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Milestone Peregrine Falcon Surveys
Earthspan’s 50th annual survey of migrating peregrine falcons at Assateague Island, MD was completed in October, as was our 43rd annual survey at Padre Island, TX. Summaries and reports on our 2019 surveys are now available under the Research tab.
Together at Last: Earthspan and The Peregrine Fund
In 1970 the peregrine falcon was in serious trouble due to the effects of DDT. The eastern U.S. population had been extirpated in the 1950s; western populations were severely reduced and migratory Arctic-breeding populations had also declined. Diverse efforts were undertaken to study, assist and augment remaining stocks. Earthspan principals began our standardized surveys of migratory peregrines at Assateague Island, MD/VA, while The Peregrine Fund (TPF, www.peregrinefund.org) was formed to breed peregrines in captivity and restore them to their natural ecological niche. Earthspan principals’ research evolved to encompass surveys at Padre Island, TX, Arctic breeding surveys in Greenland, development and deployment of satellite-received telemetry in tracking peregrines and other avian species, peregrine research in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Mexico and South America, amassing an archive of blood and feather samples to assess contaminants and pathogens, and public education. Meanwhile, TPF’s restoration efforts were a complete triumph and resulted in the peregrine’s removal in 1999 from the Endangered Species list. They went on to make great strides in assisting other troubled species worldwide (notably the California Condor) and in public education.
These were our peers and colleagues and, although we had separate organizations and missions, our dedication to the peregrine and our natural world united us in labors greater and far more important than ourselves. At times TPF personnel lent their talents to our surveys and we cooperated on projects. The relationship began to deepen in 2010 when we joined forces to assess effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Since that time we have found even more common ground, and in January 2019 Earthspan and TPF principals met in Boise to explore and define goals that would mutually benefit the organizations and serve the cause of conservation science, public awareness, and our planet as a whole.
The result is a Memorandum of Understanding defining a collaborative partnership between our organizations that preserves our individual identities and legacies while allowing us to apply our joint talents to projects going forward. Earthspan will contribute its five decades of unparalleled survey data sets to TPF’s Global Raptor Impact Network. TPF will assist with data analyses and resulting scientific publications, with shared authorships as appropriate. The organizations will also assist each other with fundraising through outreach and exposure to our projects.
The Earthspan family congratulates The Peregrine Fund for its many important works past and present, and is proud to call them friends and partners in service to the peregrine, science and our natural world.
Spring 2019 Padre Island Peregrine Survey
Judy Boyce releases an adult female
Our spring survey was conducted April 11 – May 4 by Mike Yates, Bill Seegar and Carl Thelander. We expended 230 man-hours in observing 564 peregrines. We recorded 41 new captures, 10 returns of falcons we’d banded during previous surveys, and six recaptures of falcons newly banded during the survey. Peregrines are notoriously difficult to capture in the spring at Padre because most are adults and all have plenty of available natural prey that is easily caught on the wind tidal flats. This spring demonstrates that in spades, as three highly experienced and proficient field biologists were only able to secure about one in ten individuals sighted. Fortuitously our best day coincided with a visit from a Peregrine Fund collaborator (Geoff Pampush) and two honored guests (Judy Boyce and Kay Hale). We were able to introduce them to four adult females, an adult male, and a second-year male on April 19.
Challenging 2018 Autumn Surveys
Honoring Brian McDonald (1927-2018)
The annual autumn peregrine surveys at Assateague (49th) and Padre (42nd) Islands were completed in October. Although we have no indication that breeding success in the Arctic was low, both surveys experienced lower than normal numbers of migrants. Local and continental weather phenomena undoubtedly played a role, and at Padre severe tides and flooding of the survey area.
At Assateague we captured 48 individuals and at Padre 74, acquiring the usual invaluable blood and feather samples for archival purposes and current collaborative studies. Final reports have now been completed, and are available on this site under the Research tab.
On October 13 at Assateague we held a gathering in honor of Brian McDonald (see the About Us, In Memoriam tab). The Earthspan family will surely miss the fellowship of this dear friend and pioneering peregrine trapper.
2018 Spring Peregrine Survey Summary
Pallid Falcon?
