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Post by gabi on Feb 21, 2016 13:10:12 GMT -8
I often see American Kestrel and this is the first time I have come across a banded one... Anyone know who is banding and who is tracking... and how do they catch them to even track them? Found today just east of Whatcom Exit on South Parellel Road.   |
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Post by bandj on Feb 21, 2016 19:05:39 GMT -8
Vancouver airport has banded 24 American Kestrels as part of their programme to avoid aeroplane collisions. I know they wing tag Red-tailed Hawks and release them in Chilliwack. Maybe this is one of the airport birds. (Presumably not wing-tagged because of being a much smaller bird). I don't suppose you could read the tag number?
Get in touch with Gary Searing (gfs@airportwildlife.ca) for more information.
Bryan
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Post by gabi on Feb 21, 2016 19:45:34 GMT -8
Thank you. And no, I can not make out the number....it would have to be a very good close-up picture to get that....
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Post by nickinthegarden on Feb 21, 2016 22:34:03 GMT -8
I wonder if that bird is one that is migrating through? I have photographed the American Kestrels on the Sumas Prairie hundreds of times this winter. I went through my photos of the ones that had regular territories and I could not see any bands on any of them. The last few weeks I have not found the regulars in their normal territories, I suspect they have moved onto other areas. There was one that hung out in the area you mentioned though slightly more east quite often and that one definitely did not have any bands on it.
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Post by gabi on Feb 22, 2016 7:30:17 GMT -8
Thanks - wow - good for you. I appreciate you looking through... They do summer here too don't they? I only started noticing Kestrels since Nov. 2015.... and now so enjoy them. How many regulars were you following? It's true that this is only AK I have seen in this area and then I am not on the Priaire as often as you I imagine....
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Post by gabi on Feb 22, 2016 22:23:00 GMT -8
Just in case anyone is interested - I did contact Gary at the airport and he kindly responded back and then even took the time to answer more questions I had. I appreciate that link and while he could not assist in identifying it as one of the birds from the airport, he offered that the chance of it being one of his was extremely slim. Birds are banded the same way by all who band, as it is controlled by the federal governement of Canada and the US (while the method of capture does differ). Gary said that he does not target American Kestrels because falcons typically come right back and there is little point in removing them for a day or two. However, they have been striking more kestrels lately so he does remove them in hopes they won't come back. I appreciated that Gary holds both the safety of people and of the birds at YVR. Thanks agan all.
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Post by nickinthegarden on Feb 23, 2016 2:43:16 GMT -8
This winter, November till now I followed 4 which I would see almost always twice a week. Sometimes I saw as many as 6. Three of them had pretty tight hunting locations and the forth could be found with a mile or so. These were birds that always perched on the power lines, which made for less than ideal photos, but you could get a pretty good look at them. On the weekend none of them were in their usual spots and I have not seen them there for a couple weeks, I did find one just off the Freeway and Lickman and Yale Road. I rarely travel in that area so I have no idea if that is a regular there. It seems like the raptor population has lessen considerably in the last few weeks on Sumas Prairie, still lots out there just not as many as before Christmas.
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