Diary - 2008

Recently I talked with two local birders. They asked about the Peregrines and the number of youngsters fledged from the Rock last year. Having more fog in my head than the entire Central Coast at times, I responded incorrectly, saying there had been three babies on the south side and none on the east side. Dennis, if you are reading this, please accept my apologies and this correction. There were three fledged from both sides last season . . . a bumper crop.

Another subject I'd like to bring up before beginning this season's diary is odd eating habits. There have been some interesting observations this winter. Cleve Nash got a photograph of an Osprey carrying off a Bufflehead Duck. A group of birders near the Natural History Museum reportedly saw an otter eating a surf scoter. Also near the museum, two Red-Tail Hawks went on a killing spree involving Black-Crown Night Herons for meals. I witnessed three successful kills and one attempt that ended in two people walking too close and causing the hawk to fly off. The heron stumbled off into the cover of some shrubs. Within a week the herons had realized the folly of sitting in the trees near the museum and abandoned the area.

During a discussion on the Raptor Watch email list, Dean Thompson related an interesting instance of kleptoparisitism (one animal stealing another's food) where a Peregrine Falcon was regularly seen carrying fish into an aerie
. It was finally discovered that the Peregrine was grabbing the fish from an Osprey's grasp during flight.

Speaking of Raptor Watch, you might consider joining to get observations and join discussions of raptors from the Central Coast and around the world. You can join us by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

For those of you who enjoyed Dylan, the State Park Marina Peregrine of Daily Bad Hair, he hasn't been seen for quite some time. I miss him and hope he shows up again.

With that, we begin here with occasional notes about this year's breeding season.

Judy                                

Thursday, March 6 - Nesting season is upon us again, with both pair of Peregrines at the Rock preparing to start new broods. As far as I can tell (and I'm only saying this because there is no reason yet to believe otherwise), the same birds are with us as last year. The south-side pair, Elvis and Khaos, are in their usual places - mostly the diving board cave and the smaller, double cave just below. No actual nesting has begun. On the north side, there seems to be a lot of activity at a spot Esteban and Milli (a different bird from 2000 - 2006, but just for continuity and lack of anything better, the name is the same), used a couple of years ago. Let the games begin!

Friday, April 4 -

Both pair of Peregrines are sitting eggs at Morro Rock. The south side are using the diving board hold again; on the north side, an aerie from a few years ago is being used. This one is best viewed from around the stone marker that stands in front of the restrooms. Go past it about 50 feet, then look up. There is a wide swath of green plant life going up at a diagonal almost right in front of you. To the right of that and up about 20 feet (I'm terrible at estimate distance, so you are going to have to be good at guessing here) is a much narrower trail of green. That one ends at a ledge with three shallow-looking caves right above it. That's the area to watch for activity. Right now is the quiet time of year - she's usually inside sitting eggs.

Now there is something new to share with you. There is a third pair of peregrines nesting in Morro Bay. The location is fairly open to possible disturbance by too much traffic and, although it was announced on a local birding list, I prefer not to publish it here just yet. However, I will be posting photographs that Cleve Nash takes as the season progresses. Neither of these birds looks familiar. More than likely they are young and this may well be their first nesting season. As you can see, the view is fantastic and we should know soon how many eggs are laid and almost immediately after hatching how many chicks there are.

This is an incubation exchange that took place earlier today. Should be an interesting season.

On a more somber note, a good friend to the peregrines and of mine passed away recently. Harold Weiman, author of popular nature books about the Central Coast, had moved to Seattle with his wife, Pat, several years ago. By coincidence, I moved to the same area soon after and stayed for two years. Many of you will remember Harold from all the times he brought out his huge, orange telescopes for use by anyone who wanted a really close view of the south side pair. He was a generous, lovely man. This world is made less by his absence.

Thursday, April 17 - Both pair of falcons on Morro Rock have been taking food into the aeries for the last three days. Cleve has been watching the other pair and hasn't seen any feeding behavior there. Soon though.

The third pair of Peregrines is nesting on Black Hill above South Bay Blvd. It seems everyone in the county knows about this location, so it seems silly to keep it from you. Should you decide to go get a look at the falcons there, please be respectful of them and keep your distance. They have chosen this site, despite the traffic on the trail below, so seem to be relatively comfortable with people, bicycles, and cameras so close by. But they will soon have youngsters in the aerie and you absolutely must be aware of any of your behaviors that might be bothersome to them at all. Low flying, harsh "cak cak cak cak" sounds, and any other form of agitation means you need to get out of their territory. The best place to view the falcons and their young, short of going up on the trail, is across South Bay at the Chorro Flats turn-out. Park well back from the road and do not set up scopes near the traffic and/or in the bike lane. Your body squashed all over the road will make an unsightly view for the birds. Use caution!

Thursday, May 8 - One youngster has shown itself in the south side aerie during the last three mornings. Another seems to be hovering in the background, but that could be just wishful thinking. I'll let you know as soon as more make an appearance.

Some news about the Black Hill peregrines. They have been feeding one youngster for the last week. He was visible very soon after hatching. The ledge being used as an aerie is very open and Cleve has gotten some wonderful shots of feeding. But, yesterday morning Cleve was at the site from 8:00 until noon and didn't see the chick once. Both parents were around and carrying food to the aerie. They would land on the ledge, look around, and fly off - taking the prey item with them. It doesn't look too hopeful. I'll write more later today when we know for sure if something has happened to that chick.

Cleve watched again this morning and, sadly, there was no sign of the youngster on Black Hill. There is a small chance that the pair will try again. Time will tell.

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