The Peregrine Fund
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THE PEREGRINE FUND working to conserve birds of prey in nature fall /winter 2005 newsletter number 36 TPF photo t a recent board meeting hosted by Jacobo and Greta Paxson Offield was honored for his long-term support Lacs, The Peregrine Fund Chairman of the Board, and leadership in Harpy Eagle conservation and research A Paxson Offield (center), and Founding Board Mem- while Bob Berry was honored for his support of Neotropical ber Robert Berry (right), were awarded Panama’s highest raptor research and conservation, in particular his efforts honor, The Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero. with the Orange-breasted Falcon. The award was presented by the President of Panama, Over the last 50 years, recipients of this award have Martin Torrijos (between them) and the First Vice-President, included Queen Elizabeth II, Sean Connery, and the Fire Samuel Lewis Navarro (left). Our biologist, Angel Muela, Department of New York. holds the immature male Harpy Eagle. Board of Directors of The Peregrine Fund OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Paxson H. Offield Ian Newton, William A. D. James Nelson Tom J. Cade, Ph.D. Roy E. Disney Henry M. Paulson, Jr. Julie A. Wrigley Chairman D.Phil., D.Sc., FRS. Burnham, Ph.D. Secretary Founding Chairman Chairman of the Chairman of the Chairman of of the Board Vice Chairman President Chairman of the Professor Emeritus Board, Emeritus Board, Emeritus the Board, Emeritus Chairman of the of the Board Board, Emeritus of Ornithology, Chairman of the Chairman and Chairman and Board and CEO, Senior Ornithologist J. Peter Jenny President, Nelson Cornell University Board, Shamrock Chief Executive CEO, Wrigley Santa Catalina (Ret.) Vice President Construction Holdings, Inc. Officer, The Investments LLC Island Company Natural Environment Karen J. Hixon Company Goldman Sachs Research Council Treasurer Group, Inc. United Kingdom Conservationist DIRECTORS Lee M. Bass Frank M. Bond James H. Enderson, Ph.D. Donald R. Kayser Ruth O. Mutch R. Beauregard Turner President, Lee M. Bass, Inc. Attorney at Law and Rancher Professor Emeritus Private Investor Investor Fish and Wildlife Manager of Biology Turner Enterprises Robert B. Berry Robert S. Comstock The Colorado College Jacobo Lacs Carl E. Navarre Trustee, Wolf Creek President and CEO, International Businessman Book Publisher and CEO, Russell R. Wasendorf, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Robert Comstock Company Caroline A. Forgason and Conservationist MyPublisher, Inc. Chairman and CEO, Rancher, Falcon Breeder, Partner, Groves-Alexander Peregrine Financial and Conservationist Scott A. Crozier Group LLC Patricia B. Manigault Peter G. Pfendler Group, Inc. Senior Vice President, Conservationist and Rancher Rancher Harry L. Bettis General Counsel, Z. Wayne Griffin, Jr. James D. Weaver Rancher and Secretary Developer, G&N Carter R. Montgomery Lucia Liu Severinghaus, President, Grasslans PETsMART, INC Management, Inc. President and CEO, Ph.D. Charitable Foundation, P. Dee Boersma, Ph.D. Longhorn Partners Pipeline Research Fellow, and Rancher Wadsworth Endowed Chair Patricia A. Disney Robert Wood Research Center for in Conservation Science, Vice Chairman, Johnson IV Velma V. Morrison Biodiversity P.A.B. Widener, Jr. University of Washington Shamrock Holdings, Inc. Chairman and CEO, President, Harry W. Taiwan Rancher and Investor The Johnson Company, Inc., Morrison Foundation and New York Jets LLC The Peregrine Fund Staff UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL Linda Behrman Panama THE PEREGRINE FUND Roger Benefield Aracely Abrego Joell Brown Eloy Aripio NEWSLETTER NO. 36 • FALL/WINTER 2005 Joe Burke Calixto Conampia Bill Burnham Marta Curti Kurt K. Burnham Omar Fernández Pat Burnham Briceño Flaco Jack Cafferty Próspero Gaitán Emma Christensen Margarita Gordon Aplomado Falcons Donna Daniels Noel Guerra Population changes linked to precipitation in Chihuahua . 2 Sam Davila Yanina Guevara Cameron Ellis Kathia Herrera Edward Feltes Edwin Jimènez Vincent Frary Magaly Linares California Condor Brian Gloshen José de Los Santos Cooperation among diverse groups protects Condors . 4 Sherri Haley López Tim Hauck Priscilla Maloney Michael Haynes Gabriel Minguizama Arctic Program Bill Heinrich Rodolfo Mosquera Grainger Hunt Angel Muela Jack Stephens, photographer and “Go To Guy” . 6 J. Peter Jenny Julio Ovispo Leslie Jonart Bolìvar Rodrìguez Paul Juergens Fidel Sabugara Harpy Eagle Saskia Santamarìa Megan Kaiser Released eagles adapt to new homes in Belize . 8 Lloyd Kiff Josè Vargas Thomas Lord Mark Watson Michael Maglione Asia Angel Montoya Muhammad Asim Vulture Crisis Amel Mustic Faisal Farid “Awesome Asim” honored as Conservation Hero . 