Aug 05-14

Past-E-Mail: Cam Notes - 2014: August: Aug 05-14
Checking the nesting box    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo by Dan Weingarten
Guarding his babies    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo by Cody Wetton
Father, young birds and the view    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo by Brad Johnson


By
Mary Drew at Pasty Central (Mdrew) on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 - 10:34 pm:

The Peregrine Falcon is listed as an endangered species in Michigan. Here in the Houghton-Hancock area, the DNR and MDOT teamed up together and put two nesting boxes on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, in the hopes that the Falcons would set up nests there and raise up some chicks. According to the press release put out by Dan Weingarten, from the MDOT Office of Communications, they installed the boxes, one on the north bridge tower and one on the south tower, in the spring 2012. The next spring a pair of peregrine falcons showed up and this spring they nested and hatched three chicks. The falcons were supplied with the perfect nesting place and MDOT had "top-flight" pigeon patrol on the bridge. The pigeon numbers went from dozens, down to just a few, which will save on maintenance costs, since the pigeon droppings can take the paint right off the metal bridge surfaces.

Brad Johnson, DNR Wildlife Technician (shown in the top photo) had intended on banding the young birds, but decided against it, because he said the window of opportunity for banding them is narrow. According to Brad, "Once they're too old, they pose a flight risk - they might try to jump from their box and could kill or injure themselves in a fall."

The MDOT release also stated:

"While Johnson and DNR Wildlife Researcher Erin Largent peered at the nest box through a window in the bridge's machine room to evaluate the chicks, the wary father peregrine stood watch on the roof of the box. His mate, a larger bird, screeched and circled the Lift Bridge tower, clearly agitated by the presence of humans close to her hatchlings. Unlike the male, she carried a leg band."
To read the complete MDOT release, click here:
MDOT: Baby falcons fill nest box at Lift Bridge

Special thanks to Dan Weingarten, for allowing us to quote the MDOT press release and giving us permission to use the photos that accompanied it.
Photo credits are as follows:
Top photo: Dan Weingarten
Middle photo: Cody Wetton
Bottom photo: Brad Johnson
By
Dunerat (Dunerat) on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 - 11:28 pm:

Thanks to all photographers: Dan, Cody and Brad, (and Mary for the narrative), for bringing us this awesome story!


By Janie T. (Bobbysgirl) on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - 04:11 am:

Amazing story about an amazing bird!


By Thomas Baird (Thomas) on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - 04:30 am:

Interesting.


By mickill mouse (Ram4) on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - 06:49 am:

the babies look bigger than dad. maybe that is all the down feathers on them.

awesome pictures.


By philip odum (Phishinfill) on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - 07:33 am:

great story and captures..nice work..and to bring
this story for everyone to see..bare bluff has had
several nesting peregrines thru the years as well.it
would be great to get them off the endangered
species list as well


By Kathyrn Laughlin (Kathyl) on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - 07:36 am:

Hi
In my home town of Jackson Michigan a pair of peregrine falcons has nested on the roof of the county building downtown for some years. I've heard the young falcons screeching to be fed while I'm at the nearby farm market--way cool.

Mickill, not sure if it's the case for peregrine falcons, but in some birds of prey the male is smaller, 1/3 the size of the adult female.


By mickill mouse (Ram4) on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - 08:11 am:

KATHYRIN; very interesting.;O)thank you..


By Allen W. Philley (Allen) on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - 08:52 am:

Awesome.


By Shirley Waggoner (Shirlohio) on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - 09:10 am:

I know it serves a useful purpose in some cases, but I'm glad they didn't band these birds. I've never been a fan of 'banding' any wild creature.

Thanks to all involved in this interesting post!


By Alex "UP-Goldwinger" (Alex) on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - 10:51 am:

Nice pix! Sometimes I catch a glimpse of a bird while I'm driving, but it's flying so fast I can’t tell what it is. It’s too small to be an eagle and too big to be a robin.


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