THE PEREGRINE FUND

working
to conserve
birds of prey
in nature

summer/fall 2001
newsletter number 32
 Imagine aa world
world
without…
without…

Photo by Bill Burnham

…the next
…the next generation.
generation.

One Hundred Percent of All Donations Go Directly to Programs!

The Peregrine Fund is working to conserve birds of prey around the world. All of our programs
are dependent upon contributions. Help preserve future generations of birds of prey. Make a
tax-deductible contribution to The Peregrine Fund today. To learn more, visit our web site.

www.peregrinefund.org
 THE PEREGRINE FUND
Business Office (208)362-3716
Fax (208)362-2376
Interpretive Center (208)362-8687
NEWSLETTER NO. 32 • SUMMER/FALL 2001
tpf@peregrinefund.org
http://www.peregrinefund.org
Letters
The Peregrine Fund will soon be constructing a new Our colleagues around the world respond to the tragedy of September 11 . . . . . . . . .2
collections building at our location in Boise, Idaho.
With the addition of this new building our mailing
address is changing. Our new mailing address is Aplomado Falcon Recovery
5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, Idaho 83709. Captive-bred falcons get some extra protection from predators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
THE PEREGRINE FUND STAFF
California Condor Restoration
United States International
Linda Behrman Aristide Andrianarimisa Released California Condors officially “come of age” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Roy Britton Francisco Barrios
Bill Burnham Adrien Batou
Kurt K. Burnham Be Berthin
Greenland Project
Pat Burnham Noel Augustin Bonhomme Satellite tracking reveals the range of the incredible Gyrfalcon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Jack Cafferty Eloi (Lala) Fanameha
Jeff Cilek Martin Gilbert
MaryAnn Edson Noel Guerra Harpy Eagles
Nancy Freutel Ron Hartley
Bill Heinrich Kathia Herrera New facility in Panama provides tropical environment for captive breeding . . . . . . .8
Grainger Hunt Mia Jessen
J. Peter Jenny Herman A. Jordan Madagascar
Russ Jones Loukman Kalavaha
Lloyd Kiff Eugéne Ladoany Local people assume protection of natural resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Paul Malone Magaly Linares
Kim Middleton Jose Lopez
Angel Montoya Jules Mampiandra Cape Verde Kite
Amel Mustic Moise Capturing one of these rare raptors puts our biologists to the test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Brian Mutch Angel Muela
Trish Nixon Charles Rabearivelo (Vola)
Shaun Olmstead Berthine Rafarasoa Zimbabwe Falconers Club
Nedim Omerbegovic Norbert Rajaonarivelo
Sophie Osborn Jeannette Rajesy How a falconers club assists in shaping national conservation strategies . . . . . . . . .13
Chris Parish Gérard Rakotondravao
Carol Pettersen Yves Rakotonirina Notes from the Field
Dalibor Pongs Norbert Rajaonarivelo
Rob Rose Gaston Raoelison From Peru to Pakistan, our researchers share their triumphs and worries . . . . . . . .15
Cal Sandfort Christophe
Randy Stevens Razafimahatratra
Russell Thorstrom Lova Jacquot Razanakoto Development
Randy Townsend Lily-Arison Rene
Rick Watson de Roland
Our future is in your hands! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Dave Whitacre Leonardo Salas
Chris Woods Simon Thomsett Education
Gilbert Tohaky
Archivist Ursula Valdez Up-close encounters with birds of prey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
S. Kent Carnie Jose Vargas
Munir Virani © 2001 • Edited by Bill Burnham • Design © 2001 by Amy Siedenstrang
Zarasoa
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PEREGRINE FUND
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS DIRECTORS
D. James Nelson Tom J. Cade, Ph.D. Lee M. Bass Scott A. Crozier Jacobo Lacs Thomas T. Nicholson
Chairman of the Board Founding Chairman President, Lee M. Bass, Senior Vice President International Rancher and
President, Nelson Professor Emeritus of Inc. and General Counsel Businessman and Landowner
Construction Company Ornithology, Cornell PETsMART, INC Conservationist
University Robert B. Berry Lucia L. Severinghaus,
Paxson H. Offield Trustee, Wolf Creek T. Halter Patricia B. Manigault Ph.D.
Vice Chairman of the Roy E. Disney Charitable Trust, Cunningham Conservationist and Research Fellow
Board Chairman of the Board, Falcon Breeder, and Business Executive/ Rancher Institute of Zoology,
President and CEO, Emeritus Conservationist Investor Academia Sinica
Santa Catalina Island Vice Chairman, The Velma V. Morrison
Taiwan
Company Walt Disney Company Harry L. Bettis Patricia A. Disney President, Harry W.
Chairman of the Board, Rancher Vice Chairman, Morrison Foundation R. Beauregard Turner
William A. Burnham, Shamrock Holdings, Fish and Wildlife
Shamrock Holdings, Inc. P. Dee Boersma, Ruth O. Mutch
Ph.D. Inc. Manager, Turner
President Henry M. Paulson, Jr. Ph.D. Investor
Enterprises
Chairman of the Board, Professor, University of James H. Enderson,
J. Peter Jenny Morlan W. Nelson
Emeritus Washington Ph.D. William E. Wade, Jr.
Vice President Naturalist,
Chairman and Chief Professor of Biology President (Ret.),
Frank M. Bond Hydrologist, and
Executive Officer, The The Colorado College Atlantic Richfield
Jeffrey R. Cilek Attorney at Law and Cinematographer
Goldman Sachs Group, Company
Vice President Rancher Caroline A. Forgason
Inc. Ian Newton,
Partner, James D. Weaver
Karen J. Hixon Robert S. Comstock D.Phil., D.Sc.
Julie A. Wrigley Groves/Alexander Past President, North
Treasurer President and CEO, Senior
Chairman of the Board, American Falconers’
Conservationist Robert Comstock Michael R. Gleason Ornithologist (Ret.)
Emeritus Association,
Company Investor, Culmen Natural Environment
Ronald C. Yanke and Raptor Biologist
Chairman and CEO, Group, L.P. Research Council
Secretary Derek J. Craighead
Wrigley Investments LLC United Kingdom P.A.B. Widener, Jr.
President, Yanke Ecologist Z. Wayne Griffin, Jr.
Rancher and Investor
Machine Shop, Inc. Developer, G&N
Management, Inc.
1
 Nature Makes the Whole World Kin
uring the week of 11
D September 2001 we were
holding our annual plan-
ning meeting. There were staff
members and cooperators from
many countries, cultures, and reli-
gions gathered at the World
Center for Birds of Prey to present
programmatic results from the
past year and to make plans for
what we hope to achieve in the
following five years. The first
news of the terrorist attack came
via the Philippines when the
President of the Philippine Eagle
Foundation called. For the next
two hours we sat and watched in
horror and disbelief as the events
were reported and displayed on a
television in our meeting room.
As we sat there the sadness and
rage were no less or more for
those of us from the United States
than those from Europe, Africa,
Asia, or Latin America. The attack
was not just on and about the
United States, but directed at the
“Allow me to share my outrage at
the cowardly assault on your
country. At the same time, my
family joins me in prayer for the
thousands of lives that have been
lost and affected by these terror-
ists. I wish I could be of some
help in any way. Please let me
know.” Philippines
“We are shocked to learn about
the recent tragedy in the US. We
share with you all the grief and
sorrow. We strongly condemn
and resent this act of terrorism.
We take it as crime not against
the American government or
American people, but against
humanity. We wish that we
could have been with you at this
sad and evil event.” Pakistan
“We are deeply shocked with the
terrorism act in the US. We join
all of Malagasy people and
nation to condemn such act. We
hope the US government will
2
We have found a common interest
… helping bridge cultures, nations,
and peoples of the world.
find quickly those responsible for
this act and punish them severely
to let the liberty, freedom, and
peace settle forever.”
Madagascar
“From me personally and from
my country and the whole of
Europe I send you my deepest
sympathy. I do not know what to
say. We all support you.”
Denmark
“On rare occasion, even fanatical
raptor conservationists can be
– Shakespeare
world’s humanity and the very
core of civilization and human
freedoms.
Over the next few days we
received a stream of messages,
some of which are shared here.
Receiving these messages it was
increasingly obvious that
although “we work to conserve
birds of prey in nature,” the effect
is far greater than just on raptors,
or even nature conservation. We
have found a common interest
and bond on which relationships
and understanding are established
and nurtured, helping bridge cul-
tures, nations, and peoples of the
world. As we learned in uniting
the vast diversity of people and
organizations to restore the
Peregrine Falcon, it is seldom pos-
sible to agree on everything, but if
we can find something in
common on which to agree, many
of the other problems can eventu-
ally be resolved through under-
standing and finally trust.
“I express my deepest condolences
of my heart to all Americans who
have lost their relatives in today’s
terrorist attack. I know there is
little comfort in words, but I do
want to express how deeply we
all feel for you. We are shocked,
horrified, and saddened. God
bless all Americans and us.”
Mongolia
diverted from their cause. This is “Please accept my (and all or our
one such occasion. No words can staff’s) sympathies to the attacks
express the level of revulsion that of terrorists!”
these unjustifiable acts have gen- Hungary
erated around the world. Our
thoughts are with our American “I think all of us in Europe are
friends and colleagues at this deeply shocked and saddened by
tragic time. Let us hope that this the terrible events of yesterday. I
despicable attack only serves to personally feel deeply for all of
unite every civilized individual of you who are friends across the
all nations to eradicate this evil Atlantic. I grieve for the thou-
from our world. This is a shock- sands so callously slain. It is a
ingly terrible day in the history of joint tragedy and shame to whole
mankind.” United Kingdom humankind that soil our planet.”
Estonia
Aplomado Falcon Recovery:
Dealing with Other Predators
his year our biologists The interaction of species in nature

