The future of the Statler Building is uncertain right now. Efforts to purchase the Statler have fallen through and the building has been “moth balled”. The Peregrine nest is still there, but there will be no web camera this season. With all of this in mind, I received the following via email from Connie Adams, Sr. Field Wildlife Biologist for the DEC. She has asked me to share this information with all of you:

KimMarie

Peregrines will be nesting before you know it, and I wanted to let you know what was up with the situation at the Statler, since you have always been so active and concerned about that particular nest. I assume you know the Statler is no longer operational, and this weekend it was boarded up. About a month ago, Audubon removed its computer and monitor, so there will be no webcam there for the forseeable future, which is a great loss. However, that means that any observations made by peregrine watchers will be that much more valuable. I would like to get an intern watching this, and the other 5 peregrine nests this spring and summer, since right now, regular observation through scope, binoculars or camera will be the only way we know what is going on at these nests.

We have been in contact with the building trustee, Morris Horwitz, and the building manager, John Gingher. In the event a peregrine falcon chick were to end up on the ground, as they have so many times in the past, the person who found it would be advised to contact us, and we would then contact Mr. Horwitz, who would contact Mr. Gingher, and then we could take it the long walk up the 18 stories back to its nest box. However, the other option, after hours or on the weekend would be to contact the Erie County SPCA Wildlife Unit. They would hold the chick until we would be able to return it to the nest box.

I thought you might want to share this information with your friends who faithfully watch the birds. We will have 4 other nest boxes, one each on the North and South Grand Is. Bridges, one at UB at the MacKay tower, and one at the Central Terminal. The 5th nest is on the US side of the gorge, right at Niagara Falls on Goat Island. As I said, none of these sites have cams on them, yet, though I believe there may one day be one at UB, CT and maybe even the Grand Island bridge. However not this year, as far as I know. The cam would have had to be in place by March 1st, and no one has contacted me about something like this.

Just thought I would let you know what was going on with the Statler.

Connie

It will be difficult to know exactly when the young falcons will fledge, if in fact the nest produces eyases this year.  All we can do is use years past for a general guide. 

I’ll post information if or when I receive it.

We have restored all the forum files (except for the theme files) and have upgraded to the latest version.

Our forum is currently unavailable. Upgrades are in progress but will not be completed until February 8th, 2010.

Where to begin on news and updates????

Well the Statler (Downtown) Buffalo, NY Peregrine Falcons have 4 eggs in the nest as of this morning. AND this year we also have a second pair of Peregrines just within the city’s Northeastern border/city limits.

The South Campus of the University of New York at Buffalo (UB) had two PeFas hanging around last summer and fall (thanks to our forum member irinash for finding them at that time, taking photos and alerting others to their pressence). So this year UB and the DEC put in a nesting scrape for the birds. Both  have been seen in the area and have been in and out of the nesting scrape!   Forum member Joyce took some wonderful photos of the birds last week and at this time many are trying to confirm band numbers on the female (she could possibly be the 2007 female, BB, from a Detroit, MI nest).  When we get confirmation on ID we will post.  Thanks to Joyce for such wonderful photos and for getting some good ones of the female’s color band!

In other news… we have heard from some Canadian friends that the male from Buffalo’s Statler 2007 nest is now in Port Colborne, Ontario.  It is my understanding that DEC has confirmed his band numbers.  He has a mate and as of Friday 2 eggs were in the nest!  Hopefully we will hear more soon about this nest.  How exciting to know that one of “our” local birds is doing well and now has a nest of his own!

And again this year, the Bald Eagles are nesting in Alexander, NY!  I’ve posted more information and photos regarding their nest on our forum, but expect eaglets soon!

Spring is in the air so be sure to get outdoors and explore this wonderful time of the year!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Last June, shortly before a law banning the use of lead ammunition in California Condor country was about to go into effect, we urged the state’s hunters to get behind the new regulations, saying it was not too much to ask of them.

It seems they were listening.

The Fish and Game Commission reported last week that 99 percent of hunters roaming condor territory — stretching from the coast to the eastern Sierra and from Stanislaus County on the north to Los Angeles County on the south — are now using lead-free bullets in their guns.

“The nonlead hunting regulations to protect condors appear thus far to be noncontroversial and effective, as most California hunters seem to be doing their part to get toxic lead out of the food chain,” Jeff Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity said in a press release.

Authored by Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, the Condor Preservation Act, which became law July 1, helps removes one of the biggest threats facing the California condor: lead poisoning, which paralyzes their digestive tracts, causing condors to slowly starve to death.

Taken a step further, the switch to lead-free ammunition has not only benefited the endangered condor, but every other thing that feeds on game, including bears, mountain lions, eagles and even people.

Since 1992, the deaths of at least 15 condors in California have been confirmed or linked to lead poisoning. And dozens more have survived — thanks to receiving life-saving treatment — after ingesting lead fragments from bullets found in the remains of animals felled by hunters.

The Star supported Mr. Nava’s efforts, along with expanded regulations also imposed by Fish and Game, as a way to protect the food chain, the majestic condor and the investment in a breeding program that has brought the condor back from the brink of extinction.

On these counts, the news is positive. There are now more than 330 condors among wild and captive populations, up from 22 in the mid-1980s. Last year was also the best condor-breeding year in California since 1992, with nine condor pairs laying nine eggs and most hatchlings surviving.

Hunters opposed to the banning of lead ammunition predicted widespread shortages of lead-free bullets, which are made from copper and other metals. That has not happened.

According to Fish and Game, there are now at least 17 manufacturers producing more than 150 types and calibers of bullets suitable for use in condor country.

In the case of the giant California condor, it’s clear that man’s activities, including hunting with lead bullets, nearly wiped this magnificent bird from the face of the Earth. As such, we all have a moral obligation to try and save the species for future generations.

So far, we are pleased to see the state’s hunters have answered that call.