Columbus, Ohio Falcons

[AlisonL]

I thought there was a thread for Columbus, but can't seem to see one now.

A year ago, Scout, the long-time resident female at the Rhodes Tower, was killed. She was apparently hit with a broom on the rooftop of another building. There was at least one witness, who reported what had happened. An investigation has been ongoing.

At the exact same time two years ago, Scout's mate, Orville, also died under strange circumstances, as did one of their juvies, Apollo.

Not long after the murder of Scout, a new female showed up. She was Clementine, from the Mount Clemens nest. Several days after her arrival, she too was found dead.

Another new female arrived at the nest; she is Durand, from the Hamilton, Ontario nest.

Later in the year, the unbanded male, Trooper, disappeared. Another unbanded male was at the nest this spring, and he and Durand had five eggs. The eggs turned out to be infertile.

The new unbanded male also disappeared, and recently another male arrived. He is Matrix, banded black/red 19/B, from the 2010 Canton, Ohio nest. He and Durand have been bonding.

Now there is an update from Donna Daniel on the blog:

Final Ruling on the Loss of Scout

As many followers of the Columbus peregrine falcons know, last July we lost our nesting female, Scout. There were several news stories afterward. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the ODNR, Division of Wildlife investigated the matter. During the investigation, the individuals responsible for the death of Scout were identified and interviewed. The case was then presented to the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. After reviewing all of the information and the circumstances that the individuals were faced with at the time of the incident, the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office decided to not file charges in this case.

We certainly regret the loss of Scout. In her time in Columbus she produced 8 young that successfully fledged and hopefully will survive to establish a territory of their own, elsewhere. The ODNR, Division of Wildlife continues to work to educate all aspects of the public about peregrine falcons. We hope that the positive result of this issue is more awareness of the presence of peregrine falcons in our urban areas and respect of how to properly interact with these powerful birds of prey.

I am beyond disgusted that no charges have been filed. While peregrines face many dangers and challenges, it seems likely that more than one of the deaths mentioned above was not accidental. I feel that this ruling leaves the peregrines in Columbus at grave risk.

http://ohiodnr.com/wildlife/dow/falcons/columbus.aspx

Article on what happened to Scout from a year ago:

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/07/08/witness-worker-struck-falcon.html?sid=101

[dt]

That is a bunch of ______ _______!!! 

[AlisonL]

I'm from the Columbus area. Last year was my first time to watch a Live Cam of a nest. I fell in love with the Falcons. It was so sad. This year was very sad also. To watch day after day to see if she sat on the eggs. She will be a much better Mother next year and know what to do.     

Durand did a good job of incubating her five eggs, which were infertile. Her unbanded mate was the one who really did not incubate. He disappeared, and I don't know what might have happened to him.

I hope next year will be more successful, but I am very concerned about the safety of the peregrines in Columbus since no charges were laid in the death of Scout. This sends a message to the person or persons who killed Scout that nothing will be done, and also sends a very negative message to the witness or witnesses who cared enough to come forward.

[Mick]

Alison! I did not notice that you started this topic. Hooray! Thank you so much!

  DITTO dt!   

[AlisonL]

Alison! I did not notice that you started this topic. Hooray! Thank you so much!

You're welcome, Mick!

Durand on the ledge today:

[AlisonL]

Another peregrine has been shot; one of the three juvies who were raised this year at the University of Michigan Hospital. The parents are Thunderbolt (K/85), born at the Rhodes Tower in Columbus in 2006, and an unidentified male.

Peregrine falcon fledgling euthanized after it was shot in Ann Arbor

A young peregrine falcon, one of three hatched in a nest at University of Michigan Hospital this spring, had to be euthanized after it was found on campus with a gunshot wound, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has confirmed.

The bird’s death is a blow to those celebrating the Ann Arbor falcons’ first successful hatching of chicks.

Shooting one of the birds is a misdemeanor crime, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

It’s also an outrage, said raptor rehabilitator Dody Wyman, who runs the River Raisin Raptor Center in Manchester.

“It’s difficult to understand why anyone would shoot a bird,” Wyman said.

The bird, with a badly injured wing, was found between two buildings at 300 E. Hoover St. about 7 a.m. on Aug. 15.

