[obol] more on pelagic peregrines

From: Lars Per Norgren <larspernorgren@xxxxxxxxx>
To: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 08:30:39 -0700
   Just read this on facebook:" We are only 101 Peregrines away from a new 
world record at the Florida Keys Hawkwatch! As of today, we have counted 3910 
PEFAs for the season, inching ever closer to last year's record of 4010..."A 
visit to the official Fb page reveals the above quote to be old, the season's 
tally up to 4012 on 10/20 when two Peregrines flew by at once.
     This thread started as a discussion of raptor migration strategies. I now 
offer two tangents: When I was in grade school, the difference between 
California Condor and Peregrine was slim--I never expected to see either of 
them in the wild. By the time my children were in grade school I was not 
allowed to stop for eagles, at least not Bald Eagles. My kids just found them 
boring.
    The second thought--"raptor" is a term describing a life style, not a 
cladistic relationship. Most of us grew up with and all of us own field guides 
recognizing "Falconiformes". This order included eagles, hawks, ospreys, as 
well as falcons. We now know that falcons are much closer to parrots and not 
related to hawks at all. So what is the name of the order falcons are now 
classified by? What human construct do we impose upon them? And do Caracaras 
and Lammergeiers get to join the party too? What is the name of the order 
covering eagles, hawks, and ospreys?
    Alan Jenkins posted a link at 4:53 yesterday that is well worth the time. 
About 50 satelite transmitters were placed on Gyrfalcons all over Greenland, 
one of which worked for two fall migrations and the time in between--some 
failed right away. One male had a breeding season territory on Ellesmere 
Island, truly the end of the earth. The next time you see a Thayer's Gull 
eating spilled french fries in the Fred Meyer parking lot or Sanderlings 
dodging traffic on Clatsop beach, think of how they too could have hatched on 
Ellesmere Island and survived the hungry attentions of this long lost cousin of 
the parrots.   Lars

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[obol] more on pelagic peregrines

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