The BIRDLINE by ARMAS HILL
With
Falcons, now and then, and a Green Sea Turtle
Armas Hill has presented the "Birdline", originally from
Philadelphia, on the phone and internet for over 3 decades, and on the radio
in Delaware for about 10 years.
Links:
A
List & Photo Gallery of North American Birds, in 6 Parts
A
List & Photo Gallery of North American Mammals

The Birdline for December 29, 2011:
Last time,
here, on the Birdline, it was noted that a PRAIRIE FALCON has
returned to south-central Pennsylvania, for the
6th consecutive winter season.
In error, it was said that the bird has been in York County.
Not so, it's been in Cumberland County, north of
Shippensburg.
More detailed information follows here about that area where
that bird has been, along with a summary of info about the
PRAIRIE FALCON at other places in eastern North
America. I do not know of such a summary having been put
together anywhere else.
The PRAIRIE FALCON is a species normally in western
North America, where it is uncommon. There is an
estimated breeding population of from 4,300 to 6,000 pairs in
the western US, and in adjacent Canada
and Mexico.
The states with the most are Nevada (with about
1,200 pairs) and Wyoming (with about 820 pairs).
The density of the species' population throughout its range is generally
low except in the Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Conservation
Area in Idaho, where it is high.
Wintering is mainly south and east of the breeding range. Major
wintering areas include eastern Colorado,
western Kansas, the Texas Panhandle, southern
Arizona. It occurs irregularly in the non-breeding season east
into western Iowa and Missouri.
Those that disperse onto the Great Plains may
remain in favored areas for varying lengths of time. A few may
remain all winter.
At times, the species follows large flocks of prairie-dwelling
passerines, particularly HORNED LARKS and EASTERN & WESTERN
MEADOWLARKS.
The PRAIRIE FALCON that's been in Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, each year since the winter of
2006/2007, has been accepted, by the Pennsylvania Society
for Ornithology Records Committee, as a wild bird.
During that winter of 2006/07, when it was first
found in PA during the Newville Christmas Count, the bird was described
as being a first-year bird. It was seen twice that winter, with
the second time in the general vicinity of Mud Level Road.
Photographs were taken that first winter.
As an adult, a single PRAIRIE FALCON has been seen in that area
every year since, in the vicinity of Mud Level Road, and roosting
in a quarry off Duncan Road.
Generally, it has arrived in late November, and departed
by late February or early March.
In the spring of 2008, it was last seen on March
10.
In the winter of 2008/2009, it was first reported
on January 1, 2008 at Running Pump Road, and last reported on
February 6.
At that time, the bird had not yet been accepted by the
Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Committee.
During the winter of 2009/2010, it was reported
in the Mud Level Road area from December 4, 2009 to February
26, 2010. During that time, it was seen by many observers.
In late fall of 2010, the PRAIRIE FALCON returned
for a 5th straight year on November 20, to the Mud Level Road
area. During the winter of 2010/2011, it was present throughout
the period.
This year, the PRAIRIE FALCON was first
reported in the Mud Level Road area on November 29.
Last Saturday, December 10, the bird was looked for, ardently, but
was not seen. But the next day, on Sunday, December 11, it was observed,
by someone during their first attempt.
Generally, the best success for seeing the bird has been said
to be either before 10am, or after 2pm. It roosts in a quarry off
Duncan Road, and overall it's been most likely to be found
when hunting, when coming off the roost or when returning.
Although the bird has been seen further afield, most sightings
have been from the stretch of Mud Level Road between the
intersections with Britton Road (to the west) and with Kelso
Road (to the east). It does have some perches that it seems to
favor.
From US Route 11 & PA Route 696, in Shippensburg, go north on
696 almost 2 miles to Mud Level Road.
As noted previously, the PRAIRIE FALCON is a bird normally in western
North America. But in the Sibley Guide to Birds
(published in 2000, indicating firstly that time does go by), the
range map has a sprinkling of green dots in the East, indicating
records at the time of printing in Massachusetts, South
Carolina. Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana,
and Michigan.
Additionally, the National Geographic Complete Guide (Alderfer
2005) indicates records for Wisconsin, Illinois, and
Kentucky.
