To catch
   a falcon


  Though the falconry
  techniques have been
  around for millennia,
  trapping a peregrine
  is not easy …

 




The first 'take' of a peregrine in Ga. in 40 years

By Jim Ozier
   Birds of prey have long been admired for their speed, power and fearlessness. Thousands of years ago, people learned how to capture, train and care for raptors as hunting partners so their awe-inspiring flights of pursuit and attack could be enjoyed more frequently than by chance observations of wild birds. Falcons were always among the most highly valued hunting birds. In some cultures, they were reserved for use by royalty.
   Jump forward to 1970. The ancient sport of falconry was still practiced by a relatively small but passionate following. Yet, because of widespread environmental factors that caused population crashes, one of the most prized hunting birds, the peregrine falcon, had been listed as endangered in the U.S. and could no longer be taken from the wild. Falconers could capture other raptors or buy captive-bred peregrines, but they could only dream as they read romantic, early American accounts of the most dedicated falconers capturing migrating peregrines along our beaches, then enjoying times in the field with the wild-reared birds.
   Not content to say good-bye to the peregrine, falconers helped with captive-breeding and release programs to re-establish falcons to their former range -- a range that once again became suitable for habitation following the ban on DDT use in the U.S. in 1972.

Limited capture won't hurt population
   Fast forward again. The conservation effort proved a success. By 1999, the peregrine population recovered to the point the species could be taken off the endangered species list. Falconers and natural resource agencies then began looking at the possibility of once again allowing wild peregrines to be taken for falconry.
   The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service performed a rigorous assessment of band-return data, nest surveys, survival rates (only about half of these birds survive their first year) and other information, and approved a very conservative and sustainable level of take: 1 percent of the lowest estimate of annual production by the northern (migratory) population of peregrines. Models indicate the population could sustain up to 15 percent take with no negative impacts.
   Those decisions came about a year ago. This year, the take allowed for the eastern half of the country totaled 36 first-year, or passage, migratory falcons. The trapping season was limited to Sept. 20-Oct. 20 to best ensure that migrants would be captured rather than eastern residents. (Migrant peregrines winter in South America.) Georgia’s portion of the total amounted to five birds. Following a minor rules amendment by the Board of Natural Resources in August to allow the practice, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources accepted applications for the first legal take of wild peregrines for falconry in 40 years.

5 permits, all Georgians
   Seven people applied: five from Georgia, one from Florida and one from Idaho. The low number can be attributed to the short and sudden application period; the amount of falconry experience required to qualify; the effort, logistics and expense necessary for attempting to trap a peregrine; and the high level of commitment demanded for working with this species.
    The DNR lottery process favored state residents. As it turned out, all five permits went to Georgians.
   I accompanied three of the falconers awarded permits to a Georgia beach in early October to observe the historic occasion and learn about the techniques used. The falconers' professionalism, preparation and dedication were impressive. We observed a couple dozen peregrines during two days of attempted trapping, and even saw six at one time.
   Though the techniques have been around for millennia, trapping a peregrine is not easy. Probably the simplest technique is to cruise a suitable migratory pathway, such as a beach, until a falcon is spotted. Then, a tethered live pigeon fitted with a leather harness featuring several monofilament nooses is released as near as possible to the falcon. If all goes perfectly, the hungry falcon attacks the pigeon and snares a talon in a noose. However, if the falcon is suspicious or not particularly hungry, the pigeon attracts only curious glances.

On the beach: Waiting and warblers
   For the most part, the peregrines we saw did not want to play our game. Perhaps the pigeon didn’t look quite right in its harness, or maybe our presence evoked extra caution. Several peregrines made passes at the pigeon, but if they could not flush it from the sand they quickly lost interest.
   A falcon would occasionally leave its perch on the beach, bypass the pigeon lure and head rapidly out to sea, often joined by one or two others that had been perched nearby. A couple hundred yards out, they would begin stooping in turn at a common quarry, either cooperatively or competitively, and within a few seconds one of them would snag a hapless migrating warbler. Then they would all return to their perches to await the next tired victim.
   Eventually, a peregrine got serious with the pigeon and was captured. This first bird, however, was a 2-year-old, so it was immediately released. It flew back to its perch and resumed the warbler watch as if nothing unusual had occurred.
   Later, a beach-cruising passage falcon spied the pigeon and diverted to check out the potential meal. This stimulated another falcon that had been only mildly curious to join in. As they took turns making passes, one of them, a female, made a grab for the lure and became the only wild peregrine taken in Georgia during 2009.
   About 20 others were taken in other eastern states. These birds, which will be very well cared for, will provide many great falconry experiences and might end up back in the wild some day since even well-trained birds sometimes wander off, and some falconers release their birds after a few hunting seasons.
   DNR views restoring the opportunity for a limited take of peregrines for falconry as the fitting culmination to an inspiring conservation success story. We anticipate that additional states, including Florida, will be open for peregrine take next fall, so unless the quota for the eastern U.S. increases, Georgia will likely issue only four permits in 2010.