T
by J. Peter Jenny
were able to locate 33
pairs of Aplomado
Falcons in South Texas, and although
is one of the many challenges encoun-
tered in restoration biology. Although
the effects of these interactions are
some of these pairs were immature, 22 often extremely frustrating, they are, in
(66%) attempted to breed. Perhaps the end, one of the aspects of working

Photo by Amy Nicholas

most encouraging was that the number with nature that makes our work so
of young to successfully fledge from very interesting.
these nests more than tripled from last
year. Only eight young were able to
fledge from nests last year as a result of
predation by raccoons, coyotes, and
Great Horned Owls. This season breed-
ing pairs successfully fledged at least
29 young.
We experimented with several pro-
active management techniques in an
effort to reduce predation from ground
predators at nests. When our biologists
located an active nest they circled it
with a single strand of portable electri-
cal fence. Next, small sticks were

Photo by Brian Mutch

treated with “Renardine,” which was
developed in Great Britain to protect
ground nesting birds from foxes. A few
of the sticks were placed directly under
the nest, and others were placed in a
30-yard circle around the nest. The interaction
Although some losses still occurred, we
found that predation by raccoons and of species in
coyotes at nests receiving these man-
agement techniques was significantly nature is one
reduced.
We are also developing artificial of the many
nesting structures designed to make it
challenges
Photo © W.S. Clark

more difficult for predators to gain

access to the falcon’s eggs or their
young. The Great Horned Owl remains
the most difficult predator for us to
manage, and in some areas of south
Texas the species may ultimately limit
the recovery of the Aplomado Falcon.
encountered in
restoration
From top: Adult Aplomado Falcon above
nest.
biology.
Aplomado Falcon eggs in White-tailed
Hawk nest. Aplomados and other falcons do
not build their own nests, and may use
nests constructed by other birds.

Biologists place electric wire around base of

nest tree.

3
 Major Milestone Achieved for
25 March 2001
or those of us who have worked
F
by Sophie Osborn
with the condors and those of you
who have watched them at the
Vermilion Cliffs and Grand Canyon or read of their
trials and tribulations in The Peregrine Fund’s home
page field notes (www.peregrinefund.org), the
thrilling discovery on 25 March was deeply moving.
It will forever mark an unforgettable milestone in
our efforts to restore the condor.
Adult Condor
soars at the edge
of the Grand
Canyon.
Photo by Chris Parish
Sunday, 25 March 2001, started out in the same
way as almost every other day in March, with the
various crew members headed out early to the
release site and the Colorado River corridor to track
…the object and monitor Arizona’s 25 free-flying condors. I
headed out to the river to observe our “trio,” male
he was push- Condor 123 and female Condors 119 and 127, and
to monitor a newly released juvenile, Condor 198,
ing around who had left the Vermilion Cliffs a mere six days
was large and after his release (more on him later!). Perched on
the cliff edge, I watched Condor 119 fly over to the
smooth and cave the trio had been investigating on and off for
several weeks, and disappear inside at 1020 hours.
elliptical and Condors 123 and 127 were content to perch on a
nearby ledge. Much to my surprise, an hour and a
looked exactly quarter later, Condor 198 appeared, flying down a
side canyon and heading straight for the cave and
like – an the lounging adults. After several days perched
alone on cliffs overlooking the town of Marble
EGG!! Canyon, he had finally found his way to the river
and found some companions!
Dodging the pesky Peregrine Falcon that was
relentlessly pursuing him, Condor 198 landed by
4
the cave next to Condors 123 and 127. The adults,
however, did not appear to appreciate their space
being invaded by an intruder. Chaos erupted!
Condor 119 emerged from her cave and, surpris-
ingly, was promptly attacked by her mate, Condor
123, while Condor 127 began attacking Condor
198. The Peregrine wisely retreated! As Condor 119
dropped off the ledge, she turned her attentions to
pursuing Condor 198. Condors 123 and 127
quickly joined in the chase. A few minutes later
Condor 198 circled and landed by the cave and the
three adults settled nearby. Perhaps the adults’
aggression would have abated had Condor 198 not
decided to fly again and land even closer to the cave
entrance. No sooner had he landed than the adults
attacked again. Finally, Condor 123 escorted the
young bird out of the territory.
Upon his return, Condor 123 flew to the cave
and walked part way in. Nine minutes later, he was
in full view in the cave entrance and was pushing
something around with his bill. Such behavior was
not unusual, since these three adults have been
engaging in frequent nest grooming behavior where
they push pebbles and debris around the “nest”
cave and ledge with their bills. But as Condor 123
stepped back, I saw that the object he was pushing
around was large and smooth and elliptical and
looked exactly like—an EGG!! A condor egg!! I
don’t know if I breathed. Time seemed suspended.
Frantically I tried to focus my scope for a closer
look, but it was already zoomed in as far as it would
go! I stared and stared. Could this in fact be the
first condor egg laid in the wild since 1986?!? Or
was it just a large, oval rock? Frantically, I searched
my memory. Had I noticed a smooth white rock in
the cave entrance earlier? Surely, I would have
noted it if I had. I struggled to contain my excite-
ment. As an emotional person, caught up in my
affection for the condors and the ever-unfolding
drama of the efforts to recover them, I wanted to
jump and shout, to rush off to tell the world what
an amazing thing these incredible birds had done!
But the biologist in me won out. I needed to be
absolutely 100% sure of what I was seeing. I could
not afford to be wrong about this. Motionless, I
continued staring through the scope. Calmly, I
described what I was seeing in my field notes. For
almost an hour I stared at the beautifully smooth
California Condor Restoration
object, pausing only to call Chris
Parish, our project manager, on
the cell phone to let him know
that I might be looking at a
condor egg!
While I watched, Condor 119
left the area and Condor 123 went
into the cave for several minutes,
then perched by the entrance. At
1236 hours, Condor 127 walked
up to the cave entrance and
stopped by the possible egg.
Reaching down, she placed her bill
inside its hollowed-out back end.
Then I knew. I was elated ... and,
for a brief moment, crushed. It was
indeed an egg! No rock could be
so smooth, elliptical, white, egg-
shell thin, and hollow to boot!
But it was broken. Still, none of us
had realistically expected the birds
to successfully hatch an egg this
year. Condors do not usually
manage to hatch an egg on their
first attempt. Typically, the egg gets
broken or is infertile. The fact that
this egg was broken in no way
diminishes the fact that these birds
who had been released as two-year
olds in 1997 and faced extraordi-
nary odds over the ensuing years,
including almost being killed by
lead poisoning in the summer of
2000, had found themselves a nest
cave and laid their first egg!!! I
felt overwhelmed by the enormity
of the moment. Although dozens
of people had contributed infi-
nitely more to the release effort
than I had, I happened to be the
lucky person in the right spot at
the right time to see the first egg
Photo by Chris Parish

laid by free-flying condors in 15

years! It gave me a surge of hope
that despite the infinite obstacles
these magnificent birds face, they
will succeed.

5
 Female Gyrfalcon at her
eyrie after being tracked
by The Peregrine Fund
for nearly a year. Note
satellite-monitored
transmitter antenna
extending from her
back.

Gyrfalcon
Tracking Provides

Photo by Alberto Palleroni

Valuable Information
yrfalcons are the largest of all
Gyrfalcon
with satellite
transmitter. G
by Kurt K. Burnham
species of falcons. They breed
in the arctic regions of the
world, feeding on ptarmigan and many other kinds
of birds as well as Arctic Hare and small mammals.
Their prey varies from location to location, and
even time of year, as they take advantage of changes
in abundance and seasonal availability. Plumage
also varies, but not seasonally, as they molt only
once annually. Gyrfalcons nesting in the northern
arctic frequently have light-colored plumage and
some are near white, while those in the more south-
ern arctic are mostly gray in color. Their plumage
color may offer them an advantage when hunting
prey as more snow and ice occur in the northern
arctic than in the southern.
To breed and survive in the severe arctic condi-
tions, Gyrfalcons have special adaptations beyond
plumage color. Their legs are covered with feathers
and they have very dense plumage with thick down,
all to hold in body heat. During long arctic storms
Photo by Alberto Palleroni

they may have to go for days without feeding, and

conservation of energy is important. In the early
spring, and particularly during incubation, tempera-
tures may be well below zero Fahrenheit.