AVISYS shows the PRAIRIE FALCON on the following US state lists:
In the North East: none
In the South East: AL, KY, MS, TN
In the South Central: AR, KS, OK, TX
In the North Central: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD
In the Rocky Mountains: CO, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY
In the South West: AZ, NM
In the Pacific: CA,
OR, WA
In Canada West: BC
In Canada Central: AB, MB, ON, SK
In Alaska: none
Anyway, I became intrigued by the "sprinkling of green
dots" in Sibley's book. I did not know of the species in
the East other than the bird that's been in Pennsylvania
now 6 winters in a row. So, I thought I'd look into it a
bit, and share the findings here.
Information is not here relating to PRAIRIE FALCONS in all the
eastern states in the bolded paragraph above, but there is material
that's quite interesting relating to some of those states,
and one Canadian province.
Close to Pennsylvania, first Maryland,
where an immature female PRAIRIE FALCON was in Frederick
County in October 1950. The bird was banded, and was said
to have been shipped in from the West to a boy in Bethesda who
lost interest in it.
Another bird at Jug Bay in Anne Arundel County, in February
1994, was thought by some to be a PRAIRIE FALCON, but by
others to be a PRAIRIE X PEREGRINE HYBRID, as raised by
falconers. Also, a report was confirmed that a female
PRAIRIE FALCON had been lost by a falconer in Virginia
seven months earlier. So, Maryland remained without a
"first record", and, as you may have noticed, is not
in the above list of states.
But the circumstances are included here to indicate some
factors that could be involved in the determination of whether
the species is "wild" in the East - still bearing
in mind, that a pattern of vagrancy in the East (if it exists) has
not yet been established.
The one Massachusetts record is a specimen in
the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. It was mislabeled as
a GYRFALCON. The location and date on the specimen tag are
"Mass. coast 15 (?) Jan 1898". There is no
reference to it (as either GYRFALCON or PRAIRIE FALCON) in
Howe's 1901 "Birds of Massachusetts" with Grover
Allen.
It is now said that there no question about the id as a PRAIRIE
FALCON, but details are lacking (and may always be) as to, among
other things, the precise location and date.
Ontario has had 2 accepted records of PRAIRIE
FALCONS and 8 rejected. The 2 accepted records, I believe, were
in western Ontario, which would be more like the North-Central
(or Midwest US) rather than the East.
Ohio has had 6 records of PRAIRIE FALCONS, all
modern. Two were within 10 miles of Lake Erie, in Lorain County
in 1940, and in Ottawa County in 2007 (one captured, one
photographed). All the others (4) were in central Ohio.
A bird, presumably the same one, wintered 2 years in a row
(2003/04 & 2004/05). It was seen by many observers, and it
was photographed. It was in a vast, reclaimed strip
mine area that could, with a glance, appear to be in Wyoming.
Another was shot at the Franklin County Air Force Base in 1983.
Another bird was shot in Licking County, and later became a
specimen in 2005 (not the same bird noted above).
Two occurrences in Ohio (and probably the same bird)
involve the occupying of a territory for a considerable
period. The others were transients in whatever habitat they
happened to be. None of the birds had jesses, bands, bells, or
any indicators of falconry.
Regarding the two wintering birds in Ohio, as they hunted, they
were observed foraying out from low perches, often haybales
and fence posts, or sites as high as utility poles. They
were not observed stooping from high soaring.
From a master falconer, who has studied PRAIRIE
FALCONS in Nevada, the following comments.
He says he knows a number of falconers (in Indiana & further
west) who have flown the "desert falcon", or PRAIRIE
FALCON.
The species, he says, has occasionally been seen in
Illinois and in the Mississippi Valley, but further east, as we
know, not common at all.
The PRAIRIE FALCON is closely related, he continues, to the
GRYFALCON (which is actually an Arctic "desert
falcon"). And they hunt in the manner of GYRS. They are
quite capable of long, very fast, powerful stoops (dives), from
which they can kill birds (he says) with greater success than
PEREGRINES.
In the West, a few falconers prefer the PRAIRIE FALCON
because of its high kill success rate.
But getting the bird to go up and take a
"pitch", to set its wings at 500 to 1000 feet and
await the putting up of game can be problematic.
The species prefers to sit on cliffs or utility poles and shoot
out in a fast tail chase to take a fleeing bird, in the manner
of a MERLIN.
The PRAIRIE FALCON'S has a preference for taking small mammals.
It commonly takes voles, and in the west ground squirrels.
