is the Grand Canyon of Arizona.
Much of the Arctic of Greenland, Northern Canada, and Northern Alaska
also contain a large, dense population of breeding peregrines.
Question
Are there ever situations where the adult falcons will abandon the
young? If food is scarce for instance?
Answer
There is some possibility parent falcons might abandon their eggs
if they are disturbed. Once the eggs hatch, the parents are extremely
persistent in caring for their offspring and as long as the chicks
remain alive, the parents will take care of them. If there is disturbance
near by the nest, they will watch from a distance and return to
the next as soon as the disturbance disappears. So, during chick
banding, the parents keep a watchful eye from a distance and return
to the nest as soon as the banding process is complete.
Question
During the banding process is there any dangers to the chicks or
parent birds?
Answer
The banding process is completely safe for the young. Millions of
birds have been banded and it has been shown to have no impact on
their survival. In addition to providing important information on
Peregrine populations, the young birds will receive a medical examination
at the time of banding to assure their health. The young could be
treated if necessary at that time. So, in addition to getting jewelry,
they'll receive a check-up!
Question
will they help us with the black birds that come in late summer
and fall
Answer
Peregrines occasionally prey on black birds but, they will not have
a significant impact on the black bird population. There are too
many black birds and too few peregrines.
Question
Do one or both parents stay at the nest with the chicks at night?
Answer
When the chicks are less than 3 weeks old, the mother bird will
be on the nest both day and night, brooding the chicks. Once the
chicks are 3 weeks old, they thermoregulate entirely on their own
and do not need to be brooded. However, the female often remains
near the nest to defend against predators or to shade the chicks
in extremely hot weather.
Question
How territorial are the falcons. How close would another nest be
permitted?
Answer
Peregrine Falcons are highly territorial and will not permit another
Peregrine within their territory, particularly during the nesting
season (now). At their highest densities, Peregrines are distributed
about one mile apart along the Yukon River in Alaska.
Question
Are the chicks in any danger of becoming a meal for larger birds
of prey?
Answer
Yes. The great horned owl is the number one predator of peregrine
falcons, both adults and young. The young are especially vulnerable
because they cannot fly away. Other possible predators include bald
and golden eagles and other large owls. It is rare for adult peregrines
to be captured by any predator.
Question
Is the male hunting for food during the day, or does he leave for
good once the eggs hatch?
Answer
The male is the primary food provider throughout the nesting season,
from nest building through the young's independence. He hunts constantly
from dawn to dusk, depending on his success rate and the abundance
of prey in the local area. The female hunts only if necessary and
only after the chicks are about three weeks old.
Question
Do peregrines mate for life or do they get a new breeding partner
every year?
Answer
Peregrines normally are monogamous (remain paired for life). However,
on the death or disappearance of one of the mates, they will accept
a replacement.
Question
what other kinds of big birds are in central pa any eagles
Answer
Bald eagles are rare nesters in Central Pennsylvania. More bald
eagles come to Pennsylvania in winter. Golden eagles migrate through
Central Pennsylvania in spring and fall, and a few may over winter.
Comment
Thank you for the information. -- Chestnut Hill Academy 3rd grade.
We need to leave now.
Question
Is the male hunting for food during the day, or does he leave for
good once the eggs hatch?
Answer
This dad is an attentive parent. He shared the incubation duties
with the female from day one and continued to feed both his mate
and the young. Happy Father's Day!
Question
Do the "banders" have to wear any protective equipment when banding
the falcons?
Answer
The bander usually wears a hard hat and protective gear for the
eyes, just in case the parent birds choose to attack.
Question
Sorry if this has been asked earlier but...how will you do the banding
of the chicks without seriously disturbing the adults?
Answer
The banding process will take less than an hour. During this time,
the parent birds will be understandably upset. However, as soon
as the bander departs, the parents will settle back into their routine
almost immediately. This level of stress will have no long-term
impact on the survival of either the young or the adults.
Question
I believe the first female was considered to be a "hybrid". Does
this mean the falcons will mate outside their breed?
