<< Back 8/21/02 Naturalist's Corner By Don Hendershot Laurel decided to vacation in the Southern Appalachians while Chesapeake opted for a beach trip. Laurel appears to have found an area to her liking along the North Carolina-Virginia line, just north-northeast of Boone. Chesapeake cruised the coastline of the Carolinas and was last reported near Sunset Beach, N.C. Unfortunately, Chesapeake hasn’t been heard from since Aug. 6. Laurel and Chesapeake are just two of the Virginia peregrine falcons being monitored via satellite transmitters by the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. According to Barton Paxton of the Center for Conservation Biology, the Center outfitted 18 young falcons with transmitters in 2002 in an effort to learn more about Virginia’s peregrine population. Paxton said there are about 16 pairs of breeding peregrines in the state. He said most of Virginia’s falcons were in the eastern part of the state. In an attempt to establish birds in the mountains of Virginia, fledglings have been taken from eastern nest sites and hacked (reared in captivity, on site, with as little human contact as possible, until they fledge) in the Appalachians. Laurel was hatched approximately May 1 on South Marsh Island. She was relocated to Harper’s Ferry on May 30. Chesapeake was born on the James River Bridge in mid-April. She was transported to a hack site in the Shenandoah National Park in late May. For the past two years, the Center has outfitted fledgling falcons with satellite transmitters called PTTs (Platform Transmitter Terminal.) The PTTs are solar powered and transmit signals every 60 seconds provided there is enough sunlight. The PTTs weigh 20 grams and are attached to the back of the falcons with a neoprene harness. The Center hopes to track outfitted birds for three years in an effort to answer such questions as: How many falcons survive to reproductive age? What are some of the causes of mortality? Where do birds hatched in Virginia breed? Do birds from Virginia migrate? The Center for Conservation Biology has created an interactive website it hopes will encourage the public to become more involved in the state’s peregrine research. You can follow the movements of the outfitted birds by logging on to http://fsweb.wm.edu/ccb/vafalcons/falconhome.cfm. Paxton said the Center welcomes information from birders and/or others who observe the outfitted and banded falcons. “We would like to know as much as possible about the bird’s general condition — does it appear healthy — also its actions: did you observe the bird hunting, perched, etc., and was it interacting with other falcons. Paxton can be reached by phone at 757.221.1639 or by email at bjpaxt@wm.edu. Paxton said the antennae of the transmitter was noticeable on the birds and the birds are banded. For those in the Boone area, Laurel is banded with a black over green band. For beach-goers, keep an eye out for Chesapeake and her green over black band. Willow, another Virginia falcon, has been cavorting along the Outer Banks. She was last recorded (8/9) just across the inlet south of Swans Quarter. Willow is also wearing a green over black band. (Don Hendershot can be reached at don@smokymountainnews.com)