6
Four nearly fledged Rock-climbing:
young produced by one of the many
tracked Gyrfalcon. challenges of
studying the
Gyrfalcon. Her nest
contained four
30+ day old
young and was
tucked into a
Photo by Alberto Palleroni

cliff above a
high mountain
lake surrounded
Gyrfalcons have held great fascination for some
biologists and for centuries have been highly by snowcapped

Photo by Bill Burnham

regarded by falconers; however, very little is actually
known about them in parts of their range, and in
particular in Greenland. We are trying to answer
many questions about this species in Greenland,
including their seasonal movements. Using trans-
mitters monitored by satellite (PTTs) is providing
detailed information.
On 13 October 2000, we placed a PTT on a
female Gyrfalcon at a fall trapping station near the
Arctic Circle on the west coast of Greenland. The
data gained from this transmitter allowed us to track
her for the entire winter and into the following
spring and summer. After we attached the PTT to
her, she proceeded about 480 miles (800 km) down
the west coast of Greenland and spent the winter
months in southern Greenland. In mid-March she
began to migrate back up the west coast and settled
into an area northwest of Kangerlussuaq, most likely
her breeding territory. In June, using the best loca-
tions we had received from her PTT, we were able to
find her, and shortly afterwards her nest. Her nest
contained four 30+ day old young and was tucked
into a cliff above a high mountain lake surrounded
by snowcapped peaks. The valley contained willow-
peaks.
choked gullies, excellent ptarmigan habitat that
was most likely one of the reasons she chose to
breed at this location. After several attempts at cap-
turing her we finally were successful and replaced
her current PTT with a new unit that will last until
the summer of 2002.
With the information gained from this Gyrfalcon
and additional falcons carrying satellite-monitored
transmitters, we are gaining important new informa-
tion for the conservation of Gyrfalcons. This
research will continue for several more years with
between 15 and 25 Gyrfalcons being tracked annu-
ally. To obtain more information on our work in
Greenland and Gyrfalcons, please visit our home
page at www.peregrinefund.org.

7
 Harpy Eagle.
Photo by Alberto Palleroni
Harpy Eagles Arrive at Neotropical
Raptor Center, Panama
here are now five pairs of Harpy
T Eagles at the Neotropical Raptor
Center, located a short distance
from Panama City within the former
U. S. Fort Clayton, renamed the City of
Knowledge. This new entity was cre-
ated by an Act of the Panamanian
Congress to establish a center of excel-
lence for intellectual, business, and
environmental activities in Panama.
Fundo Peregrino—Panama (The
Peregrine Fund—Panama) has offices,
staff housing, and the Neotropical
Raptor Center there. We were one of
the first organizations to become a res-
ident.
With the completion of six large
steel and chain-link breeding cham-
bers, Harpy Eagles from the World
Center for Birds of Prey in Idaho were
moved to the Neotropical Raptor
Center in October 2001. Each chamber
was constructed within the forest and
visually separated from other chambers
and any human activity, creating as
natural an environment as possible for
captive breeding. Although Harpy
Eagles were successfully bred and many
8
young raised at our World Center’s
Gerald D. and Kathryn Swim Herrick
Tropical Raptor Building in Idaho, we
could not achieve the desired rate of
reproduction nor plumage and condi-
tion of the eagles. It was simply impos-
sible for us to duplicate a tropical envi-
ronment indoors for such large eagles.
Our Panamanian cooperators were
excited by the arrival of the eagles. Of
special interest was the repatriation of
Ancon, a male Harpy Eagle formally
loaned to The Peregrine Fund in 1991
by Panama. Ancon hatched in the
wilds of Panama in 1985 and was ille-
gally captured. He was rescued by a
premier Panamanian environmental
organization, “ANCON,” thus his
name. With that organization’s assis-
tance the eagle was transferred to The
Peregrine Fund. Soon after his arrival
at the World Center for Birds of Prey
he was paired with a young female and
over the years they produced eight
young Harpy Eagles, including three
previously returned and released in
Panama.
International Conference
on Neotropical Raptors
and Harpy Eagle
Symposium
❖
The Peregrine Fund
Fondo Peregrino – Panama
❖
Panama City, Panama
24 - 27 October 2002
he Peregrine Fund and Fondo
T Peregrino – Panama invite you
to join scientists, conservation-
ists, resource managers, falconers,
representatives of zoos, government
and non-governmental organiza-
tions, and other persons and institu-
tions with an interest in research
and/or conservation of birds of
prey in Latin America and the
Caribbean to participate in a meet-
ing to share knowledge, interests,
and concerns and help develop a
network of practitioners in the fields
of raptor conservation, research,
captive-breeding, and falconry.
For further information, contact:
Neotropical Raptor Conference
The Peregrine Fund
5668 West Flying Hawk Lane
Boise, Idaho 83709
United States of America
Tel: 208-362-3717
Fax: 208-362-2376
E-mail: tpf@peregrinefund.org
Details and registration forms are
also available on The Peregrine
Fund’s web site at:
www.peregrinefund.org/
nrconference.html

Natural Resource Management
Transferred to Local Population
adagascar is
M
the fourth
by Russell Thorstrom largest island
in the world and is inhabited by some
of the most unusual and unique plants
and animals in the world. The are 24
species of birds of prey in Madagascar
of which 14 occur only on the island.
Due to its uniqueness, number of
endemic animals and plants, and loss
of primary vegetation, Madagascar has
become one of the primary hotspots in
the world for conservation. The
Peregrine Fund’s interest
in Madagascar began Madagascar
many years ago with Fish Eagle.
research and conserva-
tion of the critically
endangered endemic
Madagascar Fish Eagle
and Madagascar Serpent-
Eagle. In Madagascar,
both wetlands and
forested habitat con-
tinue to be lost at an
alarming rate and con-
servation remains criti-
cal. Wetlands are extremely threatened
due to the dependency of the Malagasy
people on them for cultivating rice,
their staple food.
We began research work on the
endangered Madagascar Fish Eagle in
the wetlands of central western
Madagascar in 1991. Our work has
been focused at Lakes Soamalipo,
Befotaka, and Ankerika on what we
estimate to be 10% of the entire breed-
ing fish eagle population. These three
lakes also support an abundant fish-
eries resource. In the early 1990s there
was an increasing number of seasonal
migrant fishermen coming to these
lakes to catch fish to sell. This increased
pressure conflicted with the needs of
the local people and their laws, and
eventually reduced fish stocks.
In 1993, we proposed the idea of a
community-based conservation project
Natural
resources:
canoe
made
from a
nearby
tree and
fish from
the wet-
to protect the wetlands and natural
lands.
resources shared by the local people
and fish eagles. By 1996, the govern-
ment of Madagascar created and
encouraged empowerment of local
communities to control and manage
their natural resources (Law Project
No. 17/96). We then began working
with the local people around the three
lakes to help achieve local control. In
1997, with our support and aid, the
people around Lakes Soamalipo and
Befotaka formed a chartered associa-
tion for managing
their resources of the
lakes and surrounding
forest. Two years later
the people on Lake
Ankerika did likewise.
The Peregrine Fund
was challenged with
Photo by Russell Thorstrom
convincing the local
Photo by Russell Thorstrom
people of the need to
group together, how to
improve their existing
traditional laws and
sanctions, the impor-
tance of managing their resources sus-
tainably, and thinking in terms of their
future. We have been helping these two
associations to reach their objective of
controlling their natural resources.
Photo by Lily-Arison Rene de Roland
Finally, in 2000 these associations
requested the transfer of the resource
management from the government of
Madagascar to them. After five long
years it became a reality on 29
September 2001.
For the next three years, during a
probationary period, the local organi-
zations will be required to demonstrate Presentation ceremony transfers natural
adequate care and management prac- resource management to local people.
tices over their resources. Upon the
completion of the probationary period,
the review process will be extended by
the government of Madagascar to every
10 years. The Peregrine Fund will con-
tinue to be a resource for the sake of
the eagles.
9
 Cape Verde Kites
ndangered species conserva-

E
by Rick Watson
tion always presents chal-
lenges. Some are easier to
deal with than others; some are predictable
European Red
Kite, closest
relative of the
bureaucratic challenges that just take time Cape Verde
and endless patience; others are of “cutting- Kite.
edge science” in nature; and yet others relate
to unexpected behavior of the animals them-
selves. The Cape Verde Kite project has had
its fair share of all these!
Scientifically, the Cape Verde Kite pres-
ents an interesting dilemma to conservation
biologists. It was only recently proposed as a
distinct species, Milvus fasciicauda, despite
the fact that its nearest relative, the
European Red Kite, Milvus milvus, was found
over 1,800 miles (3,000 km) away. Of this
substantial distance, at least 400 miles
(645 km) is over the Atlantic Ocean.
The Cape Verde Kite is geographically One call produced
isolated from its nearest relatives, but
since when, and how they got there, we the hint of a kite,
do not know. Like other island species
so Sabine spent

Photo by Sabine Hille

(e.g., Darwin’s finches in the
Galapagos) once isolated, these kites
probably followed their own evolution- her last dollars on
ary path as the species adapted to local
conditions. New information collected
a flight to the
in the mid-1990s on the behavior and
morphology of the Cape Verde Kite is
island of Boavista. in the previous few months. Only two
consistent with this theory. This new widely separated individuals had been seen
evidence, combined with conservation in the species “stronghold” in 1999 on the
Boavista
biologists’ revised understanding of what defines a island of Santa Antão, and two were
AFR “species” for the purpose of conservation (based on reported from neighboring São Vicente island in
IC
acceptance of populations with a different evolu- 2000. In October 2000 we recruited Sabine Hille, a
A

