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Redwood Shores Peregrine Falcon Nest
Background: We observed a pair of peregrine falcons for several months before selecting a location on the Oracle roof that was favored by the falcons to install a nest box filled with aquarium gravel (a nesting substrate favored by peregrines in artificial "eyries" or nest ledges). In winter of 2000, work was completed at Oracle to install two video web cameras on and near the peregrine falcon nest box. We were able to view the Oracle peregrine falcons on camera during the entire nesting season of 2001 and 2002 between March through mid-July. Unfortunately, the falcons have not nested at Oracle since 2002.
The Oracle campus includes a large lake that shorebirds and waterfowl frequent. The rooftop nest site has a commanding view of vast hunting areas along the nearby San Francisco Bay. Oracle employees and visitors to the campus enjoyed a close-up view of the peregrines throughout the nesting season. In 2001 we were alerted to mid-air food hand-offs overhead by the peregrines’ noisy vocalizations and later, watched the youngster stand on the corner of the building pumping her wings in preparation for fledging. During one tandem hunting foray, the pair was seen leaving the building roof together, stooping on prey, and then returning to the building with food for the baby—all in just two minutes. In 2002 the peregrines produced three young, although unfortunately only one, a male, survived fledging.
As we monitor the recovery of the California peregrine falcon population, it is easy to see why peregrines have adopted this "urban cliff" as a nesting territory. The Oracle buildings offer excellent hunting perches and a nest site in the midst of fabulous peregrine habitat where previously, no nest cliff existed.
Who are Sadie and Jimbo?
About Sadie (2001-2002, 2007 season): The female is nicknamed Sadie, because she has an S over D band she wears on one leg. It identifies her as having fledged from one of our peregrine hack sites in 1998 at Muir Beach. Her silver Fish and Wildlife Service band reads 18007-70110. We removed her as a chick from her nest on the eastern span of the Oakland Bay Bridge because youngsters there have a very hard time surviving fledging. Instead, we took her to a safe release location on the coast north of San Francisco to fledge. From there she chose to take up residence on the Oracle campus and breed there.
About Jimbo (2001-2002 season):
As far as we can tell Jimbo is not banded, so his origin is unknown. Jimbo is only one year old, and still wearing the plumage of an immature, which he will molt into adult plumage through the spring and summer. If you compare him to the female, he is browner, with lighter markings on his head. Like all male peregrines, he is approximately 1/3 smaller than the female. He will be responsible for catching most of the food during the nesting season, taking his turn incubating when the female is eating or just relaxing off the nest.
