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THE PEREGRINE FALCON &Lpar;<I>Falco Peregrinus

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THE PEREGRINE FALCON &Lpar;<I>Falco Peregrinus RAPTOR RESEARCH A QUARTERLY PUBLICATON OF THE RAPTOR RESEARCHFOUNDATION, INC. VOL. 18 FALL 1984 NO. 3 THE PEREGRINE FALCON (Falcoperegrinus macropus) Swainson IN SOUTHEASTERN QUEENSLAND G. V. CZECHURA ABSTRACT- Most studies of PeregrineFalcon (Falco peregrinus) biology have been conducted in Europeand North America(Hickey and Anderson1969; Ratcliffe 1980; Gade 1982). Informationconcerning southern hemisphere Peregrinesis restrictedto the studiesof Glunie(1972, 1976) on Fiji, reviewsby Gade(1969), Brown (1970) and Steyn (1982)of African populations,while Chaffer (1944),Jones and Bren (1978), Norriset al. (1977), Olsenand Olsen(1979), Olsenet al. (1979),Olsen (1982), Pruett-Jones et al. (1981a, b), Walsh(1978) and White et al. (1981)provide important contributions for Australia. Declines in some nothern hemisphere popula- mediatevicinity of the regionalboundary (Broad- tions due to the effectsof pesticides(Hickey 1969; bent 1889; Barnard and Barnard 1925; Longmore Bijleveld1974; Newton 1979;Ratcliffe 1980; Cade 1978; Passmore1982). Vegetationtype appearsto 1982) have served to focus considerable attention exert little or no influence on the overall distribu- onthe distribution •nd dynamics ofregional Pereg- tion here, as closed-forests,open-forests, wood- rine Falcon(Falco peregrinus) populations. Concern lands,wetlands and agriculturalareas are all fre- has been expressedabout the potential affectsof quented by falcons.For example, Dwyer et al. pesticideson populationsof this falconwithin Au- (1979) recorded peregrinesfrom 8 of 12 habitat stralia(Olsen and Olsen1979, 1981; Pruett-Joneset typesfound acrossCooloola. The vegetationtypes al. 1981b). Existingstudies on the statusof the representedhere included vine forest, various peregrinewithin Australiahave been conducted in formsof openforest and woodland as well as heath, the southeastern corner of the continent (Olsen and herb and sedgeland.Wide occupationof vegetation Olsen in press)and little is known of the statusof typeshas been noted also in the Rockhamptonarea northern and westernpopulations. The following to the north (Longmore1978). reviews the present state of knowledge of the Vernon (1976) and Roberts(1979) both note that peregrine in southeast Queensland. A more peregrinesfavour mountainousareas with exten- detailed,long-term studyis underway. sivecliffs and rockyoutcrops. Examination of re- cordsused to constructFig. 1 indicatesthat this is MATERIALS AND METHODS essentiallycorrect with some modification.Cer- Information for this review was obtained from Queensland tainly peregrinesare well representedin moun- Museumrecords, literature, and previouslyunpublished obser- tainousareas as they have been seen on 11of the 14 vatiosof both myself(1968 to present)and others.Geographic major mountainsystems. However, they are also unitsreferred to as southeasternQueensland and Moreton and Wide Bay-- Burnettregion follow Roberts (1979) and Mather frequentlyobserved in coastaldistricts where they (1976), respectively.Note that a biastoward the Moreton region may be locallyabundant (Cooloola; Roberts and exists- reflectingdistribution of observers.Sufficient information Ingram 1976). Examination of inland localities is availablefor the presentationof a broadoutline of distribution, whereperegrines are regularlyencountered indi- breeding,hunting and conservation problems of peregrinesover southeasternQueensland as a whole. Vegetationterminology cates an associationwith cliffs, gorges, and out- follows Groves(1981). crops.Similarly, coastal records involve areas where eroded high dunes/coastalcliffs (Fraser,Moreton DISTRIBUTION and North Stradbroke Islands), subcoastalhigh- Peregrine Falcons have been recorded over lands (MacPhersonRange-Gold Coast) or isolated muchof southeasternQueensland (Fig. 1; Table 1). peaks(Mt. Cooroy-Peregian,Pumicestone Passage - In addition, they have been recorded in the im- GlasshouseMountains) are found nearby. 81 RAPTORRESEARCH 18(3):81-91 82 G.V. CZECHVV•A VOL. 18, No. 3 ß QUEENSLAND e ( eeee Figure1. DistributionofFalco peregrinus macropus in southeastern Queensland based on bothpublished and unpub- lishedsightings. BREEDING, DENSITY AND MOVEMENTS sociatedwith anotherMoreton region eyriesir•di- catesthat it has been active for about 60 yr. The Twenty-four activeeyries (eggs and/or adults earliest records available for the southern Moreton plus young present)are known from southeastern region are from the early 1940's,and mid-1950's Queensland.In addition,several areas containing for the westernMoreton region. Only very recent suspectedeyries have yet to be examinedand 1 recordsare availablefor the Wide Bay-Burnettre- eyrie previouslyknown to be activewas