2013 Illinois Peregrine Report

Transcription

1 2013 Illinois Peregrine Report The Chicago Peregrine Program has completed its 28th year. Thanks go out to the many organizations and peregrine watchers/reporters that have supported the program over the past year. They have provided invaluable assistance by helping with access to eyries, monitoring sites, banding & taking blood samples from eyasses, and assisting with injured birds. My apologies for any errors/omissions you may find in the following report. Mary Hennen, Project Director Chicago Peregrine Program I. BREEDING PAIRS 1. Wacker This is the oldest of the Illinois nest sites (27th year.) The adult female was identified as Rahn (2001, b/g 01/A), her 8 th year at this site while a new male was identified as Curtis (2010, b/r 57/D). The first of 5 eggs was laid on April 8 th. All eggs hatched. Though Rahn was found dead on May 24 th, the male continued to raise the young on his own. 4 chicks survived and banding took place on June 11th. One young was grounded after fledging and another was injured when caught on a lightning rod. Both were taken to rehab and later released. (photo: Curtis, Stephanie Ware, Field Museum, 2013) 2. Broadway This was the 20 th year for this site. The adult female was confirmed as Auntie Em (1999, b/g 5/*P), Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was her 11 th year at this site. The adult male was confirmed as Stan (2005, b/g 98/K) who nested at the Uptown site in (his natal site). Five eggs were laid, one of which hatched. One egg was collected at banding. The single female fledged without issue. (photo: Stan, Stephanie Ware, Field Museum, 2013) 3. UIC - University of Illinois at Chicago This was the 15th year for this site. In April, the adult female, confirmed as Rosie (1997, b/r *6/D), Milwaukee, Wisconsin (her 13th year at site), was involved in a territorial fight. Previous to this, the adult male was not identified (unbanded from ). Rosie survived but a new pair of adults was confirmed nesting. The adult female was Nitz (2001, b/g 2/*Y) and the male was Mouse (2008, b/g W/72). Four eggs were laid. Three hatched though only 2 young survived to fledge without issue. (photo: Mouse, Stephanie Ware, Field Museum, 2013) Museum, 2013) 4. Midwest Generation - Waukegan, Illinois This was the 13th year for this site. The adult female was confirmed as Fran (1999, b/g 5/*X), who has been only female nesting here. The adult male was identified as Greg (2005, b/g 92/N), his second year at site. Three eggs were laid, two of which hatched. The chicks were banded on June 3 rd. Both fledged without issue but unfortunately one of the young (b/r 57/N) was killed on 8/17/13 by an aircraft strike at O Hare airport. (photo: Fran, Stephanie Ware, Field

2 5. Pilsen Park This was the 12th year for this site. The adult female was confirmed as Bob (2008, b/g R/98). The adult male was confirmed as b/g, L/N (2000), his 11 th year at site. Four eggs were laid, three of which hatched. Banding took place on May 29 th. All fledged without incident. On November 6 th, one of the young (b/r 39/W) was found dead in Dayton, OH. (photo: L/N, Stephanie Ware, Field Museum, 2012) 6. Evanston, Illinois This was the 10th year for this location in Evanston. The adult female was confirmed as Nona (2004, b/g, 64/D). This was her 9th year at this site. The adult male was Squawker (2003, b/g 48/M), his 7th year at the site. Four eggs were laid, all of which hatched and were banded on May 31st. Of the 4 young, 3 needed assistance back to the nest after fledging. (photo: Webcam image on 6/6/2013) 7. River Birds The River Birds returned to a building used many times in the past but where they ve never been successful nesting at. The adult female was confirmed as Autumn Hope (2005, b/g 22/C). The adult male was not identified. Four eggs were laid, all of which hatched. Banding took place on May 31 st. All fledged without incident. (photo: Autumn Hope, Mary Hennen, Field Museum, 2013) 8. St. Mary s Hospital This was the 6th year adults have been seen at this site, but only the 4th year that nesting was confirmed. The adult Peregrines remained the same as previous years. The female was identified as b/g, R/90, 2007 and the male was Neal (2008, b/r *U/*W). Five eggs were laid, three of which hatched (on May 1 st ). A single egg was retrieved at banding. All of the young fledged without incident. (photo: 3 chicks, Matthew Gies, 2013) 9. South Loop This was the 5 th breeding year for this pair, 3rd for this site. The adult female was confirmed as Helen (2004, b/g 73/D). The adult male was unbanded but was identifiable by a healed injury to his left leg. Four eggs were laid, two of which hatched. The chicks were banded on May 29th. Both fledged without incident. (Webcam photo: 23 May 2013) 10. McKinley Park This was the 4th year for this site. This nest ledge is inaccessible and does not have a good way to view into the nest. An unbanded male was confirmed but we did not get the identity of the female. In 2012 she was identified as Marquette (2007, b/g R/60). Two immature Peregrines fledged without issue. (photo: McKinley Male, Stephanie Ware, Field Museum, 201o)

