2010 Summary Report from Mary Hennen
2010 Summary Report
Chicago Peregrine Program
Mary Hennen, project directorThe Chicago Peregrine Program completed its 25th year. Thanks to everyone for their assistance in monitoring the peregrines, especially personnel at the Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, Evanston Peregrine Watch, Willowbrook Wildlife Haven, SOAR, and to the many peregrine watchers/reporters.
The web cams at the UIC, Midwest Generation Plant, South Loop Site and Evanston Public Library were great successes, as always. Any mistakes in the report are clearly mine and corrections could be emailed to me directly at mhennen@fieldmuseum.org. Don’t forget to send me any winter sightings.
Thanks!
Mary
**SUCCESSFUL BREEDING PAIRS**
Chicago, McKinley Park
Adult Female: b/g
Adult Male: unbanded
New site for 2010 though birds were reported at the site during the fall of 2009. One adult is unbanded (believed to be the male) while the other bird was confirmed as having a b/g band. The nest ledge is inaccessible and no good view into the nest is possible so we were unable to get an exact egg count. Three young fledged from this site without any issues.
Chicago, North Broadway
Adult Female: Auntie Em (b/g 5/*P), 1999, Landmark on the Lake, Milwaukee, WI
Adult Male: unidentified
This is the 17th year for this site. A replacement nest tray was installed in March and almost immediately the first of 5 eggs was laid. Two females [Grace (b/r 08/X) and Virginia (b/r 09/X)] and three males [Damen (b/r 28/M), Loyola (b/r 29/M) and Morgan (b/r 30/M)] were banded on 6/09/10. All the chicks fledged without incident by 6/25/10.
Chicago, South Loop
Adult Female: Helen (b/g 73/D), 2004, Busch Agricultural, Manitowoc, WI (3rd year)
Adult Male: “Mr. M.” (unbanded, left leg injured during 2009 nesting season) (3rd year)
New site (2010) just north of the location used in 2009. Four eggs were laid, 3 of which hatched on or around 5/11/10. One female [Toewes (b/r 07/X)] and two males [Buff (b/r 26/M) and Kane (b/r 27/M] were banded on 6/7/10. Kane (27/M) grounded after his initial flight during a very bad storm. He was unhurt and returned to the nest. The two other fledged without issue by 6/18/10.
Chicago, South Wacker
Adult Female: Rahn (b/g 01/A), 2001, WPL Edgewater Generating Station, Sheboygan, WI (5th year)
Adult Male: Joe (b/g 59/H), 2001, Froedtert Malt, Milwaukee, WI (3rd year)
This is the oldest nest site in Illinois at 24 years of occupation. Four eggs were laid, three of which hatched on or around 5/6/10. One female [Gracen (b/r 04/X)] and two males [Rahm (b/r 23/M) and Thayer (b/r 24/M)] were banded on 5/28/10. Fledging took place beween 6/10 and 6/25. All three chicks grounded after initial flights and were returned to the nest. Rahm (23/M) was taken to rehab with a respiratory infection and should be released this fall.
Chicago, St. Michael’s
Adult Female: Ballistic (b/g 69/C), 2005, Bohn Building, Cleveland, OH (3rd year)
Adult Male: “Morgan” (unbanded)
This is the 6th year for this site. This site was inaccessible this year due to building construction. Observations were made from the ground but this did not allow for an exact egg count or number hatched. One chick was first observed on 6/01/10 when it appeared to be around 22-24 days old. The unbanded chick fledged without issue.
Chicago, UIC
Adult Female: Rosie (b/r *6/D), 1997, Landmark on the Lake, Milwaukee, WI (11th year)
Adult Male: “The Prof” (unbanded)
This is the 12th year for this site. Four eggs were laid, three of which hatched somewhere on or around 5/13/10. Two females [Judy (b/r 06/X) and UIC (b/r 05/X)] and one male [Stan (b/r 25/M)] were banded on 6/4/10. All three 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 10th year for this site. Two eggs were laid, both of which hatched on or by 5/4/10. Two males [Lord Stanley (b/r 22/M) and Rudy Horn (b/r 21/M)] were banded on 5/27/10. Both fledged without issue.
