Peregrines in Barcelona

[nick]

This is another one I've shamelessly posted myself after a recent short email exchange based on this: iberianature entry here http://www.iberianature.com/#peregrines_Barcelona

During the hacking work in 1999 in the Church of Santa Maria del Pi, a pair of kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) nesting in the bell tower brought food both to their chicks and the peregrine chicks inside the nest box. They almost always brought swifts (Apus apus) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus ). When the young peregrines left the nest box, they lived together with the young kestrels and could often be seen perched together. This phenomenon is somewhat surprising if we consider that both kestrels and peregrines are highly territorial species which zealously and aggressively protect their offspring. Moreover, peregrines will occasionally capture and eat kestrels.

....it doesn't quite make it clear if the Kestrels were officially parenting the perries or just feeding them because they were there.
I have heard of perries being deliberately put into kestrel nests as a means of seeding an area. It must be bloody hard work for the kestrels once their charges get big! And some danger that the young might eat their foster parents.
I spose what cuckoos do shouldn't make any of this too surprising.

Answer

Right, you were right to query this.  It's not at all clear

As a result they are going to write up and publish a proper report on this  incident - which I think is one the most interesting parts of their web.
Very briefly - a more detailed desciption to come when they get round to it -
 
Eduard (the Catalan in charge of the programme) looked for suitable sites in the year in question. He didn't realise this one he had chosen had kestrels nesting "next door". When their own chicks had fledged - which was early, before the peregrines- The adult kestrels heard the peregrines and started to feed them - but they couldn't see them as they were in a box. They dropped headless swifts and sparrows through the letterbox as it were. They also continued to feed their young, now-flying birds. When the peregrines emerged both species seem to have got on fine, and were frequently seen perching together.

The next year they repeated the hacking in the same site, but on this occasion the kestrels hatched and fledged later than the peregrines, and the adult kestrels did not feed the young peregrines.

> More soon
Nick

[nick]

Eduard Durany of the Barcelona Peregrine Reintroduction Project has kindly sent me these photos of a pair of peregrines nesting in the Port of Barcelona. The photos were taken with an automatic camera.
http://www.falconsbarcelona.net/Falco11/en_pagines/index.jsp
Also posted here: http://www.iberianature.com/spainblog/2008/01/10/barcelona-peregrines/

[nick]

Latest from blog
http://www.iberianature.com/spainblog/tag/peregrine-falcon/

Eduard Durany, of the Barcelona Peregrine Falcon Reintroduction Project, a scheme close to my heart, has sent me this photo of chicks in Guadi’s Sagrada Famila. Eduard notes that this year four chicks have hatched in the nestbox, a record for the site. In 2005, 2 chicks were hatched, in 2006, there were another 2, and in 2007 just 1 females. The father was released in Barcelona port in 2001 and the female was born on the Montjuïc cliffs in 2006. Photos here another BCN pair. + More info on Barna’s peregrines.

[lucy]

Lovely photo.  The chicks look so pristine, in contrast with their distinctly mucky nest box.  Alot of mouths to feed, but I've read that peregrines lay up to 6 eggs.  A week ago I was walking past the Sagrada Familia and saw the pair flying from tower to tower and above the square. A fantastic sight.

Another thing I've read recently about city Peregrines, at least in the LOG, is that they regularly hunt at night, making use of artificial light.  In particular they pluck migrating birds out of the sky, and remains of quite unusual species turn up where they live. It wouldn't be surprising if Barcelona's peregrines do the same, considering how illuminated it is at night.

Is there any news about the Montjuic peregrines?

[nick]

They also hunt at night in Barcelona

Will ask about Montjuic peregrines

[nick]

As an update to the above, I had a very enjoyable morning today at the Sagrada Familia helping Eduard Durany ring these 4 chicks.

MYSTERY PHOTO

Photos are of the four chicks, some ugly blighter and the mystery photo for you all.

Peregrines hunt also at night above the Barcleona s skies and catch all sorts of prey flying along the migration route which passes over the city.

Have a look at photo 3. What are the four remains of? They are all common birds in Barcelona or the area around Barcelona.

[lucy]

Hi Nick, Lucky you! They're adorable.

Is that a hoopoe feather?  the bill looks like a parakeet's, especially as there seems to be a green feather still attached. 

As for the legs: stilt? (red) and Little egret? (black) Do these peregrines like going to the Delta?

[nick]

Not bad at all Lucy!

3 out of 4 .

But not a little egret. Just as common though.

I'm pretty certain they don't fly to the Delta. They just fly upwards and catch whatever's flying over.

[nick]

The people from El Periodico were also with us yesterday. Here's the report from today's paper:

http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=506343&idseccio_PK=1022

[lucy]

Do the Montjuic peregrines nest on the cliffs or the large grey building near the Rompeolas where those web cam images were taken?

The black legs - a cattle egret?

[nick]

They nest on the cliffs - this year four chicks too

It's smaller than an egret

[Clive]

Hi all,

Great pictures Nick... How about a coot for the last foot to be identified?

So these birds that make up the diet for the chicks are caught in the air over the city?

Clive

[nick]

Final points there to Clive. Well done! A coot.

So these birds that make up the diet for the chicks are caught in the air over the city?

That's right. As Lucy says, this seems to be common to many peregrines in cities.

[nick]

STOP PRESS

Thalassia and Galanthus are organising a Peregrine Watching Day on 10th May starting at 10:00 am from the Plaça del Sagrada Família, which is right in front of the nest. Telescopes will be available. I'm going.

Lucy?

For anyone in the area, Galanthus are also organising these exciting things

http://www.asgalanthus.org/CAT/agenda.php

[lucy]

 I'm going too.  It'll be grand to get a close-up view.

[nick]

Not quite as close as the other day I'm afraid, but should be good. Sergi and Eduard will both be there so have a list of questions for them.

[lisa]

Great photo of the chicks Nick. Did you take it? They're just crying out for captions... but I'll refrain 

[nick]

Yes. At that distance even I couldn't miss

[nick]

Peregrine watching has been postponed till next weekend:

La previsión meteorológica ha hecho cambiar la fecha de observación de halcones. Se prevé lluvia intensa para el próximo fin de semana. Lo aplazamos para el próximo domingo día 18 de Mayo.

[nick]

New dates

Come falcon watching at the Sagrada Família, Barcelona this Sunday 18th May. Plaça Sagrada Família with Thalassia, Galanthus and Iberianature. 10:00-13:00.

See you there Lucy and others?

Nick