Not so in the winter, as ground squirrels hibernate. Voles
and small birds are the prime winter diet.
Lastly from the notes of the falconer: Falconers much prefer to
use captive-bred longwings, PEREGRINES, GYRFALCONS, or HYBRIDS
of such. Presently, he says he knows of only true PRAIRIE FALCON
in the hands of an Ohio falconer, and he takes it to Oklahoma and
Kansas to hunt with it.
PRAIRIE FALCONS are now rarely flown by falconers anywhere. They
are irascible to train. There are now lines of really fine
falconry PEREGRINES and PEREGRINE/GYR HYBRIDS that are
preferred.
Now, from the falconer's comments, back to those of
birders:
Michigan currently has 3 accepted records of
PRAIRIE FALCONS: one in August 1987 in Calhoun County, one in
October 2007 in Wayne County, and one in April 2008 in Huron
County.
The August '87 bird was present for 4 days at a larger
airport.
The other two records are from Great Lake coast hawkwatches
as fly-bys. One, as noted, was in the fall, and the other
in the spring.
There have been 2 additional Michigan records since 2008 that
are almost certain to be accepted: one during fall migration
along the Saginaw Bay/Lake Huron coast, and one along the Lake
Michigan coast this past August (2011).
Mississippi has one accepted record of a
PRAIRIE FALCON. It was an adult female that wintered at
Enid Lake in Yalobusha County. It was first found on December 7,
1991, and then every year, for 8 consecutive winters, she spent
those winters in that vicinity. Many observers saw the bird.
There are a couple old sight records from the
Mississippi coast that have, rightly or wrongly, been called "escapees".
And that's our look, here, at the PRAIRIE FALCON in the
East. Special thanks for the information goes to Vern
Gauthier of Pennsylvania and Phil Davis of Maryland, with
additional thanks going to: Matt Garvey in Massachusetts, Mark
Cranford in Ontario, Bill Whan and John Blakeman in Ohio, Caleb
Putnam in Michigan, Gene Knight in Mississippi, and Bob Keener
in Pennsylvania.
One last note about the PRAIRIE FALCON in Cumberland
County, Pennsylvania. On one occasion, a few years ago,
when a PEREGRINE FALCON was in its wintering area, it was
observed zipping in and striking the PEREGRINE, and then
pursuing it, as both birds flew toward the quarry.
Now, from the Birdline Archives, let's go back about 30
years to when I was doing the Birdline only on the phone. It was
not yet, of course, on the internet, nor was it even typed
on a computer.
The following is from either my hand-written notes or what
I typed on a TYPEWRITER, about the most famous of FALCONS ever in
Pennsylvania, the GYRFALCONS that were in Lancaster County
during 2 Winters in the Early Eighties.
Here, the scripts of what I read, in early 1982. I hope you
enjoy.
From the January 4, 1982 Birdline:
It is a new year, and this is the first edition of the
Birdline for 1982. Highlights include these birds, in
Pennsylvania: the previously-reported WHITE GYRFALCON, a
newly discovered DARK GYRFALCON, a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE on a
lake upstate, a BLACK-BACKED 3-TOED WOODPECKER, some BOREAL
CHICKADEES, lots of PINE GROSBEAKS, and some GOLDEN EAGLES.
A review of area Christmas Counts will be given later, but, now,
let's begin this tape with a bird that has spent the last 5
weeks or so in an area that is not included in any
Christmas Count Circle. And that bird happens to be not only the
most outstanding bird that's been in our region, but also
anywhere in the Northeast US so far this Winter - the
WHITE-PHASED GYRFALCON in the Amish Farm Country of
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It continues to be seen in
that same area of the county, west of New Holland.
It was first discovered there, you may remember, back on
November 27 (1981), but now more and more people having been
seeing the WHITE-PHASED GYR.
Certainly responsible for this has been the discovery of a
tree where the GYRFALCON often spends the night. The
bird has been seen either leaving that tree early in the
morning, often by 7am, or returning to it around 4 o'clock in
the afternoon. The latter time has often provided more
rewarding sightings, as the bird stays and the light is better.
In recent days, the GYRFALCON has returned to the tree at about
4pm on December 29, 30, 31 and January 2 and 3. It did not
appear there, however, in the late afternoon on January 1,
although it was seen in flight in the area, earlier that day.