Cape Verde tionary history being the basic currency for conser-
Kites are vation), we now recognize the Cape Verde Kite as
known to
unique and different from its European relative, and
survive only
in these worthy of conservation in its own right. The tragedy
islands off of this new understanding is that many species may
the coast of have already gone extinct because they were not pre-
Africa. viously recognized as worthy of the time, effort, and
substantial cost of conservation. This may have been
the fate of the Cape Verde Kite, except The Peregrine
Fund went to work “just in time”—we hope!
When we began this project over a year ago, there
was a possibility the species may have become extinct
German biologist studying kestrels on the Cape Verde
islands and then finishing her PhD at the Konrad-
Lorenz Institute in Vienna, to mount a search for the
Cape Verde Kite to establish whether or not the
species survived. If found, we proposed to capture the
last remaining birds for captive breeding. This, we
felt, was another Mauritius Kestrel, a species so deci-
mated by human activities that only captive breeding
could save it from extinction. In captivity, the chances
of the adult birds surviving are much higher than in
the wild. We can control and optimize their diet for
breeding and we can manage the breeding to increase

10
Found
the number of eggs laid and hatched, increasing sur-
vivorship of nestlings. Put together, this kind of
intensive hands-on management can greatly improve
the chances of species survival when only a few indi-
viduals remain.
Sabine immediately went to work organizing a
team of volunteers to help her scale the rugged
mountains of Santa Antão and São Vicente islands
in search of kites. The Cape Verde islands are liter-
ally “desert islands,” not the Robinson Crusoe-like
(or “Cast Away-like”!) “deserted islands” rich in
tropical vegetation. They are volcanic, dry islands
that rise from the sea to over 3,000 feet (900 m) to
where scarce moisture allows vegetation to hold on
to a precarious life, or they surface to only a few
hundred feet where only drought-hardy plants
manage to dot the barren landscape.
Survey work began in May this year and by late
June the team of 10 sadly concluded the Cape Verde
Kite was now extinct. There were none to be found
in its “last stronghold” on Santa Antão or neighbor-
ing São Vicente Islands. Five days before her sched-
uled departure, Sabine called around to friends and
biologists working on other islands “just in case”
someone had seen something like a kite on another
island where they had not been recorded in
decades. One call produced the hint of a kite, so
Sabine spent her last dollars on a flight to the island
of Boavista. Two days later I received an excited
phone call, “They’re here! Four kites, Cape Verde
Kites,” yelled Sabine’s elated voice over a crackling
phone line from a mid-Atlantic desert island. Her
last few days were spent in intensive study of the
birds’ hunting behavior, daily routine, and habitat
preferences. Armed with this information she
returned to Austria to plan for the capture and
translocation of the birds, while her local friends
began “training” the birds to come to a predictable
food station.
A month later, our field team flew in to Cape
Verde, arriving in Sal Island’s international airport in
the early morning hours. Sabine was joined by long-
time friend of The Peregrine Fund Jim Willmarth and
our Project Manager from Kenya, Simon Thomsett,
both experts in the capture and translocation of birds
of prey. But that is a story I will let Jim tell.
Kite Capture Depends
on Patience, Timing,
and Technology
fter meeting Sabine Hille, I was shepherded
A
through customs and experienced the unusu-
by Jim Willmarth ally complicated process of flying from one
island to another in Cape Verde. Sabine speaks Crioulo, a mix-
ture of Portuguese and various West African languages, as well as
the official language of Portuguese. She has worked in Cape
Verde for years so everywhere we went we were greeted by smil-
ing acquaintances. Arriving in Boavista Island after a night of
limited sleep on the airport floor at Sal Island, we hitched a ride
and stowed our gear with friends. We then
went directly to the site where Sabine’s friends
I had the had been leaving food for the kites every five
days. To my amazement, as soon as we turned
uncanny off the cobblestone main road onto the dirt
track leading to the feeding spot, there they
feeling they were. All four kites were sitting together on the
phone lines about 100 yards from us. I had the
were waiting uncanny feeling they were waiting for us.
As soon as we left food at the feeding site
for us. and backed off a few hundred yards, the kites
flew in to inspect the food from a cautious dis-
tance. Ravens came first and began to take a
few morsels and immediately the kites all came, chased them off,
and began to carry off small bits of food.
As the days passed it became clear that these four kites had
two ravens that they were associated with on a daily basis. If the
ravens did not go to a source of food first, the kites would not
approach it. Often we watched as the kites found a new meal
and waited for the ravens to come and do a security check. If the
ravens found the offered meal suspicious, they would jump up
and down and cry loudly, making such a fuss that the kites
would fly off.
About this time we caught up with Simon Thomsett, the third
member of our party. We knew Simon was on his way but we
were not sure of the exact day or time of his arrival. We had all
been communicating by e-mail but as Simon explained to us, he
lives miles outside of Nairobi, Kenya, at a place with no phone
or electricity. For him to get a message involved the reception of
the e-mail in Nairobi that was copied onto a floppy disc and
(continued on page 12)
11
 Kite Capture (continued from page 11)
“placed in the end of a cleft stick and
given to a runner who proceeded on
foot to Simon’s house in the tradi-
tional manner of local mail delivery.”
Simon then put the floppy in his
portable computer to read the mes-
sage. He said this whole procedure
“took a bit of the convenience out of
e-mail communication” for him!
Drawing on Simon’s experience of
capturing Black Kites in Africa, we
decided to make a blind so we could
be closer to the birds when we caught
them and to aid our observations. At
mid-day when the birds went off to
soar they were often gone for hours.
One day, when I thought the kites
were out for the afternoon, I took a
small shovel and started to make a
place where we could hide. I scraped a
shallow depression in the ground and
started to pile some large rocks around
the perimeter. I noticed the shadow of
a bird move by me. Looking up, I saw
two of the kites only about 40 yards
above. They were watching with great
interest. I walked away feeling foolish.
That evening all four of the kites came
and perched near the aborted hiding
place. The ravens came, and upon
seeing the depression and out of place
rocks, they jumped up and down and
cursed the place so loudly that the
kites flew away without even inspect-
ing the nearby food we had left for
them.
We discussed what we had learned
so far and between us tried to come up
with a solution for catching these
birds. If we could get them all at once
to feed within a few feet of each other,
we would have a chance of capturing
them all with a bow net. A bow net is
a circular net with a ridged frame that
can be placed flat on the ground and
pulled over whatever is within its
perimeter. We soon found we could get
the kites to feed together, but only
once every four or five days.
We set up the bow net and tested it
several times in a place hidden from
the kites’ usual haunts. Each time it
12
took almost four hours to set up so
that is was hidden from the critical
eyes of the ravens by carefully sprin-
kling it with a fine layer of sand. Once
satisfied that the trap worked perfectly,
we set it up one final time, and even
brushed our tracks from the sand as
we retreated 300 yards to our observa-
tion spot. It was days later before the
Cape Verde Kite habitat
on Boavista Island.
ravens, and then the kites, found the
bait. The ravens came in first. They
walked around and around the carcass,
calling softly to each other. After about
10 minutes they moved in very close
and began tentatively pecking at it.
Finally, they started to eat. Our careful
preparations had succeeded in deceiv-
ing even the smart ravens!
Then the kites arrived, all at once.
They sat about 50 yards away and
watched suspiciously. Then they began
to walk in, slowly at first, stopping and
going, waiting for the ones behind to
catch up. As they got closer, they
seemed more excited; their pace quick-
ened until they began to run, stopping
only for a second or two in their rush.
Finally, one ran straight in with wings
slightly spread in a threatening pos-
ture. Reluctantly, the ravens flew off a
short distance. Now, suddenly, all the
kites were on the carcass. They looked
around and began to feed.
After weeks of patient learning
through observation and trial and
error, we had all four kites together
and within the perimeter of our trap.
Success seemed to be at hand! We
looked at each other with wide eyes.
Anticipating the sprint to the net to
Photo by Jim Willmarth
retrieve the captured kites, we grabbed
the transmitter that triggers the trap
and pushed the release lever.
Nothing happened. We passed the
transmitter from hand to hand, push-
ing more and more vigorously on the
lever. A good number of technical
expressions were uttered in several dif-
ferent languages. But it did not help.
Simon even crept in closer to the trap
to see if perhaps reducing the distance
to the receiver on the trap would help.
But to no avail.
Later, as we inspected the failed
trap, we realized that over the days of
patient waiting, sand had gradually
trickled into the trap’s mechanism and
packed tightly around the bow so that
it was effectively jammed tight in the
ground. We tried a variety of solutions,
but with very limited materials avail-
able to work with, none were reliable
 Raptor Conservation and Research in Zimbabwe
enough to work consistently. We

Falconers
tried other methods like various
noose traps and others, but by now
the kites had a new and abundant
source of food—locusts that grew

Lead the Way

larger by the day. They were matur-
ing at about five to six inches in
length and had started to breed,
which made them very easy prey.
The kites would
he stimulating part of

