Mama Peregrine Dive Bombs Banders

As most of you may know, the World Bird Sanctuary, in conjunction with Ameren Missouri and the Missouri Department of Conservation, has monitored a Peregrine Falcon nest box from first egg laid to fledging of the young birds.

Securely located 168 ft. above the ground on the Ameren Missouri Sioux Energy Center scrubber stack, the nest box was constructed with a design from the World Bird Sanctuary.  Personnel at the Ameren Missouri facility operated and maintained a live view camera that allowed viewers to watch the fascinating behaviors of these amazing birds. 

Our Falcon family has now set flight. The live camera stream was viewed more than 80,000 times and peaked at nearly 2,000 views per day in early April and May when the eggs were laid and the chicks hatched.

One of the behaviors you did not see on the live view camera was the behavior of the parents when we banded the babies.  Staff member Trina Whitener captured that behavior for us and it may be viewed Here.  If you have a problem viewing the video by clicking on the link, just copy and paste the following link into your browser window.

https://youtu.be/m1XYgbwb2F4

Thank you for your interest in the lives of these amazing birds. Be sure to watch for our Falcon Cam again next Spring!

Video footage by World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist, Trina Whitener

Babies Are Here!

If you’ve been watching our Falcon Cam, you know that the Peregrine Falcon pair at the Ameren MO Sioux Energy Center have been sitting on four eggs.

As of Saturday the babies had begun to pip their eggshells, and by Sunday morning there were four babies.  If you watch the Falcon Cam you may see momma sitting over her clutch to keep them warm, and occasionally you will see one or more babies peek out from beneath her feathers only to be tucked back in by mom.

2014 Photo of parent bird feeding babies (photo: WBS website)

If you’re really lucky you may just catch them when one of the parents returns to the nest with a pigeon or starling and feeds them.  At this time you will see a big ball of fuzz with anywhere from one to four heads ready and waiting for a meal. 

Once the babies have been fed the parent will fly off with the remaining carcass, either to finish off any remaining morsels or to dispose of the carcass somewhere other than the nest.  Shortly after that the parent will return to the nest and gather the babies to be tucked safely under the parent’s warm body.

The Falcon Cam is a cooperative effort between The World Bird Sanctuary, Ameren Missouri, and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

WARNING!!  FALCON WATCHING CAN BE ADDICTIVE!

 

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer

Have You Watched our Falcon Cam Yet

What is a Falcon Cam you may ask? 

The World Bird Sanctuary, in partnership with Missouri Department of Conservation and Ameren Missouri, is pleased to be able to bring you a live video camera trained on a Peregrine Falcon nest box located at Ameren Missouri’s Portage des Sioux Energy Center.  This live video feed will allow you to watch a pair of Peregrine Falcons nest and hatch their chicks from the comfort of your living room.  The video feed is active from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. each day.

One of the falcons early in the year inspecting the empty next box

The Falcon Cam has been up and running for the past three years.  In that time we have watched a Peregrine Falcon pair, which we named Coal and SiouxZee, lay 14 eggs and successfully fledge 12 youngsters.

This year, for whatever reason, SiouxZee did not return.  However, a new female has bonded with Coal and she is now sitting on 4 eggs, which we estimate will hatch around the 4^th or 5^th of May.

The female (on the right) watching the four eggs

 Watching this nest is somewhat like watching a soap opera.  There can be action, drama, danger, tenderness and yes, even comedy.

Click Here to watch this real life drama.  If you are lucky you may even see the male bring food to the female, or just change positions with her to give her a break.  When you go to the video feed, be sure to click on the “Ask Jeff” link to find out all the interesting details of the past history of this falcon nest.  You’ll find out what is involved in following a pair of Peregrine Falcons (the world’s fastest animal) from courtship to fledging the youngsters. 

Let me warn you—viewing the Falcon Cam can be addictive!

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer

365 Photo Project-October 2014

October at the World Bird Sanctuary has been a very busy month.  With special events and a busy travel schedule I have not had that many photo opportunities. 

I did however take one morning in between storms to take a leisurely walk on WBS property.  As staff, sometimes we get so focused on the area where we work (such as the Nature Center) that we do not stop and look at the other amazing birds we work with on a daily basis, at least from a photographer’s perspective.  I have to admit it is a very challenging process to pick just a few photos to feature here.

