Monday, Chuck invited me to meet up with he and Kate Heyden, an Avian Biologist and her team from the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Two of 4 young eyas had tested positive for trichomoniasis, and Chuck had treated them and one was ready to be placed back in the nest box, while the other young one required a bit more care before it can be placed back.
The nest box is atop the Madison, Indiana bridge, a 60 minute drive from Tingsgrove. Chuck explained to me that Pigeons carry the disease and they are a prime source of food that the Falcons catch and feed to the young eyas. It can be a deadly disease, unless the young ones get tested promptly, then they can be treated and then released with a very successful rate of survival.
This was such an wonderful opportunity for me to see a young Peregrine Falcon for the first time, to observe the young one being placed back in it's nesting area, as well as observe these amazing Peregrine Falcons as they flew around the bridge, yelling in protest, not realizing, of course that one of their own was about to be reunited with the others. I am hoping that the weather will be good, and that the fourth eyas will have improved so that I might be able to do the same thing one more time, possibly Friday. We have severe weather coming in again this evening and tomorrow morning~
Aren't they beautiful flyers, very, very good photos Mary.
ReplyDeleteA double bonus there Mary. You got to see the pegs up close and than take such great photos. maybe that's triple whammy after you got to meet those rehab folk too?
ReplyDeleteA fabulous experience Mary which the photos clearly show.
ReplyDeleteHope the weather is not too dramatic .. stay safe.