Mary Update #2
Here’s a Mary update, sent 6/5/09
Hi Everyone!
Banding has occurred at a number of sites. New cliff site found in Alton, IL. I have removed from the list a number of sites that have been inactive for over a year such as Bloomington.
Please send me any sightings or questions (mhennen@fieldmuseum.org .) If you notice any mistakes, please let me know. Final days for the webcams before the birds fledge. Be sure to check out them out at http://www.epl.org/falconcam/ and http://www.earthcam.com/usa/illinois/midwestgen/
Mary
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SUCCESSFUL BREEDING PAIRS
Chicago, North Broadway
The first of five eggs was laid on March 25th. Five chicks (three girls and two boys) were banded on 5/27/09. The 2009 adult female’s id was confirmed during banding as Auntie Em, b/g 5/*P (1999; Milwaukee, WI). The 2009 adult male’s identity was not confirmed, but in 2008 he was identified as Tracy, b/g *P/M (1997; Broadway, Chicago, IL). This is the 16th year for this site and the sixth (maybe seventh) year for Auntie Em. This would be Tracy’s sixth (maybe seventh) year at the site.
Chicago, South Loop
This is a new site for 2009, but the pair has been active in Chicago since 2007. Four eggs were laid and three hatched. [Steph Update: three chicks (two females and one male) were banded 6/9/09.] The 2009 adult female’s id was confirmed as Helen, b/g 73/D (2004; Manitowoc, WI). For the last 3 years the male has been unbanded. This is the 1st year for this site, the 3rd year for Nona and probably the 3rd year for unbanded male “Mr. M”.
Chicago, South Wacker
Four eggs laid. On May 5th, a territorial skirmish between Wacker’s adult pair and a third adult was observed. The third adult was driven out of the territory and no birds appeared injured. Four chicks (two boys and two girls) were banded on 6/1/09. The 2009 adult female’s id was confirmed as Rahn, b/g 01/A (2001; Sheboygan, WI). The 2009 adult male’s id was confirmed as Joe, b/g 59/H (2001; Milwaukee, WI). This is the 21st year for this site, the fourth year for Rahn and the second year for Joe.
Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
Two eggs were seen on April 6th. Two chicks (two boys) were banded on 6/2/09. The 2009 adult female’s id was confirmed as Rosie, b/r *6/D (1997; Milwaukee, WI). The 2009 adult male is unbanded. This is the 11th year for this site and the 11th year for Rosie. For the last 5 years (at least) the male has been unbanded.
Chicago, Uptown Theater
Four eggs were laid by 4/1/09. Four chicks (three boys and one girl) were banded on 5/29/09. The 2009 adult female’s id was confirmed as Zoom, b/r *4/H (1997; St. Paul, MN). The 2009 adult male’s id was confirmed as “Guy”, b/g G/G (2001; Wheatfield, IN). This is the 9th year for this site, the 9th year for Zoom and the 7th year for Guy.
Evanston, IL: Library
The first of four eggs was laid on March 28th and the first chick hatched on May 5th. Four chicks (three girls and one boy) were banded on 5/27/09. The 2009 adult female’s id was confirmed as “Nona” (unnamed), b/g 64/D (2004; Cedar Rapids, IA). The 2009 adult male’s id was confirmed as Squawker, b/g 48/M (2003; Pleasant Prairie, WI). This is the 6th year for this site, the 5th year for Nona and at least the 3rd year for Squawker.
Waukegan, IL
Four eggs were laid (date unknown). Four chicks (three girls and one boy) were banded 5/26/09. This is the 9th year for this site. The adult female has not been identified since 2007 (Fran, b/g 5/*X (1999; Milwaukee, WI)). If it is still Fran, this would be her ninth year at the site. The adult male has never been identified, save that he is banded with black over green bands.
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UNSUCCESSFUL & PENDING BREEDING PAIRS
Chicago, Lake Shore Drive
Two adults were observed nesting in the gutters on a building near Addison and Lake Shore Drive. One abandoned egg was retrieved from the gutter in May. The 2009 adult female was confirmed as (unnamed), b/g N/33 (2005; Chillicothe, IA). The 2009 adult male was confirmed as Stan, b/g 98/K (2005; Uptown Theater, Chicago, IL). A pair of peregrines were observed in the same area in 2008, but they were not ID’d.
