The spring migration is now officially over for us. All four of the satellite-tagged peregrines appear to have arrived at their breeding sites and will hopefully raise young this summer.
We hope that you have enjoyed the project. We thank those of you that have commented so favorably on the Southern Cross Peregrine Project this year.
We have just posted a short video on You Tube describing the project. It was put together by team member and videographer Christian Gonzalez. There is some good footage available showing several of the falcons in hand down in Chile last February/March. You can find a link to it on our webpage.
In September, we plan to follow the birds south again so stay tuned.
Thanks for your support.
24 June, 2007
Following Houdini in Antofagasta
Houdini, our other juvenile female Chilean peregrine, is allowing us to compare the behavior of two similar age/sex class peregrines in northern Chile. Both Houdini and Coquimba are first year peregrines and little is known about the behavior of this group of falcons, especially in Chile. Do they migrate? Where do they sleep? How big are their ranges? How much time do they spend in the desert as opposed to the cities? There are so many questions and we are just beginning to answer them through this project.
Like Coquimba, Houdini spends most of her time in a major city. The obvious draw is prey, in this case, the huge number of pigeons and doves that live in the cities.
It is remarkable to see how compact their ranges are. These falcons really don't have to fly very far and, aside from a single anomalous flight by Houdini last March, the falcons don't move much at all.
Like Coquimba, Houdini has used a variety of roosts, including several within the city. She has also made a few flights well out into the Atacama Desert.
Perhaps her most puzzling behavior, as shown by the GPS unit, is her tendency to apparently sleep out there. In fact, the signals show an odd distribution of roost sites generally clumped together in the desert east of the foothills above town. They appear to indicate that she sleeps on or near to the ground surface. All of the signals indicate that she was stationary at 1 AM. Roosting on the ground in not a good idea in the desert. It is possible that she is using low rocks, power poles or some such thing, but they are not visible on Google Earth.
Weird.
At any rate, both juvenile falcons exhibit relatively small home ranges, a preference for cities, multiple roost sites, no migratory behavior but with some "exploratory flights" into the desert.
We are also interested in their behavior once the breeding season begins. Will they return to their nest sites? Will we be able to tell?
Like Coquimba, Houdini spends most of her time in a major city. The obvious draw is prey, in this case, the huge number of pigeons and doves that live in the cities.
It is remarkable to see how compact their ranges are. These falcons really don't have to fly very far and, aside from a single anomalous flight by Houdini last March, the falcons don't move much at all.
Like Coquimba, Houdini has used a variety of roosts, including several within the city. She has also made a few flights well out into the Atacama Desert.
Perhaps her most puzzling behavior, as shown by the GPS unit, is her tendency to apparently sleep out there. In fact, the signals show an odd distribution of roost sites generally clumped together in the desert east of the foothills above town. They appear to indicate that she sleeps on or near to the ground surface. All of the signals indicate that she was stationary at 1 AM. Roosting on the ground in not a good idea in the desert. It is possible that she is using low rocks, power poles or some such thing, but they are not visible on Google Earth.
Weird.
At any rate, both juvenile falcons exhibit relatively small home ranges, a preference for cities, multiple roost sites, no migratory behavior but with some "exploratory flights" into the desert.
We are also interested in their behavior once the breeding season begins. Will they return to their nest sites? Will we be able to tell?
Following Coquimba, a Young Chilean Peregrine
As the signals from Coquimba continue to accumulate, we are discovering just how she fits into the world of peregrines. Once again, this is the first time in history that resident Chilean peregrines have been monitored by radio.
The satellite GPS units are helping us to define her range and her use of certain perches. As a result, we are learning many new things about her life in coastal Chile.
For example, as a young peregrine, she spends alot of time exploring her environment. In her first year, this includes trying out a variety of roosts (night perches). Most adults use just one or two traditional roosts. She still prefers the trees in a main golf course but has used several other locations as well. One site is located in a densely populated residential area. She appears to have settled down in a large tree (more than once) in someone's back yard right in town near the main port. She has also roosted on remote sea-cliffs, within a city park and in trees along a dry riverbed.
Although most of her forays take place in and around the city, she has made several trips out into the arid Atacama Desert to the east.
We'll continue to document her movements through this first year of her life.
The satellite GPS units are helping us to define her range and her use of certain perches. As a result, we are learning many new things about her life in coastal Chile.
