2009 Season Ends
And so another season ends. Thanks to everyone who helped out! This was a pretty quiet and undramatic nesting season, which I am thankful for. We had very few accidents and fatalities — hugely thankful for that. Those of us who have grown fond of our MCC jailbirds experienced some letdown when Herc and Max didn’t produce any young for the first time since at least 2004. We’ll have to keep our fingers crossed for next year.
Anyway, without further ado, here’s the final wrap-up from Mary Hennen (edited):
**SUCCESSFUL BREEDING PAIRS**
Chicago, Lawndale
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
Single adult bird observed April and May. On 6/17/09, three immature peregrines observed with two adults. And unhatched egg was also found.
Chicago, North Broadway
Adult Female: Auntie Em (b/g 5/*P), 1999, Landmark on the Lake, Milwaukee, WI
Adult Male: unidentified (genetic tests indicate a new male)
This is the 16th year for this site. The first of 5 eggs were seen on 3/25/09. Three females [Kate (b/r 07/E), Sloopy (b/r 06/E) and Sophia (b/r 08/E)] and two males [Johnny Smokes (b/r 12/D) and Miles (b/r 13/D)] were banded on 5/27/09. The adult female, Auntie Em, was caught during banding and confirmed as b/g 5/*P. 2008 adult male, Tracy (b/g *P/M) not observed in the area. Genetic tests indicated a new male at the site.
Chicago, South Loop
Adult Female: Helen (b/g 73/D), 2004, Busch Agricultural, Manitowoc, WI
Adult Male: “Mr. M.” (unbanded, left leg injured during nesting season)
This is a new site on Michigan Ave. for the pair confirmed using Field Museum in 2008. This is the third year in Chicago for this pair, but the first year that they’ve successfully fledged young. The adult male received and obvious left leg injury early in the season, but seemed to cope with it just fine. Four eggs were laid, 3 of which hatched. Two females [Ebony (b/r 12/E) and EJ (b/r 13/E)] and one male [Jet (b/r 21/D)] were banded on 6/9/09. EJ (13/E) grounded after her initial flight on 6/25/09. She was returned to the nest the next day and fledged without further issue. Ebony (12/E) showed signs of a left leg injury while still in the nest but fledged without any problems. Jet (21/D) fledged without issue.
Chicago, South Wacker
Adult Female: Rahn (b/g 01/A), 2001, WPL Edgewater Generating Station, Sheboygan, WI
Adult Male: Joe (b/g 59/H), 2001, Froedtert Malt, Milwaukee, WI
This is the oldest nest site in Illinois at 23 years of occupation. Four eggs were laid, all of which hatched. Two females [Brittany (b/r 11/E) and Talaluh (b/r 10/E)] and two males [Carlos (b/r 18/D) and Tommy (b/r 17/D)] were banded on 6/1/09. The adult female, Rahn, was caught during banding and a blood sample was taken before she was released. Fledging began on 6/15/09. On 6/16/09, Talaluh (10/E) grounded and was returned to the nest. She was grounded again on 6/17/09 and was taken to rehab to be checked out. She was returned to the nest on 6/18/09 along with Brittany (11/E) who landed on Franklin street the same day. The other 2 fledged without assistance.
Chicago, UIC
Adult Female: Rosie (b/r *6/D), 1997, Landmark on the Lake, Milwaukee, WI
Adult Male: “The Prof” (unbanded)
This is the 11th year for this site. Two eggs were laid, both of which hatched. Two males [Auggie (b/r 19/D) and Oni (b/r 20/D)] were banded on 6/2/09. Both young fledged without issue.
Chicago, Uptown Theater
Adult Female: Zoom (b/r *4/H), 1997, North Central Life, St. Paul, MN
Adult Male: “Guy” (unnamed) (b/g G/G), 2001, NIPSCO Schahfer Plant, Wheatfield, IN
This is the 9th year for this site. Four eggs were laid, all of which hatched. One female [Dolly (b/r 09/E)] and three males [Bond (Pierce) (b/r 16/D), Ebert (b/r 14/D) and Siskel (b/r 15/D)] were banded on 5/29/09. All of the young fledged without issue. On 7/20/09, Dolly (09/E) was picked up at O’Hare airport with a severe wing injury. She was taken to Willowbrook Wildlife Haven but her injuries were too grave and she had to be euthanized.
Alton, IL
Adult Female: unidentified (b/g)
Adult Male: unidentified (b/g)
A pair of peregrines found nesting on cliff near Alton, Illinois (St. Louis area). At least two chicks were observed. Adults appear to be banded with b/g bands.
Evanston, IL: Library
Adult Female: “Nona” (unnamed) (b/g 64/D), 2004, Firstar Bank, Cedar Rapids, IA
Adult Male: Squawker (b/g 48/M), 2003, WEPCO Power Plant, Pleasant Prairie, WI
This is the 6th year for this site. The first of four eggs was laid on 3/28/09. All four eggs hatched. Three females [Deborah (b/r 04/E), Ean (b/r 03/E) and Elinor (b/r 05/E)] and one male [Aldo (b/r 11/D)] were banded 5/27/09. On 6/15/09, Deborah (04/E) grounded and returned to the nest. On 6/18/09, Aldo (11/D) was trapped in a nearby building, caught and released. The other young fledged without issue.
