The adult female here was banded as a chick in a nest box in Rainier, OR (power plant) in 2000. Her VID band is 71 over A. Her mate is VID band 1 over G, one of the 2001 offspring from Stewart and Bell on the WAMU tower, in downtown Seattle.
Unlike in previous years, there were only three young this year. They now sport USFWS bands (right) and VID bands (left). All three took female-sized bands, although one of them smaller (7A) than the other two (7B).
.JPG)
The photo at left shows Mike MacDonald, WSDOT Wildlife Biologist, holding one of the chicks after banding.In years past the female has been extremely agressive towards the intruders who came to band her young. She usually would hit the first person down the ladder, and others too as they approached the nest. This year, much to Eric's surprise, she yelled at him, but didn't hit. As the team members gathered at the base of the ladder, she stood in the nest box, next to her young. Only as Mike and I approached to gather the young did she fly off.
The young were gathered up and kept safe inside a cloth bag, while we banded each in turn. The team members stand within a couple of feet of the nest box, using part of the bridge structure as a working table. This also allows us to keep an eye on the whereabouts of the adults.
.JPG)
As I banded the first chick I glanced over to the adult female and noticed that she had laid down in the box! A most unusual posture for an adult peregrine that's not incubating. It makes for nice calm working conditions though.
We did not see the male during the banding activity, although I believe I heard him vocalize from somewhere out of view on the bridge.
We would like to thank WSDOT Supervisors Archie Allen, Rick Rodda, and Tim Ditch for granting permission for the banding operation. Dave Wheeler and Gerald Cornell assisted by driving the trucks.