Earthspan’s 2017 Autumn Peregrine Surveys Complete
Founding President of Earthspan Dr. Bob Whitney (center) joined Mike Yates and Bill Seegar at Assateague in October
The autumn Assateage and Padre Island Peregrine Falcon Surveys are in the books. At Assateague, the 48th annual survey observed lower numbers than in recent years with only 65 captures. The 41st annual autumn survey at Padre resulted in 135 captures, including the 10,000th peregrine captured in that survey’s history! Reports were completed by year’s end and are available for viewing under the Research tab.
Spring Peregrine Survey at South Padre Island Complete
Kathy Maechtle releases an adult female at Tom's memorial gathering
Our 39th annual spring survey at South Padre wrapped last week. The kickoff on April 12 included an expedition to Deer Island, where a few close friends of Earthspan Director Tom Maechtle joined wife Kathy and daughter Ireland to honor his memory. Extensive flooding of the wind tidal flats and several days of dangerously high winds combined to reduce productivity this spring, and our final capture total was 36. Three falcons originally banded during previous autumn surveys were among those captured, and we continued sample collections for collaborative studies.
Earthspan Family Suffers Devastating Loss
Tom at Padre Island in 1996
Earthspan must tearfully advise its friends and supporters of the untimely passing of Director and founding member Tom Maechtle. A talented biologist and internationally known expert on peregrines, he directed the Padre Survey for many years. Tom was a key figure in most Earthspan projects for decades, working alongside us on peregrine projects in Greenland, Alaska, Mexico, South America and Russia. He authored or co-authored many scientific publications, built his highly successful Bighorn Environmental Consultants firm in Sheridan, WY, and still found time for a rewarding family life with daughter Ireland and wife Kathy. Tom was a brother and steadfast friend to us, and his importance in our lives and those of countless others cannot be measured. His health took a sudden and unexpected turn since visiting our Assateague Island survey in October, and we must now endure the incalculable personal and professional loss of this seminal figure in peregrine research. As Earthspan’s important projects continue, Tom’s influence and ethic and spirit will always be an integral part of them.
Tom’s daughter Ireland is 18 and has just completed her first semester at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg. A Universal Transfers to Minors Account fund has been established for her education expenses with Kathy as custodian. Gifts of up to $14K per calendar year from any one person are allowable with no tax liability on Ireland’s part other than for any interest accrued. Donations may be mailed for account number 6025387314 to Wells Fargo Bank, C/O Mark Kohl, 2001 SW 17th St., Ocala, FL 34471.
The Assateague and Padre Island Peregrine surveys completed successful field seasons in October, and reports are posted on this site under the Research tab.
2016 Spring Peregrine Survey at Padre Island Complete
Mike Yates with an adult female
The spring survey began on April 14, and was conducted by Bill Seegar, Mike Yates and Carl Thelander. For several days we had full access to the wind tidal flats and interior trails. High Laguna Madre and Gulf tides soon reduced our survey area and a severe thunderstorm in the early morning hours of April 19 limited our access to a small northeast segment of the island. Just as the flats had begun to dry another storm event early on April 24 returned them to April 19 conditions. Thunderstorms that afternoon curtailed survey activities until April 26, and left the survey limited to patrolling the dune margin north of Deer Island to a small soft but passable section of the extreme northeast flats. Flats began to dry on April 30 and we gained access to about a third of the study area north of Deer Island, but high Laguna Madre waters continued to saturate the majority of the study area and make travel difficult on the remainder. Strong northern winds kept us from the field May 2 but stacked up many new migrants on the flats. Lighter north winds on our final day (May 3) provided a stellar (for the spring) day with 13 new captures. In 168 hours, 40 minutes of survey time we observed a total of 483 peregrines. Of that number we recorded 52 new captures, six returns of falcons banded during previous surveys, and three retraps of individuals first banded this spring. We added 53 blood samples to our archive and collected feather samples from all 41 adults captured for collaborative mercury studies.
Fall Peregrine Surveys Completed
Barbara and Pete Jenny with Ruth Mutch at Padre
The 46th annual autumn survey at Assateague Island and the 39th at Padre Island were completed in October. Numbers were down at Assateague due to the effects of a prolonged nor’easter and Hurricane Joaquin. Padre had a good season despite the challenges of a red tide and flooding of the wind tidal flats. More details and final reports are now posted under the Research tab.