2012 Peregrine Cameras

Bell Tower Peregrines

The Bell Tower eyrie is on the 32nd floor and is Edmonton’s prime nesting location. Alpha birds head downtown first, hoping to claim that site as their own. Since 2004, a peregrine female known as E4 (her band number) has nested there every year. (Read all about her history and her nesting experience last year.) E4 is impressive in every way, and is an extremely beautiful falcon. She’s also the only female in Alberta’s history (that we know of) who has successfully raised five chicks. Can she do it again? Peregrine specialist, Dr. Gordon Court thinks she might since this is the earliest start ever to Edmonton’s breeding season.

U of A Peregrines

The Clinical Sciences eyrie is on the 14th floor and is the second most desirable spot in Edmonton. Several different peregrines have nested there in the recent past, but this year’s occupant is Radisson (band number R7). She was born on the Radisson Hotel in downtown Winnipeg. She’s sitting on 4 eggs that will hatch around the beginning of June.

The male is K97, formerly of the High Level Bridge in 2010, and then the U of A in 2011. He was beaten up and partially plucked by the Bell Tower male last August, but was rehabilitated by Dr. Gordon Court, who had him for 2 months last fall. K97 even came for a visit to our Sherwood Park office! According to Dr. Court, “The little rascal was at the High Level Bridge courting his ex from 2010 recently(!), but left after a bald eagle sailed over the bridge…bad neighbourhood.” So: will K97 be faithful this year? Will he get in more trouble with the other male falcons in Edmonton?

UPDATE: K97 got in trouble again and has been replaced by an unbanded male. K97 is nowhere to be seen—he may be dead after the altercation—but the new male will likely be raising K97's chicks as Radisson is still sitting on the original eggs. 

The peregrine cams have been made possible with assistance from Bell Solutions, an ACA Corporate Partner in Conservation, and United Protection Services.