Cleveland, Ohio: SW(b/r S/*W ) & Boomer(b/g C/66) 2014, Nieuwe dame hier Newton

Das balen... Juist nu het seizoen daar ook begonnen is....

Bericht van C&C's Ohio Peregrine (facebook)
Chad and I don't normally spend a great deal of time at the Terminal Tower nest site, as the site has been monitored by DOW volunteer Scott Wright for going on 20 years now and it is usually well-documented through Scott's photos as well as the Falcon cam sponsored by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH). However, the cam went down at a very inopportune time, just as SW appeared to be close to laying her eggs. Scott and CMNH administer, Harvey Webster both made nest checks on Friday and were surprised to report that there were no eggs in the nest. The TT nest is typically if not the first, one of the first nest sites where eggs are reported in Ohio season to season and SW was showing "signs", per Scott and multiple cam watchers. Because Chad and I have stood in for Scott in the past at times he wasn't available, we are able to gain access to the nest. So, when I planned to be at the TT for the CIFF (Cleveland International Film Festival) anyway, I contacted Scott out of respect for his dedication to the nest site and then went up to take a look.

Boomer was lying in the nest, appearing to be covering a possible egg or eggs. He remained in this position for quite some time, but when he eventually got up and took flight one egg in the depression furthest to the right in the tray was in view. It took awhile to even see SW anywhere, but as I was scanning I eventually saw her high up on the Key Bank Tower. Boomer circled up and mated with her with that penthouse view and returned to the nest. When SW did fly to the nest she immediately settled in on the egg. And then she began rapid breathing, resulting with repeated, rhythmic movements of her tail as her back arched-- her movements could have easily been interpreted as being in the process of formulating the second egg, or "in labor". This would fit if she had the first egg either Friday evening or Saturday, as a two-day span between the first and second egg is the norm. Just a little time after SW started covering the egg Boomer came back to the nest ledge with a small bird dangling from his beak. SW walked over to him, unfortunately blocking my angle of the perched exchange. She then flew with the prey to a ledge across, where she ate. For a brief time after she finished eating, SW vocalized as if she was alerting that another falcon was around. She took off and Boomer looked skyward for awhile, but I couldn't see any intruder from the inside. Didn't see SW until she ended up back on her high perch on the Key Bank Tower.

Scott said that he plans to make a nest check tomorrow. Wouldn't be surprised to see a second egg in the depression, although I don't know where Scott will make his reports if the CMNH site remains down. We'll add more information here as it becomes available.

My overall impression from this check is that SW's foot looked good (as Scott had reported previously). It appeared to be completely healed over, and although it had a chunky, club-like look, SW didn't seem to have any difficulty moving or using the foot for take-offs. Boomer, in steadily remaining with the egg much of the time I was up there, showed a real interest in the egg and willingness to be cooperative with covering (I mention this because the behavior is said to vary quite a bit with different individuals and pairs, and I was at Canton earlier in the day where the tiercel barely spent any time in the nest box with the three eggs that have been laid there). Despite the many concerns about SW due to her age and some of her difficulties last year with her eggs and with her injury, this pair seems to be doing just fine at this juncture.

Foto's van Chris Saladin.

2e ei!

Tja en dan lig je te broeden in de sneeuw..... Brrrrrrrrrrrr arme SW

3/24? 3/26? 3/28 3/31 -   

SW   

  

  ?

Zijn gisteren geringd.

C&C's Ohio Peregrine Page heeft 3 nieuwe foto's aan het album TT's Forest goes down: taken to LENSC (6-23-14) toegevoegd.
Got a call from Lake Erie Nature and Science Center's Amy today about a peregrine down in the third floor balcony of the Key Bank Tower. Nancy, who works at Key Bank had informed Amy that the bird wasn't able to get on its feet for hours and was sprawled out in the middle of the balcony floor. She also sent a photo and it didn't appear that this peregrine was just resting in the shade of the ledges (as they will do), so from the pic and the description the bird needed to be checked out. I was in Akron at the time and Scott wasn't able to get there, so Harvey was going to check on him, but when we talked I was going to be able to make it before he could.

When I saw the juvie his bands were covered by his tail but I could see that it was Forest from the size... he was lying prone on his keel. He was alert and lifted his head, but didn't try to move as two maintenance guys manually unscrewed a window to open it so that I could climb out and then remained immobile as I approached him to pick him up. As I held him he lifted his wings slightly, but it was evident that he wasn't able to move his legs, so I suspected a back or spinal injury (since we have experienced such an injury with these symptoms in the past with juvies).

Took him to LENSC where Amy and Tim both assessed Forest immediately and arranged to have him seen by a vet. Amy informed me later that he does have a spinal injury, as suspected. They are treating him with steroids and although the injury appears to be quite serious they hope to see some improvement.

A big thanks to Nancy, who alerted LENSC so that Forest could receive help and care and to Amy, Tim, and LENSC overall. I know I speak for all of us when I say that we appreciate you guys and hope for the best.

I'm posting two shots of Forest on the balcony before I climbed through the window to retrieve him. I'd like to emphasize that it's not unusual to see juvies sprawled out like this at inactive times, especially on hot days when they are seeking shade, so without knowing exactly what happened Nancy's observations of Forest's overall behavior over a span of time (including the fact that he didn't rise to his feet at any point) were important in being certain that this guy needed to be rescued. Thanks again for caring and getting him help!