Chicago, The Prison Birds (MCC, Jailbirds)
Two adults were seen copulating a number of times early in the season. They appeared to be using the northwest side of the building to nest, however the nest itself is not visible from the street. This is the 12th year for this site. The 2009 adult female’s identity has not yet been confirmed, but in 2008 she was identified as Hercules, b/r *D/W (1997; Minneapolis, MN). If it is Hercules, this would be at least her sixth year at the site. The 2009 adult male’s identity has not yet been confirmed, but in 2008 he was identified as “Max” (actually named Emily, as he was banded female), b/g 5/*E (2000; Milwaukee, WI). If it is Max, this would be at least his sixth year at the site.
Chicago, The River Birds
Four eggs were laid. As of 5/1/09, the female was reported to be still incubating. Neither adult’s identity has been confirmed.
Chicago, St. Michael’s
Four eggs were laid, but they disappeared one at a time over a week’s span. The 2009 adult female was confirmed as Ballistic, b/g 69/C (2005; Cleveland, OH). The 2009 adult male was unbanded. This is the 5th year for this site, the third year for Ballistic and the first year for the unbanded male, “Morgan”.
Alton, IL
A pair of peregrines were found nesting on cliff near Alton, Illinois (St. Louis area) by Christian Hagenlocher. At least two chicks were observed. The adults appeared to both be banded with b/g bands.
Hyde Park, IL: University of Chicago
Copulation and courting behavior was observed early in the season. Two nest boxes are available, but the birds used nearby rain gutters for a nesting site instead. They used multiple gutter locations this season. Both of the birds were observed in one of the nest boxes in late May. No eggs or chicks have been found in either the nest boxes or the gutter locations. The 2009 adult female was confirmed as Magnolia, blk 22R (1991; LaCrosse, WI). Magnolia is the oldest known peregrine in Illinois. The 2009 adult female was confirmed as “Eddie”, b/g S/T (2000; Chicago/Hyde Park, IL). Eddie is Magnolia’s offspring. This is the 13th year for at least nesting behavior in Hyde Park. This is also Magnolia’s 13th year in Hyde Park and Eddie’s 4th (possibly 5th).
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PEREGRINE TERRITORIES (non-breeding) or EYRIE LOCATION UNKNOWN
Chicago, Lakeview
A pair of adult birds was present at this site this year. The ledge used by this pair is not accessible and can only be viewed from the street. This is the 5th year a pair has been seen periodically in this area.
Chicago, Loyola Campus, Chicago
Copulation was observed early in the season. The pair was active in the area, but to date, no nesting site has been found. The 2009 adult male was confirmed as b/g 5/??. The 2009 adult female was unbanded. This is the second year for this site. In 2008, a juvenile with b/g bands and an unbanded adult were confirmed.
Chicago, Northwestern Hospital
One adult was confirmed at this site. No nesting attempt has been observed to date.
Chicago, Pilsen Park
In 2008 the adult female, Bryanne (b/g 9/*Y), died just as her three eggs should have hatched. The adult male, Lynn (b/g L/N), subsequently abandoned the nest. Over the winter, a single bird was observed on many occasions. As of 4/7/09, the nest box was still empty, but there have been unconfirmed sightings of two adults in the area.
Chicago, St. Mary’s Hospital
Two adult peregrine were observed in the spring of this year. One adult was confirmed banded b/g. This was a new site for 2008. A pair of peregrines were observed throughout April and May of that year frequenting the ledges of the hospital.
Calumet, IL
In 2008, this nest was in the steel beam of a bridge. At least one juvenile was confirmed to have fledged from the nest that year. The nest was inaccessible and it was impossible to view from the ground. There was no confirmation on nesting in 2009, but the site is still being monitored. In late May 2009, a one-year old male was identified at the nest site. He was confirmed as Malty, b/g 5/*1 (2008; Milwaukee, WI). This is the 6th year a pair has been in this area.
McCook, IL
A pair was observed in the area in spring of 2009. This was a new site in 2007, from which three immature peregrines fledged from a rock ledge in a quarry. The adults were seen early in 2008, though no nesting was observed for that year.
Chicago Peregrine Falcon Blog 