Sole, the Peregrine Falcon (photo: Cathy Spahn)

My first favorite photo is of one of the newest birds on our education team; Solo, the Peregrine Falcon.  Solo is a juvenile Peregrine Falcon whose egg was laid in a nest in Clayton, Missouri.  Before the eggs were hatched the female falcon suffered a severe wing injury and did not survive.  WBS rescued the three eggs and hatched all three in our incubators.  One baby did not survive; one was placed in the nest of another wild falcon pair and was fostered by them.   Unfortunately, Solo was hatched with a few deformities that do not allow him to use his feet properly and his beak is slightly askew; therefore, he has difficulties tearing food.  Because he could not be released he will spend his life as an education bird.  He is a great bird and can teach everyone so much.  On this particular morning when Solo was put outside in the Weathering Area at the Nature Center, he started flapping his wings, and I took the opportunity to get some photos.  I managed to take this photo of him with his wings out.  This photo was my favorite from my morning walk.

Rochester, the Common Buzzard (photo: Cathy Spahn)

The next photo I took a few minutes after photographing Solo is a beautiful photo of Rochester.  Rochester is a Common Buzzard that is in training to join our education team.  Rochester is a sibling to Rodrigo a Common Buzzard that’s in training for the programs WBS presents at Zoos, theme parks and aquariums around the nation.  WBS recently also acquired Rochester’s and Rodrigo’s parents. Their parents are interestingly colored; one light colored bird and one dark, almost charcoal bird.  Rodrigo looks like one of the parents, while Rochester is a very rufous colored bird.  His beautiful color just gets more striking to me by the day.  We are currently training him to fly and he is really becoming an amazing performer.

Tsavo, the Bateleur Eagle (photo: Cathy Spahn)

The last photo I want to include is of Tsavo, the Bateluer Eagle.  The Bateluer Eagle is considered to be one of the most colorful eagles in the world.  This head shot shows off just some of that coloration.  It also captures his personality perfectly.

I find that at times, since I see these birds every day, I sometimes take them for granted.  This kind of walk gives me a chance to step back and appreciate the beauty of the animals that I work with every day.

Submitted by Cathy Spahn, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

From The North She's Come...

For those of you that don’t know, I’m a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) fanatic. 

An unhappy parent watching as we band Peregrine Falcon babies (photo: Cathy Spahn, WBS)

How these amazing birds survive at the top of the food chain is nothing but spectacular, preying on other birds which they almost always catch in mid flight.  Super maneuverable, the fastest creature in the world and long toes all help to catch slippery and evading birds.  During the months of May and June you will find me banding the Peregrine babies from the 7 or so nests in the greater St. Louis area.   When not in the field you can often find me answering questions from the “Ask Jeff” section of the Peregrine Cam, which is honed in on the pair at Ameren Missouri’s Sioux Energy Center from mid March through mid June (be sure to watch on our web site next year).

Banding Peregrine Falcon babies at the AT&T building (photo: Cathy Spahn, WBS)

On a weekly basis during the nesting season I answer questions in the “Ask Jeff” section of the Peregrine Cam, with all the questions coming directly to my computer.  I still had a few questions trickling in even well after the nesting season ended.  The other day I saw I had 6 inquiries, so I took a look through.  The last inquiry, dated 12 August, grabbed my attention as if someone dumped a bucket of icy water on my head (that happens a lot on all the social media sites these days). 

A person working at the Thomas Eagleton Courthouse in downtown St. Louis sent me a picture of an adult Peregrine Falcon.  When I first looked at the picture, I wasn’t too impressed because the picture preview was small, with the bird seemingly not well focused.  Upon clicking on the picture, my heart started to race.

Photo taken by Karen Schroeder on 12 August 2014 at the Thomas Eagleton Courthouse in St. Louis

 Even through all the spots on the windowpane the Peregrine’s colored band was quite visible.  Colored bands have been being placed on Peregrine Falcon legs for about 25 years, with the advantage being observers can see the letters and numbers from further away, which gives us biologists the potential to gather information from alive and well wild Peregrines.  On this particular bird the colored band had a black field above a red field, with a 95 and S respectively, as you can see in the picture.  

  

 I jumped from my office chair, coming close to pulling a leg muscle in the process (hours of physical inactivity then a super rush of adrenalin can do that), and bounded to my Peregrine banding records book, on a shelf a few feet away.

