Tweetlanders: I spent an hour and a half between 5 pm and 6:30 pm
watching our resident peregrine on high bridge here in Spokane. All I
had was our 12x36 window mounted scope but it was quite close most of
that time. It took off for two short intervals during that period. Most
of the peregrine's time was spent grooming all of its wing, tail and
other feathers that it could reach. Must have done them all several
times. When it groomed the wing and tail feathers it would move the
inner eye lids over the eyes to protect them. It also groomed (or
sharpened?) its talons. It scatched its head and neck area many times.
I never saw a mate in that time. Would its mate be incubating eggs at
this time? It had a full crop and there was some blood on its breast.
It had a red band on its right tarsus and a metal band on the left.
Could not read numbers. I have never seen a raptor stretch before. This
one, several times, extended the right wing and right leg simultaneously
to the rear. Alternated with the left wing and leg doing a stretch again
simultaneously. It was very interesting to watch this beautiful bird's
behavior. Can an expert on our local peregrines tell me from the bands
if this was a male or female? Age?
Thanks Hans
Hans & Kathryn "Katie" Krauss, Spokane, WA two.wing-nuts at juno.com
It's better to be "WNGNUTS" than dead-bolts. (vanity plate)
Kathryn's office: Parish.Nurse at juno.com (M-W)