Peregrine Falcon Project

The cameras have been on for about 3 weeks. How do you feel about the making the commitment to participate in this project?

The “Falcon Group” has been carefully studying the nest box (the place where the nest is) of S.W. (the mom) and Buckeye (the dad) for about 3 weeks now. S.W. has started incubation (the process of the mom, or dad sitting on the eggs to keep them warm) full time. The eggs take about 1 month or 33 days to hatch once incubation starts. There are currently 4 eggs in the nest. This group has 8 people in it; me [Jessie] Sam, Robert, Brooke, Will, Sofia, Marina, and Kyle.

We have started an observation-log, and a website. Many people have checked our site. Our website even got a spot on the front page of the falconcam web site at APK! It was such an honor when we got the news. Another thing they are thinking about was letting US name the baby chicks!! We still don’t have a yes, but we don’t have a no!

This is a GREAT project. It is important for people to study and know about endangered animals. Endangered animals play an important role in the ecosystem and we need to know about them and how to protect them so the ecosystem isn't upset and destroyed. I'm glad I'm getting to participate in this project and will remember all the interesting things I'm observing and learning. I can't wait until the eggs hatch - animals are always so cute when they are little. -Jessie

Eight students, including myself, are participating in a falcon research project on the computer at school and at home. We have been working on this project for about 3 weeks now. We are checking and observing the nest site about three times a day. We are reading, researching, and writing, and participating in discussions with other falcon fans.

So far I love this project and it is probably one of the best, most fun projects I’ve ever done in school. One thing that I think is very exciting is that there is a slight possibility that we get to name the baby falcons. I am really glad I applied to do this project. -Sam

I really like the falcon project because it is fun and I am learning a lot from it! We are watching two peregrine falcons named Buckeye and SW. SW is the mother and Buckeye is the father. So far they have laid four eggs! The really cool thing is we are watching them over the internet because the nest is in Cleveland, Ohio. I would recommend this project to anyone, even if they do not like birds. -Sofia

The past few weeks a group of kids in my class have been doing a falcon research project. We have read and found a lot of facts and we watched the eggs get laid on the live falconcam. The nest is in Cleveland, Ohio.

We check the nest every day. The mother and father falcon are sharing the job of keeping the eggs warm full time. It is a very fun project. I am thankful I get to be a part of it. -Marina

For the past three weeks the falcon group in my class has been watching a falcon nest in Cleveland, Ohio over the internet. So far there are four eggs in the nest. We have a great opportunity to learn about falcons.

This project makes me think and it is fun. It is sometimes challenging to read and understand all the information we have collected. I'm looking forward to watching the babies hatch. -Brooke

I am finding the falcon project very interesting and helpful because it is very exciting to find out new things about falcons. It is fun watching the birds and I can’t wait to see more.

I'm wondering if in warmer weather, Buckeye sits on the nest because he’s smaller and can't cover the eggs as well as SW? -Kyle

For the past three weeks the falcon group people have been observing the eggs and we have been watching the birds and researching about them. We have been researching about the peregrines in books and on the Internet.

I think that this project is a great opportunity for us to learn how a bird’s life is. We are all learning something new thanks to this project. I mean that in a good way. I hope we are still at school when they start to hatch and they don't hatch in the middle of the night.

We can all tell that Mrs. Harvey & Ms. Marshack are having a blast with this project too. I think that this project is great. I’m really happy I joined this group. -Robert

I have read a series of books by Jean Craighead George that had a peregrine falcon in it and really liked the books. Ever since then I have been interested in peregrine falcons, so I was excited when this opportunity came along. This is a good project to be participating in. I have learned a lot so far.

I am looking forward to seeing the eggs hatch and the parents raising the babies. I want to see what the eyas look like. -Will

It is awesome to see kids want to learn, and given the opportunity students will strive to meet any challenge put before them. This group of students willingly took this project on independently of their regular work, which speaks highly of their personal motivation. They first completed an "application" answering 3 questions about why they wanted to be part of the team, if they felt this type of project is important, and what talents / skills they would bring to the team.

The students are like sponges; researching, reading, and soaking up everything they can about raptors, peregrine falcons, and related topics. Of course the highlight so far has been watching the eggs were being laid, and they are continuing to observe the happenings at the nest at least three times a day. It is sometimes hard to keep up with their enthusiasm as they collect facts, record observation notes, make predictions and continue to question, download and save interesting pictures of the birds, and keep the web site up to date for parents and friends, but there is so much learning taking place that it is well worth the extra effort.

The other aspect that makes this project so worthwhile is one I didn't anticipate ~ the support and encouragement from APK, the company that keeps the falconcam going - free, as a community service - and all the folks that monitor the falconcam discussion board. We have many friends in Cleveland and other parts of the world that we didn't know about!

The next few weeks will be a waiting game ~ until the babies hatch. In the meantime we will continue our research, read the book Frightful's Mountain by Jean Craighead George together, and participate in other related activities. I want this project to be one the students remember when they look back on their fourth grade year. -Mrs. H