Anyone involved with Peregrines will tell you that June, and sometimes late May is often a hazardous time for fledging juvenile Peregrines.
It’s been a bit of a hectic week regarding the little fellas, South Essex Wildlife Hospital have been priceless as usual, and the help I get from all my buddies, Mart/Lee and specifically Paul and Shaun has been invaluable.
One such case this week really stretched the imagination, and also proves the worth of a colour ringing scheme, Paul, Shaun and myself started a new scheme this year, this is a white colour ring with 3 Alphabet numerals.
Early this week a juvenile peregrine turned up at Southend, more specifically it was seen flying in the Victoria Shopping Centre before relocating and then thankfully being caught. It was then transferred to SEWH, but it came to light that it was colour ringed, AAC. It caused quite a stir in the local news and even more so looking at the photos, it was colour ringed and it was one of ours from East London!
https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23620265.protected-bird-prey-rescued-flying-southend-centre/
It was one of 3 siblings on the new colour ringing scheme, and it was 40 miles away from its natal site!
Given that it had only fledged 2-3 weeks ago, and was totally dependent on adults for prey, it simply would not have left voluntarily, or naturally at this very early stage of the learning curve. Males usually go first around the end of August/September, but often stay longer if there is food abundance and no pressure from the adults.
For one to leave this early on its own accord, 2-3 weeks after fledging, then fly 40 miles, relocate to a Shopping Centre really stretches the mind, and possibly re writes the books on juvenile behaviour. It will be totally 100% dependant on the adults at this stage to feed it, it cannot catch prey and feed itself yet but will try no doubt, the finished article takes time and for this it needs the adults to feed it and learn from.
The only other possibility, as I see it that could be considered, is a new Tiercel turning up after displacing/replacing the current Tiercel, if he has disappeared or been chased off or worse. The newbie may have then set about the Juveniles trying to drive them off, possibly seeing them as rivals. However, I have seen this at Battersea Power Station, with a new Tiercel arriving during fledging, the Falcon still fed the juveniles and the new Tiercel had to accept it and the newbie stayed on the fringes until they left naturally.
Given that a week or so ago, before this, I was watching 2 of the juveniles overhead with both adults nearby watching, I find above very very unlikely.
So, from this, you look at how?
All 3 Siblings have grounded or become trapped, sadly one was lost, that’s another story that I will touch on later, they do get themselves in trouble, urban fledging is an extremely dangerous activity with many pitfalls waiting for them.
The reasons that have run through my head have been, he grounded, got himself trapped in a delivery van/lorry of sorts, even a train and ended up on a run to Southend and jumped/flew out. I know pretty far-fetched.
Another scenario is that he grounded, someone possibly picked him up with good intentions, and for whatever reason, decided to release him at Southend. Hungry, the Shopping Centre would look appealing with a good number of Feral Pigeons, this would likely lure him in.
If there are any other scenarios out there, I am listening and welcome them, I just don’t think it would happen naturally at this stage and 2 weeks+ along the line from fledging.
Also, to note is that without that colour ring, the juvenile would likely have been presumed that it was from the Southend pair, no one would have been none the wiser.
For one to leave this early on its own accord, 2-3 weeks after fledging, then fly 40 miles, relocate to a Shopping Centre really stretches the mind, and possibly re writes the books on juvenile behaviour. It will be totally 100% dependant on the adults at this stage to feed it, it cannot catch prey and feed itself yet but will try no doubt, the finished article takes time and for this it needs the adults to feed it and learn from.
The only other possibility, as I see it that could be considered, is a new Tiercel turning up after displacing/replacing the current Tiercel, if he has disappeared or been chased off or worse. The newbie may have then set about the Juveniles trying to drive them off, possibly seeing them as rivals. However, I have seen this at Battersea Power Station, with a new Tiercel arriving during fledging, the Falcon still fed the juveniles and the new Tiercel had to accept it and the newbie stayed on the fringes until they left naturally.
Given that a week or so ago, before this, I was watching 2 of the juveniles overhead with both adults nearby watching, I find above very very unlikely.
So, from this, you look at how?
All 3 Siblings have grounded or become trapped, sadly one was lost, that’s another story that I will touch on later, they do get themselves in trouble, urban fledging is an extremely dangerous activity with many pitfalls waiting for them.
The reasons that have run through my head have been, he grounded, got himself trapped in a delivery van/lorry of sorts, even a train and ended up on a run to Southend and jumped/flew out. I know pretty far-fetched.
Another scenario is that he grounded, someone possibly picked him up with good intentions, and for whatever reason, decided to release him at Southend. Hungry, the Shopping Centre would look appealing with a good number of Feral Pigeons, this would likely lure him in.
If there are any other scenarios out there, I am listening and welcome them, I just don’t think it would happen naturally at this stage and 2 weeks+ along the line from fledging.
Also, to note is that without that colour ring, the juvenile would likely have been presumed that it was from the Southend pair, no one would have been none the wiser.
To sum up quite a story, after getting checked out and given the all clear by SEWH, I picked him up on Friday and myself/Paul released him in the morning. A good release and he flew exceptionally well, on Saturday early a.m, I checked the nest building, AAC was on one side and the adults were just around the corner on the other, so an excellent result for all involved.
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Pauls photos of him being released
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Amazing story. Confused - where was he actually from?
ReplyDeleteThanks, its not a publicised site I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteI just meant the general area, not the actual location! Was he even from Essex?
ReplyDelete4th paragraph down - East London?
ReplyDeleteThanks, interesting
ReplyDelete