Jim Ozier is a program manager with Georgia DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section, part of the Wildlife Resources Division.




Q&A
Dolphins sampled for insight
into contaminant questions
   Georgia DNR teamed with NOAA's Oceans and Human Health Initiative and Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program and other scientists to catch, examine and release nearly 30 bottlenose dolphins off Brunswick and Sapelo Island in August. The effort was part of a continuing probe into levels of contaminants such as PCBs in resident dolphins, with related work involving dolphin identification and movements. Here, Wildlife Resources Division biologist Clay George answers questions about the project, and the challenge of corralling these popular, intelligent and powerful mammals.
   Click for more from the interview with Clay.

   Q. Tell us about the project.
   A. The idea began in 2003. Skidaway Institute of Oceanography research into environmental contaminants in fish collected from Brunswick and the surrounding area suggested that contaminants from contaminated industrial sites are accumulating in fish and spreading into the ecosystem. Researchers wondered whether the contaminants are accumulating in resident dolphins – top-end predators that live for decades and have abundant blubber that can accumulate large amounts of fat-soluble contaminants. 
   NOAA and DNR biologists began collecting blubber biopsy samples from live bottlenose dolphins in the Brunswick and Sapelo Island areas. A photo-identification component was added in 2007, with help from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and the Chicago Zoological Society. 
   Exposure to PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, has been linked to liver disease, anemia, reproductive problems, cancer and other health issues in humans and other mammals. Could PCBs be affecting dolphins similarly?
   Planning for a large-scale dolphin capture and health assessment project in the Brunswick and Sapelo areas began in 2008. Last August, more than 50 biologists, veterinarians and researchers from over a dozen agencies and organizations gathered in Brunswick to help.
   Q. How did it go?
   A. It was a huge success. In two weeks, we safely caught, examined and released 29 bottlenose dolphins. Twenty-eight were fitted with temporary tracking devices so their movements can be documented. Tracking continues through this month. Preliminary contaminants analysis should be complete by the end of 2010. Some results will be released earlier next year.
   Q. Exactly how do you capture a dolphin?
   A. It’s simple in concept: Go out in a boat, find some dolphins and encircle them with a large gillnet. A large team then works to restrain the dolphins in a coordinated and safe manner. In practice, it’s much more complicated and requires a lot of skill from folks with a variety of expertise.
   Dolphins use their echolocation sonar to find gaps or holes in the net. They often swim out, under or jump over the net. Dolphins are also a lot larger than most people realize. Adults can be longer than 8 feet and weigh hundreds of pounds. If an animal rolls or thrashes in the net, it can be a challenge to restrain them safely, which is why we had so many folks involved.
   But most challenges are logistical. A typical dolphin capture may require seven or eight boats, 50 people and a lot of equipment.
   Q. What kind of information did you obtain?
   A. Each dolphin received a thorough veterinary exam to evaluate its health. The exams combined should provide a rough picture of the health of resident populations. Extensive data were collected, including measurements, weight, urine for urinalysis, feces for parasitology, a blubber sample and milk (from lactating females) for contaminants analysis, skin for genetics, blowhole swabs for viral and microbiology tests, and blood for a variety of tests and analyses. Also, data from the tracking devices will give us a better understanding of dolphin movements, residency patterns and habitat use.
    Q. How will this contribute to conservation of dolphins or other marine mammals?
   A. A primary goal is determining whether resident dolphins are being negatively affected by contaminants in the Brunswick area. If so, the information can be incorporated into clean-up efforts at industrial sites. Another goal is estimating the size of the “contamination footprint.”
   Results could impact human and ecosystem health. Like humans, dolphins are long-lived, they consume food from the same ocean food web many humans do, they can accumulate large amounts of fat-soluble contaminants and they are prone to similar diseases. For these reasons, dolphins are considered excellent sentinels of human and ecosystem health.
   Q. Any unusual encounters while taking samples?
   A. One of the most interesting things about handling dolphins is the variety of vocalizations they make after being captured. While some tend to be quiet, others make a seemingly constant stream of high-pitched clicks and whistles. I can’t help but wonder what they “see” when they echolocate out of water.

• Protect Dolphins Campaign
  
• Southeast Regional viewing guidelines
• Southeast Regional Bottlenose Dolphin Conservation Program
• "Don't Feed Wild Dolphins" campaign

Out my backdoor

• Inside the new breeding bird atlas
• A hellbender surprise
• Conserving Radford's mint

Looking back

Links to three previous issues.

• October 2009
  
• September 2009
  
• August 2009
  

Other archives found here.