10 Brian Mutch Pan Africa Jenny Myers Simon Thomsett Frank Nebenburg Munir Virani Pemba Scops Owl Cathie Nigro Madagascar Folklore and history describe Trish Nixon Tolojanahary R. A. Chris Parish Andriamalala this elusive “creature of the night” . 12 Nick Piccono Adrien Batou Jack Stephens, jackstephensimages.com Travis Rosenberry Be Berthin Cal Sandfort Noel A. Bonhomme Velma Morrison Interpretive Center Amy Siedenstrang Razafimahatratra Russell Thorstrom Christophe From life science to literature, students of all ages satisfy their curiosity here . 14 Randy Townsend Eloi (Lala) Fanameha Rick Watson Loukman Kalavah Eric Weis Eugene Ladoany Madagascar Jim Willmarth Jules Mampiandra Môise Gift to the Earth Award honors local conservationists . 15 Archivist Charles (Vola) S. Kent Carnie Rabearivelo Jeanneney Rabearivony Global Raptor Information Network Berthine Rafarasoa Using the internet to connect raptor enthusiasts . 16 Norbert (Velo) Rajaonarivelo Jeannette Rajesy Marius P. H. Rakotondratsima Yves A. Rakotonirina Gaston Raoelison Bien Aimè On the cover: Rasolonirina Gilbert Cal Sandfort took Razafimanjato this photo of an adult Joseph Razafindrasolo Aplomado Falcon in Lova J. M. Razanakoto Chihuahua, Mexico Lily-Arison Rene de while conducting Roland The Seing Sam research. Gilbert Tohaky The Peregrine Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. © 2005. Edited by Bill Burnham and Pat Burnham. Photo Editor Jack Cafferty. Design ©2005 by Amy Siedenstrang. Business Office (208)362-3716 • Fax (208)362-2376 • Interpretive Center (208)362-8687 [email protected] • http://www.peregrinefund.org Chihuahua Monitoring Project Update al Sandfort C a sido buen año para el halcon aplomado.” “It’s been a good year Angel Montoya “Hfor the Aplomado Falcon,” says Roberto Rodríguez, the biologist currently in charge of our operations in Chihuahua, Mexico. After over a decade of drought conditions, Chihuahua received above average rainfall in 2004, setting the stage for an upswing in Aplomado Falcon reproduction. Since 1996 The Peregrine Fund has supported moni- Floating wildlife escape toring the Aplomado Falcon in Chihuahua, focusing on ramp in stock tank at breeding activities and falcon prey. The goal of this proj- Rancho Coyamito, Chi- ect has been to gain knowledge of the falcon’s ecology huahua, Mexico. while building local interest and capacity with ranchers, Angel Montoya universities, and students. Since the project began we have seen the falcon population fluctuate from around 35 pairs to a low of 18. Additionally, the number of young falcons produced every year has declined from 1.25 young per occupied territory in 1996 to a low of 0.81 young per occupied territory in 2001. 2 Ample rains and good ranch management produce good falcon habitat and more young falcons. 30 Graph depicting Tinaja Verde 25 changes in grassland Sueco bird numbers at the 20 Sueco and Tinaja Verde study sites from February 1998 15 to January 2005. 10 Birds per hectareBirds 5 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Another Mexican biologist and former employee this population apparently can respond to environmen- of The Peregrine Fund, Alberto Macias-Duarte, tal factors such as rainfall. Ample rains and good ranch recently published a manuscript in The Auk which management produce good falcon habitat and more suggests a strong relationship between Aplomado Fal- young falcons. cons, their prey, and precipitation. He illustrated that As we learn more about the Aplomado Falcon’s an increase in rainfall increases seed production in ecology in Chihuahua, Mexico, we are implementing rangeland grasses which then provides forage for win- management tools that can benefit them. While this tering grassland birds, such as Savannah and Vesper project continues to emphasize monitoring and build- Sparrows. These grassland birds then serve as the prey ing local capacity, we have begun working with local Aplomado Falcons feed their young. So basically, an ranchers in implementing management practices favor- increase in rainfall may translate into an increase in able for the Aplomado Falcon. This year we installed 10 the number of young produced by a pair of Aplo- more wildlife escape ramps to stock water tanks mado Falcons. throughout our study area. This brings the total number This year we are glad to report that following the of escape ramps in operation throughout falcon territo- 2004 summer rains we observed an increase in prey ries to thirty. Installation of these ramps has proven very numbers which parallel more young falcons being pro- beneficial. Since we began installing them, we have had duced in 2005. This year’s productivity was 1.4 young no falcons drown in equipped tanks. These ramps also per occupied territory. This is the best productivity we are beneficial for other species. have seen in a long time! It also shows us how quickly 3 Thom Lord prepares Condors in Motion to rappel into a Condor nest site. f ever a landscape