The Falcon Cam: A bird’s eye view!
Welcome to the 2012 DNREC Peregrine Falcon Webcam – now featuring new chicks!
Streaming live from the 19th floor of the Brandywine Building in downtown Wilmington, the Falcon Cam follows the flight and fate of a resident pair of Peregrine Falcons. Peregrine Falcons, once a federally endangered species, have been using a nest box, provided by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on the Brandywine Building since 1992. In the past decade, this site has been home to some of Delaware’s most successful nesting falcons, often producing three or more eyasses (baby falcons) each year. The Falcon Cam airs through DNREC's project partners, the Delmarva Ornithological Society and DuPont’s Clear Into The Future Program, with additional support from Citibank and others.
In 2011, the Peregrine pair now occupying the nest successfully hatched five eggs and produced three males and two females. Two of the males successfully fledged in Wilmington and are off to parts unknown, creating their own story. The two females had some initial trouble fledging, and after a couple of failed attempts were transported to West Virginia to be part of an ongoing recovery project to restore Peregrine Falcons in their native habitat – cliffs! What will 2012 hold for the resident pair and the eggs they're expected to produce? Be sure to watch and find out!
UPDATE: As of mid-May, all four chicks are healthy and developing well. On May 10, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service raptor biologist Craig Koppie ascended to the nest box and banded all four chicks successfully. Banding involves placing a numbered silver USFWS band on one leg and a color-coded and numbered identification band on the other leg. These bands allow biologists to identify individuals and have provided valuable tracking data on Peregrine Falcons. For example, we know that Red Girl, the Wilmington Peregrines' resident mom, was banded as a chick from the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg, Pa. All four chicks were weighed, measured and banded in a very short time to reduce any stress on them and their parents, Red Girl and CJ. In addition, colored tape was placed over the silver band to help identify the chicks while they are still in residence. Colors used in 2012 are red, yellow, white and green. Perhaps more amazing is that it was determined that all four chicks are females!
Watch closely as these girls will develop very quickly. Both parents will only get busier trying to provide all four with food. As they get larger, watch for them to stretch and exercise their wings as they prepare to venture outside and learn to fledge. Once they reach that stage, they may not appear on the cam as often, so don’t miss your chance now.!
2012 Wilmington Peregrine Falcon milestones
February – Both the female (Red Girl) and her tiercel (CJ) were very active in the nest box, making multiple scrapes and seen courting frequently. Activity at the end of the month picked up as both birds were observed daily in the box.
March 9 – Earlier than in 2011, Red Girl lays their first egg of the 2012 clutch at about 2:30 p.m.!
March 11-12 – Sometime during the night, Red Girl lays a second egg!
March 13-14 – Again, during the cover of darkness, Red Girl lays egg #3! Both adults have spent some time incubating the eggs, but full-time incubation won’t begin until the full clutch has been laid.
March 15/16 – Partial to her privacy, Red Girl lays egg #4!
March 16 – Intruder falcons are observed in Wilmington. Both Red Girl and CJ spend considerable time off the eggs and away from the nest. However, with the mild weather, there is little worry about the eggs as mom and dad do their best to defend their nest site!
April 20 – Success! Chick #1 appears with the dawn, having hatched during the night or early morning. Chick #2 arrives sometime later that day.
April 21 – Chick #3 is seen first thing in the morning. Later that day, Red Girl appeared agitated as she moved around the chicks and remaining eggs quite a bit before dusk.
April 22 – As expected, Chick #4 hatches before dawn. CJ keeps busy, bringing meals to the nest box.
May 10 – US Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Craig Koppie affixes identification bands to the peregrine chicks. All four chicks turn out to be females. Videos of the chicks being banded, by wildlife photographer and videographer Kim Steininger, can be seen here.
DNREC's Falcon Cam is made possible in conjunction with sponsors DuPont’s Clear into the Future Program and the Delmarva Ornithological Society, among others.