 I have records dating back to 2009 in this little notebook, with dates, numbers of babies per nest and locations, and nope, the band was not in it.  I then contacted Linda Tossing, WBS volunteer extraordinaire and band record keeper from the start of the World Bird Sanctuary banding activities in the early 80’s.  She didn’t have the band record either.  Not being able to find the band in our records only made me more excited, for it meant someone from afar placed the band on this bird.  Peregrine means “wanderer” in Latin, and the falcon is aptly named because babies hatched within the Arctic circle can wind up at the southern tip of South America.  They can migrate further than any other raptor in the world.

My next inquiry was to Amber Burnette, the record keeper for the Midwest Peregrine Society.  The Society hands out all the colored bands to all the licensed Peregrine banders in the Midwest.  The Society also receives all the records of bands placed on Peregrines through reports given to them by the same banders.  Amber was quick to respond.

This lovely female Peregrine was banded as a baby in Lake City, Minnesota on 31 May in 2011, in a Peregrine nest box atop the Horizon Milling building.  She had 3 siblings (2 sisters and a brother), and the bander, Amy Ries from the Raptor Resource Project in Decorah, IA, named this Peregrine Cyclone.

 Since Cyclone is a 3 year old adult now, and her picture was taken during the non migration season, it’s relatively safe to assume she had a family somewhere in the downtown St. Louis area.  The closest known Peregrine nest to the Thomas Eagleton Courthouse is on the 45^th floor of the AT&T building, a few blocks to the north of Eagleton.  A Peregrine’s nesting territory can be quite large, but even if the AT&T birds had a smaller territory, it would certainly encompass the courthouse.  Last I knew both AT&T adults were unbanded, as you can see in this picture taken in late March 2013, as the male on the left gave the female a blackbird he caught.

Photo by Mary Burns, AT&T employee, 2013

Was the AT&T female replaced by Cyclone?  This phenomenon happens a lot in the Peregrine world.  Is there a new nesting pair in downtown St. Louis?  Hard for me to believe with what I know about Peregrine territories, but not out of the question.  These questions and Cyclone intrigue me, and if I get news relating to Cyclone in the future, you can bet you will read a blog from me soon afterward!

Submitted by Jeff Meshach, World Bird Sanctuary Director 

Millenium

Following is an email from the World Bird Sanctuary’s Volunteer Coordinator, Melissa Moore.

Millenium 

“It is with a sad heart that I need to tell you of the passing of one of our educational birds.  Early this morning, 8/1,  Millennium, the Peregrine Falcon, left this world.  Some of you may be aware that she had been ill for the past week or so, and had been receiving treatment from our excellent vets and medical staff.  However, they were unable to see her through this illness; we are awaiting results of tests to find out more about the cause, as previous tests were inconclusive.” 

“I only knew Millennium a brief time, but I know that she was much loved by many people.  As an ambassador bird, she represented her species and the World Bird Sanctuary at many events including parades and programs too numerous to mention.  As a Peregrine, she represented the success of the Endangered Species Program and the drawing together of people to fight environmental contaminants.  To those of us who knew her personally, she represented a gentle and beautiful member of our bird team.  We will be sad without her, but will continue our work for birds and the environment with her memory close by.”

Hatched in the spring of 2008, Millenium was a beautiful young Peregrine Falcon who was with us because it was discovered by her falconer/breeder that she was partially blind at hatch.  Rather than having her euthanized because she could not hunt they contacted the World Bird Sanctuary to see if we could use her as an education bird. 

Millenium quickly settled into life at the World Bird Sanctuary’s Office of Wildlife Learning and became a favorite of everyone who met her.  Over the course of her life she educated thousands of audience members about the plight and remarkable comeback of her species.

She will be sorely missed by all.

Lightning....Creature of Speed and Agility

My heart is sad tonight.  This lovely creature of speed and agility passed away November 20.

Photo published by permission of Sandra Lowe

Lightning, an extraordinary Peregrine Falcon, slipped quietly and peacefully away from us on 11/20, having lived a full 22 years.  A Peregrine Falcon's natural life span is only about 12-15 years in the wild, so we were honored to have this lovely gent with us for so long.

A veteran of the United Stated Air Force B.A.S.H. program, he came to live with us when it was time for him to retire.  His duty then became to delight and educate thousands of people in programs or as they visited him at World Bird Sanctuary.  Delight and educate he did.