For example, as a young peregrine, she spends alot of time exploring her environment. In her first year, this includes trying out a variety of roosts (night perches). Most adults use just one or two traditional roosts. She still prefers the trees in a main golf course but has used several other locations as well. One site is located in a densely populated residential area. She appears to have settled down in a large tree (more than once) in someone's back yard right in town near the main port. She has also roosted on remote sea-cliffs, within a city park and in trees along a dry riverbed.
Although most of her forays take place in and around the city, she has made several trips out into the arid Atacama Desert to the east.
We'll continue to document her movements through this first year of her life.
La Serena In Chile
La Serena is providing the first data on the movements of a radio-tagged resident adult female Chilean peregrine (Falco peregrinus cassini) in history. We are discovering alot of new and important information on her behavior, for example, the size and shape of her home range, her roost sites, favorite perches and, very possibly, her nest site in the Andes Mountains.
In looking at her range, we have found that she clearly avoids the central area of the city of La Serena, a territory defended earlier by a pair of tundra peregrines through out the winter (the Cathedral pair). Although they departed from the area in mid-April, the La Serena bird has continued to remain outside of the downtown area of the city.
We are also noticing that her range overlaps minimally with the juvenile female, Coquimba, further to the south. Although she almost never enters the other birds range, the converse is not true. Coquimba has entered her range far more often.
We expect that La Serena will begin her breeding activities in early August, only two months from now.
In looking at her range, we have found that she clearly avoids the central area of the city of La Serena, a territory defended earlier by a pair of tundra peregrines through out the winter (the Cathedral pair). Although they departed from the area in mid-April, the La Serena bird has continued to remain outside of the downtown area of the city.
We are also noticing that her range overlaps minimally with the juvenile female, Coquimba, further to the south. Although she almost never enters the other birds range, the converse is not true. Coquimba has entered her range far more often.
We expect that La Serena will begin her breeding activities in early August, only two months from now.
Linda Stationary For 7 Days
When the duty cycles on the transmitters changed over on 15 June, Linda was working her way up the west side of Hudson Bay. Now, ten days later, we find that she continued north past Rankin Inlet to latitude 64.894 degrees north, about 186 km (115 miles) south of the Arctic Circle.
She arrived at this location on 18 June and has remained in a very small area ever since. Her extraordinarily tight cluster of signals over the last 7 days strongly suggests that she has arrived at her breeding area. All 6 signals are located within 0.17 km (0.1 mile) of each other and are situated on a main tributary of the Gordon River.
Despite the late date, it is still possible for her to successfully produce young this year.
She arrived at this location on 18 June and has remained in a very small area ever since. Her extraordinarily tight cluster of signals over the last 7 days strongly suggests that she has arrived at her breeding area. All 6 signals are located within 0.17 km (0.1 mile) of each other and are situated on a main tributary of the Gordon River.
Despite the late date, it is still possible for her to successfully produce young this year.
Three Weeks in Same Location For Arena
Arena arrived at her present location on 3 June, 21 days ago. She was the first of our radio-tagged peregrines to head north from Chile and apparently the first to arrive on her breeding range in Canada.
During the last three weeks, her signals show that she wandered about the area for awhile but has generally favored the site where she arrived first. The latest cluster of signals (one per day over the last 10 days) indicate the most probable location of her nest site. It is necessary to zoom in to separate the location dots on Google Earth. There is a wide spread around the central point, possibly due to her continued flights about the area. Most are within a short distance of the central area.
While we all like to think that she is successfully breeding there, I have to stress that we can't know for certain without an actual visit to the site.
During the last three weeks, her signals show that she wandered about the area for awhile but has generally favored the site where she arrived first. The latest cluster of signals (one per day over the last 10 days) indicate the most probable location of her nest site. It is necessary to zoom in to separate the location dots on Google Earth. There is a wide spread around the central point, possibly due to her continued flights about the area. Most are within a short distance of the central area.
While we all like to think that she is successfully breeding there, I have to stress that we can't know for certain without an actual visit to the site.
Sparrow King Holding Steady on Baffin Island
Despite our hopes for Greenland, Sparrow King is remaining on the southern tip of Baffin Island on the "Meta Incognita Peninsula". He is moving around in a coastal upland area called Terra Nivea on my map. Since arriving there on 6 June his activities have centered on the region at the head of a major fjord NE of the Sister Islets.
Based on the known philopatric behavior of peregrines, it is quite likely that he is on his usual breeding range by now. However, there is no sure way, short of a visit, to be certain if he is actively nesting this year.
The distance between his signals is only 8 km (5 miles) at this stage suggesting that he is not moving too far.
