Tweeters,

Concerning the discussion on courtship activities taking place seemingly
late in the season.

For raptors this is a normal pattern, it is called False Courtship. Days are
getting shorter and the same processes that trigger spring courtship kick in
again. For the peregrines (Falco peregrinus) they will go as far as the
bowing and vocalizing described, even choosing a nest ledge and making a
scrape, but no eggs will be produced (hopefully). The Seattle peregrines
have been seen copulating every month of the year; it is assumed this is
part of their pair bonding behavior. Whether or not this has to do with them
being resident I don't know, I've never read anything about that. It could
merely be an artifact of their high visibility.

Besides the False Courtship, look at some real courtship and pair bonding
taking place right now too: for instance gadwalls (Anas strepera) are just
getting started here on Green Lake, Seattle. A great time to study their
antics and vocalizations and see how similar -yet different- they are from
the mallards' (Anas platyrinchos).

Martin Muller, Seattle
MartinMuller at email.msn.com