I noticed the
catch them two
at a time by
simply sailing
over the acacia
T
by Ron Hartley
heading up the
Zimbabwe Falconers
Club (ZFC) is the variety of work
Young Teita
Falcons at
the eyrie.

shadow of a bird trees and pluck-

required. With some 66 species of
diurnal raptors and 12 of owls, it is
ing them off the
move by me. top branches
vital that we prioritize our efforts.
There is just one full-time professional
like ripe fruit
Looking up, I until they were
ornithologist in the country, Peter
Mundy, who represents the
full. The kites
saw two of the lost interest in
Department of National Parks and
Wild Life Management. Fortunately he
kites only about other food com-
has always been forward looking and

Photo by Ron Hartley

pletely and
part of his responsibilities has been to
40 yards above. stopped coming
facilitate the conservation policies of
to our suspi-
non-governmental organizations like
cious offerings.
the ZFC. Having worked closely
We have
together for nearly 20 years, we have
hopes of return-
structured a policy which focuses on
ing with traps
the biology of the birds, their conserva- encounter. Many contribute as volun-
built specifically
tion needs, and developing public teers to the research program and they
for the difficult conditions on the
awareness through a two-pronged edu- include doctors, veterinary surgeons,
islands. The locusts should be gone
cational program. This policy is also farmers, hunters, businessmen, and
by then and the birds should be
formally recognized by way of the gov- tradesmen. Access to such a wide range
more interested in the food we
ernment policy toward falconry. Peter of skills has proved most helpful in the
offer them.
Mundy looks to me and the ZFC pro- program. My job is to help design and
Cape Verde is a very unique
gram for key input on the national direct the projects, and to encourage
country culturally, geographically,
strategy for raptor biology and conser- participation from the volunteers. I
and biologically. I feel honored to
vation. Our approach has been sup- also lead several of the key projects
have taken away this small experi-
ported and refined by our association and get involved in all of the fieldwork
ence of it. The kites are not the only
with The Peregrine Fund, which goes and much of the writing up.
endangered endemic on this special
back even further to the late 1970s. Operating from an idyllic base in
group of islands, but I try not to
Getting the right people involved is the bushveld at Falcon College in rural
think of that. It is worrisome
always the key to a successful opera- Matabeleland, I have also run the high
enough when I think of the four
tion. Falconers are hands-on operators school’s falconry club and natural his-
birds on Boavista Island preening in
and they are passionate about their tory unit for nearly 20 years. Students
the morning sun, soaring over their
sport and the raptors and prey that range from 14 to 18 years of age, and
high rocky ridge, inspecting every
they use. Our program is based on this several graduates now form an impor-
new thing they come across with
passion. Falconers are encouraged to tant part of the national research pro-
curiosity, completely unaware of
make use of the wild resource. In gram. The college is surrounded by an
how small their tribe has become. I
return they are expected to contribute extensive area of wild lands, including
worry about them and hope that we
to the research program by sharing the eastern edge of the famed Matobo
will meet again.
information on the raptors they
(continued on page 14)
13
 Zimbabwe Falconers (continued from page 13)
Hills which hosts one of the richest
arrays of birds of prey in Africa. Species
studied in detail include Crowned,
Martial, African Hawk, Tawny, and
Wahlberg’s Eagles, Black, Ovambo, and
Little Sparrowhawks, and Gabar
Goshawk. Students have been involved
in long-term studies of raptor commu-
nities in this area. Some students also
accompany me on expeditions into
study areas at Batoka Gorge, Chizarira,
Chirisa, Siabuwa, Save Valley, and
Photo by Ron Hartley
David Maritz, a former student at Falcon
College, searches for raptors at Batoka
…students learn Gorge.
first-hand the habits Bubiana Conservancies, and
Malilangwe. These are all wonderful
of breeding birds, wilderness areas with abundant
sometimes climbing wildlife, including big game such as
elephants. In the field the students
to nests, banding learn first-hand the habits of breeding
birds, sometimes climbing to nests,
chicks, and collect- banding chicks, and collecting prey
remains. Some students have done
ing prey remains. research projects, which I have helped
stimulate, plan, and supervise. These
projects are also published and the
unit has an enviable publication
record.
As one of our unique attributes is
the hands-on approach, an important
focus has been on the biology of little-
known species such as Teita Falcons
and African Peregrine Falcons, Ayres’
Eagle, and Bat Hawk. We have pro-
duced some useful new information
14
on all of these species. I have been for-
tunate to handle all of these species
and study them also in the wild.
Watching a pair of Teita Falcons tend-
ing young at the nest is most exciting,
not the least because nests are invari-
ably located in pristine wilderness
areas. Feeling the tree shake as an adult
Martial Eagle alights near the hide and
then drops onto the nest, its baleful
yellow eyes gazing suspiciously, while I
hardly breathe as I will it to settle is
another golden moment. Spotting a
dark nondescript raptor wrench off a
stick and then follow the raptor to find
that it is the elusive and enigmatic Bat
Hawk busy building its nest is equally
captivating. Being able to share such
experiences with like-minded col-
leagues is both fun and inspirational.
Not all of our activities involve
such appealing and ground-breaking
biological work. Human impacts are a
constant factor, requiring basic and
sometimes innovative approaches. The
growing environmental catastrophe
from the widespread and chaotic land
invasions in Zimbabwe, with attendant
deforestation and poaching, threaten
one of the country’s most valuable
assets—its wild land. When Peter
Mundy, Warren Goodwin, and I spent
a weekend at Wabai Hill on Debshan
Ranch early this year we observed over
50 newly built huts below the feature,
an important bird area. Wabai Hill
hosts the northern-most colony of the
Cape Vulture in an area with a rich
variety of other raptors and wildlife. It
was an appropriate venue for our
meeting to contribute to a new threat-
ened and endangered species list for
Zimbabwe, as our deliberations were
made right on the hard edge of human
pressure. As we cooked dinner in the
bush, we heard a dozen rifle shots in
this erstwhile pristine and protected
area. The following day some of the
invaders boasted how they had shot
(illegally) some antelope on the open
plains. We have some daunting chal-
lenges and times ahead.
 otes
N ield
F
from the

Isidor’s Eagle.

Isidor’s Eagles:
Owners of the
Cloud Forest
t was about 11 years ago when I

I saw an Isidor’s Eagle for the first

by Ursula Valdez time. I was crossing the cloud forest
on my way to Amazonian lowlands in Peru. From
a comfortable tourist truck that was giving me a
ride, I could see a fantastic scene. A few meters
from the road there was a mossy tree emerging
from the steep slope and on the top of it there
was a nest with an Isidor’s Eagle and a nestling. I
remember jumping from the truck and staying
while the tourists were heading to a lodge not far
down the road. I stayed there for three hours just
© Heinz Plenge

watching the eagles, and I was fascinated with the

(continued on page 16)

15
...we went through a mysterious

Isidor’s Eagle (continued from page 15)

A treacherous one-lane mountain
road provides access to the study experience. By that time I was a newly graduated
area on alternating days. biologist looking for a direction for my career and
my interest in birds, and especially raptors, was
starting to grow. Sadly, years later I found out that
the eagles were not nesting there anymore. A man
had cut down the tree and since then there was not
evidence of any nesting activity around. During the
next years, however, I had the chance to pass by that
road several times and some of those I still was
lucky to see an Isidor’s Eagle flying along or across
the valley.
By July of 2000, I was hired by The Peregrine
Photo by Ursula Valdez

Fund as a research biologist and I was assigned to

find breeding pairs of Isidor’s Eagles in South
America. After a talk with Rick Watson where I told
him about my sightings in Peru, we decided to
search for the eagles on the cloud forest of the
Cosñipata Valley. As a Peruvian biologist I consid-
The author
builds a ered this a great opportunity to conduct research in
trap. my own country and with raptors that have became
my passion. But I was also excited about going in
search of those enigmatic eagles that years ago fasci-
nated me and that inhabit the pristine cloud forest
of the southeastern Andean slopes of Peru.
After some paperwork and lots of bureaucracy in
Lima (capital of Peru), I departed to Cuzco, a small
city high in the Andes, which became our contact
with civilization and source of supplies. In mid-July,
Photo by Ursula Valdez

after getting food supplies and all we might need

for the following weeks, my assistant, Cynthia King,
and I left Cuzco towards our field site. A dirt road
that joins Cuzco and the Pilcopata Valley took us to
the cloud forest inside of Manu Biosphere Reserve,
the largest and most famous protected area in Peru.
Since the very first field trip, each journey has
been an adventure—breakdowns, flat tires, land-
slides and waiting, sometimes days, for huge earth-
movers to clear them, a truck jammed against a cliff
after a misjudged corner, gruesome accidents at the
bottom of the precipice, and more. The mountain
road itself shows one of the most peculiar (and
scary) transit systems. The road is so narrow and
16
and magic cloud forest...