Based on the known philopatric behavior of peregrines, it is quite likely that he is on his usual breeding range by now. However, there is no sure way, short of a visit, to be certain if he is actively nesting this year.
The distance between his signals is only 8 km (5 miles) at this stage suggesting that he is not moving too far.
Seven Near the Arctic Ocean
Today, we received the latest signals from Seven. Over the last 2 days, he has moved about 110 km (67 miles) further north and is now in the Melville Hills of Tuktut Nogiat National Park. He is currently located on the Brock River, quite near the western boundary of the park. If you look at Google Earth, you can see the rugged nature of this area. It has lots of relief and is loaded with potential nesting cliffs, including some dramatic free-standing spires of rock. The river is good-sized with some formidable-looking rapids downstream from his location. In short, this appears to be an ideal arctic breeding area.
He is only 27 km (17 miles) from the ocean and a mere 52 km (33 miles) from the village of Paulatuk to the west.
He is only 27 km (17 miles) from the ocean and a mere 52 km (33 miles) from the village of Paulatuk to the west.
18 June, 2007
Seven Crosses the Arctic Circle
Seven is giving us a good reason to learn some new Arctic geography this week. On 14 June, he was located west of Great Bear Lake in the NWT. Three days later, he had flown 320 km (200 miles) north and was the first and only one of our radio-tagged birds to cross the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees N latitude). At this point, he has covered 9,323 miles on his migration north. His route is paralleling the western border of Tuktut Nogait National Park and he appears to be approaching the Melville Hills. The rivers in this area cut through the higher coastal terrain and form some excellent topographic relief. Typical for the Arctic, the riparian cuts provide an abundance of potential peregrine nesting cliffs.
Seven was about 141 km (88 miles) from the nearest town, Paulatuk, on the shores of the Amundsen Gulf in the Beaufort Sea. This village of approximately 300 people has an airstrip available and is the main entry point for tourists travelling to the National Park. The temperature there was O degrees Centigrade last week. We are hoping that Seven will end his migration soon as his next stop would be Banks Island, well out into the Arctic Ocean.
Seven was about 141 km (88 miles) from the nearest town, Paulatuk, on the shores of the Amundsen Gulf in the Beaufort Sea. This village of approximately 300 people has an airstrip available and is the main entry point for tourists travelling to the National Park. The temperature there was O degrees Centigrade last week. We are hoping that Seven will end his migration soon as his next stop would be Banks Island, well out into the Arctic Ocean.
14 June, 2007
Important Notice:Duty Cycles Winding Down
There will be a major change tomorrow involving the satellite transmitter duty cycles. We are going to be transitioning from the current daily signals to a previously-programmed interval of one signal every ten days. This change will only impact the five female peregrines, i.e. Linda and Arena in North America and La Serena, Coquimba and Houdini in Chile.
The signals from the two males will remain the same, i.e. one signal every 52 hours.
This new program will generate locations for the female falcons only one time every 10 days until the fall season, when they will switch back on for the autumn migration.
For those considering putting satellite transmitters on peregrines in the future, it is important to know that we had deliberately programmed our transmitters in this manner. Based on the literature and interviews with other peregrine people working in the far north, we had anticipated that all of the migrant birds would be on territory by now. And perhaps they are. We felt that once we learned the location of the nest sites, additional signals from the area would be redundant.
In addition, we were overly conservative in setting the falcon departure dates from Chile. We thought migrant peregrines would be heading north by mid-March, when in reality, they all departed in April.
Finally, as the migration period begins to wind down, we would encourage our readers to stay tuned to this site next fall when we plan to follow the birds south via satellite.
In fact, I would encourage all of you to check in with this site periodically as we may have some interesting suprises in store for the future.
The signals from the two males will remain the same, i.e. one signal every 52 hours.
This new program will generate locations for the female falcons only one time every 10 days until the fall season, when they will switch back on for the autumn migration.
For those considering putting satellite transmitters on peregrines in the future, it is important to know that we had deliberately programmed our transmitters in this manner. Based on the literature and interviews with other peregrine people working in the far north, we had anticipated that all of the migrant birds would be on territory by now. And perhaps they are. We felt that once we learned the location of the nest sites, additional signals from the area would be redundant.
In addition, we were overly conservative in setting the falcon departure dates from Chile. We thought migrant peregrines would be heading north by mid-March, when in reality, they all departed in April.
Finally, as the migration period begins to wind down, we would encourage our readers to stay tuned to this site next fall when we plan to follow the birds south via satellite.
