What Don't You Know About the Cal Falcons?
In this talk, Mary Malec will share surprising and little known facts about peregrine falcons. Why don’t they nest in trees … or do they? Why do they adopt chicks not their own, and how does this impact the species? Why do juveniles look different from adults? What birds are they most closely related to? What are the threats currently facing peregrines? And what does the future hold for the famous Cal Falcons who nest at the top of the Campanile?
Speaker:
Mary has monitored raptors (falcons, eagles, and others) since 2005, working with East Bay Regional Park District and Predatory Bird Research Group to determine occupancy, nesting, and outcomes for raptors in the Bay Area. She also has participated in the annual raptor migration count for Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) for 20 years and has banded raptors for GGRO. She continues to monitor wintering burrowing owls for Golden Gate Bird Alliance, to find and protect owls as they over-winter on Bay Area shorelines.