Haywood peregrines successful

One of Haywood County’s newest families had a successful summer. According to Chris Kelly, mountain nongame wildlife biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, a pair of peregrine falcons in the Pigeon River Gorge successfully fledged three chicks this year.

Kelly said that NCWRC staff and volunteers have been keeping an eye on the gorge for several years. That diligence paid off in 2004 when a pair of falcons was spotted. The peregrines established a territory in 2004 but did not nest.

Kelly said she found a pair of falcons at the same site this spring. In early April she witnessed an incubation exchange, which signaled the birds were nesting. Then in late April, volunteer Reece Mitchell documented two food transfers, signs that the pair was feeding chicks.

On May 19 Kelly finally confirmed the nesting attempt when she was able to see three eyases (falcon chicks). By their appearance, Kelly believes there were two males and one female.

The Pigeon River Gorge pair was one of 10 pairs of peregrines that established nesting territories in Western North Carolina. Kelly outlined the territories and nesting results in a post to the Carolina Bird Club’s listserv:

• Whiteside Mountain (Jackson County) — 3 fledglings.

• Panthertail Mountain (Transylvania County) — 3 fledglings.

• Looking Glass Rock (Transylvania County) — 1 fledgling.

• Devil’s Courthouse (Transylvania County) — 1 fledgling.

• Pigeon River Gorge (Haywood County) — 3 fledglings. “This site was first occupied last year, but the pair did not attempt to nest until this year,” said the listserv. “Outstanding for a first attempt!”

• Hickory Nut Gorge (Blue Rock and Chimney Rock Park, Rutherford County) — the pair failed at Blue Rock then began a promising nesting attempt at the Chimney Rock eyrie, but failed again.

• Shortoff Mtn (Linville Gorge, Burke County) — 3 fledglings.

• Big Lost Cove (Avery County) — nest failed.

• Grandfather Mtn (Avery County) — nest failed.

• White Rock Cliff (Madison County) — 2 fledglings late in the season (late July) after initial nest failure.

The 16 chicks fledged this year is the highest number since 2001. And nesting success was at 70 percent – seven out of 10 nests were successful.

The NCWRC has no way of knowing where the pair of falcons in the gorge originated because they, like many other WNC birds, are not banded. Kelly said the commission may begin banding chicks when the opportunity arises provided the eyrie (nest) is accessible and it can be done with a minimum of disturbance to the birds.

Kelly encourages the public to report peregrine sightings. You can email her directly at kellych@earthlink.net or post your sighting on the Carolina Birds listserv, which she regularly checks.

Peregrines like steep cliffs with rock ledges as nesting sites. Nesting season usually begins in late February. Peregrines are often most noticeable in early to mid March when aerial courtship displays and vocalizations point to their whereabouts. The birds are busy and noticeable again once the chicks have hatched and it’s feeding time. This usually begins in late to mid April and continues until the chicks fledge and begin to hunt for themselves. There are often mid-air food transfers at the nest site during this time and they can be almost as spectacular as the courtship displays.

(Don Hendershot can be reached at ddihen@earthlink.net)