![]() If they are infected, they will become weak and unable to fly well, resulting in their grounding, usually in the center city area. The young falcons leave the nest during the first week of June. They all became healthy and successfully fledged. Last year, all four young needed antibiotics and further treatment. ![]() The biologists administer antibiotics immediately or if the disease has accelerated, take the afflicted birds to Red Creek Wildlife Center in Schuylkill County for treatment and rehabilitation. Since then, the biologists have been careful about early detection and treatment of the disease.ĭuring the nesting in 2013, all four of the young were infected, and each year since, trichomonaisis has been detected in the young. ![]() In the 2010 nest, three of the birds died from trichomonaisis. The birds had to be treated for a deadly disease. Pennsylvania Game Commission endangered species biologist Patti Barber examines a Peregrine Falcon nestling in downtown Reading last year. Often the falcons will die of starvation or suffocate due to the lesions in the mouth blocking the trachea. ![]() The birds are unable to swallow and become emaciated. Trichomonaisis is spread to the young falcons from being fed the infected prey.Īccording to the game commission, the protozoa attack the digestive tract of the birds, creating cheese-like masses, interfering with eating and drinking. The disease is widespread in the Reading pigeon population, which is a prey species for the falcons. This year marks the 14th nesting season for the Reading falcons.Įvery year since 2010, the Reading peregrine young have been infected with trichomonaisis, an often fatal respiratory disease to which the adults are immune but the young are highly susceptible. In Reading, our downtown falcons began incubating four eggs on March 22, and the birds hatched around April 25, according to the game commission. Well, we all know this isn’t a normal year.īecause of the COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing requirements, the game commission has suspended the Peregrine Falcon banding program throughout Pennsylvania. In a normal year, they would carefully examine the birds, dusting them to rid them of parasites and measuring them to gauge their health and development.Īnd most importantly, they would normally check the nestlings for a deadly disease that has plagued the Reading peregrine young since at least 2010. In a normal year, they would retrieve the birds from the nest, place metal Fish and Wildlife Service numerical bands on their talons along with colored bands for observers to distinguish the individual young through binoculars or scopes at a distance. In a normal year, Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists would trek to Reading during the third week of May with a cadre of volunteer helpers and climb out to our downtown Reading Peregrine Falcon nest site. Our Reading Peregrine Falcon nestlings face a dire prognosis this spring. Photos are always helpful for confirming the species and band codes.An adult male Peregrine Falcon takes wing in downtown Reading. Please contact these biologists for peregrine sightings in each state. In your email, please include date of observation, detailed description of location, and any behavioral observations. Please contact The Center for Conservation Biology with information regarding sightings of Peregrine Falcons in Virginia. In addition, falcons that are hacked in cooperation with the National Park Service can have colored tape temporarily covering one of the bands. In Virginia, all falcon nestlings are banded with an anodized green US Fish and Wildlife Service band on the right leg and a bi-color alphanumeric band on the left leg. When reading a band, an observer should note the top character and its orientation (vertical or horizontal), the top background color, then note the bottom character code, orientation, and color.įor example, below are a mated pair of falcons from the Berkley Bridge in Virginia.īerkeley Bridge Male: Black 6 over Red horizontal D (Type 17) ![]() There are also several orientations and alphanumeric character arrangements on the bands. Falcons in the Eastern US are banded with either BLACK over RED (1989-2004) or BLACK over GREEN (2000 – present). To report seeing one of these bands, visit the website.Ī second bi-color band is fitted on the falcon’s opposite leg and includes a field-readable alpha-numeric code. The band is inscribed with a unique 9 digit code that allows birds to be identified during future resights or captures. The standard leg band for Peregrines is a silver metal band issued by the federal Bird Banding Lab. Peregrine Falcons are fitted with metal leg bands to provide researchers with valuable data on peregrine survival rates, dispersal distances, and population growth rates. ![]()
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