Peregrine
Falcons
Berkshire
Bird Paradise Sanctuary
Peregrine Falcons
We
have two new Peregrine Falcons both are disabled.
They
are both from different areas. It seemed like love at first site.
We think they will do fine as they stick together all day.
For
Disabled Falcon, Rehab Sanctuary is Paradise Found. "This
bird will never fly more than 5 feet, but she is rescued from possible
euthanasia."
by Mike Fricano, staff writer
The bird sanctuary
welcomed a disabled Peregrine Falcon from New York City last Tuesday.
The small, deadly predator has gone from being able to strike at speeds
of 180 miles per hour to being limited to flights of not more than 5
feet. "There's no way this bird was ever going to be released. The only
other option was euthanasia." Said Bird Paradise director Peter Dubacher.
It is the first Peregrine Falcon Dubacher has cared for in the facilities'
27 years. "Although an endangered species, Peregrines can be found in
the area. There is currently a pair nesting on the Dunn Memorial Bridge,
according to the State Department of Environmental Conservation.
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Peregrine Falcons,
like many birds of prey, have fallen victim to environmental pollution
that contaminates their food sources. Efforts have been undertaken in
the United States and Canada to help re-establish the population. There
used to be as many as 350 breeding pairs in the eastern United States,
includng more than 40 in New York. In 1965, widespread DDT usage (along
with other pesticides) wiped out the states peregrine population, said
Barbara Loucs, a research scientist with the DEC. Captive breeding-release
programs have since repopulated the state, growing from 13 pairs in
1985 to again more than 40, Loucks said. The DEC rescues a handful of
birds every year in cities, where young birds are hit by cars or fly
into buildings, Loucs said.
Dubacher has
been helping the small, flightless bird of prey acclimate to its new
surroundings. It's being housed in a small aviary, where she can "fly"
(not more than 5 feet at a time) and hop around, Dubacher said. The
falcon's injury will never heal to the point where it can fly again.
"If it were to be released she would never survive," Dubacher said.
Located in the hills of eastern Rensselaer County, the Berkshire Bird
Paradise is home to a thousand permanently disabled birds from all over
the world.
Dubacher rehabilitates
the birds, provides a sanctuary and in many cases attempts to breed
them. His most recent success story is Dottie, a Golden Eagle born this
spring who has since taken flight into the world, Dubacher said. Dottie's
parents were disabled, but Dubacher was able to have them mate successfully,
although Dottie's sibling died. Dubacher said that he would like to
breed the Peregrine Falcon, should another one take refuge at his bird
paradise. "That's the ultimate goal," Dubacher said.
We just got another disabled Peregrine Falcon and they sure hit it
off, they stick together like glue.
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