Subject: Re: peregrines nesting in Seattle?
Date: Apr 6 16:11:54 1994
From: Dan Victor - dvictor at u.washington.edu


[2nd attempt at posting]
On Fri, 1 Apr 1994, Anna Coles wrote:

> My husband, Steven, heard on the radio this morning that a male peregrine
> falcon has been seen in Seattle and that a female one is also present.
> We are wondering what are the chances of a pair of peregrine falcons
> raising a family in Seattle? Thanks for your ideas on this subject.
> --Anna and Steven Coles, Seattle, Wash., acoles at u.washington.edu

Here's what I've found so far. --Dan

=========================
>From the Seattle Times, Fri 4/1 pg. B2

"Peregrine Falcons court among skyscrapers

Love is in the air for a pair of Peregrine Falcons seen courting among
the downtown skyscrapers.

In recent weeks, biologists and people who work in tall buildings have
observed a male and female falcon 'engaging in normal courtship behavior'
as they fly above the bustling downtown area, the state Department of
Fish and Wildlife said yesterday.

However, bird experts speculate that the female may be too young to breed
successfully this year.

If These birds do wind up rearing a family in the downtown area, it will
be a first for Seattle as far as we can tell, said Patricia Thompson, an
urban wildlife specialist with the wildlife department. We're crossing
our fingers that this will be the year.

Peregrine Falcons, an endangered species, normally nest on high cliffs
and hunt other birds for food. Seattle's skyscrapers provide the ledges
required for the nests, and the city's numerous starlings and pigeons
provide an easy food source.

A female peregrine generally lays one to four eggs in April. After a
30-day incubation period, the young hatch and leave the nest about six
weeks later. Peregrines have wintered in Seattle the past eight years,
but this is the first ;year a pair stayed during mating season, which
runs from March through July, Thompson said."

========================

The Falcon Research Group's (Seattle Peregrine People) new number is (206)
517-9513. You can hear the latest info. on a recording at that number
and inform them of any sightings you may have.

========================

Apparenty channel 5 in Seattle did a film clip showing the Peregrines
which aired on Monday (?) of this week. I missed it. :-(

Dan Victor, Seattle, Washington <dvictor at u.washington.edu>