3 11. Savanna, Illinois This was the 4th confirmed year for this site. Both adults were unbanded, the same as previous years. Five eggs were laid, two of which hatched. Banding took place on June 4th. Both young fledged without incident. (photo: Matt Gies, Stephanie Ware and Savanna Chick, Sean Ware, 2013) 12. Millennium Park This was the 3rd year for this site. Identification of the adults has been the same for all three years. The adult female was confirmed as b/g, V/S, 2003and the adult male as being unbanded. Four eggs were laid, four of which hatched. The chicks were banded on June 1st. All fledged without incident. (photo: Adult Female, Stephanie Ware, Field Museum, 2013) 13. Skyway Bridge Craig Hendee, reported a state Skyway Bridge inspector observed in June two adults and four downy-headed youngsters, two smaller and two larger. (photo: Skyway Peregrines,L. Marsten, 2004) 14. Wrigleyville (new site Chicago IL) A new pair was found near the previous Belmont/Addison location. Both adults were confirmed as being unbanded. Four eggs were laid, 3 of which had hatched by May 25 th. Banding took place on June 17 th and all young fledged without incident. (photo: Wrigleyville Male, Stephanie Ware, Field Museum, 2013) 15. Wilson Crib (new site Chicago IL) A new pair was found nesting 2 miles out on the Wilson water intake crib off the Lake Michigan shoreline near downtown Chicago. The adult female was identified as Chayton (2011, b/r 80/H). The two chicks fledged without incident. (photo: Wilson Crib Chicks, Roger Usher, 23 June 2013) II. UNSUCCESSFUL BREEDING PAIRS 16. Prison This was the 16 th year for this site. On 3/16/13 the adult male, Emily (2000, b/g 5/*E) was injured in a territorial fight. Unfortunately Emily was permanently disabled and is now with an education program in Michigan. In May, Lumpy (2009, b/r 11/B) was photographed on a building nearby the prison. Behavior of 2 adults seemed to indicate nesting but as of June 3rd, no activity at the nest ledge had been observed for days. (photo: MCC Banded Adult, Stephanie Ware, Field Museum, 2012)

4 17. St. Michael s Oak Street Beach new location As in 2012, Peregrines were observed early in the season at St. Michael s and then relocated to the Oak Street Beach locality. This year (2013) the birds nested on a building just south of the previous site (which was unavailable.) The adult female was confirmed as Ballistic (2005, b/g 69/C) and the adult male was unbanded. Four eggs were laid, none of which hatched. (photo: Ballistic, Mary Hennen, Field Museum, 2013) 18. Hyde Park A pair of adults appeared to be trying to nest in rain gutters on the University of Chicago campus, as they have in the past. There was no confirmation of adult ids for Nest boxes are available at 2 different locations and though adult peregrines were sighted this year by one box, they did not attempt to nest in it. (photo: Univ of Chicago, Mary Hennen, Field Museum, 2005) 19. Lyons Quarry We confirmed two nest sites within the McCook/Lyons quarries. The Lyons pair was reported to be nesting. The Lyons female adult was confirmed as Jane (2009, b/r41/e). The adult male adult not identified but in 2012 was Jade (2001, b/g 4/*3). Though behavior seemed to indicate nesting, no young were observed. (photo: Lyons Banded Adult, Stephanie Ware, Field Museum, 2012) 20. Alton, Illinois Two peregrines were observed defending a nest on bluffs in mid April. A single unbanded adult was photographed in the area it could have belonged to either the Alton or Alton South location. No reports were made on any young fledging from this site. (photo: Unbanded Alton Adult, E. Mac MacKay, 2012) III. NON-BREEDING PAIRS? 21. Alton South, Illinois In 2012, we had 2 pairs of Peregrines using the bluffs near Alton. This year (2013) we can only confirm the Alton location. Reports were very sparse so it s possible that this location is still active. (photo: Unbanded Alton Adult, E. Mac MacKay, 2012) 22. McCook Quarry We confirmed two nest sites within the McCook/Lyons quarries. In 2012 we identified a pair in each of the quarries. In 2013, a single bird was observed periodically in the McCook location. While banded, the adult was not identified further. It is possible this individual was one of the Lyon Quarry adults.

