Peregrine Falcon Site Occupancy along Delmarva Peninsula, VA (2006-2009)

• Main Author: Watts, Bryan
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: W&M ScholarWorks 2020
• Subjects: peregrine falcon; stopover ecology; red knot; FOS: Biological sciences; Calidris canutus rufa; predator avoidance; Virginia; Falco peregrinus; Barrier Islands; Barrier Island; Calidris canutus; Red Knot
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/od/735; https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvgk

We monitored the breeding activity of peregrine falcons along the seaside of the Delmarva Peninsula (2006-2009) to determine their influence on the distribution of foraging red knots along the Virginia barrier islands. Twelve breeding territories were used during the study period. Both activity status and productivity varied across sites. Activity status was used to examine the influence of peregrines on the distribution of foraging red knots relative to peregrine eyries. This database contains the results of survey efforts (2006-2009).,We determined the number of nesting pairs, productivity, and nesting success of peregrine falcons breeding along the seaside of the Delmarva Peninsula in Virginia by regular monitoring. The Delmarva Peninsula study area considered here includes the barrier island lagoon system from the Virginia-Maryland boundary south to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Artificial structures have been established within this study area specifically for use by breeding peregrines. Nesting structures were surveyed early in the breeding season (March) to determine occupancy by falcons. We monitored sites determined to be occupied during a given year an additional 2-5 times from March through July to document breeding activity, to band young, and to document fledging success. For our purposes here, we considered a breeding territory to be active if a pair of adult peregrines was resident during the breeding season.