On this Thanksgiving Day we are thankful to have been honored by this beautiful creature's presence for all these years. Rest in Peace sweet birdy.  We will miss you.

Photo and story submitted by Sandra Lowe, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer

Peregrine Webcam Now On-Line

Peregrine Project Continues Mission of Helping Nature Take Flight
Nesting Activity Available for Viewing on Webcam

St. Louis, Mo., (March 13, 2012) — Ameren Missouri, in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the World Bird Sanctuary (WBS), has once again provided a nesting box for Peregrine Falcons at the Sioux Energy Center. For the first time, the activity in the nest can be viewed online. Officials from MDC and WBS will offer ongoing commentary on what’s happening in the nest and a video camera near the nest will provide live feeds to each organization’s website.

“The Peregrine Falcon has made an incredible comeback from the brink of extinction. What we will see at Ameren Missouri’s Sioux Energy Center nest box is the fruit of tens of thousands of hours of labor to make the Peregrine Falcon a common sight again,” Jeff Meshach, director of the World Bird Sanctuary, said. “Yet, there is always something to learn about any of our world's birds and animals. Our camera will provide a window into the nesting life of the world's fastest creature, and I personally will find it hard to get any desk work done as I watch my favorite of the world's bird species.”

“We have worked on projects with the World Bird Sanctuary for more than 25 years to help preserve the biological diversity of the world around us,” said Richard Mark, Senior Vice President, Customer Operations, for Ameren Missouri. “The Peregrine Falcon project has been one of the most exciting projects we’ve been involved in, and this year via video, we’re able to share with visitors to our website the amazing lives these birds lead in raising their young. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to being responsible stewards of the environment.”

The nest can be viewed on Ameren Missouri’s website at AmerenMissouri.com/FalconWatch.  Viewers can link to the falcon camera on the websites of WBS at www.worldbirdsanctuary.org and MDC at www.mdc.mo.gov.

The falcon nesting at the Sioux Energy Center this year was first spotted in the beginning of February. Since then, researchers at WBS and MDC have been following the bird’s habits daily and are posting their observations on the website as updates warrant. Peregrine falcons have been seen at Sioux since early 2011.

The websites will be available until nesting activity is complete and the mother’s young have left the nest.

““This peregrine project will help Missourians discover nature right in the nest of these amazing raptors,” Bob Ziehmer, MDC director, said. “The project illustrates the power of partnerships between private and public sector organizations to help conserve native wildlife.”

Peregrine Falcon Banding

On June 9, 2011, several of our interns and I had the rare opportunity to participate in our first Peregrine Falcon banding with World Bird Sanctuary.  We banded the babies from a nest box at the AT&T building in downtown St. Louis. 

 The AT&T building nestbox with a curious Peregrine Falcon chick peeking out at us.

The World Bird Sanctuary has been working to increase the number of wild Peregrine Falcons in the St. Louis area since 1985.  We began by releasing or hacking young captive bred Peregrine Falcons to help increase the number of Peregrines in the wild in the U.S.  At that point in time the Peregrine Falcon was listed as an endangered Species in the U.S., mostly due to the pesticide DDT.

 In 1991 WBS celebrated the hatching of the first wild Peregrine Falcon in over 100 years in Missouri.  WBS no longer releases Peregrines in the St. Louis area because there are several breeding pairs in the area.  World Bird Sanctuary and many other dedicated organizations around the country have helped to bring the Peregrine Falcon back from the brink of extinction. Peregrine Falcons are now nesting in both nest boxes and cliffs in the St. Louis area, on both sides of the river. 

The location I recently had the opportunity to visit was the nest at the AT&T building in Downtown St. Louis.  The Peregrine Falcon has made a remarkable comeback, and at this point the number of nesting Peregrines in the U.S. may exceed pre-DDT numbers.

 We found five young Peregrine Falcons

We traveled up to the 43^rd floor when we arrived at One Bird Center.  We went out onto the balcony with the nest box and found 5 young Falcons. After determining that the parents were nowhere to be seen we removed the chicks from the box to be banded.