An area where the bird has been seen, with some regularity,
during the day has been a few miles west of the tree. On
December 30, for example, it was seen eating a PIGEON and then
preening, along Brethren Church Road.
Another bird, described well as a DARK-MORPH GRAY GYRFALCON was
seen, around 3pm on January 1, also in Lancaster County, along
Doe Run Road, behind the Manheim Shopping Center, east of
Manheim, and north of Lancaster. The bird was seen flying and
diving, and it was photographed.
Returning to the WHITE-PHASED GYR for a moment, please do not
leave the road to get closer to the bird when it is in the roost
tree. A few people went onto the field, yesterday afternoon,
January 3, and the bird left.
Also in that area of Lancaster County, west of New Holland,
numbers of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS continue to be seen, both
DARK and LIGHT-MORPH BIRDS.
Estimates of those numbers, in that area, range from 50 to 75
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS.
Yet another bird from the North was present, in that Amish
Farm Country, west of New Holland: a SNOWY OWL. But the bird was
not reported again after December 23 (1981).
From the January 9, 1982 Birdline:
Actually, at least 4 GYRFALCONS have been seen in
eastern Pennsylvania in the last two months.
Back on November 14, 1981, two hawk-watchers, Ken Kranick and
Dave Simpson, were on the Kittatinny Ridge, at a place called
Baer Rocks.
Both of these men have had considerable hawk-watching
experience, and both of them enjoy spending their time in that
pursuit.
Ken, for example, during the 1981 Fall Season, spent 65 days on
the ridge watching hawks. He has done much the same for the last
14 years.
The late Maurice Broun - who, as many of you know, was the first
curator at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for many years - spent a
number of his later years observing autumn hawk flights, with
Ken, at Baer Rocks, located just a few miles south of Bake oven
Knob.
It was from Baer Rocks, back on November 14, that Ken and Dave
saw a BROWNISH GYRFALCON. The bird flew below them, circled
a couple times, and then went on. At one point, it passed within
200 feet of them.
Exactly, one week later, on November 21, Ken and Dave saw
another GYRFALCON from Baer Rocks, a bright GRAY BIRD.
It was less than one week later, November 27, when Sidney
Lipscutz and Ed Fingerhood were in Lancaster County, looking for
LONGSPURS, and found instead the WHITE-PHASED GYRFALCON, a bird
that was to become the most sought-after bird in these parts, in
a long time - and, in fact, it has continued to be seen and
sought after, west of New Holland, as late as yesterday, January
8. People continued looking for it today.
The 4th GYRFALCON in eastern Pennsylvania, as noted earlier this
week on the Birdline, was another bird in Lancaster County - a
DARK, GRAY GRYFALCON that was found on January 1, when it was
seen and photographed from Doe Run Road, east of Manheim.
it may, or may not have been the same bird that was seen
today, January 9, but a GRAY GYRFALCON was seen this morning,
west of new Holland, by a number of birders as it flew about
over the fields by Balmerstown Road, and, in fact, over the tree
where, in recent days, the WHITE GYRFALCON has roosted.
That WHITE-PHASED GYRFALCON continued to be seen every day
this week.
A white SNOWY OWL has been seen in the area west of
New Holland, for the first time since December 23 (1981).
From the January 15, 1982 Birdline:
The biggest story on the Birdline so far this Winter
has been, of course, that of the GYRFALCONS (both WHITE and
GRAY) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The story has eclipsed
all others, but there has been another big story about another
type of bird from the North, with the largest incursion of PINE
GROSBEAKS into Pennsylvania and New Jersey in years, with
unprecedented numbers of them seen.
But now, the latest about GYRFALCONS, and other birds, in
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania:
Unfortunately, the latest is that there have been no GYRFALCON
SIGHTINGS, in the area west of New Holland, since Saturday,
January 9.
The last reported sighting of the WHITE GYRFALCON in that area was
early in the morning on Friday, January 8.
The next day, however, did turn out to be an exciting day for
birders in that area of Lancaster County because many of those
birders, to their surprise, saw a DARK-MORPH GRAY GYRFALCON.
The bird was seen at various spots in the area throughout the
day, on Saturday, January 9. But that day was also the last day,
at least as of now, that the GRAY GYRFALCON was seen.
The last reported sighting of it was after 4:30pm, when the bird
was seen roosting, incredibly, in the same large tree,
along Balmerstown Road, where the WHITE GYRFALCON had roosted as
recently as 3 nights earlier.
