Snowy Release Day

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photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

We had hoped that the weather would have been a little more cooperative but with arrangements already made we needed to push forward even with a Spring Snow Storm upon us.
An un-banded Peregrine male had been spotted on camera at the Radisson and found injured March 20 and put into care with Lisa at Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. It was suspected that he had an encounter with Ella and Pip who would have been defending the their territory.
He was given a clean bill of health, banded and ready for release April 12.
It was decided that Fort Whyte would be suitable release location and arrangements made with Liz (President/CEO) who met use and took us out to the ideal location.
Fort Whyte which is far enough away from the Radisson and West Wpg sites so he wouldn’t be in any immediate danger straight away when released.
Once the door of the carrier was opened he simply stood there briefly at the door step to freedom and likely wondered what all the white stuff was and if he really wanted to venture out of the carrier.
As customary we do name all our banded birds…meet Arcturus.

Peregrine on the Wing

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photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Will never be able to tell where this un-banded bird is from. It’s not uncommon to have birds we’ve banded in previous years return to the Wpg area…always exciting to know they made it through the first couple years of migration.
Over the years there’s been a few birds for one reason or other that we haven’t been able to band.
Peregrines along with other birds seem to have a built in GPS that will bring them back to the same or general area of where they were hatched or nested .
All this is something we’ll truly never understand.

Things Look Better in Black n White

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photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

It’s that time of year and we’ve had a number of Peregrines return.
First bird confirmed back was Ella (resident female) from the Radisson Hotel followed by Hart who usually shows up first. They seemed to be getting along just fine until Pip (resident male) returned at the end of March and replaced Hart.
Poor Hart has been trying to become the resident male at the Radisson for a few years with no luck.

He’s familiar with the other locations in Wpg and most recently seen in West Wpg with a Lady Friend. Now confirmed that she’s an un-banded bird and hopefully they pair up …time will tell.

The Saga continues in the Peregrine World.