The bird was taken to another wildlife rehabilitator in the area who had its wing X-rayed. Wyman also examined the falcon and the rehabilitators determined it would not recover from the wound, so it was euthanized.

The fact that one of the chicks died within a few months of its birth is not terribly surprising, said Janet Hinshaw, collections manager at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Young birds do tend to have accidents and often die in their first year of life. “But to have it shot is just really too bad and kind of bizarre,” she said.

Tom Cooley, wildlife biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said the bird’s wing had obvious round entrance and exit wounds consistent with being shot by a bb or pellet gun. He said it was not an injury from which a peregrine falcon could recover.

Cooley said the shooting had to have occurred near the spot where the falcon was found because the severity of the injury would have prevented it from flying.

Anyone who has information about the falcon’s shooting is encouraged to call the state’s Report All Poaching hot line at 800-292-7800, said Lt. Jane Gordon of the law enforcement division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Meanwhile, bird watchers and biologists remain hopeful that the nesting pair will stick around and hatch another brood next spring. Peregrine falcons are on Michigan’s endangered species list, though they were removed from the federal list in 1999

Two peregrines had been seen around Ann Arbor since 2006, most often on Burton Tower, but they had not been successful nesting there, said Karen Cleveland, an all-bird biologist with the DNR. Cleveland said she brought a nesting box to University Hospital, where it was installed. The birds soon set up housekeeping in the box, and this spring, hatched three chicks.

Assuming the other two fledglings are still healthy, they will likely leave the area, Cleveland said. Young peregrines tend to roam far afield. Also, the Ann Arbor area is likely to only support one nesting pair. There aren’t enough tall structures in the Ann Arbor area far enough apart to avoid conflicts between two nesting pairs, she said. “Somebody’s just going to get beat on all day long.”

http://www.annarbor.com/news/peregrine-falcon-fledgling-euthanized-after-it-was-shot-in-ann-arbor/

This is such tragic news; if nothing else, I wish that the person who did this would be found and charged. And the penalties should be much more severe.

[AlisonL]

Earlier this afternoon:







A few minutes ago:

[Faithymd]

Final Ruling on the Loss of Scout

We certainly regret the loss of Scout. In her time in Columbus she produced 8 young that successfully fledged and hopefully will survive to establish a territory of their own, elsewhere. I am beyond disgusted that no charges have been filed. While peregrines face many dangers and challenges, it seems likely that more than one of the deaths mentioned above was not accidental. I feel that this ruling leaves the peregrines in Columbus at grave risk.

Elsewhere - Says it all - doesnt it.

I am from Columbus - and I am ashamed

[raptor40]

It's a possibility people are mistaking them for "nasty" pigeons and kiliing them (they think they're spreading disease). Regardless of the reason, the criminal laws should be upheld. That's the only way it's going to decrease.

The DA's offices in our communities apparently need to be educated on the penalties of killing or harming wildlife, since they're the only ones who can charge the perps.

If need be, when something of this nature becomes public, the community needs to come together and bombard the Prosecutor's Office for justice. They will only bring charges if there is pressure from the people. They're too busy with other cases and may think these cases don't deserve as much scrutiny as others because they're only birds, or animals.

[Mick]

Short bonding visit.

[doberman]

Mick, I'm curious, how are you getting pics of them?

[Mick]

Hi doberman. The refresh cams are still operating although the streaming cams are off right now.

Here is the link. Click on "view refreshed photos". This is also the link for the live cams when they are operating.
This is an great nest to watch and has a history of beloved peregrines. It has had more than it's share of sorrow.

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/dow/falcons/columbus.aspx

Boomer, hatched on this ledge in 2008, son of Scout and Orville, is the resident male at the Terminal Tower in Cleveland. He is paired with SW.
http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/news.php

[doberman]

Mick, thanks! I got confused because I knew the live cam was shut down. I live in the Columbus Area.

[Mick]

Have you ever seen them flying about doberman?

[doberman]

Have you ever seen them flying about doberman?

Yes about 3 years ago when I was in a Park downtown. At first I didn't know what it was and someone yelled "Hey there's one of the Falcons!" All I could say was WOW! So I've been awed by them since then. That was my first live bird cam!