Cameras Capture Secret Life of Peregrine Falcons
Montana Research Facility Monitors Endangered Raptors on the Nest
Sep 4, 2009
A small research facility, the Montana Raptor Institute for Research and Education, became the first to use video surveillance cameras to monitor a wild peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eyrie, or nest in 2007.
Because peregrines nest on rocky ledges where it is difficult to observe their behavior, the video footage gives biologists new insight into this threatened species.
The use of video surveillance cameras to record the daily activities of wildlife has significantly increased knowledge about the behavior of some of the endangered species, such as Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus), which have traditionally been difficult to monitor. The cameras constantly record what is happening, giving important insight into wild animal behavior.
Video surveillance cameras monitor many peregrine falcon nests in urban areas where the birds of prey have been introduced to help keep pigeon populations under control. But peregrine nests in cities are situated on tall buildings, unlike the eyries of these birds of prey in mountain areas. This means that limited information about wild peregrines can be implied from observing urban falcon behavior.
Peregrine Falcons Share Nest With Pack Rat
In the case of the peregrine falcon eyrie, one of the first unusual findings was the presence of a pack rat (Neotoma cinerea), which regularly cleaned the nest area of bone and flesh debris. It is not clear why the pack rat wasn’t eaten by the peregrines on the nest but the relationship appears symbiotic. The pack rat gets food and the nest area is kept clean, reducing the likelihood of predators finding the peregrine falcon chicks.
Questions About Unusual Falcon Behavior Seen on Video
Other, more disturbing video footage is still under investigation. Byron Crow, the Executive Director of the Montana Raptor Institute for Research and Education, has shared this footage from his surveillance cameras, which shows the female peregrine falcon attacking, killing and eating her chicks, with other raptor biologists.
While raptors have been known to destroy eggs or kill chicks in times of severe stress, this was not the case in the Montana nest. In addition, the peregrine pair moved to another ledge, producing two more chicks which fledged normally. To date, there is no confirmed explanation for the incident.
Possible Role of PBDEs in Peregrine Falcon Behavior
One of the possible causes for the aberrant behavior that Crow is investigating is possible contamination with PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether), a fire retardant used to fight wildfires. High PBDE levels in kestrels have been implicated in delayed brain development and behavioral and learning problems.
These same fire retardants have been found in killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Pacific Northwest and are a growing concern for human health. With the peregrine falcon just coming back from near extinction in the United States due to the effects of exposure to DDT, it is chilling to think that yet another chemical may again put this species at risk.
It will, however, take further study to be sure that this particular peregrine population has significant levels of PBDEs and if they do, whether the chemicals played a part in the unusual behavior. Video surveillance monitoring of other peregrine nests will also be necessary to eliminate the possibility of this behavior being triggered by other factors.
In the meantime the video surveillance cameras are proving their value by providing insight into wild peregrine behavior on the nest. This information will give earlier warnings of potential problems, possibly preventing another population crash.
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