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

Free Resources

World Bird Sanctuary’s web page now includes great free resources!

If you haven’t visited our web page recently, check out our new free resources.  We have added two new online games, a free music download, a link to the Peregrine Falcon Nest Camera, bat house plans, and nest box plans.

MEMORY GAME

Test your memory skills while learning about the different kinds of birds.  Every match you find will tell you more facts about your favorite birds.  See how many matches you can find!  You score points for finding all the matches as fast as possible.  How high can you score?

PUZZLE GAME

Try to complete each of four different bird puzzles.  Each puzzle is different every time you play.  See if you can complete all four.

 The Raptor Project performs the "Wonderful Birds Song" 

FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD: “WONDERFUL BIRDS SONG”

Now available for free download, the song that started it all 20 years ago! “Wonderful Birds Song” has taught bird basics in sing-a-long format and was the first song written by WBS’ Joe Hoffmann for the children’s Sing-a-long program.  The “Wonderful Birds Song” has been heard by thousands of adults and children alike, both live and on the first “The Raptor Project” CD, “Save the Future”.

WATCH A LIVE PEREGRINE FALCON NEST BOX!

In partnership with Missouri Department of Conservation and Ameren Missouri, the World Bird Sanctuary is pleased to be able to bring you a live video camera on a Peregrine Falcon nest box. 

The box is located at Ameren Missouri’s Portage de Sioux power plant in St. Charles County, Missouri.  The wild Peregrine Falcon pair was successful last year, raising five youngsters.  Nest box viewing will be made available on our web site once nesting behavior has been observed for the season.  Last year the camera was on from March 12, when the first egg was laid, through June 15, when the last of the five babies fledged.  Of course, the season is subject to several variables such as climate change, and is up to Mother Nature, herself.

BAT HOUSE PLANS

Download a free bat house plan.

Erecting a bat house on your property provides a safe roosting area for bats.  This bat house plan was designed by Minnesota DNR Wildlife Manager Earl Johnson, so it’s called the “Johnson” bat house.  You can download this bat house plan and build your own, or you can visit our website for links to information about where to buy one.  Our website has more information about the benefits that bats provide for our environment.  Speaking of bats, here’s a reminder of our special event celebrating the world’s bats, “Baturday,” which is Saturday, April 6,  10-2

NEST BOX PLANS

Download a free Nest Box plan.

WBS, working in cooperation with Ameren Missouri, has initiated a nest box placement program to insure the survival of many songbird species.  Within the past twenty years the population of songbirds has decreased by 15 to 30 percent, depending on the location. 

The construction and placement of nesting boxes is perhaps the most direct way that individuals and groups can become involved.  This is an especially unique opportunity because it allows private individuals to truly participate in the protection of species, and in some instances, in the preservation of endangered species.  Conservation is not a philosophy, but a way of life that ensures continued life for songbirds and other species.

We hope that you will enjoy these new free resources.

HAPPY BIRDING!

Submitted by Billie Baumann, World Bird Sanctuary Outreach Coordinator