In fact, I would encourage all of you to check in with this site periodically as we may have some interesting suprises in store for the future.
Correction
I recently reported that the Rankin Inlet peregrine team would be satellite-tagging adult peregrines in Canada this spring. They are actually going to be tagging falcons in 2008. My apologies for the mistake.
Seven Arrives in the Northwest Territories
Seven has left Alberta and continues on his migration NNW into Canada. His last four signals (12 June) show that he is just south of Great Bear Lake, east of the MacKenzie River. At 64 degrees north latitude, he is the northernmost of the four falcons and is 262 km (163 miles) south of the Arctic Circle. He has also set a new record among the tagged birds, having flown a total of over 14,400 km (9,000 miles) on his migration north from Chile.
He is currently in the Franklin Mountains and only 116 km (72 miles) from the town of Deline, Canada.
His next signals are due later today. This is a bird to watch.
He is currently in the Franklin Mountains and only 116 km (72 miles) from the town of Deline, Canada.
His next signals are due later today. This is a bird to watch.
Linda West of Hudson Bay
Linda has now flown into the Nunavut Territory of Canada. At the present time, she is approximately 284 km (176 miles) south of Rankin Inlet. The last 5 signals show that she has not moved from 11-13 June and that she has remained at the same location for two nights. It remains to be seen if she has arrived on her breeding territory.
Despite setting a new record for distance flown in a single day, Linda is still the southernmost of the four migrants.
Despite setting a new record for distance flown in a single day, Linda is still the southernmost of the four migrants.
Sparrow King Holds Up on Baffin Island
The last five signals from Sparrow King (8 and 10 June) indicate that he has stopped for the present time at the southern tip of Baffin Island. Again, we suspect that, at this late date, he is on territory. The timing is right for courtship and he needs to get going if he is to successfully produce young this summer.
Peregrines need to go through a courtship period every year that can last for several weeks, although some think the northern birds compress this period (2-3 weeks) due to the shortened length of the breeding season at high latitudes. Paired adults from previous seasons may take even less time.
After that comes egg-laying, which can take another 7 days for 4 eggs. Incubation runs about 32-36 days (it can vary widely) and the development of the eyasses (nestlings) runs another 6 weeks before they take their first flight. Finally, the fledglings need about 2-3 weeks to learn to fly and hunt before they achieve independence. The whole process takes about 15-17 weeks.
In an ideal world, the young birds will transition to migration at some time in September. However, if our tagged adult falcons lay eggs as late as 15 June, the young may be migrating south as late as 15 October. So the breeding clock is definitely running out for our tagged birds.
More signals are due today and we will see what Sparrow King does from here. It is certainly possible that he will continue his movement further north.
Peregrines need to go through a courtship period every year that can last for several weeks, although some think the northern birds compress this period (2-3 weeks) due to the shortened length of the breeding season at high latitudes. Paired adults from previous seasons may take even less time.
After that comes egg-laying, which can take another 7 days for 4 eggs. Incubation runs about 32-36 days (it can vary widely) and the development of the eyasses (nestlings) runs another 6 weeks before they take their first flight. Finally, the fledglings need about 2-3 weeks to learn to fly and hunt before they achieve independence. The whole process takes about 15-17 weeks.
In an ideal world, the young birds will transition to migration at some time in September. However, if our tagged adult falcons lay eggs as late as 15 June, the young may be migrating south as late as 15 October. So the breeding clock is definitely running out for our tagged birds.
More signals are due today and we will see what Sparrow King does from here. It is certainly possible that he will continue his movement further north.
Arena Still at Ungava
Arena arrived at her present location on 3 June and has remained in the area over the last 9 days (12 June). This is strong evidence that she has arrived at her nesting area. She is moving back and forth between two places separated by about 16 km (10 miles).
We'll continue to monitor her movements and expect that if she puts down eggs, her signal will become stationary at a cliff site.
We'll continue to monitor her movements and expect that if she puts down eggs, her signal will become stationary at a cliff site.
08 June, 2007
Sparrow King On Baffin Island
This little tiercel (male) peregrine is something else. He has now reached the southern tip of Baffin Island and has flown up a fjord that extends inland from the coast. Among all 7 of the radio-tagged peregrines, he has flown the farthest north so far.
Over the last 5 days, after pulling a hard right turn, he has flown EAST along the 62nd parallel, crossing both Hudson Bay and the Ungava Peninsula and arriving on Baffin Island. This is an exciting and dramatic line. Falcons are supposed to migrate north, not east.