Answer
The presence of a 'hybrid' at this nest was an extrodinarily rare,
unexected event. There are numerous physical and behavioral restraints
to hybridation in nature. So, falcons have been known to mate outside
their breed in nature, but it is a very rare event and generally
is not successful.
Question
What keeps the asseyes from wandering off the ledge especially when
the mother is away ???
Answer
The chicks have a strong instinct to not fall from the ledge. However,
a strong wind or a push from a sibling could result in the fall
of a nestling prior to the time they can fly. In such instances,
the mishap will result in the death of the chick. This type of event
is believed to be extremely rare in wild peregrine populations.
Question
When you perform the medical examination during the banding, what
types of things do you check for?
Answer
We perform a simple exam, looking for common parasites (feather
lice) or diseases. Feather lice are not debilitating but will be
treated if we see it. A peak down the throat will detect some of
the other common diseases.
Question
In terms of intelligence, how do peregrine falcons compare to other
birds?
Answer
All raptors must learn quickly if they are to survive in the wild.
Most raptors catch their prey only once in every five attempts.
Just as they are learning better ways to catch their prey, the prey
are learning ways to avoid being caught. Hence, there is a premium
on fast learning by predators, such as peregrines. However, their
intelligence does not approach that of a parrot or even a crow or
raven based on some experimental studies in the laboratory. However,
it is very difficult to judge the raw intelligence of any wild bird
species, so this response is fraught with problems.
Question
Are all the babies expected to survive?
Answer
The first year of any bird's life is very dangerous. Possibly 75
percent will die from natural causes. But, food supply is excellent
here in Harrisburg and the parents are caring for the young well.
So, we are hopeful that each of the four young will survive until
fledging (first flight).
Question
How do you catch the hatchlings to band them?
Answer
The best time to band peregring nestlings is from the age of 20
to 35 days. During this time, the legs are almost fully grown and
thus the band will not fall off. In addition, the chicks are young
enough to be easily captured in a nest. After the age of 35 days,
the birds can run and attack and jump. However, the greatest danger
is the birds prematurely jumping from the nest to their death. However,
as long as the bander enters the next when the oldest chick is no
more than 35 days of age, there is almost no risk to the birds or
the bander.
Question
Do you expect any of the babies to stay in the area, or only the
parents?
Answer
If one of the parents should die within the next two years, one
or more of this year's chicks could return to nest with one of their
parents. However, it is more likely the young birds will wander
more widely looking for a suitable place to nest. Most peregrines
nest within 50 to 100 miles of their natal territory, but some may
wander up to a few hundred miles to find a nest site and a mate.
Question
How do you catch the hatchlings to band them?
Answer
At the age of banding, the chicks can be simply picked up and transported
to a safe place for banding. The problem is if banding is attempted
when the chicks are near fledgling age. At this time, the chicks
can run or jump and are in danger of falling or jumping from the
nest. Therefore, no one should attempt banding when the chicks are
more than 35 days of age.
Question
have there ever been reports of falcons attacking humans without
cause?
Answer
Peregrines will only attack humans in an attempt to defend their
offspring. To my knowledge, there is not a single instance of peregrines
or any other raptor attacking humans away from their immediate nest
site.
Question
what do the chicks eat
Answer
From hatching, the chicks are fed by the adults small parts of birds
caught in the area. When the young are old enough to tear food apart
on their own, the adults will leave birds for them to eat. They
wil continue to be dependent on birds caught by the adults until
they can catch their own food several weeks after fledging.
Question
Is there anything specific about this building, or its immediate
surroundings, that made the falcons consider it to be an excellent
nesting location?
Answer
The height of the building and the presence of the box, combined
with an abundance of prey in the city and along the nearby Susquehanna
River, were probably the combination of attractants for these birds.
Question
when did you's find the chick's?
Answer
The incubating birds were observed via camera and thus we were able
to determine the exact time the eggs hatched. The first one hatched
the night of May 3rd and the last one hatched the morning of May
7th.
Question
where did the little "box" come from that the falcons live in?
Answer
The nest box was placed on the ledge in 1996 when Peregrines first
appeared in downtown Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania Game Commission
has worked with DEP and DCNR to encourage these birds to nest on
the Rachel Carson building. A nest tray, with gravel and a sun-shade,
greatly improves the chances of success for peregrines nesting on
buildings.
