May 13 2009

Banding Peregrine Eyases

Posted by: Jennifer Zerwer

Yesterday, scientists and volunteers from the University of California Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group (SCPBRG) banded the three baby peregrines that nest on the ledge of the 33rd floor of PG&E's high rise in downtown San Francisco. While peregrine fans were able to enjoy the event via live webcam, it was a special experience to witness the banding of these endangered species in person.

The Eyases - It's a girl, girl and boy!
Upon seeing the falcons up close, SCPBRG's Program Manager Glenn Stewart was able to determine their sex - two females and a male. According to Glenn Stewart, female falcons are always larger than males, so it's easy to determine the sex in person. He estimated their weight to be around two pounds each.

Thanks to the Yahoo! Discussion group dedicated to Dapper Dan, Diamond Lil and their offspring, the young falcons now have names: Hi (pronounced "hee"), Liwa (pronounced "lee-wa") and Kiwel (pronounced "kee-well"). The names are derived from the coastal Miwok words for sun, water and wind, respectively. These young were named in honor of their PG&E birth site, after an advertising campaign PG&E had a couple of years ago that featured a "sun, water and wind" superhero.

The Bands
Glenn Stewart placed a band on each of the young falcon's legs. One band is the normal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bird band which contains a phone number to call in the event someone finds a peregrine. The second band is a visual identification band that can be read from a distance with binoculars. There's actually a small window of opportunity to band falcons; it needs to be done once the eyases reach their full size, but before they grow their flight feathers.

Hundreds and hundreds of falcons are wearing these bracelets in California today. The bands do not bother or interfere with the lives or activities of the falcons, and they allow scientists to learn more about the dynamics of population recovery for the endangered peregrines. For example, as a result of SCPBRG's banding and tracking efforts, they can expect Hi, Liwa and Kiwel to travel up to 700 miles when they are old enough to establish their own territory.

The Experience

Understandably alarmed to see humans visiting their young, Dapper Dan and Diamond Lil flew furiously around the building continuously shrieking. They did their best to intimidate the small group of scientists and bird aficionados that had assembled for the twenty minute invasion. For safety, all donned hard hats in the event of an attack. Fortunately, the parents kept their shock and awe campaign in the sky. The little ones also communicated their displeasure by shrieking in harmony with their parents and spreading their wings.

Check out the slideshow below

Check out more of nature photographer Glenn Neville's banding photos at: http://www.raptor-gallery.com/

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