However, when the DARK GYRFALCON was seen in that tree, at dusk,
on Saturday, it could be seen from the east, from Farmersville
Road, but not from Balmerstown Road. earlier.
The DARK GYRFALCON was not seen leaving the tree the next
morning, and, although many birders were in the area
throughout the day, on Sunday no GYRFALCONS
were seen - that day, or any day since.
The SNOWY OWL in the area was seen, however, on Sunday, January
10, along Musser school Road, and it continued to be seen, south
of Route 23, as late as today, January 15.
Birders who were by the GYRFALCON ROOST TREE, north of Route 23,
by Balmerstown Road, at dusk, on Saturday, January 9, were
treated to a SHORT-EARED OWL hunting over the field, by the
tree.
As many as 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen in that area that day,
and as late as Tuesday, January 12.
From the January 21, 1982 Birdline:
With bird sightings from the Shore to the Susquehanna,
this is the Birdline, with the news of the re-appearance of the
WHITE GYRFALCON.
Yes, the WHITE GYRFALCON that has been, this Winter, in the
Amish Farm Country, west of New Holland, Pennsylvania, was seen
there again, last Sunday, January 17, at 10:10am, by Eby and
Hess Roads (an intersection, not a couple of people).
It was seen chasing some PIGEONS, and then it flew off to the
east.
From the January 28, 1982 Birdline:
As unbelievable as it may seem, there is more here
about both the WHITE and the DARK GYRFALCONS
that have been, this Winter, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
The story about the GYRFALCONS in Lancaster County actually
began back in November, and that incredible story seems to have
no end.
It continues now, on this tape, with the exciting news that on
last Sunday afternoon, January 24, two GYRFALCONS, one WHITE and
one DARK, were seen together, for about an
hour, flying about over a quarry, northeast of Lancaster.
And, GYRFALCON SIGHTINGS have continued, at that quarry, and
elsewhere in Lancaster County, since then.
The quarry is located just a few miles west of the famous roost
tree along Balmerstown Road, where both the WHITE and the DARK
GYRFALCONS were seen, on various occasions, earlier this month.
Incidentally, the WHITE GYRFALCON was seen roosting in that tree,
again, last week, late in the afternoon on Tuesday, January 19.
The bird that day could only be seen, however, from the
east, from Farmersville Road.
Returning now to the quarry, along (aptly) Quarry Road, north of
Leacock, here is this week's story of the GYRS so far:
Both the WHITE and DARK GYRFALCONS were, as noted earlier, seen
together at the quarry last Sunday afternoon, January 24. Both
birds were there around 4pm.
The following morning, on Monday, both birds were seen leaving
the quarry at about 7:15.
On Monday afternoon, the DARK GYRFALCON was back again on the
cliffs of the quarry. It was there from 3 o'clock on, and the
story was much the same on Wednesday, January 27, when the DARK
GYR was seen there again, around 4 o'clock.
Also at the quarry have been lots of PIGEONS upon which the DARK
GYRFALCON has been seen feeding.
The WHITE GYRFALCON was seen today, January 28, back at the spot
where the bird was originally found just about 2 months ago
to the day: by Musser School and South Groffdale Roads.
The white SNOWY OWL, previously reported on the Birdline, as
being in that same area of the Amish Country, west of New
Holland, continued to be present there, along Zeltenreich Road,
as late as yesterday, January 27.
Zeltenreich Road is off Musser School Road, which is off South
Groffdale Road.
From the February 4, 1982 Birdline:
Our reports begin, on this tape, with those of the
GYRFALCONS, again, in Lancaster County.:
There seems to be some question as to how many GYRFALCONS have
actually been in Lancaster County lately, and specifically, in
the area of the quarry, along Quarry Road, north of Leacock,
where GYRFALCONS (in the plural) continued to be seen, as late
as today, February 4.
Some people think that recent sightings in that area of Lancaster
County have, in actuality, been of two DARK
GYRFALCONS and one WHITE GYRFALCON.
Others have noted that when the GRAY GYRFALCON has been seen
sitting, as it has been at the quarry, it seems quite dark, but
when it's been seen flying, it gives a lighter, gray appearance.
But, anyway, the bottom line, so far at least,
is that never has more than one DARK GYRFALCON
been seen at one time.
