Welcome to an exciting journey into the world of Peregrine falcons! Today, we’re diving into a fascinating conversation with Josh Engel, a research assistant who works with these incredible birds. Let’s find out what he does and why it’s so important.
Josh Engel is a research assistant who helps with the Peregrine falcon program. His job involves going out to band young falcons and collecting blood samples from them. This is a regular activity during a specific time of the year.
Every year, around the end of May to June, young Peregrine falcons are ready to be banded. This is when Josh and his team get to work. They wear gloves and helmets for protection because even though the young falcons can’t fly yet, they have sharp talons and beaks.
Josh explains that they carefully reach out to the young birds, put them in a box, and bring them inside. Once inside, they band the birds’ legs and take blood samples. This process helps scientists learn more about the falcons and track their movements.
After the first three weeks, the young falcons start losing their fluffy white feathers and grow brown ones. Their wings and tail feathers grow to full size, and after another three weeks, they’re ready for their first flight. Sometimes, in cities, they might end up on the ground, and if that happens, the team helps them back to their nest.
The first year of life is tough for many birds, including Peregrine falcons. If they survive, they can live for about 13-17 years. The oldest falcons in the Chicago area have lived up to 16 years before younger birds take over their nests.
Josh shares that seeing Peregrine falcons in their natural habitats, like cliffs and mountains, is amazing. However, observing them in urban areas, where they adapt to city life, is a unique experience. It’s thrilling yet nerve-wracking when a protective mother falcon dives at you to protect her young!
Peregrine falcons are known as the fastest animals in the world, reaching speeds of over 240 miles per hour during their hunting dives. Josh jokes that he’d rather face a Peregrine than a Velociraptor, referencing the famous dinosaur from “Jurassic Park.”
In conclusion, working with Peregrine falcons is both challenging and rewarding. It offers a unique perspective on these incredible birds and their ability to thrive in both wild and urban environments.
Imagine you’re part of Josh Engel’s team. Design a simple simulation where you “band” paper falcons. Use colored paper to create falcon cutouts, and then use string or small rubber bands to simulate the banding process. Discuss with your classmates why banding is important and what information it provides to researchers.
Create a visual timeline showing the growth stages of a Peregrine falcon from hatching to its first flight. Use drawings or digital tools to illustrate each stage, and include key milestones such as feather changes and wing development. Share your timeline with the class and explain the significance of each stage.
Research the differences between Peregrine falcons living in urban environments and those in the wild. Prepare a short presentation comparing their behaviors, challenges, and adaptations. Highlight the unique experiences of observing falcons in cities versus natural habitats.
Organize a fun debate or discussion about the speed and abilities of Peregrine falcons compared to Velociraptors. Use facts from the article and additional research to support your arguments. Conclude with a vote on which animal you think is more impressive and why.
Create a poster that highlights the importance of Peregrine falcon conservation. Include information about their life cycle, threats they face, and how banding and research help protect them. Display your poster in the classroom to raise awareness about these incredible birds.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
**[Intro Jingle]**
**Emily:** We’re here in the egg collection with Josh Engel, who’s a research assistant in birds. Josh, what is your involvement with the Peregrine program?
**Josh:** I go along on the banding efforts to help gather the young from the nests. Then, when they’re inside, I help with the banding and do the blood draws to collect samples from all of the young.
**Emily:** This is something that you do pretty regularly at this time of the year. What is involved in the process?
**Josh:** There’s about a 3-week period, usually starting at the end of May and going into June, when all of the young Peregrine falcons in the 20 or so nests around the area are just the right size for us to band them.
**Emily:** So you get suited up with gloves and a helmet, and one of you goes out to take one of the young, puts it in a box, and brings it back inside. What happens next?
