They’re baaaaack!
Peregrine falcons are scoping out the Telus communications tower in Red Deer’s Highland Green after arriving in the past few days.
Judy Boyd, spokeswoman for the Red Deer River Naturalists, said three were seen flying around the tower on Sunday. One eyewitness reported seeing the falcons on April 4.
The falcons arrived in Red Deer on April 2 last year, she added.
It’s not known if these falcons are the same ones from last year. One appears to be the same female, Perry, which went on to hatch three eggs last year with the male Windsong.
“They haven’t settled in yet, so there may be some bickering back and forth,” said Boyd.
The perch is 111 metres off the ground so it’s not easy to see what’s happening.
Birdwatchers will get a better view of the falcons online this year. For the first time, two webcams have been set up outside so people can see the birds flying in and out of their nesting quarters.
Two cameras have been set up inside the nesting box, including one with night vision. Last year, there was only one camera and it was inside.
Boyd said they have experienced technical difficulties but it’s hoped the four cameras will be running soon. People will also have the chance to hear the birds this year.
The falcons will not be bothered by all the cameras, Boyd said. The night LED camera doesn’t give off much light and the navigation light outside is part of the Telus equipment.
Alberta has developed a recovery program for the peregrine falcon, which is a threatened species in Alberta. These large falcons migrate, with some heading as far away as Argentina.
The peregrine can reach speeds over 322 km/h in a dive, making it the fastest animal in the world.
Two nesting pairs exist in Red Deer — one on the Telus tower, the other on top of the 14-storey Capri Hotel and Convention Centre on Gaetz Avenue. Several other pairs have homes in high places around Alberta.
The falcon cam can be found online at www.reddeeradvocate.com.
Last year, the falcon webcam became a hit around the world. Over a three-month period in 2010, the Advocate website received 59,488 page views, making the webcam one of its most popular online features.
The Red Deer River Naturalists have also set up a web camera with night vision of a great horned owl at the northeast side of the Ellis Bird Farm southeast of Lacombe on the Prentiss Road.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com