The future of the Statler Building is uncertain right now. Efforts to purchase the Statler have fallen through and the building has been “moth balled”. The Peregrine nest is still there, but there will be no web camera this season. With all of this in mind, I received the following via email from Connie Adams, Sr. Field Wildlife Biologist for the DEC. She has asked me to share this information with all of you:
KimMarie
Peregrines will be nesting before you know it, and I wanted to let you know what was up with the situation at the Statler, since you have always been so active and concerned about that particular nest. I assume you know the Statler is no longer operational, and this weekend it was boarded up. About a month ago, Audubon removed its computer and monitor, so there will be no webcam there for the forseeable future, which is a great loss. However, that means that any observations made by peregrine watchers will be that much more valuable. I would like to get an intern watching this, and the other 5 peregrine nests this spring and summer, since right now, regular observation through scope, binoculars or camera will be the only way we know what is going on at these nests.
We have been in contact with the building trustee, Morris Horwitz, and the building manager, John Gingher. In the event a peregrine falcon chick were to end up on the ground, as they have so many times in the past, the person who found it would be advised to contact us, and we would then contact Mr. Horwitz, who would contact Mr. Gingher, and then we could take it the long walk up the 18 stories back to its nest box. However, the other option, after hours or on the weekend would be to contact the Erie County SPCA Wildlife Unit. They would hold the chick until we would be able to return it to the nest box.
I thought you might want to share this information with your friends who faithfully watch the birds. We will have 4 other nest boxes, one each on the North and South Grand Is. Bridges, one at UB at the MacKay tower, and one at the Central Terminal. The 5th nest is on the US side of the gorge, right at Niagara Falls on Goat Island. As I said, none of these sites have cams on them, yet, though I believe there may one day be one at UB, CT and maybe even the Grand Island bridge. However not this year, as far as I know. The cam would have had to be in place by March 1st, and no one has contacted me about something like this.
Just thought I would let you know what was going on with the Statler.
Connie
It will be difficult to know exactly when the young falcons will fledge, if in fact the nest produces eyases this year. All we can do is use years past for a general guide.
Well the Statler (Downtown) Buffalo, NY Peregrine Falcons have 4 eggs in the nest as of this morning. AND this year we also have a second pair of Peregrines just within the city’s Northeastern border/city limits.
The South Campus of the University of New York at Buffalo (UB) had two PeFas hanging around last summer and fall (thanks to our forum member irinash for finding them at that time, taking photos and alerting others to their pressence). So this year UB and the DEC put in a nesting scrape for the birds. Both have been seen in the area and have been in and out of the nesting scrape! Forum member Joyce took some wonderful photos of the birds last week and at this time many are trying to confirm band numbers on the female (she could possibly be the 2007 female, BB, from a Detroit, MI nest). When we get confirmation on ID we will post. Thanks to Joyce for such wonderful photos and for getting some good ones of the female’s color band!
In other news… we have heard from some Canadian friends that the male from Buffalo’s Statler 2007 nest is now in Port Colborne, Ontario. It is my understanding that DEC has confirmed his band numbers. He has a mate and as of Friday 2 eggs were in the nest! Hopefully we will hear more soon about this nest. How exciting to know that one of “our” local birds is doing well and now has a nest of his own!
And again this year, the Bald Eagles are nesting in Alexander, NY! I’ve posted more information and photos regarding their nest on our forum, but expect eaglets soon!
Spring is in the air so be sure to get outdoors and explore this wonderful time of the year!
California Condor in Flight showing off its 9+ foot wing-span.
Photo: Noel Snyder, USFWS
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2009 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a draft plan today that would allow the Tejon Ranch Company to harm and harass the iconic and extremely endangered California condor. The condor’s last bastion of wild habitat is threatened by mega-developments in northern Los Angeles and southern Kern counties, planned by the Tejon Ranch Company, a publicly traded company heavily invested in by New York-based funds. Twenty-six other rare species are also included in the proposed plan. This Habitat Conservation Plan, as it is called, is sought by Tejon Ranch to exempt Tejon from its otherwise illegal “taking” of the covered endangered and threatened species.
“The countdown has begun on Tejon’s plan to destroy the condor’s ‘Garden of Eden’-the core of its existence,” said Adam Keats, director of the Urban Wildlands Program of the Center for Biological Diversity. “Contrary to Tejon’s assertions, this is not a conservation plan. This is a permit to harm, displace, disturb, and in some cases, kill 27 endangered, threatened, or rare species that call Tejon home. Don’t be fooled: Each of these species would be far better off if this permit is never issued.
“The Center has a better plan for Tejon Ranch: preserving it as a new national or state park. See http://www.savetejonranch.org.
None of us have done updates on the blog since July
That doesn’t mean there haven’t been interesting things going on… just that we’ve been taking a breather. Soon the 2009 nesting season for our all wonderful feathered friends will be underway and we’ll start posting more regular updates.
For now, join us in going outside, listening and looking for some of the wonderful wildlife that share the cold of winter with us. You may be surprised at what you find in you own backyard!
First Year Snowy Owl, January 18th 2009
Wyoming County, Western NY
Irinash, Joyce and I met for Falcon Watch earlier this evening – both adults and all four juvenile falcons were seen. Details are on our forum and I’m including this brief vid clip of two of the female juvenile falcons flying overhead (I really don’t like YouTube’s poor quality, but the original files are HUGE).
