Peregrines 2023

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photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Well it’s that time of year…Peregrines have been returning with routine site checks now underway.
Over the years the Radisson Hotel has always been the prime location that birds are attracted to…this year being no different.

The Peregrine Project is fortunate to have remote camera access at the Radisson nest box…have to love technology.
1st bird back was an un-banded female March 20th and then on March 21st Ella the resident female returned…replacing the other female.
A un-cooperative banded bird (male) showed up but wasn’t identified…being replaced by Pip the resident male March 29th.
Pip and Ella are now getting reacquainted with all things looking positive.

With other birds now having returned at un-disclosed locations…time to put boots on the ground to see who they are.
Peregrine Season 2023 is underway.

The Love of Peregrines

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photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

It goes without saying that I’m a Raptor Guy…big birds and owls have always been my focus. With Peregrines topping the list…the love for these birds began back in 2006 when I became involved with the Manitoba Peregrine Project.
There’s a lot of back-end work that takes place…nest box design, construction, installation, gravel pick-up, road trips, sight checks near and far. Along with yearly clean-up and gravel replacement if necessary.
Bottom line is there is much to be done before there are any photographic rewards.

Why Peregrines…probably because they are endangered and not as commonly seen and photographed as other raptors. The challenge has always been to photograph these birds that fly at Mach Speed.

Over the years I’ve learnt to take the good with the bad…the happy with the sad, as no two days are ever the same.

Each encounter in my books are Special when it comes to Peregrines.

Second Times a Charm

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photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

This time of year Peregrine Chicks can run into trouble when they fledge.
The Technology we have with remote access and a recorder is most useful as was the case when one chick disappeared from the nest box.
Did she fledge ? Did she get knock out of the box…what exactly happened ?

Review of the recorder confirmed it wasn’t an intentional fledge but rather a miscalculation when she attempted to jump over her brother and went out of the box.
Luckily she simply glided to the ground and spent some time on a sidewalk in downtown Winnipeg before being picked up and taken to Prairie Wildlife Rehab Centre…after being checked out she was ready to be returned to the Radisson.

It could very well have turned out much worse…but she got a “Second Chance” and has now figured out how her wings work.

Meet Amarna…K/60