However, one possible explanation for this behavior is familiar to all of the many people that worked on the famous Greenland Peregrine Falcon Survey under the direction of Bill Mattox, F. Prescott Ward and Bill Seegar. Literally dozens of peregrine biologists had the great pleasure to work in that amazing place, including Southern Cross team members Tom Maechtle and Bud Anderson.
Over the years, Mattox and Ward discovered that peregrines breeding in West Greenland near the Arctic Circle must fly west and cross the 342 km (212 mile) Davis Strait that separates Greenland from Canada. Once they reach the mainland, they continue south acroiss the continent using a variety of different routes.
Is Sparrow King heading for Greenland or will he remain on Baffin Island? I think that right now, alot of people, including me, are hoping that he continues to the east.
The following images (below) of Baffin Island have been kindly submitted by FRG members and supporters, Ginger and David Ridgeway. Thank you Ginger and David for giving us a glimpse of this incredible habitat.
Over the last 5 days, after pulling a hard right turn, he has flown EAST along the 62nd parallel, crossing both Hudson Bay and the Ungava Peninsula and arriving on Baffin Island. This is an exciting and dramatic line. Falcons are supposed to migrate north, not east.
However, one possible explanation for this behavior is familiar to all of the many people that worked on the famous Greenland Peregrine Falcon Survey under the direction of Bill Mattox, F. Prescott Ward and Bill Seegar. Literally dozens of peregrine biologists had the great pleasure to work in that amazing place, including Southern Cross team members Tom Maechtle and Bud Anderson.
Over the years, Mattox and Ward discovered that peregrines breeding in West Greenland near the Arctic Circle must fly west and cross the 342 km (212 mile) Davis Strait that separates Greenland from Canada. Once they reach the mainland, they continue south acroiss the continent using a variety of different routes.
Is Sparrow King heading for Greenland or will he remain on Baffin Island? I think that right now, alot of people, including me, are hoping that he continues to the east.
The following images (below) of Baffin Island have been kindly submitted by FRG members and supporters, Ginger and David Ridgeway. Thank you Ginger and David for giving us a glimpse of this incredible habitat.
Arena Remaining in Ungava
As most of you have noticed, Arena has spent the last 6 days in the same general area on the Ungava Peninsula. We strongly suspect that she is at or near her nest site but we need more data to be certain.
Since this is the first time that we have done this, we are debating how to determine if she is truly "home". Our best approach is to give her more time and see if she remains there. We are all acutely aware that she could easily move on at any moment and follow Sparrow King on to Baffin Island. So we are waiting to see what happens next. We expect all of you are doing the same thing.
On another subject, the duty cycle for the two female transmitters will change radically on 15 June, a week from today. We had expected the females to be on territory by mid-June, based on all of the Arctic breeding data that we examined from Alaska, Greenland and Canada. However, our best estimates appear to be too early for Linda. She may still be migrating at that time.
However, we will still get signals every ten days throughout the summer, so even if she is still moving, we should be able to pinpoint her breeding territory.
The male transmitters will stay the same.
Since this is the first time that we have done this, we are debating how to determine if she is truly "home". Our best approach is to give her more time and see if she remains there. We are all acutely aware that she could easily move on at any moment and follow Sparrow King on to Baffin Island. So we are waiting to see what happens next. We expect all of you are doing the same thing.
On another subject, the duty cycle for the two female transmitters will change radically on 15 June, a week from today. We had expected the females to be on territory by mid-June, based on all of the Arctic breeding data that we examined from Alaska, Greenland and Canada. However, our best estimates appear to be too early for Linda. She may still be migrating at that time.
However, we will still get signals every ten days throughout the summer, so even if she is still moving, we should be able to pinpoint her breeding territory.
The male transmitters will stay the same.
Linda Slowly Progressing North in Manitoba
Linda is definitely taking her time moving along the lakes of Manitoba. She hasn't moved far over the last three days and does not appear to be in much of a rush to get to her nest site. She continues to take a northern heading at present and has not veered towards Hudson Bay as did Arena and Sparrow King. At least, not yet.
Now located near 53.3 degrees north latitude, she is still almost 1,500 km (937 miles) south of the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees north), if, in fact, she goes that far.
Her last signal was very close (3.7 km/2.3 miles) to Highway 6 in Manitoba.
Now located near 53.3 degrees north latitude, she is still almost 1,500 km (937 miles) south of the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees north), if, in fact, she goes that far.
Her last signal was very close (3.7 km/2.3 miles) to Highway 6 in Manitoba.