 We quickly banded the chick and took blood samples

Working quickly before the parents returned, we brought the baby Peregrines inside the building where we banded the babies and took some blood. We take blood as part of a research program that will look at the Peregrines nesting in cities to determine if they are building up any toxins in their bodies that might have a negative effect on the population.  We also place two colored bands on the young that will assist biologists in identifying the bird.  The numbers of the bands are sent to the U.S. Geological Service, which has the banding lab that keeps track of all the bands.  If the birds are ever trapped, found injured, or found dead the numbers are reported to the lab and they can tell when the bird was banded, its age and if it was ever seen before.  Banding is a great way for biologists to study bird movements and assists with helping to determine the overall population of a species.  The AT&T box had three males and two females.

 The parents circled anxiously as we returned the babies to the nestbox

Once we finished banding the birds we looked them over again and then placed them back in their nest box.  Mom and Dad were ready to greet us.  As a few of the babies made noise while being placed back in the box Mom and Dad flew overhead making sure that we knew that our presence was not welcome.  The female flew very close, giving us an excellent view of an angry mother Falcon in flight, while the male circled above our heads calling. At this close perspective you could really see the size difference between the male and female.  In birds of prey the female is usually about a third larger than the male. 

 An angry mother Falcon keeping a close eye on us

While putting the babies back in the box we also examined the feathers that were in the box, which belonged to the prey the adults were bringing to the nest for the babies.  The birds on the AT&T building had a lot of pigeon and dove feathers. 

This was an amazing experience—one that the interns and I will never forget.

Submitted by Cathy Spahn, World Bird Sanctuary Field Studies Coordinator

Haiku – Peregrine Falcon

One of our talented staff members, Laura MacLeod, has written a number of Haikus honoring the fascinating creatures with which she works every day.  These short haikus sum up the characteristics of these amazing creatures in a nutshell.  We will be publishing them from time to time and hope you enjoy them.

Millenium, our beautiful Peregrine Falcon, appearing at a Renaissance Festival

Peregrine Falcon

Swift and sleek hunter

Powerful, airborne fighter

Jet speed, raptor queen

Submitted by Laura MacLeod, World Bird Sanctuary Education Coordinator

Peregrines in Forest Park

The Next Time You're in Forest Park, Look Up!

That speeding bullet you see swooping overhead isn't Superman. It could be a Peregrine Falcon!



On July 30th of this year photographer Jason G. Harrison was on a photo op in Forest Park near the fishing ponds. He was photographing Yellow Crowned Night Herons with a fellow professional photographer whose photos appear in the "Missouri Conservationist". They noticed a bird of prey fly overhead, and could see it was a Peregrine Falcon. However, the bird flew on before they could get a photo.

After some time had passed a Peregrine again flew by, this time landing in a large Sycamore tree. Jason quickly packed his gear and began a long circling approach in order not to scare off the bird. The bird stayed perched while he made his long walk. It was very focused on several small ducks and other birds on the ponds, which allowed him to get close enough to take some images. It stayed perched there for about 15 minutes, and then flew off to the west.

The two photographers spent several days in this location, and EACH day they saw a Peregrine flying overhead. Whether it was this same bird, he couldn't tell. One day they did see a mature Peregrine flying low.

Upon examining the images that he took that day, Jason discovered that the bird had been banded, and was able to make out enough of the numbers on the bands that he contacted the World Bird Sanctuary to see if he could find out the particulars of where and when the bird had been banded. As it turned out, this was a Peregrine that had been banded this year as part of our Peregrine Falcon reintroduction program. Following is an excerpt of a letter that was sent to Jason from Roger Holloway, Director of Operations for the World Bird Sanctuary, giving the bird's particulars:

"I am writing to give you some background on the Peregrine Falcon who became your "subject" in Forest Park this summer. I was very glad to hear she was out and about touring her new territory.

"I was very fortunate to be involved in banding 11 of the juvenile Peregrines in the St. Louis region in 2009. The banding and monitoring of these once highly endangered raptors has helped track their comeback and taught us a lot about their "peregrinations" over the past 25 years.

"Your young lady was banded on May 18, 2009 at a wild nest located at the Washington University Medical School next to Barnes Hospital. There, the parents nest in a box built into an opening in the side of the building where an old air intake used to be. Accessing it requires crawling on one's belly and hands and knees through a 30-yard long dark and dingy crawlspace. This is when we love being biologists...! Once at the nest, we looked through the peepholes to see who was home. We were treated to the mother feeding all three Peregrine babies. They were sitting patiently in a semi-circle as she ripped up a pigeon one piece at a time. Once we made enough noise, mom left. We slid the front door of the box closed and opened the back. We had to carry the three babies back through the crawlspace so we could band them and collect a small blood sample from each.