McCook, IL
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
These birds appear to be nesting in a series of quarries. Adult peregrines were seen in area throughout spring. A quarry manager observed two juvenile peregrines on 6/23/09. On 7/9/09, a single immature female peregrine was observed.
Waukegan, IL
Adult Female: Fran (b/g 5/*X), 1997, Hoan Bridge, Milwaukee, WI
Adult Male: unidentified (b/g ?/?)
This is the 9th year for this site. Four eggs were laid, four of which hatched. Three females [Cara (b/r 00/E), Ealga (b/r 02/E) and Neala (b/r 01/E)] and one male [Kevan (b/r 10/D)] were banded 5/26/09. All of the young fledged without issue.
**UNSUCCESSFUL BREEDING PAIRS**
Chicago, Lake Shore Drive
Adult Female: “Chili” (unnamed) (b/g N/33), 2005, Alliant Energy Plant, Chillicothe, IA
Adult Male: Stan (b/g 98/K), 2005, Uptown Theater, Chicago, IL
This pair of peregrines used gutters on a building near north Lake Shore Drive. An abandoned was retrieved from gutter retrieved in May.
Chicago, River Birds
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
These birds nested in the same location as 2008. This year, the nest failed. Four eggs seen by building personnel in early April with incubation throughout the month. However, there was no sign that eggs ever hatched and the nest appeared abandoned.
Chicago, St. Michael’s
Adult Female: Ballistic (b/g 69/C), 2005, Bohn Building, Cleveland, OH
Adult Male: “Morgan” (unbanded)
This is the 5th year for this site. Four eggs were laid. The eggs disappeared one at a time over a weeks span.
Hyde Park, IL: University of Chicago
Adult Female: Magnolia (black 22R), 1991, LaCrosse, WI
Adult Male: “Eddie” (unnamed) (b/g S/T), 2000, Unitarian Church, Hyde Park, IL
Two nest boxes are available, but this pair continues to use nearby gutters. This season, they used multiple gutter locations as well as one nest box. Female appeared to be incubating, but it was observed that she was not sitting on anything. No eggs or young were observed throughout the season.
**PEREGRINE TERRITORIES (Non-breeding) or EYRIE LOCATION UNKNOWN**
Chicago, Lakeview
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
The ledge used by the peregrines at this site is not accessible and is only visible from the street. A pair of peregrines were seen throughout the season but there was no sign of nesting.
Chicago, Loyola Campus
Adult Female: unidentified (b/g 5/?)
Adult Male: unbanded
Copulation was observed, though the nest location, if any, was not found. No unbanded immature peregrines were observed at site.
Chicago, MCC (Prison Birds)
Adult Female: Hercules (b/r *D/W), 1997, City Center, Minneapolis, MN
Adult Male: “Max” (Emily) (b/g 5/*E), 2000, (male banded as female), WEPCO Power Plant, Oak Creek, WI
This is the 12th year for this site. The ledge is inaccessible, so observations are made from the ground level. Copulation was observed early in the season and nesting behavior reported. The adult female, Hercules, disappeared in June. There were no signs of young on the ledges, though the site was checked twice daily.
Chicago, Pilsen Park
Adult Female: Amazon (b/g R/38), 2008, WEPCO Power Plant, Oak Creek, WI
Adult Male: “Lyn” (unnamed) (b/g L/N), 2000, North Broadway, Chicago, IL
This is the 8th year for this site. The previous female, Bryanne, died during the 2008 nesting season. The adult male appeared to be courting a new female, Amazon, late in the season, but the pair did not ause the nest box on site. No eggs or young were observed.
Chicago, St. Mary’s Hospital
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
A single adult was observed periodically in the spring. Two adults were confirmed on 6/4/09. There were no signs of nesting or of immature peregrines at site throughout the season.
Calumet River, IL
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: Malty (b/g, 5/*1), 2008, Froedtert Malt, Milwaukee, WI
This is a bridge site. Earlier in year, two peregrines were observed. Bird in flight appeared to be an adult, but other bird’s plumage not visible. The beam the pair used in 2008 appeared abandoned for another beam. On 6/16/09, two birds (both adult plumage) were observed entering/exiting beam at south end of bridge. There was no sign of chicks at that date or on later visits.
Peoria, IL
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
There were three adult peregrines present March to June. A pair was observed defending a nest box on the Associated Band Building. No nesting was confirmed.
Schaumburg, IL
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
A pair of adult peregrines were observed from March through June near Busse Woods. No nesting or immature peregrines were observed.
**SINGLE OBSERVATIONS**
Columbia, IL: I-255 Jefferson Barracks Bridge
Adult Male: unidentified
On 5/2/09 an adult male Peregrine was observed flying around, landing on top of and flying and landing underneath the bridge.
Gulfport, IL: US-34 Great River Bridge
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
On 5/1/09, an adult pair of Peregrines was observed perching, flying around, crabbing and then flying up into the center of the bridge.
Rapid City, IL: I-80 Bridge
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
On 5/1/09, an adult male Peregrine was observed perched atop the north side of the concrete bridge peer located at the center of the river.
Chicago Peregrine Falcon Blog 