Seven In SE Alberta
Seven continued his migration into Canada and now appears to be hunting and roosting among the agricultural fields of southeast Alberta. Google Earth shows a broad and extensive area of cultivated fields. Maybe some of our Canadian readers can describe the area for us.
He is halfway between Calgary and Saskatoon, east of the town of Consort and, at last signal, was about 4.4 km (2.7 miles) north of Highway 12. At 51.7 degrees latitude, he is still trailing the other three falcons but then, he also started from much further south. He is going to be a good test of the theory that the southernmost "wintering" birds are the northernmost breeders. And, as the westernmost bird, it is impossible to predict his next move accurately. He could go almost anywhere from here.
He is halfway between Calgary and Saskatoon, east of the town of Consort and, at last signal, was about 4.4 km (2.7 miles) north of Highway 12. At 51.7 degrees latitude, he is still trailing the other three falcons but then, he also started from much further south. He is going to be a good test of the theory that the southernmost "wintering" birds are the northernmost breeders. And, as the westernmost bird, it is impossible to predict his next move accurately. He could go almost anywhere from here.
05 June, 2007
Our Canadian Friends
We are extremely fortunate to be in communication with our Canadian peregrine colleagues currently working in Rankin Inlet and Baffin Island. Alastair Franke contacted us shortly after we returned from Chile and we have started a dialog with him and his team (Gordon Court, Mike Setterington) regarding this project. Their research is legendary among peregrine people and we are honored to be sharing our results with them.
They will be putting some GPS units on peregrines this summer and will be tracking them south too, so we strongly encourage all of our readers to watch for their reports. We'll have a link available to their site when it is in operation.
In the meantime, I have Alastairs' permission to post his last e-mail which contains a truly remarkable photograph from the Arctic.
They will be putting some GPS units on peregrines this summer and will be tracking them south too, so we strongly encourage all of our readers to watch for their reports. We'll have a link available to their site when it is in operation.
In the meantime, I have Alastairs' permission to post his last e-mail which contains a truly remarkable photograph from the Arctic.
photo by: Alastair Franke
"...in the mean time, here is a photo that brings you and your team much closer to the Arctic (it's also pretty representative of the snow conditions that birds find when first arriving back in late May) - the dead pefa {peregrine} in the photo is a bird that I trapped on territory (Rankin Inlet), and color banded 03 B (VV) in 2005, she was on territory again in 2006 and produced one young, 03 B had the 13th highest blood serum DDE concentration of all 193 adults tested since 1982. She was killed on her territory on June 2, 2007 by another female pefa on her territory - when I found her, she was still warm - here is the part that connects your South American colleagues/readers to the birds in my study area...she was captured and released by Jose Luis Gagliardi 215km south of Lima on Nov 7 2006. Oscar (Beingolea) and Christian (Gonzalez) will both know of this bird as Mike Setterington and I communicated via e-mail with Christian about the recovery of this bird in Peru.
More news when I get back from Baffin - I'll call you to chat - I've had a fantastic field season so far. "
photo by: Gordon Court
Thanks for the post Alastair. We appreciate it.
His photograph shows exactly what it is like in Canada in May and what the peregrines face when they arrive. Obviously, this is the coldest time of the year for them.
Sparrow King Takes the Lead in Ungava
Sparrow King and Arena have both shown remarkably similar migration routes up to now. Both birds are currently in the NE Ungava Peninsula area of Canada and are only about 160 km (100 miles) apart. Based on today's signal, Sparrow King recently flew past Arena and headed out over the Hudson Strait. It looks as though he is also perching on the pack ice about 40 km offshore.
If he continues on this heading, he will cross over onto Baffin Island. From there, it is also possible that he may fly on to Greenland. He is now the northernmost of the tagged peregrines at 62 degrees north latitude. He has traveled across 85 degrees of latitude on his migration, almost a quarter of the earth's circumfrence.
If he continues on this heading, he will cross over onto Baffin Island. From there, it is also possible that he may fly on to Greenland. He is now the northernmost of the tagged peregrines at 62 degrees north latitude. He has traveled across 85 degrees of latitude on his migration, almost a quarter of the earth's circumfrence.
Seven Heading West
In our last post on 3 June, Seven was moving through western Kansas. Today, he was in southeastern Montana, making him the first among our radio-tagged quartet to head in a more westerly direction.
