I realize I just was hammering 'raptocentrics', but this *is* interesting
news from the BIG state...

-------------
Michael R. Smith
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
whimbrel at u.washington.edu
http://salmo.cqs.washington.edu/~wagap/mike.html

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gerald A. Hernandez <GHERNAN1 at VM1.TUCC.TRINITY.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list BIRDCHAT <BIRDCHAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
Subject: Aplomado Falcon News

In today's San Antonio Express & News newspaper (AP report) states that a
2-1/2 month bird is the first known Aplomado Falcon to be hatched in the U.S.
wild in 43 years. The hatchling was discovered in May in a nest atop a 65-ft
utility pole on a remote tract of Port of Brownsville property. The birds
parents were introduced to South Texas in a captive breeding program run by the
Peregrine Fund of Boise, Idaho. The group has released 67 aplomado chicks at
the 40,000 Laguna Atascosa Refuge since 1993. Volunteers feed and protect the
chicks until they're ready to hunt on their own. Steve Thompson of the U.S.F.W
says that the parents have aggresively defended the nest from predators, and no
now they are showing their chick how to chase and kill gulls, ravens, blackbird

s, nighthawks and other species.

Jerry Hernandez, San Antonio, TX

Ghernan1 at Trinity.Edu