Calumet River, IL
Adult Female: unidentified (b/g)
Adult Male: unidentified (b/g)
Two adult peregrines seen on and off during breeding season. Both had b/g bands. One juvenile was observed 6/25/10
Evanston, IL: Library
Adult Female: “Nona” (unnamed) (b/g 64/D), 2004, Firstar Bank, Cedar Rapids, IA (5th year)
Adult Male: Squawker (b/g 48/M), 2003, WEPCO Power Plant, Pleasant Prairie, WI (4th year)
This is the 7th year for this site. The first of four eggs was laid 3/24/10, three of which hatched on or around 5/1/10. Two females [Hennen (b/r 03/X) and Lorraine(b/r 02/X)] and one male [Perkins (b/r 20/M) were banded 5/26/10. Both Perkins (20/M) and Hennen (03/X) grounded at some point and returned to the nest. Only Lorraine (02/X) fledged without issue on 6/14/10.
Savanna, IL
Adult Female: Unbanded
Adult Male: Unbanded
New site for 2010. Rhoni Hartsock reported two unbanded adults utilizing a nest box installed in Savanna, IL this past February. Four young fledged with two of the fledglings landing on a barge on 6/21/10. They were rescued by USFWS and returned to the nest. The other two fledged by 6/24/10. The eyasses were not banded this year but arrangements have been made for 2011.
Waukegan, IL
Adult Female: Fran (b/g 5/*X), 1997, Hoan Bridge, Milwaukee, WI
Adult Male: unidentified (b/g ?/?)
This is the 10th year for this site. Four eggs were laid, two of which hatched on or by 4/30/10. Two females [Jo-an (b/r 00/X) and Mecstr (b/r 01/X)] were banded 5/24/10. Both young fledged without issue.
**UNSUCCESSFUL BREEDING PAIRS**
Chicago, Lake Shore Drive
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
Pair present in 2010 with courtship behaviors observed (defense of ledges, vocalizations etc.) There is no view into the ledges being used by the pair so we were unable to confirm any eggs being laid but we believe they did attempt to nest and failed.
Chicago, Lakeview
Adult Female: unidentified (b/g)
Adult Male: unidentified (unbanded)
The ledge used by the peregrines at this site is not accessible or visible other than from watching from the street. While a pair of peregrines was seen periodically throughout the season, no behavior indicating nesting or chicks were observed. On adult appeared to be unbanded while the other had a b/g band.
Chicago, MCC (Prison Birds)
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
This is the 13th year for this site. A pair of peregrines was present during the breeding season and courtship was observed. Early in the season, territorial interactions with a third adult were seen but the site appeared to be abandoned most of the summer. A nearby location was found in July but we don’t know for sure if this was the prison birds or not. In September 2 adults were again in the prison ledge.
Chicago, Pilsen Park
Adult Female: Amazon (b/g R/38), 2008, WEPCO Power Plant, Oak Creek, WI (2nd year)
Adult Male: “Lyn”; (unnamed) (b/g L/N), 2000, North Broadway, Chicago, IL (9th year)
This is the 9th year for this site. Three eggs were laid, two of which hatched by 5/10/10. The two chicks were found dead on 5/25/10. They were last seen alive 5/21/10. The chicks were collected and we are trying to determine the cause of death
Chicago, River Birds
Adult Female: Autumn Hope (b/g 22/C), 2005, Execu-Stay Marriot / Allerton Hotel, Chicago, IL
Adult Male: unidentified
A new location along the mag mile was selected for 2010. Four eggs were laid, none of which hatched. An abandoned egg was collected on 5/11/10. A renest was attempted south of the first site (site used in 2009.) The female was reidentified as Autumn Hope. Four eggs were laid, none of which hatched. Two infertile eggs were collected on 7/9/10
Chicago, St. Mary’s Hospital
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
Adult peregrines have been at this site since 2008, but this year nesting was confirmed. Two nest attempts failed and a single egg was collected for each of the two nest locations. Plans are to install a nest box for 2011.
Alton, IL
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
This pair utilized a new location nearby to the 2009 site. Christian Hagenlocher reported that observations of the adults’ behavior seemed to indicate chicks by early May. Sometime after 5/21/10, the adults appeared to have abandoned the site.
Hyde Park, IL: University of Chicago
Adult Female: Cyclone (b/g K/28), 2006, JM Stuart Power Plant, Aberdeen, OH (1st year)
Adult Male: “Eddie” (unnamed) (b/g S/T), 2000, Unitarian Church, Hyde Park, IL (4th year)
The pair used one of the two nest boxes that are available. Four eggs were laid by 4/27/10, none of which hatched.
**SINGLE OBSERVATIONS**
Chicago, Lawndale
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
Single adult bird observed sporadically throughout the season. Extensive work was being done on the outside facade of the structure which may have caused the adults to abandon nesting at the site this year.
Peoria, IL
Adult Female: unidentified
Adult Male: unidentified
A single adult wintered for the 2009/2010 season. A nest box is available though no adults stay for the breeding season.
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