"There were two females and one male. With Peregrines, we can tell by the larger size of the females, especially their feet. Once banded, back to the nest they went. At that point, I think Mom Peregrine said the equivalent of, "Where have the three of you been? I was worried sick. Now finish your pigeon."

It is indeed special to get close to a bird like the Peregrine Falcon. Through your images, you will give many that opportunity. What will become of this bird is hard to say. Only 25% will survive their first year. Hopefully, this young female will fit into the 25% of perseverant youngsters that will live on despite the many challenges ahead. Will she come back as an adult to nest in St. Louis? Will she move on to an exotic city in South America? If I ever find out, I'll be sure to let you know.

Thanks for your interest and involvement."

All photos courtesy of Jason G. Harrison.

Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Millennium (Peregrine Falcon)

Millennium's Story

Species: Peregrine Falcon
Hatched: Spring 2008

Millennium came to us from a falconer who breeds and trains birds for those individuals who pursue the ancient sport of falconry. He noticed that Millennium seemed to have difficulty locating her food, and once she left her perch she did not return to it as a bird normally would. After careful observation, he came to the conclusion that she is so vision impaired as to be nearly blind. Since she would be useless as a falconry bird, he searched for an organization that could use her as an education bird. As it happened, we were in need of a peregrine falcon for our education department. One of our staff members drove to Iowa to pick her up.

Millennium is a striking bird. She is quite large, which is why we refer to her as "she." Females are usually larger than males. She has a beautiful dark brown coloring. We know that she will lose the brown coloration as she matures, however, some birds are darker than others, so she may prove to be one of the darker gray individuals of her species.  Only time will tell. For the present, she is easy to distinguish from the other peregrines in the weathering area. As far as her eyesight is concerned, she seems to do quite well, even though we believe she only sees shadows and movement.

To adopt Millennium, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: MILLENNIUM. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents receive:

• A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• Certificate of Adoption
• Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• Sponsorship Card
• One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• Life History and Natural History of the bird
• 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• Discounts on WBS Special Events
• WBS Decal

Natural History

peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus

Description: large falcon; short tail; pointed wing tips; slate-gray above; black helmet on head; whitish neck; buff beneath; lightly barred breast; wing tips almost reach tail tip when perched; regional variations exist (very dark in the northwest to pale in the north

Sex: females have more brown than males

Age: juveniles are a dark buff color with heavy streaking underneath

Length: 16-20”

Wingspan: 3-3.7’

Weight: 1.6 lbs.

Habitat: open country, cliffs, cities

Status: once found across all of North America until pesticides such as DDT eliminated eastern populations, almost to extinction; pesticide banning and captive-breeding programs have helped with their recovery; seen year-round in the US, but uncommon to rare in the winter

Behavior: don’t build nests; lay 2-4 reddish, darker flecked eggs in cliff hollows; bare rocky outcrops, bridges or tall building ledges; 28 day incubation period by both parents; chicks leave the nest at 5-6 weeks; hunts by flying very fast and making dramatic swoops to catch prey in midair

Diet: small birds, large insects, small mammals

Vocalization: rapid “kek kek kek kek”, repeated “we chew” at nest

√ World Bird Sanctuary’s reintroduction program put over 300 peregrines back into Missouri’s wild

√ Peregrines are the fastest animals on earth and have been clocked diving at 287 mph

√ Three subspecies exist: pacific (Peale’s), tundra and the interior west

Adopt A Bird profiles are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Edgar (Peregrine Falcon)

Edgar's Story

Species: Peregrine Falcon
Hatched: 1999

Edgar was a wild hatched peregrine falcon. His grandfather was the first wild hatched chick in Missouri in over 100 years. Edgar was injured on one of his fledgling flights from the nest atop the Chase Park Plaza Building, and suffered a broken coricoid (similar to a human collar bone). Once his injuries were repaired it was hoped that he could again be released into the wild. However, it was soon apparent that even though he could fly, his banking and diving abilities were limited by his injury and he would probably not be able to catch enough prey to survive on his own.