inactive. gion. Mosteyries were located within major range sys- Observations made wihin the northern Moreton temsalthough 6 outlyingsites are known.With the region suggestthat breedingstarts mid-August or exceptionof I eyrie locatedon a high coastal early September.Beruldsen (1980) recordsa nest- foredune,vertical or subverticalrock faces along ing season of "July to October, sometimes exposedcliffs or alonggorges were utilized.Rock Novemberin the south,and April to June in the faceswere variously composed of granite,trachyte, north".The earliestknown egg-laying occurred in basaltor sandstone. The dune nest was situated on late July (1980) and the latest early November exposedsandrock-fossil hardpan. Individual eyries (1968). The latter casesappears somewhat anoma- were placedon ledges,crevices or shallowcaves lous and may representeither a late breedingor a (Fig.2 A,B)between 30-270 m aboveground level. replacementclutch. Display was noted during Oc- The surroundingvegetation was either subtropical tober and 2 fledglings were present during De- rainforest,open-forest or woodland. cember.Little activityhad been detectedduring Most eyries appearedto have been active for Septemberof that year. Pre-egg-layingdisplay some time. One located within the northern More- flights were typical of those used by peregrines ton region was activesince the early 1940's,al- elswhereand consistsof mixturesof components though peregrinerecords within this area indicate such as High-circling, Figure-of-eight, Flight- at least 50 yr occupationof the site. Activity as- rolling and Z-flight (Cramp and Simmons 1980; FALL1984 P•m•GRINEFALCON IN QUEENSLAND 83 Table1. Summaryof availablepublished sightings of PeregrineFalcons in SoutheasternQueensland. LOCALITY SOURCE Callide Dam Zillman 1974 SandyCape Makin 1968 Fraser Island Vernon and Barry 1972 Mt. Walsh Frauca 1970 Maryborough Anon. 1972,.Iones 1981 Auburn River DarlingDowns Naturalist Dec. 1978:43' Cooloola Roderick 1975, Robertsand Ingram 1976; Dwyer et al. 1977 Teewah Creek Ingram 1972 Noosa Heads Wheeler 1959 (probable) Jimna Q.O.S. July 1978:2' KilcoyShire McEvoyet al. 1979 BlackallRange Czechura in press Maleny Czechura 1970, Q.O.S. Jan. 1975:2 ConondaleRange Roberts 1977; Czechura in press Glasshouse Mountains Jack 1941; Fien 1966; MacArthur 1978 PumicestonePassage Mayo 1934; MacArthur 1978 Redcliffe Q.O.S. May 1974:3 Crows Nest Q.O.S. Oct. 1977:3 D'Aguilar Range Illidge 1923; Vernon 1976 Pinkenba Q.O.S. Nov. 1982:4 Lytton Q.O.S. Nov. 1982:2 Bardon a.S. May 1974:3 Stones Corner Q.O.S. Nov. 1982:2 Murphy's Creek Lord 1956 Pt. Lookout Q.O.S. May 1977:4 North Stradbroke Is. Vernon and Martin 1975 Cecil Plains Q.O.S. June 1979:2 Cooper'sPlains Q.O.S. March 1976:3 Redwood Park Q.O.S. July 1978:3 Cunningham'sGap Vernon 1976 Dalrymple Ck. Q.O.S. June 1977:2 Tweed R. District Keast 1944 Warwick district Kirkpatrick 1967 Emuvale Q.O.S. Sept. 1977:2 Stanthorpe Passmore 1982 Lamington N.P. Robertson 1948 Binna Burra Wheeler 1973; Q.O.S. July 1979:4 * Newslettersare citedin tableonly. 'Q.O.S.' refers to QueenslandOrnithological Society Newsletter. Monneret 1974; Ratcliffe 1980). In addition, a (Fig. 3). The speedat whichthe stoopis terminated flight termed herein the V-flight, has been ob- and altituderegained often leaves the impressionof servedin whicha circlingor flying peregrinesud- a stoopfollowed by a 'bounce'.The V-flight usually denlystoops with wings closed, terminates the stoop followeda periodof High-circling,linear flight or by spreadingits wings and regainsaltitude using a undirectedactivity. Several flights may be con- combinationof momentumand flapping flight ductedin quicksuccession. All displayflights were 84 G.V. CzEcI-IUaA VOL. 18, No. 3 c D t w w r Figure2: A. Ledgeeyrie (e), easternMoreton region; adjacent roosts (r) are alsoindicated. B. Caveeyrie (2), eastern Moreton region; perched peregrine (1) and adjacentroosts are indicated.The locationof this eyrie is shownby its entrance.C-D. Peregrinehunting area (approx. 4 km SW Maleny). This area has been regularly used since 1970. Note different vegetationtypes present(r-rainforest, t-tall open-forest, p-pasture,w-regrowth). FALL1984 PZaZGRINEFALCON IN QUEENSLAND 85 of falcons;16 August,3 eggs;13 September,3 eggs; 14 October, 2 eggs. Data from southeasternQueenslancl appear con- sistent with similar data from southeastern Au- stralia.The presumedclutch sizeof 3 in southeast- ern Queenslandcompares favourably with both the State means (above) and the combined means for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania(pre-1947, 3.0; post-1947,2.7; data from Olsen and Olsen 1979). Olsen (1982) did not find any significantcorrelation between clutch sizeand latitude,longitude or temperature.Similarly, com- parisonof the meannumbers of fledglingsof the 2 Moreton region eyries(2.13, 2.25; Table 2)
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