with deep precipices that traffic going down to the the same area. On the same field trip, we found
lowlands is allowed only three days a week another Isidor’s Eagle flying in a higher elevation
(Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), while traffic locality. We were so excited. Our first goal was
going up goes on the rest of the days. On Sundays achieved: we confirmed that Isidor’s eagles were
when there is not much traffic, vehicles are allowed living in our study area. The next step was to find
to go in both directions—at one’s own risk. Of more individuals and nesting sites.
course, more than once we found a truck coming in For the next three months my colleague, Sophie
our opposite direction. I swear, every time we had Osborn, gathered information on more individuals
checked carefully which day to depart. of Isidor’s Eagle and their behavior, and the areas
In many places along the road we saw crosses they frequently visited. In January 2001, during the
with flowers and some inscriptions marking the visit of Rick Watson to our study area, we decided to
location of accidents and deaths, as a reminder of put all of our efforts into finding a nest of Isidor’s
how careful you need to be when driving this road. Eagles and in trapping an individual so we could
However, every trip was a fantastic journey going radio track it. More challenges, but we took them
across the high Andes, contemplating the high and again with my new and determined crew (Bryan
vast mountains and going through passes to the east- Evans, Jose Campoy, and Daniel Huáman as my
ern slopes that go down to the Amazonian rainfor- field assistants).
est. On the highest location of the road During the next five months we
we stopped the vehicle to look at the had one of the most fascinating expe-
fantastic scenery. A green carpet-like riences watching these eagles and
vegetation covered the slopes below . .we saw the adult pair observing their behavior. We will
and then far in the horizon we could hardly forget the day we witnessed,
see the Amazonian plain. displaying to each other, not far from us, a young individual
When we arrived in our study area, flying with its parents. Or when we
Cynthia and I explored for several grappling talons in mid- saw the adult pair displaying to each
days, walking up and down many other, grappling talons in mid-air and
hours along the road. We camped in air and cartwheeling cartwheeling from the sky toward the
wet forests where mornings and nights forest canopy, and minutes later,
were in fact wet and cold. Then we
from the sky toward the mating. I observed in awe as an adult
went through a mysterious and magic
cloud forest, in which we walked
forest canopy Isidor’s Eagle captured a woolly
monkey. Unfortunately, we haven’t
under the rain or through dense fog. found a nest yet, but we found certain
But we did not complain. We also had evidences of nesting activity. Our trap-
magnificent sunny and blue-sky days. ping attempts were unsuccessful as
During the walks, I stopped every bird- well. However, so far we have gath-
watcher we found along the road (not many) and ered information on the behavior and important
asked if they had seen the eagle. Several times I just aspects of the biology of the Isidor’s Eagle.
had a sympathetic smile for an answer as most of No matter how much longer we want to keep
them consider the Isidor’s Eagle one of the hardest searching for eagles’ nests or how many more long
species to see. But finally, by mid-August our efforts days we want to walk, we want to know more about
were rewarded with the sighting of our first Isidor`s Isidor’s Eagles. We know, though, that Isidor’s Eagles
Eagle high in the sky. Despite our exhaustion we are the lords in the cloud forest and we hope they
jumped and celebrated with hugs and dances. For a remain like that for a long time.
couple of days we were able to see the eagle around
17
Experiences of an Aplomado Falcon
Hack Site Attendant
t is a struggle for me to
I awake at 5:30 a.m. The
by Swathi Sridharan 20-minute drive to
work is different every morning,
enthralling in the way of slowly
revealed secrets: deer, vultures swoop-
ing on road kill, snakes, and an eastern
sky that shines gently some mornings
and burns fiercely on others.
At around 8:00 am the first of the
Aplomado Falcons makes its way to the
tower, its black and gold form outlined
clearly in my scope. Beautiful in their
vivid colors and playful soaring flights,
these birds have the ability to look like
a fat pigeon one minute and like roy-
alty the next. For the brief time that
they are present, the tower is alive. The
falcons eat the quail with small, rapid
bites, often ripping feathers to get to
the unexposed flesh.
The tower becomes still again after
the birds have fed and they huddle
together on the far side in the shade.
They scatter, screaming abuses when I
approach at 11:30 to remove the bones,
feathers, and any other remnants of
their breakfast.
Besides feeding and identifying the
birds, my job also includes scaring off
any approaching vultures that are inter-
ested in the quail on the tower. To do
this I run out of the blind and wave my
arms in silent protest until the vulture,
feigning indifference, shifts direction
with a lazy beat of its wings.
At about one month of age, the fal-
cons are flown in from The Peregrine
Fund’s headquarters, the World Center
for Birds of Prey, in Boise, Idaho, and
are delivered to us in specially
designed carriers by one of the four
supervisors stationed in Texas. Each
release site usually receives two sets of
birds, sometimes even three. The
young birds scream, bite, and scratch
vehemently in protest at being moved
18
Aplomado Falcon
hack site.
into the large wooden box on top of
the tower where they will stay for
about a week. This is one of the few
times that the Aplomados are handled.
I have transferred two females, Blue P8
and Orange KD, into their new home.
Their beaks stretch wide as they
scream, revealing little pink tongues. If
held long enough they become quiet
Photo by Amy Nicholas
and stare right at you, their midnight
black eyes lined with eyelashes and
protected by eyelids that close from the
bottom up.
While the falcons are in the box they
are fed once a day by dropping halves
would pause, bob her head as she con-
of quail through a chute in the top of
centrated, and focus her eyes on a far
the box. Three sides of the box are
corner of the box. She would make a
made of wood with peepholes drilled in
prodigious leap, wings flapping hard as
various positions, while the fourth side
she propelled herself straight into the
of the box is made out of metal netting
side of the box where she would drop
to provide the birds with a view of the
down with a loud thud that never
surrounding landscape and other birds.
seemed to bother her, but made me
I spent an hour creeping around on the
cringe. The others, emboldened by her
tower on all fours peering into the
success, would start making leaps of
peepholes to determine whether each
their own. It was a funny sight to see
bird had eaten and noting any differ-
seven birds hopping determinedly from
ences in plumage and personality. Once
one side to the next, often bumping
they have been released anything that
into each other or the box. As I
will identify each bird helps, since more
climbed down the ladder, I could still
often than not, the color bands around
hear their feet scrabbling across the
their legs are obscured by an inconsider-
gravel in excitement.
ate branch or leaf.
Release day is a birthday of sorts—
By the third or fourth day in the
the day the birds make their first flight,
box, the birds start to get restless. As
the day we can no longer control where
the wind picks up in the evenings, they
they go. The goal of release day is to
stare out toward the lake behind our
open the door to the box and allow the
tower. They experimentally stretch out
birds to come out at their own pace.
their wings and give a halfhearted flap
Motivated by curiosity and hunger
before settling down. Red NX, one of
instead of fear, they eat the quail conve-
the females from our first set of birds,
niently placed in plain view and learn
was always determined, if not always
that the tower is a safe place to return.
successful. She was forever the first to
They remain there until the sun begins
respond to an all-consuming urge to fly
to set and they make their first shaky
and was usually still going strong when
flights to the nearby trees to roost for
we left. She would walk around the
the night.
box, her steps getting faster until she
was almost running. Then Red NX