Generally, Edgar is a very quiet bird, however, in the morning he shakes with excitement when he knows it is time to go to his station in the weathering area. One of his favorite activities is taking a bath--especially in the rain. After many years of travelling and performing in education programs, he is now a member of the Office of Wildlife Learning and can usually be seen in the weathering area behind the Visitor Information Center. Edgar is the darker of the two Peregrine Falcons on display.

To adopt Edgar, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: EDGAR. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the bird
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus

Description: large falcon; short tail; pointed wing tips; slate-gray above; black helmet on head; whitish neck; buff beneath; lightly barred breast; wing tips almost reach tail tip when perched; regional variations exist (very dark in the northwest to pale in the north

Sex: females have more brown than males

Age: juveniles are a dark buff color with heavy streaking underneath

Length: 16-20”

Wingspan: 3-3.7’

Weight: 1.6 lbs.

Habitat: open country, cliffs, cities

Status: once found across all of North America until pesticides such as DDT eliminated eastern populations, almost to extinction; pesticide banning and captive-breeding programs have helped with their recovery; seen year-round in the US, but uncommon to rare in the winter

Behavior: don’t build nests; lay 2-4 reddish, darker flecked eggs in cliff hollows; bare rocky outcrops, bridges or tall building ledges; 28 day incubation period by both parents; chicks leave the nest at 5-6 weeks; hunts by flying very fast and making dramatic swoops to catch prey in midair

Diet: small birds, large insects, small mammals

Vocalization: rapid “kek kek kek kek”, repeated “we chew” at nest

√ World Bird Sanctuary’s reintroduction program put over 300 peregrines back into Missouri’s wild

√ Peregrines are the fastest animals on earth and have been clocked diving at 287 mph

√ Three subspecies exist: pacific (Peale’s), tundra and the interior west

Adopt A Bird spotlights are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Sirrocco (Peregrine Falcon)

Sirrocco's Story

Species: Peregrine Falcon
Hatched: Unknown

Sirrocco is a captive bred bird who came to us from another facility. In 1996, he was working at Scott Air Force Base as part of the Bird Air Strike Hazard program (B.A.S.H.). This program saves many lives every year by using falcons to deter other birds from flying in the vicinity of airfields, thereby preventing midair plane/bird collisions.

That year, while chasing a dove that flew toward a chain link fence, he was unable to veer off in time and collided with the fence, breaking both wingtips. At first it was thought that he would never fly again. However, after his wings healed one of our dedicated staff membersactually taught him to fly again, and he joined the BASH group at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Unfortunately, it soon became clear tht he would never be able to manuever well enough to resume his air force career. He was returned to WBS to join our office of Wildlife Learning and began a new career as an education bird. When he's not traveling throughout the country with our education staff as an ambassador for his species, he can be found in the weathering area behind the Visitor Information Center at WBS headquarters in Valley Park, Missouri.

To adopt Sirrocco, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: SIRROCCO. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents receive:

• A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• Certificate of Adoption
• Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• Sponsorship Card
• One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• Life History and Natural History of the bird
• 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• Discounts on WBS Special Events
• WBS Decal

Natural History

peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus

Description: large falcon; short tail; pointed wing tips; slate-gray above; black helmet on head; whitish neck; buff beneath; lightly barred breast; wing tips almost reach tail tip when perched; regional variations exist (very dark in the northwest to pale in the north

Sex: females have more brown than males

Age: juveniles are a dark buff color with heavy streaking underneath

Length: 16-20”

Wingspan: 3-3.7’

Weight: 1.6 lbs.

Habitat: open country, cliffs, cities

Status: once found across all of North America until pesticides such as DDT eliminated eastern populations, almost to extinction; pesticide banning and captive-breeding programs have helped with their recovery; seen year-round in the US, but uncommon to rare in the winter

Behavior: don’t build nests; lay 2-4 reddish, darker flecked eggs in cliff hollows; bare rocky outcrops, bridges or tall building ledges; 28 day incubation period by both parents; chicks leave the nest at 5-6 weeks; hunts by flying very fast and making dramatic swoops to catch prey in midair

Diet: small birds, large insects, small mammals

Vocalization: rapid “kek kek kek kek”, repeated “we chew” at nest

√ World Bird Sanctuary’s reintroduction program put over 300 peregrines back into Missouri’s wild

√ Peregrines are the fastest animals on earth and have been clocked diving at 287 mph

√ Three subspecies exist: pacific (Peale’s), tundra and the interior west.