Ironically, as he passed through the SE corner of Montana, near the Powder River, it appears that he flew within about 88 miles of Tom and Kathy Maechtle's home near Sheridan, Wyoming. Tom, of course, is a member of the Southern Cross Peregrine Project research team, and, in February, had observed Seven on his "wintering" cliff along the Pacific coast south of Santiago.
Ironically, as he passed through the SE corner of Montana, near the Powder River, it appears that he flew within about 88 miles of Tom and Kathy Maechtle's home near Sheridan, Wyoming. Tom, of course, is a member of the Southern Cross Peregrine Project research team, and, in February, had observed Seven on his "wintering" cliff along the Pacific coast south of Santiago.
Is Arena At Her Eyrie?
Arena left the Belcher Islands and headed northeast across the base of the Ungava Peninsula and on a line towards Baffin Island. There was rampant speculation that this route might even take her to Greenland, However, for the last three days, she has paused in a beautiful area of lakes and streams, well inland from the coast.
So we are now confronted with the question of how to tell if she is at her nest or eyrie. She could just as well be taking a break and feeding up. The only way to tell is to just wait and see. Alastair Franke, one of the Canadian peregrine biologists working in this area, tells us that eggs are due at this latitude about now. So maybe she is home, maybe not.
So we are now confronted with the question of how to tell if she is at her nest or eyrie. She could just as well be taking a break and feeding up. The only way to tell is to just wait and see. Alastair Franke, one of the Canadian peregrine biologists working in this area, tells us that eggs are due at this latitude about now. So maybe she is home, maybe not.
Linda Moving Slowly North
Since her last record-setting flight, Linda has been moving relatively slowly. She is now in North Dakota, not far from the Canadian border. However, since 31 May, she has been moving only about 40-60 km per day. Weather does not seem to be a factor as she is in an area with high pressure and clear skies.
Don writes, " This is wild speculation but could she be nursing an injury?"
This is certainly possible, especially after her record day effort but, as usual, we really can't be sure what is going on with her at this point.
Don writes, " This is wild speculation but could she be nursing an injury?"
This is certainly possible, especially after her record day effort but, as usual, we really can't be sure what is going on with her at this point.
Another Sighting of Houdini in Antofagasta
We received the following e-mail today (5 June) from our colleague, Mario Quiroz, in Antofagasta, Chile. He writes;
"Today, in the morning, 10:00 a.m. (14:00 UTC), again when traveling to Tocopilla I saw Houdini perching on the same crane, so I stopped my car and got some pics of Houdini. As you can see, the transmitter is OK and the J-like antenna too, although with feathers. Houdini still looks dirty. I know it is because she's a juvenile. I'm so glad mainly with Arena. She is making an incredible trip, congratulations to all of you. Well gentlemen, until next report when I hope I can watch Houdini in other scenery, downtown, hills, flying or whatever it is, don't know where.
Best regards,
Mario"
"Today, in the morning, 10:00 a.m. (14:00 UTC), again when traveling to Tocopilla I saw Houdini perching on the same crane, so I stopped my car and got some pics of Houdini. As you can see, the transmitter is OK and the J-like antenna too, although with feathers. Houdini still looks dirty. I know it is because she's a juvenile. I'm so glad mainly with Arena. She is making an incredible trip, congratulations to all of you. Well gentlemen, until next report when I hope I can watch Houdini in other scenery, downtown, hills, flying or whatever it is, don't know where.
Best regards,
Mario"
photo courtesy Mario Quiroz
As always, we want to thank Mario for keeping us all up to date on this falcon, the first immature peregrine ever radio-tagged in South America.
01 June, 2007
Arena and the Belcher Islands
I had a closer look at the data from Arena this morning and discovered that she had likely roosted on the ice on two different nights. On the night of 30 May, the GPS signal indicates that she roosted offshore about 510 meters (557 yards) SW of a small island in the southern Belcher Group. I think that it is a good assumption she was sleeping on the ice as I can't really think of what else would be there.
The following night at 1 AM, she was near another small island and yet she apparently slept on the ice once more, this time about 886 meters (969 yards) offshore.
Why she would prefer to sleep on the ice and not on the islands is unknown to me. Are there predators in the area? What could kill a migrant peregrine in Hudson Bay?
I'll have to ask our arctic colleagues whether there are records of migrant peregrines sleeping on ice floes.
We do know that there is still alot of ice in Hudson Bay at this time. I'm told that, in general, it begins to melt in May and should be mostly ice-free by August.
You can see what these very unusual islands look like at http://www.oceandots.com/arctic/canada/belcher.htm.They have no trees, little surface soil and are classified as tundra. The wildlife includes walrus, Snowy Owls, Beluga whales and Polar Bears.
