Peregrine fans,
Here's an intriguing statement from an observant Moravian missionary, David
Zeisberger, speaking of the Muskingum River valley, in his "History of North
American Indians" describing eastern Ohio during the American Revolution and
after, page 67:
"Of other birds of prey, there are to be found here the hawk, the
stone-falcon, that remains near the rocks, the pigeon-hawk, that pursues not
only the pigeon, but all other birds it can conquer, though it is a small
bird and not as large as the pigeon."
Tom Bain
The Clayey Till Plains
Delaware, Ohio
-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill
Whan
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 12:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Raptor nest sites?
It seems like a good time of year to discuss nesting. I have
questions
about the nest sites chosen by raptors our wildlife agencies have
introduced/re-introduced to Ohio, and would be very grateful for
first-hand reports of nests in truly wild situations.
First, peregrine falcons. As many bird students know, prior to the
introductions there was no evidence this species had ever nested in
Ohio. Nevertheless, wildlife managers decided to join a
hastily-conceived stampede to introduce hacked birds to many locations
in Ohio and other states, in an effort to support a recovery of the
regional subspecies (even though they mostly introduced other
subspecies), to provide educational opportunities, and also, I suppose,
to promote their stewardship of non-game species. I don't want to argue
any more about that, but is anyone aware of a truly wild nesting site
for a peregrine falcon in the state? Not a building or a bridge, but a
real cliff or tree, etc.??
I have the same question about ospreys. While I regard the osprey
project undertaken by wildlife managers to be a far more justifiable
operation--ospreys have a solid record as Ohio nesters in the past,
making the project a legitimate re-introduction effort--I have a similar
question. Is anyone aware of a successful osprey nest in Ohio that is
placed in a wild nesting site---not a platform, a utility tower, etc.,
but a real tree, etc.??
I would be glad to hear that falcons and ospreys have returned to
natural nest sites, but then I would not be terribly surprised to hear
they have not. If the latter is the case, is there anyone else out there
who feels uncomfortable about such a situation? Are we approaching a
time when kestrels all nest in kestrel boxes, and barn owls in barns??
Bill Whan
Columbus
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______________________________________________________________________
Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
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