5 23. Gold Coast A new pair was found in the Gold Coast area of downtown Chicago in 2012 where the pair fledged one young. The adult female was identified as Trixie (2008, b/g *P/*C), Grand Rapids, Michigan. The adult male s bands were partially identified as b/r, 86/??. A nest box was installed in the fall. No attempt was made to use the nest box this year (2013). Only a single unidentified adult remained in the area. (photo: Trixie and Clare, Stephanie Ware, Field Museum, 2012) 24. Peoria, Illinois Karen Vandergriff reported a single b/r banded adult Peregrines hanging out on the Route 150 bridge. We can not confirm nesting though a nest box is available. (photo: Banded Adult on Bridge, Karen Vandergriff, 2013) 25. Uptown Theater This was the 13th year for this site. The adult female was confirmed as Zoom (1997, b/r *4/H), St. Paul, Minnesota, her 13th year at this site. Zoom held the territory as a single bird and as such did not lay any eggs. Zoom s previous mate ( , Stan b/g 98/K) instead nested with Auntie Em at the Broadway site. Stan is Zoom s offspring from (photo: Zoom, Kanae Hiabayashi, 2003) 26. Lakeview The 2012 location was unavailable after the fall of The adult female, Scruffy (2007, b/g N/38), died over the winter. For the majority of the season this territory remained unoccupied but in the fall a pair of Peregrines was photographed in the area. (photo: Scruffy, Mary Hennen, Field Museum, 2012) 27. Calumet Torrence Ave The bridge used by a pair of adults for nesting in the past few years was taken down last year. A nearby nest box was available but we cannot confirm any use. A single adult was observed in the area throughout the year. In 2012, an adult female was identified as Cyclone (2006, b/g K/28). 28. Joliet, Illinois A pair of Peregrines has been observed for the past 2 years during fall to winter (August- February.) One bird is confirmed as being unbanded. A nest box was installed but the Peregrines did not use the site over the spring-summer. (photo: Harrah s Adult, Trint Istogu 2012) 29. Elgin, Illinois

6 This year, a single unbanded adult was seen periodically in Elgin. The last confirmed nesting attempt was in Summary Report - Copyright to Chicago Peregrine Program (Use by Permission Only) IV. ILLINOIS PEREGRINES NESTING IN OTHER MIDWEST STATES Wisconsin Beth (b/g, 25/B) a female produced in 2003 at the Midwest Generation Power Plant in Waukegan, Illinois for her 8 th year. Beth paired with an unidentified male (banded b/r). They nested at the Pulliam Power Plant in Green bay, WI and produced three young. Deborah (b/r, 04/E) a female produced in 2009 at the Evanston Library in Evanston, Illinois. Deborah paired with a new male, "Talon" (b/g, 51/R), produced in 2009 at the Georgia Pacific Paper Mill in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The pair nested at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh site and produced four young. It was Deborah s third year at the site. Indiana Hughes (b/g, E/09) a male produced in 2006 at the Midwest Generation Power Plant in Waukegan, Illinois. This was Hughes second year at the site. Hughes, together with a new female (Joules, b/r 50/Y) fledged four young. Cara (b/r, 00/E; banded as female) a male produced in 2009 at the Midwest Generation Power Plant in Waukegan, Illinois. Cara paired with a female identified only as far as having a b/g band. They fledged 2 young. This was Cara s second year at the site.