Last Saturday morning, January 30, birders were treated to two
GYRFALCONS, one DARK and one WHITE, together, at the quarry,
noted earlier, north of Leacock. In fact, those two GYRFALCONS
spent a good part of that day together.
Both birds were at the quarry around 7am. Both birds left.
However, soon the WHITE BIRD came back, and, a little later, so
did the DARK BIRD.
At about 10am, both birds were seen flying around the quarry.
One was heard calling. At another time that morning, both
GYRFALCONS were seen sitting, close together,
on the ledges of the quarry. They were almost side by side.
A short while later, both birds left the quarry, flying off to
the east.
A little while later than that, at about 1:45pm, both birds were
seen, still together, near the now infamous roost
tree along Balmerstown Road.
Today, February 4, both GYRFALCONS were seen again. The GRAY
BIRD was seen this morning by the quarry, while the WHITE BIRD
was also seen this morning from along Center Square Road, north
and east of the quarry.
From the February 18, 1982 Birdline:
During the period from February 4 to 11 (1982), 1,042
people called the Birdline (we had on that old tape recording
machine, at that time, a counter).
I want to thank every one of you who called, as it was the first
time that the "Birdline" ever received over a
thousand calls in one week's time.
Many of those calls, of course, were from people who wanted to
hear about the GYRFALCONS that have been this Winter in
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and again on this tape, you will
hear that both of those GYRFALCONS were seen
there, this past week, in the Amish Farmland, west of New
Holland, and north of Leacock.
And again, this past week, there were sightings of the SNOWY
OWL, that's been this Winter in the area west of New Holland, in
Lancaster County.
It was seen seen as late as Tuesday, February 16, when it was
along Zeltenreich Road. Over the weekend, it was seen on both
Saturday and Sunday, along Scenic Road (providing a nice sight,
as it was).
That other white bird, the LIGHT-MORPH GYRFALCON, that's been in
the same area, was seen on Friday, February 12, just before
noon, from along Musser School Road.
Also seen from Musser School Road, that day, was a flock of
about 40 SNOW BUNTINGS, including one in breeding plumage.
The DARK GYRFALCON, that's been in that area of Lancaster
County, was seen both days last weekend at the Stoltfus Qaurry,
north of Leacock.
On Saturday, February 13, it was there in the morning and
in the afternoon.
Lots of people saw it there, the next day, on Sunday.
On Monday, February 15, the DARK GYRFALCON was at the quarry in
the morning, but in the afternoon, it was in the roost tree
along Balmertown Road.
Both the WHITE and the DARK GYRFALCONS were seen swooping
together, from Musser School Road, on February 16.
But the Lancaster County Gyrfalcon Story does not end
here, far from it. More will be told in later excerpts from the
Birdline Archives.
Now, this week, from the Natureline:
Most unusual lately has been the nesting of GREEN SEA TURTLE hatchlings
in Delaware, along the seacoast at Cape
Henlopen.
It's "most unusual", on two counts.
Firstly, it's the first SEA TURTLE NESTING of any kind in
Delaware.
And secondly, whereas LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES are more common in
offshore waters along the Atlantic Coast, and
nest on beaches in the southeastern US,
GREEN SEA TURTLES do not nest in areas north of the Caribbean
Sea.
Back in August of this year, a female SEA TURTLE
was found, laying eggs, on the Delaware beach. She was
surprisingly identified as a GREEN SEA TURTLE.
The eggs were deposited in the high tide zone, where they were
determined to be vulnerable to beach damage that could result
from storms which could happen, as they did, along the
mid-Atlantic Coast in the late summer and fall.
Fortunately, the US Fish & Wildlife Service had given
permission to move the eggs to a safer location, as later they
did hatch.
But the hatching was later than the expected, normal 60-day
period. It happened in early December instead of the due
date of October 18.
The hatchlings, and some eggs, have since been taken to North
Carolina, to the Pine Knoll State Aquarium, where their
status was to be determined.
We'll tell you more when we know.
Armas Hill has presented the Birdline, originally from
Philadelphia, (and later the Natureline) on the phone and
internet for decades (3), and on the radio in Delaware for years
(10).
The Birdline (& Natureline) are affiliates of
Focus On Nature Tours: www.focusonnature.com
Past Birdlines and Naturelines can be found at: http://www.focusonnature.com/Birdline.htm
To
Top of Page