Question
Where in the area are natural falcon nesting sites?
Answer
Cliff sites greater than 100 feet vertical along the Susquehanna
and Juniata Rivers would be preferred natural nesting sites. However,
no wild falcons have yet been located throughout this region.
Question
can you tell the number of females and males there are
Answer
At this time, we do not know the sex ratio of the nestlings. However,
next week when we band the chicks, we may be able to determine the
sex based on the size of their legs.
Question
are you going to name them
Answer
We have deliberately chosen not to name these wild falcons. From
a wildlife management and conservation perspective, it is unwise
to personify wildlife.
Question
What is hacking and how does it relate to Peregrine falcons?
Answer
Hacking is an old falconry technique in which birds are gradually
released into the wild. This was the major technique used to re-establish
the Peregrine Falcon, as well as Bald Eagle, to areas the species
disappeared from. Peregrines were released (hacked) in Williamsport,
Reading, Harrisburg, and Allentown during the 1990s.
Question
According to your observations so far, do all the nestlings seem
of equal size and strength?
Answer
It is clear that one chick is smaller than the other 3. Based on
our observations of hatching dates, this chick is three to four
days younger than its siblings. This is a result of the female initiating
incubation after laying the third egg.
Question
I understand you relocated the first female that was in the Harrisburg
area. When you relocate a bird, what are the chances of that bird
returning to the area on its own?
Answer
The female that joined the male and first established a pair here
at the Rachel Carson building was captured and removed because she
was the offspring of a hybrid falconer's bird, and as a result was
sterile. She now resides at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh and
serves their education program.
Question
How do you band them? Will the parents get angry?
Answer
On June 1, falcon expert Dan Brauning of the Pennsylvania Game Commission
will venture out to the box and retrieve the chicks for banding
and health assessment. During this time, the parents will be noticeably
upset. However, the entire process is expected to take less than
1 hour and the behavior of the adults should return to normal shortly
after the chicks are returned to the nest.
Question
what is the world population of peregrines, and how does that compare
with other birds such as bald eagles?
Answer
We do not know the world population of peregrines, but an estimate
for North America might range from a low of 15,000 to a high of
30,000. Worldwide, peregrines may number about 50,000 or more. The
bald eagle population in North America probably exceeds 100,000
birds. In general, raptor populations are small compared to other
birds because they are predators with extremely large territories.
Question
When will the chicks be able to fly?
Answer
Most peregrines make their first flight at an age of 42 to 45 days.
The birds are currently 17 to 21 days old, so it is estimated that
the first flights of the chicks will occur on or near June 15th.
Question
Could you comment on these falcon's adaptation to an urban, human
populated environment? Are they indifferent to the presence of humans?
Answer
Peregrine Falcons have adapted remarkably well to an urban environment.
But, they are also highly territorial and can be very aggressive
toward anyone (or other bird of prey) approaching their nest. They
apparently have learned that people at street level are not a threat
to them, but don't go on the roof above their nest or they will
attempt to drive you away. The urban environment does, however,
involve hazards that birds nesting on a cliff do not face, such
as panes of glass and street-level activity.
Question
WILL THE CHICKS STAY IN THE AREA,ALONG WITH THERE PARENTS
Answer
The chicks will disperse from the nest area sometime this fall.
They may return for a brief period next spring or at any time until
they establish their own breeding site which could be up to several
100 miles away.
Question
Other falcon species -- like merlins and kestrels -- in the area?
Answer
Over the course of the year, three species of falcons may be found
in central Pennsylvania, and may be seen in Harrisburg. Merlins
are migrants and may over-winter here; Kestrels are found year-round
and nest in both rural and urban areas; and the Peregrine is still
recovering its population and in Pennsylvania nests only in Harrisburg,
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Wilkes-Barre .
Comment
Thanks for joining us for this afternoon's chat. Please join us
again next Thursday, June 1 at 1 p.m. for the live webcast of the
banding of the falcons.
Comment
thank you
Comment
Thank you for an interesting time.
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