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RE: Peregrines at Devil's Courthouse



 Reece,

I believe that site fidelity in Peregrines is pretty high, barring nest
failure or mate death (important in red-cockaded woodpeckers).  I think that
I have read accounts of high nest site fidelity in Peregrines and this would
make sense as ledges and cliff faces are in limited supply.  The famous pair
in Utah at the motel has been there for a number of years.  Check out Bent's
"Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey".  I would bet that there
are accounts in that publication.

Eric Harrold
esharrol@email.uncc.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: Reece Mitchell
To: Carolina Birds
Sent: 3/19/01 4:29 PM
Subject: Peregrines at Devil's Courthouse

What is probably the same pair of Peregrine Falcons that raised young at
Devil's Courthouse last year is back. I think they are still looking at
other cliffs but there is a very good chance of a repeat performance.
Both
birds are fully mature and the female is spending a lot of time at the
old
eyrie. She does not have any eggs there yet (she goes away for long
periods). At one time today she appeared to be turning inside the eyrie
as
she would when prepairing the scrape.
Devil's Courthouse is near mile 422 on The Blue Ridge Parkway and the
cliff
can be viewed from the parking lot. Binoculars are all that is needed to
see
the falcons when they're moving or facing out. It they are facing away
they
are hard to find on the cliff and in any event a 'scope makes things
easier.
I spent 3+ hours sitting in the sun on a south slope taking notes on the
Peregrines and feeding part of my lunch to a pair of Juncos. Also had
Chickidees, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Ruffed Grouse. My sincere thanks
to
all of you who are still working and paying FICA. Your turn will come!
                                             Reece
Reece 'n Judy Mitchell
Flat Rock, NC
rmitche2@tds.net