Migration of a Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus over water in the vicinity of a hurricane

• Main Authors: M. J. Mcgrady, G. S. Young, W. S. Seegar
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ferguson; Falco peregrinus; peregrine falcon
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.577.3989; http://blx1.bto.org/pdf/ringmigration/23_2/mcgrady.pdf

Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus migrating over the Gulf of Mexico have limited perching opportunities and can encounter weather that impedes southward movement. In 1998 we tracked via satellite a migrating second-year female Peregrine during 79 days from Assateague Island, Virginia, USA, to inland Venezuela, and related its movement to local weather conditions, especially during its crossing of the Gulf where it encountered weather affected by Hurricane Mitch. We document Peregrine migration in extreme weather conditions and highlight the importance of tailwinds and updraughts, especially during the water crossing – even for a Peregrine, which is not adapted for soaring flight. Analyses of the large pool of data from migrating Peregrines fitted with satellite-received transmitters in relation to weather are lacking. Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus that summer at high (> 50°N) latitudes are migratory and many factors are likely to affect their migration, including prey availability (Alerstam 1990), geography, landscape (Kerlinger 1989) and weather (Ferguson & Ferguson 1922, Richardson 1990). Water bodies, such as the Gulf of Mexico, can be an impediment, especially to migration by soaring raptors (McRae 1985