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Spring Peregrine Survey at Padre Island Complete
Tom Seegar produces
Fifty-two peregrines were captured in April and all were blood sampled. Three of those individuals had been initially banded during last autumn’s survey. Equipment breakdowns delayed the survey’s start, and previous rains had left the flats soft but navigable except for a few treacherous spots. Falcons were mostly unresponsive for the first few days, at which point nighttime thunderstorms curtailed access to the study area April 13-16. After that the wind tidal flats north of Deer Island could only be accessed via beach travel due to standing water to the south. Periodic nighttime rains kept the flats soft, but large numbers of responsive birds showed during the final week. Days lost due to equipment, wet flats and wind resulted in our expending >50 man-hours fewer than in spring 2014, but we were able to capture essentially the same number of falcons.
Earthspan Study on Oil Spill Effects Published
Ecotoxicology has published Earthspan’s collaborative study documenting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminants in migrating peregrines relative to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Gulf oil spill. Results demonstrate an increased incidence (frequency of detection and blood concentrations) of PAH contamination in 2010 fall migrants sampled along the Texas Gulf Coast, declining to near basal levels in 2011. The publication can be found on our Research and Publications links.
Earthspan at the Ward Museum in January
Earthspan is an invited participant on January 16 at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art’s Eastern Shore Conservation Showcase in Salisbury, Maryland. Board members Bill Seegar, Jim Dayton and Blake Henke will share information on our 45 annual fall migration surveys of peregrine falcons at Assateague Island. Details of our satellite tracking studies in partnership with North Star Science and Technology, along with our investigations of chemical and biological threats to the environment will also be highlighted. Among other participants will be the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS), the Assateague Island National Seashore (NPS), the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Salisbury University.
Fall Peregrine Surveys Complete
A second-year female captured at Assateague with a pure white secondary feather. This was a first for us among almost 15,000 captures.
Earthspan’s Assateague Island (MD) Peregrine Falcon Survey completed its 45th annual autumn migration survey on 18 October, and its Padre Island (TX) Peregrine Falcon Survey completed its 37th annual survey on 26 October. The Assateague effort, conducted by Directors Mike Yates and Bill Seegar, experienced a series of productive fronts that generated some big days on the beach. Just one 2 ½ -day period in mid-October produced 47 captures. At Padre, Director Tom Maechtle and his volunteer biologists had a more challenging season. A major storm on 27 September dumped 8 inches of rain in about 24 hours. The wind tidal flats were flooded and each time they dried out, more rain soon followed. Padre never experienced any significant frontal systems that serve to push birds into migrating, so usual peaks in early and mid-October never materialized. Instead a few new birds arrived each day, allowing for a steady capture of several new falcons daily.
We were able to add many samples (133 from Assateague and 108 from Padre) to our blood archive that spans decades. These are available as we address emerging chemical and biological threats to the environment, wildlife and mankind. Photographer Allen Sklar took some photos of falcons we were processing at Assateague. He posted them, along with a summary of our studies on his website, which you can visit here.
Many thanks to our dedicated supporters and volunteers, without whom these important studies could not continue!
Conference Presentations Scheduled
Two Earthspan oral presentations are set for the 2014 Raptor Research Foundation annual meeting this month in Corpus Christi. Director Tom Maechtle is scheduled to present “Migrating Tundra Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus tundrius) accumulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons along the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.” Co-authors are Bill Seegar, Mike Yates, Peter Jenny and Gregg Doney.
Director Mike Yates is scheduled to present “Long-term standardized studies of migrating Tundra Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus tundrius) on the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S.” Co-authors are Bill Seegar, Tom Maechtle and Gregg Doney.
We hope to see you there!
Social media, here we come!
So we’re a little late, you say. Nevertheless, cut us some slack and check out our initial effort here. It’s a Facebook page for our Padre Island Peregrine Falcon Survey, so please “like” us and tell your friends!
Bad News and Good…Along With Sincere Thanks
Personal and professional demands have made it necessary that Gregg Doney (left in photo) step down as Earthspan Director and Program Director of our autumn Padre Island Peregrine Falcon Survey. A long-time collaborator, Gregg has done a tremendous job since 2006 of maintaining the Survey’s scientific integrity, improving data collection methods and digitally archiving decades of field notes and band records. He leaves the Survey in good order, and we will continue to rely on his advice regarding the direction of all Earthspan initiatives. We sincerely thank Gregg for his innumerable contributions to the preservation of our natural world.
On a brighter note, Tom Maechtle (right in photo) has agreed to return as our autumn Padre Survey Program Director and assume Gregg’s spot on our BOD. A talented biologist and founding member of Earthspan, Tom directed our Padre Island surveys for many years before the demands of his growing business led him to cede that responsibility to Gregg. Despite the continued expansion and success of that business, Big Horn Environmental Consultants, Tom’s commitment to Earthspan’s programs has never wavered and he is pleased to help assure their continuation. Welcome back, Tom…and thanks!
Plans for the fall peregrine surveys at Padre (38th annual) and Assateague (45th annual) Islands are progressing.
Government Shutdown Endangers Peregrine Surveys
The October 1 partial shutdown of the U.S Government closed all National Parks, Seashores and Refuges. At Assateague Island National Seashore (MD) Earthspan researchers were forbidden to enter the study area just three days after beginning our 44th annual survey. We are in place and poised to resume the survey if Congress so allows, but the migration waits for no one and our window of opportunity is rapidly passing. At Padre Island (TX) Earthspan researchers can no longer access portions of the study area on Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, but the beachfront and State lands are still available to the Survey.
This shutdown has affected the livelihoods and security of some 800,000 blameless government employees, the recreational and professional opportunities of countless citizens, the businesses that support and sustain these activities, and the integrity of research critical to the well-being of our natural world. We implore the Legislative and Executive branches of our government to bring a quick end to this event.
Update, 10/29/13: At Assateague the shutdown’s end and restoration of access came too late for a resumption of survey operations, leaving an irretrievable hole in the 44-year standardized database. The Padre Island survey was able to continue operations on State and public portions of the study area until Federal land access was restored, minimizing effects of the shutdown on our 37 years of data.
Results in from 2012 Peregrine Surveys
Karen Francis and Tom Maechtle prepare to send part of Scott's ashes on their way
Results from Earthspan’s 2012 peregrine falcon surveys have been incorporated into our annual reports for both the Assateague and Padre Island surveys. A summary of results and both reports may be found under the Research tab on this site. The life of our colleague and friend Scott Francis was celebrated at the onset of our autumn Padre survey. An immature female was captured and released at Deer Island. She was dusted with some of Scott’s ashes and released by his wife Karen to carry them along on her southward journey. The rest of Scott’s mortal remains were scattered into the south Texas wind at Deer Island per his wishes. Words were said and tears were cried. Thanks and Godspeed, old pal!
Fall peregrine surveys begin in September
- Scott Francis (1954-2010)
As surely as summer turns to fall, Earthspan biologists gravitate to the East and Gulf Coasts to continue our four decades-plus of research on migrating tundra peregrine falcons. (more…)