Young Aplomado Falcon.
While this first flight suggests free-
dom and autonomy, as Angel, our field
supervisor, puts it, “Life just got very
difficult all of a sudden.” The birds are
now susceptible to all of nature’s
threats and while I stood there, exult-
ing in their achievements, I could not
help but be aware of the forces acting
against them. As I write this article only
three out of our original seven are alive.
One flew far without stopping on
release day and disappeared, two more
were eaten by Great Horned Owls. Red
NX, who in her impatience to fly was
the first one off the tower, was never
seen again.
Their frailty was brought home by
their clumsy landings and shaky sense
of direction, for often the wind was
stronger than their wings, and they
would end up in a nearby tree looking
faintly baffled. But their strength was
made evident as well, for within a few
days their flights were graceful, their
landings superb. It is a pleasure to
watch them playfully chase each other,
diving and swooping in a relentless
game of catch where no one is “it.”
My daily routine ends with another
four-hour shift at the blind in the
evenings and I watch the birds eat and
For more information on how to become a hack site attendant at The Peregrine Fund, contact Bill
Heinrich at (208) 362-3716 or by mail at 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, Idaho 83709.
...they become
quiet and stare
Photo © Robert Rattner
right at you...
play around the tower until they head
back to the lake for the night. I do not
want to convey an idyllic picture of
endless excitement and wonder. The
Texas heat can be harsh, the ranch
abounding with snakes and gruesome Soaring
Aplomado
insects. And it is tough when some
Falcon.
birds disappear, leaving only a handful
of feathers as a testimony to a late night
violent struggle.
I think that we are all collectors of
Photo © W.S. Clark
one sort or another. I collect brief
moments when I am in awe of the
beauty that surrounds me. And there is
of course, one moment that I will
replay in my mind’s eye forever. I woke
up a little later than usual one morning
and the falcons were already at the Five other falcons
tower, waiting for their breakfast.
Instead of scattering as they normally
flew after the first
do at my approach, they let me get
closer than I ever had or have been
until I was completely
since. I was a little shaken and was encircled by gold and
debating how to get them off the tower
when the first one took off in a small black wings beating
tight circle around me. Five other fal-
cons flew after the first until I was com- against the still
pletely encircled by gold and black
wings beating against the still morning. morning.
I was honored to be surrounded by
their fragile, tenacious beauty.
19
An Unexpected
Christmas Present
In place of the plastic reindeers of home were richly
o my mind, Christmas
T
by Martin Gilbert
is a time for family and
friends. Visions of
frosty days, log fires, mantles draped in
sprays of holly and mistletoe. At first
glance, it is hard to relate these images
to a Christmas spent in rural Pakistan
studying dying vultures! To most eyes
the vulture is hardly an evocative sub-
ject, with its scrawny serpentine neck
and unsavory table manners, it holds
none of the romance of the Bald Eagle
or the Peregrine Falcon. Surely only a
madman would spend the festive
season searching for such a bird, in a
remote land where Christmas is not
celebrated and a whiskey toast to the
New Year is an unknown pleasure?! I
have to admit that many a friendly eye-
brow was raised when I announced
that I would be leaving Scotland in
December to join The Peregrine Fund’s
Asian Vulture Crisis Project. However,
that was all a year ago and I am happy
to report that both the vultures and
Pakistan proved the doubters wrong!
Colorful Pakistan was both a sur-
prise and a joy to visit. The local’s own
festival, the Islamic Eid el Fitr, fell by
happy coincidence just two days after
my own Christmas day. While my
friends at home were busy sending
Christmas cards and choosing their
tree, Pakistan was buzzing to an antici-
pation of its own. At the time I was
based in the provincial town of Dera
Ghazi Khan along the western bank of
the mighty Indus River. Late night
shoppers hurried over their purchases
of gifts and treats. The streets were
filled with the scents of dishes being
prepared and with bubbling wide-eyed
20
children brimming with excitement. In
place of the plastic reindeers of home
were stoic donkeys trimmed in tassels
and bells, and richly decorated camels,
their ankle-bracelets clinking as they
strode past. As with Christmas at home,
Eid was a happy season, marked only
by the warmth and overwhelming hos-
pitality of the Pakistani people.
By this time, life within the vulture
colonies was also full of activity. Most
pairs were on nests, the parents sharing
the burden of incubating their single
white eggs. Four long months of hard
work stretched ahead of them before
the chicks would leave their tree-top
platforms and make their way into the
brewing heat of a Punjabi spring. But
for now the colonies were shrouded in
the chill of winter. Early morning mists
blanketed the gnarled rows of shee-
sham trees, retreating with the rise of
the winter sun. By mid-morning, air
would begin lifting in columns from
the warming fields of cotton and newly
planted wheat. Large groups of vultures
would circle together, climbing the
thermals, dispersing high over the
plains in the search for food. At times
several hundred could be seen together,
spiraling upward against a lapis-blue
sky. A truly magnificent sight, yet all
activity at the colonies was not of a
feathered nature.
On the ground below the trees two
young men were carefully pacing the
colony, recording the activity at the
nests, while engaged in a second and
more sinister task: the search for dead
and dying birds. Shakeel Ahmed and
Jamshed Chaudhry, two Pakistani stu-
dents working with the Ornithological
Society of Pakistan, under the training
and coordination of The Peregrine
Fund, had been charged with a vital job.
With reports of dead and dying vultures
coming from as far away as Asam in
northeastern India (1,500 miles to the
east), Shakeel and Jamshed, along with
their colleagues in two further Pakistani
vulture colonies, were working hard to
piece together vital fragments of infor-
mation in a conservation jigsaw puzzle
stretching across an entire subcontinent.
Stories of drastic declines in local
populations of the Oriental White-
backed Vulture and two close relatives,
the Slender-billed and Cliff Vultures,
had become depressingly frequent over
the proceeding months. The picture
that was emerging was a bleak one. The
populations of these three species had
dwindled to a fraction of their former
size, or vanished entirely over much, if
not all, of their former range. More
shocking still was the speed with which
the situation had unfolded. Where a
decade ago many hundreds of pairs
had nested in what were apparently
healthy colonies, the trees now stood
empty. It appeared that India had
borne the brunt of the losses, with
Nepal also heavily affected. Pakistan, it
seemed, was yet to experience declines
as dramatic as elsewhere, and appar-
ently still boasted large colonies of the
Oriental White-backed Vulture, at least.
Work was demanding, there was a
lot to do, and little time left to ponder
Christmas back home. While the stu-
dents tirelessly paced their colonies
marking nests and recording occu-
pancy, I was busy refining their studies,
taking time to survey other sites, and
 Martin Gilbert.
decorated camels, their ankle-bracelets clinking...
attending to the myriad of chores clam-
oring for attention on the road to a
smooth-running season ahead.
Throughout my time in Dera Ghazi
Khan, my Pakistani companions made
sure that I was comfortable, and that I
was never short of warm company.
Although I may have been forgotten by
Father Christmas, life was not without
festive spirit, and on the night of
Christmas Eve I was to be treated to an
unexpected midnight gift.
It was a dark 11:30 when a knock at
the big metal gates echoed around the
courtyard. The great door swung open
to reveal a pair of wind-blown Pakistani
students, their hair swept back and faces
frozen by a late night motorbike jour-
ney from the field site an hour away.
Shakeel and Jamshed came bearing an
impressive gift! I took the large jute
sack from the hands of the shivering
Shakeel and opened its contents onto
the floor. The body of a freshly dead
adult vulture rolled out, its wings
lolling passively. “We found it today,”
announced Jamshed. The three of us
stood in silence looking at the bird.
Despite having been in the country for
barely two weeks, this was already a
very familiar sight to me. This magnifi-
cent bird, once a master of its element,
was reduced to a cold and limp form at
our feet, a stark reminder of the reality
facing south Asia’s vultures.
We worked together on the dead
vulture through the night. Such a fresh
bird was invaluable, and with careful
examination might reveal clues, vital in
piecing together the bigger picture. We
took photographs and measurements,
opening her up in an attempt to find
Photos by Martin Gilbert
White-backed Vultures.
the cause of her demise. Once again, a and 85 degrees
familiar site confronted us. Her organs Fahrenheit! Eggs
were pasted in a thick white material, hatched, chicks
choked by uric acid. This was a sign grew steadily
that our vulture had died from kidney and finally took
failure. This was a finding that had their first falter-
been seen not only by ourselves in ing flight into a
other sites across the plains of Pakistan, very hostile
but had been reported in birds within world. Long days
India also. We took samples of tissues under the swel-
for analysis, trying to gather as much tering sun col-
information as possible. ored our stu-
Our evening’s work was drawing to dents’ skin a
a close by the time the early morning dark shade of I took the
call to prayer drifted out from the many mahogany, and my
mosques of Dera Ghazi Khan. The own ghostly com- large jute
evocative chant lilted across the still plexion a lobster
darkened rooftops of the sleeping town, red! With tempera-
sack from the
replacing the peals of church bells,
which at that moment would be herald-
tures roaring past
115° F on a regular
hands of the
ing a new Christmas day in my Scottish basis, Christmas shivering
homeland many miles away. With sun- and Eid became a
rise approaching we returned to our distant memory, yet Shakeel and
beds for some much needed sleep. That one aspect did not
is to say, I returned to my bed. For this change, the vultures opened its
night fell within the final days of the continued to die.
holy month of Ramadan, through By the time I left contents onto
which the students continued to the subcontinent,
observe their daily fast, allowing no the students and the floor.
food to pass their lips during hours of myself had located
daylight. While I was sleeping these almost 700 dead
men were quietly offering prayer and vultures. At one site, 20% of
preparing a last meal before the sun nesting adults were dead by the
rose. To succumb to sleep would have end of the season. As the
meant an entire day in the field, work- months tick past and we
ing hard on empty stomachs to unlock approach another year’s festivi-
the mystery of what was killing the vul- ties, I am left wondering how
tures of south Asia. many more Eid celebrations and
I remained in Pakistan until July. out-of-place Christmases will
The cool of winter gave way to the pass under the watchful eye of
lengthy and blistering days of the soaring vulture?
summer, a journey of eight months
21
 Searching for Birds of Prey
in Batoka Gorge, Africa
e had enjoyed an exhilarating
W
by Ron Hartley
morning with Peregrines at two
nesting sites. One pair made a
brutal attack on a pair of Black Eagles, fiercely
defending two recently fledged juveniles. Three hun-
dred meters from a Teita site, we located a pair
nested on a huge cliff inside an old field with land
mines remaining from the war in the 1970s. We had
been in the bush for just over two weeks and other
minor rushes of adrenalin were predicated by ele-
phants, buffalo, and lions in the Chizarira National
Park. Ancient elephant paths provided the key access
points into those gorges which also hosted Teita and
Peregrine Falcons, Bat Hawks, Augur Buzzards, and
Crowned and Black Eagles. Close encounters with
the huge pachyderms is part of the normal run of
…rushes of events in Chizarira. Three of my party were 18-year-
old schoolboys and another was a recent school
adrenalin leaver. All accomplished young falconers, they were
graduates of my Falcon College Falconry Club.
were predi-
cated by
elephants,
buffalo, and
Photo by Ron Hartley.
lions
Photo by Bill Heinrich
22
Floating through the Zambezi River Gorge, the
large blue Maravia raft dipped over rapid 11, tum-
bling and twisting as the professional oarsman inad-
vertently missed his line. Six of us in the black
Achilles raft quickly diverted to the left bank and
jumped out. The Maravia was in a big hole
(whirlpool), oarsman and assistant nowhere to be
seen. I shouted at my team to make their way down-
stream over the massive black basaltic boulders and
search. A long 10 minutes elapsed before the two
figures came into view. We had feared the worst, so
it was an incredibly welcome sight! The oarsman
was indeed fortunate as he had spent many long sec-
onds of hydraulic motion in the whirlpool’s vortex.
Then he told us that somebody drowned here the
week before. Meanwhile, the raft was still stuck.
Numerous casts of the rescue line failed to lock on
the frame, and after 30 minutes of frustrating effort
the raft bounced hard a few times, turned over, and
spewed out downstream. We jumped into the turbu-
lent Zambezi River, grabbing the raft and some of
the gear that had separated. A barrel containing my
Colt 45 pistol and a Kowa spotting scope had gone
down. Losing a firearm was a major problem. I car-
ried the pistol because on a previous trip our kayak
support had been chased by a large crocodile—we
pulled the kayaker onto the raft just in time–and I
did not fancy the prospect of a “flat dog” (crocodile)
popping the raft.
Exhorting the team to pull hard, we extracted the
Achilles from the river and portaged rapid 11. With
15 km remaining to get to a pre-set camp, it was
clear that the last section would have to be negoti-
ated in the dark, probably a first. Fortunately we
were able to take a “chicken run” around the notori-
ous rapid 18 (sinisterly labeled Oblivion) in the twi-
light. Just downstream of this we passed a Pel’s
Fishing Owl, beautifully poised on a rock just above
the river, our first record of this species in the gorge.
The glow of the campfire was a warm sight indeed.
We still had another two days on the river. Raptor
research in Africa provides many challenges!
Above: Rafting the Zambezi.
Left: Victoria Falls viewed through the mist
from the Zambezi River Gorge.
Our Future… Is in Your Hands
Philippine Eagle. Photo courtesy of F.R.E.E. Ltd.

