Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Nov. 14, 1991, edition 1 / Page 13
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under the sun BRUNSWKXfefEACON D THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 14, 1991 1 D Endangered Falcon Hanging Out At Ocean Isle Condo BY RUTTKR People who live or work ai the west end of Ocean Isle Beach have been shocked, startled anil awed by a newcomer to the area. A peregrine falcon has taken up seasonal residency at Ocean Point, the high-rise con dominium at the secluded west end til" the island. The rare bird isn't renting a room, but Irequents balcony ledges on the upper sto nes of the I S-floor building. "It's really quite a story," said Mayor Belly Williamson, who lives al the building. "This falcon just started showing up, and apparently he likes the surroundings." -'FS5^v THE HIGH -RISE IWtl.DIXG is an ideal spot for the falcon, which swoops in on shore birds at speeds of up to 120 mph. Balcony ledges offer the bird a great view of the surroundings. Fred Taylor of Ash, an enforcement of 11 cer with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, said (lie peregrine lalcon is the only one he knows ol on the North Carolina eoast. "It's real rare to have one down here like that," Taylor said. "We're seeing something that very few people see in the wild." Larry Cartland, groundskeeper ai the condominium building, said he first spotted the bird last winter. It left in the spring when beach visitors starting arriving, but returned a few weeks ago and has been making itself comfortable ever since. Cartland said the bird usually hangs out on the ninth floor or higher and typically stays on (he north side of the building, away from the ocean. A bird of prey, the falcon cats mostly doves and sandpipers, which it catches in a marshy area between the building and the Atlantic Intracoasuil Waterway. Cartland said he frequently finds the re mains ol the falcon's prey on the upper-sto ry ledges. "Whatever he eats, I have to clean up the feathers and the heads and feet," he said. Falcons, which arc distinguished by their notched beaks, fly with long, pointed powerful wings at speeds of up to 120 mph to capture their prey. They mainly go after other birds. Taylor said falcons fly faster than any other land bird and kill their prey by flying into them at a high rate of speed. "There aren't any other birds that can swoop in on something as fast as a falcon," he said. Most falcons don't build their own nests. They prefer to lay their eggs on the ground or on clifl ledges, or used nests abandoned by other birds. Cartland said the Ocean Point falcon has a wingspan of more three feet and a pale* yellow breast with dark stripes on its leath ers. The bird doesn't seem to be afraid of people. If you don't make a lot of quick move ment, he said you can walk to within five or six feet of the bird before it Hies away. "It ama/cs me," Cartland said. "He acts like he's right at home here on the ledge. It's like he owns the place or something." Ed and Jane LaForlunc of Oregon found the bird in their bedroom one night during a STAf F PHOTOS BY DOUG ?UTTl? THE FALCON usually slays on the outside of smoked glass windows on the up per stories of Ocean Point at Ocean Isle Beach. Notice the remains of his last meal. " Whatever he eats, I have to clean up the feathers and the heads and feet." ? Larry Cartland rccent visit in the beach. It had apparently entered through an open door leading to a balcony on the 12th tloor Peregrine talcons are classified as an en dangered species, hut they're making a comebaek, according to Ron Morris, curator of birds with the N.C. Zoo in Ashcboro. "They are on the upswing," Morris said. "They are rebounding from a much lower point several years back. " A captive breeding program at Cornell University in Neve Yoik has helped rebuild the peregrine population. Morris said lal cons raised in captivity have been released at various spots along the Mast Coast. However. Taylor is convinced the Ocean Point bird is wild. Even though it has adapt ed lo being around people, Taylor said the falcon would have been banded if it was raised in captivity. "Peregrines do migrate along the coast this time of year, so it's not extremely un usual to see one out there," Morris said. As for the bird's other behavior, Morris said it wouldn't be unusual for a peregrine falcon to hang out on the ledges of a high rise building. "Thai's kind of appropriate for them real ly." he said. "They are cliff nesters. They take advantage of the air currents along clills lor soaring." Taylor said the hijih-rise building is ideal for the lalcon. "That's his cliff," he said. "He gives those shore birds heck when they fly around his corner there." Cartland said the ledges and outdoor decks give the falcon a great view and make it a prime location to hunt other birds. "He's got it made silting real high up," he said. Morris said ihe slate zoo doesn't have a peregrine lalcon on exhibit and probably wouldn't be interested in having one. Falcons aren't usually found in zoos, he said, because they arc very active and high strung. Market Express is now Express Stop 2 For 7 n Buy any Frozen Yogurt Product & Get One Free With Coupon! Good at all three lnl=3 Locations Cannot be used in conjunction with any other special. One coupon per item purchased Express Stop . 24 Hours A Day-7 Days ?t f|1 KJJ Shallotte-Jct. Hwy. 17 & Holden Bch Rd. III C North Myrtle Beach-S.C. Hwy. 9 rit '-""l Yaupon Beach-100 Yaupon Dr. CARE PROMPT MEDICAL CARE -HOURS Monday -Saturday 9 am-7 pm Sunday 12-4 pm 579-0800 South Brunswick Islands Medical Park Hwy. 17, 4 miles south of Shallotte The tHUNSW-CK BEACON r Brunswick Islands Medical Associates Marcus R. Williams, MD Michael W. Wilkei son, MD Gary D. Ross, MD Board Certified Internal Medicine Samuel W. 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The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 14, 1991, edition 1
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