**Josh:** We very carefully lean out a window at that site. We reach down with our gloves. The young Peregrines, even though they can’t fly and are only 20-25 days old, have sharp talons and beaks. So, we wear leather gloves for protection. We use a broom to keep them from hitting our heads and to prevent them from flying into the windows. If we do everything right, it just takes a few seconds to grab the young, put them in a box, and take them back inside. Then we can take a deep breath and get organized at our table. We have a lot of equipment with us for banding and taking blood samples, including tubes with a preservative for the blood and specially treated cards for DNA preservation. One by one, we take the young birds out, put bands on their legs, take a blood sample, and then put them back in the box. Once we’re done, we return them to the nest.
**Emily:** And then they’re good to go?
**Josh:** Yes, they’re good to go.
**Emily:** How long does it take for them to become fully grown?
**Josh:** After those first 3 weeks, they start losing their white downy feathers and grow the brown feathers characteristic of their juvenile plumage. The flight feathers on their wings and tail will grow to full size. After about 3 more weeks, we hope they’re ready for their first flight. Sometimes, especially in urban environments where they don’t have much room to maneuver, they might end up on the ground or on a nearby roof. If that happens and we find out about it, we often retrieve them and put them back in the nest. Usually, that second try is successful.
**Emily:** So you give them another chance?
**Josh:** Yes, birds generally have the highest mortality in their first year of life, and that’s true for birds of prey and other raptors as well. If they make it through that first year, their lifespan averages about 13-17 years. The oldest Peregrines we’ve had nesting in the Chicago area are around 16 years old, and at that point, they often get displaced by younger birds.
**Emily:** How does this compare to your other experiences observing birds in the wild?
**Josh:** It’s a very different perspective. I see Peregrine falcons all over the world; they inhabit almost every continent. It’s amazing to see them in their native habitats, flying around cliffs and mountainsides. But to see them here in an urban setting, where I grew up, and to get up close and personal with them—there’s nothing like having a female Peregrine dive at you because you’re trying to take her young. That doesn’t happen in typical birdwatching.
**Emily:** So you’re doing a scientific mission against the fastest animal in the world?
**Josh:** Exactly, they are formidable.
**Emily:** I wouldn’t want to be in that position.
**Josh:** Having them fly at you repeatedly can be a little nerve-wracking, but we do it in a way that ensures safety for both us and the birds.
**Emily:** Keeping that in mind, how do you feel about “Jurassic Park”?
**Josh:** I’d take a Peregrine over a Velociraptor any day.
**Emily:** Haha, touche!
**[Ending Jingle]**
Peregrine – A type of bird known for its incredible speed and hunting skills, often found in various habitats around the world. – The peregrine falcon is known as one of the fastest birds in the world, reaching speeds over 200 miles per hour during its hunting dives.
Falcons – A group of birds of prey that are known for their keen eyesight and swift flight, often used in falconry. – Falcons have adapted to live in a variety of environments, from deserts to urban areas.
Banding – A method used by scientists to track and study birds by placing a small, uniquely numbered band around their leg. – Bird banding helps researchers gather important data about migration patterns and bird populations.
Feathers – The soft, lightweight structures that cover the bodies of birds, providing insulation and enabling flight. – The colorful feathers of a peacock are used to attract mates during the breeding season.
Blood – The fluid that circulates in the bodies of animals, carrying oxygen and nutrients to cells and removing waste products. – Scientists can analyze a bird’s blood to check for diseases and overall health.
Survival – The ability of an organism to continue living and reproducing in its environment. – The survival of many species depends on their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
Habitats – The natural environments where organisms live and thrive, providing the necessary resources for survival. – Wetlands are important habitats for many species of birds, fish, and amphibians.
Urban – Relating to or characteristic of a city or town, often involving human-made environments. – Some birds have adapted to urban environments, nesting on buildings and feeding on scraps left by humans.
Fastest – Moving or capable of moving at high speed. – The cheetah is the fastest land animal, but the peregrine falcon holds the title for the fastest animal in flight.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – Ongoing research on climate change helps scientists understand its impact on global ecosystems.