Arena is definitely a long way from the Atacama Desert in Chile
The following night at 1 AM, she was near another small island and yet she apparently slept on the ice once more, this time about 886 meters (969 yards) offshore.
Why she would prefer to sleep on the ice and not on the islands is unknown to me. Are there predators in the area? What could kill a migrant peregrine in Hudson Bay?
I'll have to ask our arctic colleagues whether there are records of migrant peregrines sleeping on ice floes.
We do know that there is still alot of ice in Hudson Bay at this time. I'm told that, in general, it begins to melt in May and should be mostly ice-free by August.
You can see what these very unusual islands look like at http://www.oceandots.com/arctic/canada/belcher.htm.They have no trees, little surface soil and are classified as tundra. The wildlife includes walrus, Snowy Owls, Beluga whales and Polar Bears.
Arena is definitely a long way from the Atacama Desert in Chile
Sparrow King Nearing Hudson Bay
In our last post on Sparrow King on 20 May, he was perched near the border in Kansas. Two days later on 22 May, his signal showed that he had moved into eastern North Dakota and was quite near the border with Minnesota. Later that day, he flew into Minnesota, and appears to have passed Arena for the first time on the spring migration. In fact, Don McCall reports that it is possible that the two falcons could have been in visual contact that day. Their signals were only about 2.7 miles apart.
On 25 May, Sparrow King turned south for a bit, again just like Arena.
On 27 May, he was still in Minnesota, exhibiting the same "pause" behavior that we had observed in Arena at his point. He held up just 13 km (8 miles) short of the Canadian border.
Two days later on 29 May, Sparrow King had made a huge jump into Canada, travelling 775 km (481 miles)north. It is likely that he crossed into Manitoba somewhere southeast of Winnipeg. Like Arena again, he was bearing towards Hudson Bay.
This morning (1 June), Sparrow King was near the western coastline of the Bay. He is in a wilderness area filled with lakes and streams about 36 km (22 miles) inland from the shoreline. The signal quality is excellent and he seems to be moving east and west a bit. This prompts the question that we will all be trying to answer over the next two weeks. Is he home?
On 25 May, Sparrow King turned south for a bit, again just like Arena.
On 27 May, he was still in Minnesota, exhibiting the same "pause" behavior that we had observed in Arena at his point. He held up just 13 km (8 miles) short of the Canadian border.
Two days later on 29 May, Sparrow King had made a huge jump into Canada, travelling 775 km (481 miles)north. It is likely that he crossed into Manitoba somewhere southeast of Winnipeg. Like Arena again, he was bearing towards Hudson Bay.
This morning (1 June), Sparrow King was near the western coastline of the Bay. He is in a wilderness area filled with lakes and streams about 36 km (22 miles) inland from the shoreline. The signal quality is excellent and he seems to be moving east and west a bit. This prompts the question that we will all be trying to answer over the next two weeks. Is he home?
Arena Moving Northeast
It is remarkable to watch Arena moving across Canada in an almost meandering fashion. Her migratory headings have ranged all over the map recently. One idea that many of us have had over the years was that peregrines simply raced directly north in spring to their Arctic nest sites. This certainly must be true in some cases. But watching Arena curve around Hudson Bay and now seeing her moving into Quebec on a northeasterly heading is instructive to say the least. It seems to me as if she has stalled in her northern movement. Is she waiting for the spring? Is she looking for the snows to melt? Does she have some sort of innate instinct that slows her down? Does she follow this same route every year? Where will she finally stop?
In looking at the "shape" of her track on the satellite map (and aren't they elegant?), it is also evident that another one of my favorite theories is untrue. I had always considered that whatever migratory heading a falcon took north from Padre Island would point directly to its nest site in the Arctic. This is a great idea and simplifies everything wonderfully. But, once again, the GPS data are showing that real life is definitely more complex than that. Arena has flown in just about every direction possible on her spring movement, including south. She not only appears to be "wandering" but also stalling for time. Wonderful stuff.
In looking at the "shape" of her track on the satellite map (and aren't they elegant?), it is also evident that another one of my favorite theories is untrue. I had always considered that whatever migratory heading a falcon took north from Padre Island would point directly to its nest site in the Arctic. This is a great idea and simplifies everything wonderfully. But, once again, the GPS data are showing that real life is definitely more complex than that. Arena has flown in just about every direction possible on her spring movement, including south. She not only appears to be "wandering" but also stalling for time. Wonderful stuff.
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