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Jessica The Mysterious Peregrine Falcon
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 The peregrine falcon perched on a ledge on the cliff. (Click for an enlarged version with the position of the bird circled.) My reason for questioning our discovery was not merely because I doubted our ability to identify a particular species of bird. Peregrine falcons have not had a pleasant history in the province of New Brunswick. "This falcon has never been a common breeding bird in New Brunswick" (New Brunswick Museum, 1999). However, the existing breeding peregrine falcons had faced a decline in population numbers due to human interference. The presence of DDT in prey eaten by peregrines "led to a buildup of residues in body tissues" (New Brunswick Museum, 1999). This buildup had a discouraging effect on the breeding habits of peregrine falcons. The chemical DDT, also known as an "organochlorine compound" (Environment Canada, 2003), had thinned the shells of their eggs. The damaged eggs often broke prior to hatching, leading to a decreased production of young. Since this species has an average life span of only four to five years (Environment Canada, 2003), this reduction in reproductive success led to a nearly fatal drop in population. The New Brunswick population stopped breeding for a period of 20 to 30 years. It was not until 1976 that this falcon was officially protected as an endangered species, and since that time many efforts have been made in its conservation. In Fundy National Park, in New Brunswick, peregrine falcons were reintroduced in an effort to stimulate a growth in population numbers and to encourage a resumption of breeding activity in the province. Even after many years of conservation, there are still less than 10 known breeding sites of peregrine falcons in New Brunswick. We felt it was essential to continue to document the presence of the peregrine falcon. This required a second expedition—to the Bay of Fundy. My father and I enjoy kayaking in New Brunswick. This kayak trip, however, had a purpose and a mission. The mission was to further investigate the possibility of the presence of a resident peregrine falcon. We set off from the shore of the bay and began exploring the coastline. The weather was different this day. There was no radiant sun in a blue sky, but rather foreboding gray clouds. There was a high wind, and the kayaks were buffeted by waves as murky as the dreary sky. We paddled past the high cliffs that towered above us. Our explorations, however, were not as dismal as the gray day. On the contrary, our expedition was extremely successful. As we paddled past the cliffs, we caught a glimpse of a familiar sight. It was our peregrine falcon. He circled overhead, watching warily. We paused in our kayaks, holding on to the black seaweed on the rocks to steady them. The peregrine remained at one location on the cliff, which surprised me. Why would the bird always linger near that one precipice, in that one dead tree? We were again startled when a second peregrine took off from a ledge on the cliff above our heads. Our observations confirmed that not only did there appear to be one peregrine falcon present at this location, but two. There were only a handful of breeding peregrine falcons in the province. Had we discovered a new pair? The behavior of the birds appeared to agree with the breeding habits of a peregrine falcon. Both parents are known to care for their young and are often present at the nest. As well, the pair demonstrated the characteristic territorial behavior of peregrine falcons. The territorial boundaries of these falcons extend to about one kilometer from the nest site. The continued presence of the pair in one location also indicated the possibility that we had come upon a nesting site. "By mid-April breeding pairs are usually together on territory, and by mid-May the female has produced eggs and started incubation" (New Brunswick Museum, 199). Our second expedition had been a success, yet there were still questions remaining. |
Although the identity of the birds was almost a certainty for my father and I, we wanted to contact the proper wildlife officials to inform them of our discovery. To do so, we wanted photographic proof of the presence of falcons. If there was a nest, we wanted to confirm its existence from the cliffs above the ledges where we had seen the falcons. So, armed with two cameras and binoculars, my father and I embarked on our third expedition. When we reached our expected location of the nest site, we were greeted by the distinct cry of a peregrine falcon. We only saw one falcon circling in the sky, but as one of the parents would likely be sitting on the nest, this did not seem unusual. Finally we located the dead tree that the falcon had perched in, and we found an area with a nearly clear view of the cliff face. Observing the ledges on the cliff required some careful maneuvering at the top of the sheer precipice. To observe the face required balancing on the edge of the cliff with one or both hands firmly grasping onto the branch or trunk of a tree. From this precarious position, with the sky above you, very little ground under you, and with the waves crashing against the rocks hundreds of feet below, it was possible to see that the peregrine falcons indeed had a nest. On a bed of sticks on a ledge many feet below sat a nest with three eggs. The location of the nest was typical of a peregrine, on a ledge "under an overhang" (New Brunswick Museum, 1999). However, the nature of the nest was not typical. A peregrine falcon nest is usually prepared "by simply scraping a shallow hollow in loose soil, sand, gravel or dead vegetation on a cliff ledge" (New Brunswick Museum, 1999). It was determined later that the nest was not constructed by a peregrine falcon. Rather, it was likely the abandoned handiwork of a common raven, now being used by the falcons. Falcons have been known to use abandoned nests, so this use did not eliminate the possibility of the pair nesting. Every other aspect of the nest seemed typical. However, we did note an unusual observation: only one parent was present. It may have been that the other falcon was hunting. However, although the peregrine falcon that was circling the area did approach the nest, it was not incubating the eggs. We began to photograph the nest and the one falcon. A ledge leading to an area that gave us a different perspective of the nest was used as well. Most of the photographs, however, were taken while hanging from the cliff above the nest site. Our third expedition was completed. As we left the site, I wondered about the whereabouts of the second falcon. Despite my concerns, the expedition was a success. We had confirmed the presence of the peregrine falcon, had found its nest, and had the photographs to prove it.  An overhead view of the peregrine falcons' nest. Our next step was to contact the proper wildlife officials. Our photographic evidence, as well as a digital movie that we had filmed of the circling bird, allowed the officials to confirm my earlier hypothesis. The appearance of the bird in the photographs, the screeching that it made as it circled, and the appearance of the eggs—all allowed the bird to be identified as a peregrine falcon. However, the mystery of the disappearing mate was difficult to explain. It was also necessary to visit the site with the official in order for them to mark the site. Thus began our fourth expedition. For a final time my father and I stood on the cliff's edge, gazing down at the ledge below. The wildlife official was present and marked the location of the nest on a map. The discovery we had made was indeed a new nesting site. This visit, however, was different from our past visits. No screaming falcon greeted us, and no bird guarded the unhatched eggs below. Where were the falcons, and why had they left their nest unprotected? |
