2007 Peregrine Falcon Nest Cam
Eyases Take Flight
On Saturday, June 2, biologists with the University of California Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group (SCPBRG) released three of the four young peregrine falcons into the wild along the Santa Cruz County coastline. For two months, the SCPBRG will still support the young peregrines and provide food at the release site until they are able to hunt on their own. In addition, each youngster is wearing a radio telemetry device, so the SCBPRG can monitor their location until the device falls off after a few weeks.
One of the young peregrines known as "Little G" is the offspring of George and Gracie. Two other eggs were rescued as well. The fourth egg was never viable and the eyas died from complications soon after hatching. Most peregrines fly for the first time when they are between 41 and 43 days old. "Little G" turned 42 days old on Saturday.
Nesting Season is Complete
On May 15, biologists with the University of California at Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group (SCPBRG) removed four faux eggs and the peregrine falcon nest on the 33rd floor of PG&E's headquarters at 77 Beale Street in downtown San Francisco.
The SCPBRG placed the "dummy" ceramic eggs in the nest hoping that they would stimulate George and Gracie into incubating. George and Gracie laid one real egg at the PG&E nest in mid-April, but the peregrines did not incubate that egg and the SCPBRG had to rescue it. If the falcons took to incubating the ceramic eggs, then the SCPBRG would have brought the offspring from the real egg back up to the nest so the young peregrine could fledge with its parents. This type of procedure has worked in the past, but unfortunately it did not work in this instance and George and Gracie have completed their season in downtown San Francisco.
George and Gracie's first eyas born this year.
Four Eggs Produced
George and Gracie produced a total of four eggs this season. Three eggs were laid in a dangerous location on the Bay Bridge and rescued by the SCPBRG on March 30. Two of those eggs were still viable at the time of the rescue and one egg successfully hatched under the care of the SCPBRG in Santa Cruz. One other viable egg was laid in the PG&E nest around April 20 and rescued by the SCPBRG on April 27. That egg is currently incubating in Santa Cruz. George and Gracie's offspring will be raised by foster peregrine falcons and released into the wild along the California coast later this year.
About George and Gracie
George and Gracie have returned to San Francisco each of the last five years to capture the hearts of countless fans. For three years the peregrine pair nested on a ledge 33 floors atop the PG&E building at 77 Beale Street. In 2005 PG&E installed a web cam at the nest site so SCPBRG scientists and peregrine followers from around the world could observe the endangered falcons and learn more about their behavior through the Internet.
In an urban environment, peregrines nest on tall city structures that are similar to the sheer cliffs they prefer in nature. SCPBRG began noticing peregrine falcons using PG&E's downtown sky scraper as a perch in the mid 1980s and placed a nest box on the ledge of the 33rd floor with hopes that someday peregrines might nest there. Finally in 2003 George and Gracie called San Francisco's urban wilderness home when they selected PG&E's building as their nesting site. Since then, the utility has teamed up with the SCPBRG to look after the birds that are the fastest animals on the planet.
PG&E Reaches Out
To fund the "nest cam" and support the SCPBRG's educational outreach to hundreds of high schools and middle schools throughout California, PG&E provided an annual $35,000 charitable contribution to the SCPBRG in 2005 and 2006. This year PG&E will make another substantial financial contribution to the organization to help fund the Bay Bridge rescue and to further support peregrine conservation efforts.
"We have a great working relationship with the SCPBRG," said Ophelia Basgal, vice president of civic partnership and community initiatives at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. "We are proud to support their research to protect peregrines and educate thousands of children and bird watchers everywhere about these amazing falcons. PG&E also relies on the SCPBRG for valuable advice on how the utility can keep birds of prey safe from overhead electric lines through the company's raptor protection program."
See latest on the clutch at the SCPBRG Nest Diary. The group also hosts a PG&E Falcons Discussion Forum.
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