One day in April they abandoned those eggs and moved to a covered box on top of the building, one of several placed on rooftops by the Division of Wildlife around the city.
“We are not sure when they stopped, because we didn’t have a good camera view,” said Diana Malas, peregrine project leader for the Division of Wildlife’s District 5 office in Xenia. “Apparently the nest failed, since the birds moved up into the box on April 14 and laid three eggs, which they are still incubating.”
If all goes well, the eggs are due to hatch May 21. The plan would be to band the chicks at three weeks of age.
The nest box can be viewed at boonshoftmuseum.org. Then click on Falconcam. You can also check out the eagles living in the Dayton well field at the Boonshoft site, clicking on Eaglecam.
Fly tying class
Anglers interested in learning fly tying and fishing can attend a free workshop at the Wildlife District Five Headquarters in Xenia from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, May 25.
In addition to fly-tying and fishing instruction by Division of Wildlife staff, attendees will be able to test their fishing skills by spending a few hours fly-fishing on site.
All fishing equipment and tying supplies will be provided. Lunch is on your own from noon to 1 p.m. Participants should be prepared to go outside regardless of weather conditions and bring sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, water, etc.
Applicants must be 16 or older and pre-registered by calling Brant Fulks at (937) 372-9261 or emailing brant.fulks@dnr.state. oh.us. Space is limited to the first 15 registered. Fishing licenses are required.
Award winner
Jen (O’Neill) Dennison, a 1991 graduate of Fairmont High School and then Ohio State University, has been named as this year’s President’s Award winner by the Environmental Education Council of Ohio. Dennison has worked for the Division of Wildlife as Project WILD coordinator since 2000. She heads environmental education for the division.
Turkey take up
Ohio hunters moved ahead of last year when they killed a preliminary total of 8,898 bearded wild turkeys during the first week of the spring turkey-hunting season, which is open statewide through May 20. Last year hunters took 7,744 during the first week of the season.
The Division of Wildlife estimates more than 70,000 people will hunt turkeys during the four-week season. The wild turkey population was estimated at 180,000 prior to the start of the spring season.
Contact outdoors columnist Jim Morris at sports@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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