Observing & Banding Prairie Falcons YT

Almost every year in early summer I often help an old friend John Campbell when I can with banding prairie and peregrine falcons, along with other hawk species like Ferruginous Hawks, Golden Eagles and Red tails. It's a great falconry related off season activity. John, the eldest son of a highly respected falconer by the same name, has been banding raptors for well over 40 years with government issued bands to assist in the study and research of populations and their movement. It's not without risk since most nests are either on cliffs or tall trees and John does this purely voluntarily and almost entirely self funded. His records represent a unique collection of DATA that he willingly shares. Each summer we find clutch sizes average 4-5 chicks that fledge but less eyries are occupied and one or other adult breeding birds seem to rotate far more than years past. It is speculated winter kill but no doubt use of Neonic pesticides in Canada (banned in Europe and UK), and the recent Highly pathogenic Influenza (HPAI) also plays a role in their decline in the region. The same can be said for the gyr falcon and peregrine falcons along with other owl and hawk species. I hope you enjoy the video and feel free to like, follow and share !