In late May, a team comprised of task leader Bob Sallinger, peregrine biologist, and assisting ODOT biologists, visited the newest residents of the #AbernethyBridge - three female peregrine chicks known as eyases. These amazing birds of prey typically nest on high cliff ledges but will substitute with tall human-made structures like the Abernethy Bridge, which is currently under construction to be replaced as part of our I-205 Improvements project. On this day, we captured a banding operation that allows the group to track their growth and progress. Extreme bird watching? Not exactly. Unlikely as it may seem, ODOT has actually played an important role in #peregrine recovery in Oregon. Once nearly extinct due to the use of pesticide DDT, by 1970, there were no peregrines nesting east of the Mississippi, with only a handful in the western United States, and none known to be nesting in Oregon. DDT was banned in 1972 and peregrines were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1973. Twenty years later in 1993, peregrines first appeared on the #FremontBridge - with only 23 pairs known to be nesting across the entire state. ODOT committed to protecting the falcons, creating partnerships to research best strategies for managing these majestic birds. Our work with Bob Sallinger has spanned the last three decades, and today, our partnerships continue with the Audubon Society, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA Forest Service, and Mason, Bruce & Girard, Inc. (MB&G). Together, we've employed an active management strategy to research, monitor and carefully schedule bridge maintenance and construction that avoids disturbing falcons - even performing removal and captive rearing of eggs or young when serious disturbances could not be avoided. Once peregrines establish a nest site, they tend to stay there generation after generation. Protection of these sites therefore, has helped aid in their recovery - and happily, these falcons were delisted from the federal ESA in 1999 - deemed to have been recovered. Today, peregrines nest on many of our bridges including the Fremont, St. Johns, Interstate, Astoria-Megler, etc. Some sites, such as the Fremont and St. Johns bridges have been the most productive in the state! Ever since the mid-1990s, biologists have assisted with the banding of eyases. Banding occurs at a precise window in the birds development to ensure the falcons are not harmed in the process. We're proud to announce that all three of these females looked very healthy! Major construction at this site hasn't deterred nesting, thanks to strategies in place that encourage the falcons to nest on piers where construction activity is low. Eyases typically attempt to fly between 38-42 days of age, staying with their parents throughout most of the summer before dispersing. We expect these young females are already soaring over the Willamette, and we're happy to have been their loving home so far!
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+4
Way to go - looking out for the chicks safety and welfare! 😄
Jennifer E.
1mo
Love this great work with our feathered friends.
Suzanne DesIlets
1mo
Nice..
Tagging Bob Sallinger
Well done!
How cool! Nicely done.