Project Peregrine in Pukaskwa National Park
Pukaskwa National Park
By Garth Hardy
Project Peregrine Lead, Dr. Brian Ratcliff, and Park Ecologist, Christine Drake, search for nesting sites near Otter Island © Parks Canada
On Friday, June 24, 2016 Resource Conservation team members from Pukaskwa National Park accompanied a Project Peregrine banding team along the park coast in search of peregrine falcon nesting sites. During the trip, the Project Peregrine team (consisting of master bander Dr. Brian Ratcliff, and climbers Frank Pianka and Rodney Swatton) successfully banded its 577th chick - an impressive number for a remarkable project started in 1996! 31 of those chicks have been banded in Pukaskwa National Park since 2002.
Dr. Brian Ratcliff and Frank Pianka return to the Wild Shore from a nest near Cascade Falls with the falcon chicks for banding and blood sampling. Climber Rodney Swatton remains at the nest to safely receive the chicks upon their return. © Parks Canada
(Left to Right) Rodney Swatton, Frank Pianka, and Dr. Brian Ratcliff from Project Peregrine, and Park Ecologist Christine Drake aboard the Wild Shore on route to a nest site near Cascade Falls. © Parks Canada
Handling the Peregrine chicks to take measurements and attach leg bands. © Parks Canada
Handling the Peregrine chicks to take measurements and attach leg bands. © Parks Canada
Handling the Peregrine chicks to take measurements and attach leg bands. © Parks Canada
Handling the Peregrine chicks to take measurements and attach leg bands. © Parks Canada
Handling the Peregrine chicks to take measurements and attach leg bands. © Parks Canada
Handling the Peregrine chicks to take measurements and attach leg bands. © Parks Canada
Close up of a peregrine chick face. © Parks Canada
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