Adopt A Bird profiles are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

Peregrine banding

On May 13th 2008, we went to Washington University Medical School, in St. Louis, MO, to band four peregrine chicks. There were three males and one female. We put on an ID band and a US Fish and Wildlife service band. After we were done, we put them back with their parents. They looked great. Banding helps keep track of bird movements and mortality.

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Edgar (Peregrine Falcon)

Edgar's Story

Species: Peregrine Falcon
Hatched: 1999

Edgar was a wild hatched peregrine falcon. His grandfather was the first wild hatched chick in Missouri in over 100 years. Edgar was injured on one of his fledgling flights from the nest atop the Chase Park Plaza Building, and suffered a broken coricoid (similar to a human collar bone). Once his injuries were repaired it was hoped that he could again be released into the wild. However, it was soon apparent that even though he could fly, his banking and diving abilities were limited by his injury and he would probably not be able to catch enough prey to survive on his own.

Generally, Edgar is a very quiet bird, however, in the morning he shakes with excitement when he knows it is time to go to his station in the weathering area. One of his favorite activities is taking a bath--especially in the rain. After many years of travelling and performing in education programs, he is now a member of the Office of Wildlife Learning and can usually be seen in the weathering area behind the Visitor Information Center. Edgar is the darker of the two Peregrine Falcons on display.

To adopt Edgar, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: EDGAR. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the bird
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus

Description: large falcon; short tail; pointed wing tips; slate-gray above; black helmet on head; whitish neck; buff beneath; lightly barred breast; wing tips almost reach tail tip when perched; regional variations exist (very dark in the northwest to pale in the north

Sex: females have more brown than males

Age: juveniles are a dark buff color with heavy streaking underneath

Length: 16-20”

Wingspan: 3-3.7’

Weight: 1.6 lbs.

Habitat: open country, cliffs, cities

Status: once found across all of North America until pesticides such as DDT eliminated eastern populations, almost to extinction; pesticide banning and captive-breeding programs have helped with their recovery; seen year-round in the US, but uncommon to rare in the winter

Behavior: don’t build nests; lay 2-4 reddish, darker flecked eggs in cliff hollows; bare rocky outcrops, bridges or tall building ledges; 28 day incubation period by both parents; chicks leave the nest at 5-6 weeks; hunts by flying very fast and making dramatic swoops to catch prey in midair

Diet: small birds, large insects, small mammals

Vocalization: rapid “kek kek kek kek”, repeated “we chew” at nest

√ World Bird Sanctuary’s reintroduction program put over 300 peregrines back into Missouri’s wild

√ Peregrines are the fastest animals on earth and have been clocked diving at 287 mph

√ Three subspecies exist: pacific (Peale’s), tundra and the interior west

Bird's Eye View

Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) are the fastest animals in the
world, reaching speeds up to 300 miles per hour. They reach these
high speeds by doing what is called a “tear drop” dive, which is
when they are high above their prey, then tuck their wings in close
to their body and drop straight at their next meal. Since Peregrines
use the impact at high speeds to kill their prey, they can only catch
their next victim if it is in the air. If there is a pigeon or duck
that is lying on the ground, Peregrines will fly by and hit it, until
it attempts to fly away. Pigeons make up most of their diet,
although they also have been known to hunt starlings, swifts, ducks, quail, and several other different species of songbirds and waterfowl.

Peregrine falcon pairs mate for life, and return to the same nesting
site annually. The most common nesting locations are on the edges of cliffs, on top of tall buildings, or on bridges. In most clutches,
three to four eggs are laid and are then incubated for 29-33 days.
After hatching, these chicks fledge at around 42-46 days, but remain dependent on their parents for about two months.

This is a young Peregrine that was hatched in 2006, at Labadie Power Plant. He was brought to our Rehabilitation Center after he had been in a collision with a vehicle in downtown St. Louis. He is now almost fully healed, but we continue to work with him on flying back and forth between our staff members to see if his
shoulder is now completely healed. As you can see in the pictures, he holds his left shoulder differently than he holds his right one. Once he is fully healed, we will release him back downtown in pigeon paradise.






Bird's Eye View is a regular column written and photographed by our volunteer Daniel.