Support The Peregrine Fund!!

ou may donate to The Peregrine of reminders will be sent. Newsletters Planned giving includes bequests, gift

Y Fund by using the enclosed

envelope, through our secure
server on our web site, or by designat-
ing a portion of your paycheck
through your workplace giving pro-
gram. The Peregrine Fund participates
in the Combined Federal Campaign
(#0945) and other payroll deduction
campaigns through Earth Share. Many
employers will match the charitable
contributions of employees. Ask your
personnel or human resources repre-
sentative for a matching gift form, fill
out your portion, and enclose it with
your gift. Please call Linda Behrman
at (208) 362-3716 for more informa-
tion. All donations are tax deductible.
Our Promise:
We will only directly request your
contribution once a year and then it
will be by mail, so please give gener-
ously. If you do not donate, a couple
and annual reports may have donor
envelopes should you wish to con-
tribute more often. We will keep your
name and address confidential. They
will not be traded or sold to others.
We will keep you informed of our
progress through reports, newsletters,
and our web site. We will work hard
to see your dollars are spent carefully
and effectively. We will do our best to
make a meaningful difference.
Membership benefits:
• Newsletter Subscription
• Annual Report
• 10% Discount on Gift Shop and
Catalog Purchases
• Special Events Notification
Planned Giving
A planned giving program targeted
to your situation can reduce taxes and
return an income for life while help-
ing us with our important work.
annuities, trusts, and many other
forms of gifts. Gifts are placed in our
endowment to help conserve birds of
prey and their environments in perpe-
tuity. At the discretion of our Board,
some income from the endowment is
used to meet our annual goals.
If you wish to make a provision in
your will, the following general form
is suggested:
“I give, devise, and bequeath to The
Peregrine Fund, Inc. an Idaho not-for-
profit corporation, located on the date
hereof at the World Center for Birds of
Prey, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane,
Boise, Idaho 83709, the sum of $____
(or specifically described property).”
For information on bequests and
other planned giving opportunities,
consult your attorney or contact
Jeff Cilek, Vice President, at
(208) 362-3716 or by e-mail at
jcilek@peregrinefund.org.

ou can also participate with The updates on our projects worldwide. Past issues
Visit Our
World from Y Peregrine Fund simply by learning more
about what we do. Our award-winning
web site (www.peregrinefund.org) is regularly
have included interesting articles, unique
videos, “just for fun” items, and much more.
The E-Newsletter is free! Sign up to receive it
Your Home updated with new and interesting information using the enclosed envelope or through our
from our projects around the world. Join our web site.
E-Newsletter program and receive regular
23
 Our Education Birds:
Ambassadors for
Conservation
ach year thousands of people, young and feeling the rush of air as a Peregrine moves its wings. These

E
by Nancy Freutel
old, from all walks of life, “meet” our edu-
cation birds at the Velma Morrison
Interpretive Center at the World Center for Birds of Prey.
encounters leave a lasting and memorable impression on
people and provide them with an insight into the important
role birds of prey play in our environment.
While the birds do not ‘talk’ to our guests, they manage to Visitors to the Interpretive Center may see juvenile and
speak volumes to all who see them. To watch the admiration adult Peregrine Falcons, Aplomado Falcons, Bateleur Eagles,
of an avid birder gazing into the bright eyes of Gus, California Condors, Bald Eagles, a Harpy Eagle,
our young Peregrine Falcon, or to see the Golden Eagle, Barred-Owl, Eurasian Eagle
expression of delight on the faces of Owl, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier,
school children as they meet Jack, our Rough-Legged Hawk, and an
Golden Eagle, is testimony to the American Kestrel. Interactive dis-
power of up-close encounters plays, multi-media shows, guided
with birds of prey. tours, and a gift shop are also
Each of our education available. Come out and see
birds is priceless when it us the next time you are
comes to acquainting our “soaring” in our neck of
visitors with birds of prey the woods. For directions
and their role in nature. and more information on
Nothing can compare to the visitor’s center, please
experiencing the pene- visit our web site,
trating gaze of an eagle www.peregrinefund.org, or
from a few feet away or call (208) 362-8687.
A few

agle.
of o

nE
ur

ld e
edu

Go
cat

d
an
n io

n,
bir

lco
ds

Fa
,c

un in
e
o

te
rcl e gr
r
oc
kw , Pe
ise gle
fro Ea
mt e le ur Photo credits:
op: B t Owl, Kurt K. Burnham;
arred-Owl, Ba Peregrine Falcon, Karen
Wattenmaker; Bateleur
Eagle and Golden Eagle,
Stephen J. Krasemann.
24
 Visit our web site at www.peregrinefund.org
Use the order form and envelope in this for these and other great items. Remember all
newsletter, or call 1-800-377-3721 to order. purchases from our catalog support our projects.

Peregrine Fund Lapel Pin

$3.95 2001 Christmas Ornament
Our pewter lapel pin $17.50
will declare your sup- The Peregrine Falcon is fea-
port of The Peregrine tured on the 2001 Christmas
Fund. In the center is ornament. The image was
our logo, encircled in created by John Schmitt and
royal blue with the the ornament produced by
inscription “The Barlow Designs, Inc. Each
Peregrine Fund— ornament is engraved on the
Founded 1970.” back with “The Peregrine
Fund 2001.”
Visit our web site for the seven-year collection of ornaments.
1994 Peregrine Falcon 1998 Harpy Eagle
1995 Bald Eagle 1999 Madagascar Red
1996 Aplomado Falcon Owl

1997 California Condor 2000 Gyrfalcon

Denim Shirt
Eagle Stuffed Animals $39.95
A 100% cotton, long-sleeve denim shirt sport-
(Left) Our national symbol, (Right) Our little Bald ing The Peregrine Fund insignia above the
the Bald Eagle, in soft, Eagle bean bag toy breast pocket.
huggable plush. Standing accented with bright Adult S, M, L, XL, or XXL
about 10” tall, this eagle yellow beak and feet.
sports a “World Center for This eagle wears a
Birds of Prey” banner. removable blue World
$7.75 Center for Birds of Prey
bandanna. Approximately Life with an Indian Prince
6” tall. $5.95 By John J. Craighead and
Frank C. Craighead, Jr. The
experiences of the authors
while living with the royal
family of Bhavnagar, India, in
1940-41. Vol. 2 in the
Archives of American
Falconry Heritage Publication
Series complete with more
than 350 illustrations, two-
thirds in color. Published in
Peregrine Fund Hats collaboration with The Craighead Wildlife-Wildlands Institute. 300 pages,
$15.95 limited edition.
Made of cotton canvas and embroidered with a Standard Edition $135
detailed head of a Peregrine Falcon and the words Patron’s Edition $320 (Includes half-leather case binding, handmade mar-
“The Peregrine Fund.” Available in denim blue, dark bled endpapers, and photographic print of authors.)
green, and khaki.
 Photo by Kurt Stolzenburg • Front cover photo by Jack Stephens, jackstephensimages.com

The Peregrine Fund Non-Profit

Organization
World Center for Birds of Prey U.S. POSTAGE
5668 West Flying Hawk Lane PAID
Boise, ID 83709 Boise, ID
United States of America Permit No. 606

www.peregrinefund.org