[NatureNS] Regarding Peregrine Falcons in s. Minas Basin

DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed;
Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2012 07:59:45 -0300
From: Rick Whitman <dendroica.caerulescens@gmail.com>
To: naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Cc: Sue Abbott <sabbott@bsc-eoc.org>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects


While most birders will enjoy seeing a Peregrine Falcon, it's
important for anyone driving to the Grand Pre area to enjoy the
shorebirds to realize that PEFA activity can have a very significant
impact on what you see. Over the past 7 days I've been between Horton
Landing (S end of dyke) & East Point aka The Guzzle (N end of dyke) on
six days. I have seen 1 or 2 PEFA on 5 of those 6 days and I've seen
direct attacks on shorebirds on 3 days. These attacks have a huge
impact on the shorebird flocks & also on what you may or may not see.
I believe the entire viewing experience is far more unpredictable than
what many would remember from years past.

Yesterday a huge flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers converged precisely
on East Point (point), right next to the fishermen, about 30 minutes
or so before high tide.
They seemed to come in from the east over the water. Within 10
minutes, from a S viewpoint, I saw a PEFA dive on the flock as it left
in panic and as far as I could see those birds broke into numerous
flocks, leaving in all directions, and never did reconverge anywhere.
Some could have been on the north-facing shore as I didn't look.

The point is the SESA are there but a single visit could be pretty
underwhelming, depending on the exact situation. I don't tend to visit
Evangeline Beach so it may be somewhat different there, but certainly
not free of PEFA.

Rick Whitman

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects