March 9, 2009

Clara returns to City Hall for the third year

For the third year in a row, falcon fans can tune in to San Jose’s wild reality show featuring Clara, a rare peregrine falcon who makes her home in a nest box located atop a ledge on the 18-floor San Jose City Hall.

Clara is pictured at San Jose City Hall in 2008 with her hatchlings and an egg. Photo courtesy Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group

“I am delighted to have Clara back for another year,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. “She and her young have encouraged schoolchildren throughout our community to learn about nature and conservation while they have delighted fans with their antics. I enjoy watching them soar and hunt outside my office window. Along with the thousands of falcon fans around the globe, I am hoping that Carlos returns and we have another successful season.”

But this year, Clara arrived with a new mate, who has a very interesting name. He is being called Estaban Colbert, named for Comedy Central newsman and pundit Stephen Colbert of “The Colbert Report.“

Clara returned to the nesting box earlier this month, bringing her new mate with her. Based on field reports, according to a release from Reed’s office, she is about to make Senor Colbert a father.

“I’m delighted that Esteban Colbert appeared at City Hall this week, and that he and Clara are hitting it off,” said Reed, who press reports have noted is an avid fan of “The Colbert Report.” “Like the City Hall falcons, the original Colbert has proven that with primitive instincts and sharp talons, anyone can survive in modern society.”

The peregrine falcon species had been close to extinction in California as recently as 1970, when only two known pairs of peregrine falcons remained in the wild in California. Today, thanks to extraordinary conservation work, there are more than 250 nesting pairs, including those at San Jose City Hall.

“Clara and Carlos and their offspring have delighted thousands of people throughout San Jose and all over the world,” said Reed. “The City Hall falcons have a devoted and passionate following online and in visitors who come downtown to do some falcon-watching. It is my hope that this passion will translate to support for the great work that the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group is doing to promote the preservation of these majestic birds for future generations.”

Falcon fans can watch the San Jose City Hall nest box live via the FalconCam, a Web cam that officially returns on Valentine’s Day. The city of San Jose in partnership with the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group at the University of California – Santa Cruz maintain the Web site. The FalconCam is online at both: the city of San Jose Web site at www.sanjoseca.gov. (Click on FalconCam logo on the right side of the site) and the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group Web site at www.scpbrg.org.

SCPBRG students and volunteers will play a larger role this year, and during this transition, hours in which staff and volunteers “drive” the camera and follow the nesting falcons and their offspring may be more limited than in the past. Scientists from the SCPBRG will answer questions throughout the season on the nearly 2,000-member online discussion group at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/SanJosePeregrines/. Scientists are also available for school assemblies, which include a visit by one of the SCPBRG’s tame falcons.

Those who are interested in supporting the City Hall falcons and the work of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group can do so by making a tax-deductible donation. Gifts may be made: online through UC-Santa Cruz’s Internet giving site at: https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=7267 or by check made out to UCSC Foundation/SCPBRG. Checks may be mailed to Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group, University of California Long Marine Lab, Santa Cruz, CA 95064.

Those interested in corporate sponsorship of the FalconCam and science and environmental education programs related to the City Hall falcons, may contact Michelle McGurk at michelle.mcgurk@sanjoseca.gov or (408) 535-4800.

Falcon background
City Hall employees first noticed a pair of falcons, whom birdwatchers named José and Clara, in the spring of 2006. The Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group placed the nest box on the south end of the City Hall tower later that year.

In early spring 2007, Jose and Clara returned to the area. The Web camera was positioned near the nest box. By mid-February the birds were observed engaging in courtship behavior, and by late March, had laid three eggs in the nest box.

All three hatched successfully, an extremely rare occurrence, on April 28, and the world watched the progress of the three young peregrine falcons. The chance of survival for the fledglings was constantly in peril, while they learned to survive in a big city environment.

As the three fledged in June 2007, middle school students entered a contest to name them. Hiko (male), Spirit (female) and Esperanza (female) were the winning names. The youngsters left San Jose over the summer to find territories of their own. They were banded with identification bands, and bird watchers in the East Bay discovered Esperanza frequenting the Siebel building in Emeryville.

Jose was last seen in July 2007. As falcons typically mate for life, birdwatchers were concerned about the disappearance of this devoted mate and father.

In late January 2008, it became clear to falcon-watchers that Clara had a new mate, who was dubbed Carlos because he frequently perched on the Marriott Hotel on San Carlos Street. In mid-March, Clara laid four eggs and three hatched on Earth Day.

More than 130 schoolchildren from throughout San Jose entered the mayor’s naming contest, with falcon fans voting to name them Cielo (female, Spanish for “sky” or “heaven”), Meyye (female, Miwok for “bird”) and Mercury (male). Young Mercury was the first to fly on May 28.

Sadly, Cielo died after hitting a downtown building. “Her death reflected the realities that are faced by wild and endangered animals. Many young peregrine falcons do not survive the first year in the wild as they crash into cliffs and also face many natural predators,” said Glenn Stewart of the SCPBRG. “It was an important lesson that real life is not the Disney Channel.”

Both Mercury and Meyye went on to great success over the summer of 2008 and were spotted frequently throughout Downtown San Jose. They have since headed out for territories of their own.