Peregrine Watch 2008

Viewing Dates:
Saturday, June 14 , 12pm – 2pm
Sunday, June 15, 12pm – 2pm

Peregrine viewing is weather dependent and Peregrine Watch volunteers will only be out on clear days. 

WHAT IS PEREGRINE WATCH? Peregrine Watch is an amazing opportunity to watch the fastest animal in the world hunting and nesting right in the middle of downtown Portland. Each weekend during the Spring of 2008, Audubon Society of Portland volunteers will be out along the Springwater Trail behind OMSI to show you a pair Peregrine Falcons which have made the Marquam Bridge their home.

WHO CAN COME? Anyone curious to see wild Peregrine Falcons, nature lovers, picnickers, joggers, boat watchers…. anyone!!

WHERE?  The viewing place is in front of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry on the east side of the Willamette River.

WHAT TO BRING? Clothing appropriate for the weather.  Bring a jacket because it is often breezy along the water.

A NOTE ON PEREGRINE WATCHING:  Bring what you need to be comfortable for an hour or maybe more.  Wild Peregrines don’t go by the clock, but the longer you stay the more you are likely to see! Nesting success is not guaranteed.  Call (503) 292-6855 for an update.

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE BIRDS AND OTHER AMAZING WILDLIFE?  JOIN your local Audubon Society which offers classes for kids and adults!  Call Portland Audubon at (503) 292-6855 or check out our website at www.audubonportland.org.

What’s a Peregrine Watch?
Peregrine Watch is an amazing opportunity to watch the fastest animal in the world hunting and nesting right in the middle of downtown Portland. Each weekend during the Spring of 2008, Audubon Society of Portland volunteers will be out along the Springwater Trail behind OMSI to show you a pair Peregrine Falcons which have made the Marquam Bridge their home.

What is a peregrine falcon?
The Peregrine Falcon is a bird of prey (raptor) known for its spectacular flying skills. You can recognize a peregrine by its long pointed wings and dark “mustache” marking on its face. Peregrines are the fastest animals on earth, diving through the air to catch prey at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. They eat mostly birds and will take prey ranging in size from hummingbirds to Aleutian Canada Geese. Peregrines live on every continent except Antarctica.  Peregrines are amazing birds---but we almost lost them. They were listed as “Endangered” under the Federal Endangered Species Act from 1973 until 1999. Audubon Society of Portland’s Peregrine Program has assisted in Peregrine recovery through a variety of activities including surveying for nest sites, monitoring nest sites, peregrine research, and captive rearing of Peregrine Falcons. Today Peregrines can once again be seen across Oregon and even in downtown Portland, but it took nearly three decades to bring them back from the brink of extinction.

Why were Peregrines endangered?
The pesticide DDT, once commonly sprayed on farm and forests across Oregon, entered the food chain and got into animals that were eaten by Peregrines and other birds of prey. DDT made the shells of Peregrine eggs very thin, so that they broke during incubation. Because of this, Peregrines were unable to successfully reproduce and populations went into decline across the United States. By 1970 there were no Peregrines known to be nesting anywhere east of the Mississippi River and only a handful of nesting Peregrines in the Western United States. There were no peregrines known to be nesting anywhere in the State of Oregon. In 1972 the US Government banned the use of DDT and in 1973 the Peregrine Falcon was added to the Federal Endangered Species List.  Since that time, a huge collaborative effort between the federal, state and local agencies, conservation organizations and  a small army of volunteers has helped recover the Peregrine Falcon. Happily this effort has been successful! Today there are more than 2000 pairs of Peregrine breeding across the United States and more than 130 pairs breeding in the State of Oregon. Peregrines were delisted from the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1999 and from the State of Oregon Endangered Species Act in 2007.

Does this mean that the Peregrines are “back?”
Peregrine are considered to be recovered. However, it is important to continue to track this species closely. Even though DDT was banned more than 35-years ago, it continues to persist in our environment and Peregrine eggs continue to show some level of thinning, although at far lower levels than at the peak of the decline. Other chemicals such as dioxins, are also showing up in their eggs. Nest sites are at risk from disturbance by recreational activities. There have also been problems with illegal killing of Peregrine Falcons in both Oregon and California in recent years. In order to ensure that the species continues to do well, we will continue to monitor Peregrine populations across our State on the three-year cycle until 2015.

That’s great, but why are they nesting in downtown Portland?
Peregrines typically nest on ledges on tall, remote cliffs. However, in some cities, peregrine have substituted tall buildings and cliffs. In fact there are records dating back to the Middle Ages of Peregrines nesting on manmade structures. Peregrines do not build stick nests; instead they hollow out what is known as a “scrape” in the sand or gravel found on nest ledges. Cities provide abundant food sources in the form of pigeons and other birds. Peregrines first began nesting on Portland’s Fremont Bridge in 1994. Since that time, additional pairs have established nest sites at six other locations in the Portland area. Today 5% of the Peregrine nest sites in Oregon are located in the Portland including the State’s two most productive nest sites located at the Fremont and Saint John’s Bridges. The Fremont Bridge Peregrine have raised more than 40 young since 1994! Perhaps for the Peregrine, navigating the urban landscape of concrete and buildings is not that different from flying among canyons and cliffs.

How long have peregrine been on the Marquam Bridge?
A pair of Peregrines was first observed on the Marquam Bridge during the spring of 2006, and again in 2007 and 2008. They have not yet raised young successfully at this site, but during the winter of 2008 they have been observed going through courtship and nest site selection behaviors. So we are very hopeful that this will be the year!

What can we expect to see at the OMSI Peregrine site?

• Courtship behavior begins in January or early February and lasts six to eight weeks.  During this period, the pair may be seen performing various aerial acrobatics including dives, figure-eight and aerial prey exchanges!
• The female lays two to four eggs on the nest ledge, usually in late March.  With the help from her mate, she incubates the eggs for 30 days until they hatch in late April.  At first the male catches food for the female and young.  Later, both parents hunt.
• The young falcons usually fledge (leave the nest to learn to fly) in early June, at 38-54 days of age.  Before this big event, they will stand at the edge of the nest ledge and flap their wings with enthusiasm.
• For several weeks after fledging, the parents continue to provide food for their young and protect them.  Young Peregrine Falcons will often stay with their parents into the fall learning to hunt and perfecting their famous flying skills!
• During winter young birds disperse.  The resident pair remain, often joined by migrant Peregrines wintering in Portland.