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Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

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The great wanderer

Peregrine Falcon (Photo courtesy of ODFW)

The word “peregrine” means wanderer or pilgrim. Peregrine is a perfect name for this falcon that lives on several oceanic islands and every continent except Antarctica.

Humans and Peregrine falcons have history. Humans have trained falcons as a hunting partners for thousands of years.

This knowledge and experience became critical between 1950-1970 when populations were wiped out by DDT poisoning. Populations in captivity and handling techniques were used to help re-establish populations and save this species.

After significant recovery efforts, Peregrine Falcon populations have rebounded with an estimated global breeding population of around 140,000.  They are now regularly seen in many large cities and coastal areas, reside in Oregon, and the species was removed from the Endangered Species List in 1999.

Super Bird

Peregrine falcons have such amazing skills they dwarf comic book super heros. To start with they are, without a doubt, the fastest bird alive.

SPEED: General traveling flight is only around 25-34 mph, In pursuit, these numbers dramatically change to nearly 69 mph, with spectacular skydives reaching speeds of 240 mph.

These skydives, called stoops, begin 300–3,000 feet above their prey. The falcon tucks its pointy wings tightly to the body to maximize speed. It then either strikes or grabs the prey hard enough to stun or kill.

Peregrine falcon hunting (royalty free Unsplash)

HUNTING TECHNIQUES: Other hunting techniques include selecting birds out of a large flock, level pursuit, and ground hunting. If you see a sudden eruption of a peaceful flock, a Peregrine is most likely nearby. Some of the flock may be trying to mob the Peregrine and drive it off.

FLEXIBLE DIET: Prey predominantly includes primarily birds, but can include bats, rodents, fish and prey pirated from other raptors.  Falcons consume over 450 North American species. Worldwide diet choices can run upward of 2,000 choices worldwide.

This can include birds ranging from a large Sandhill Crane to a tiny hummingbird. More typical prey species include shorebirds, ptarmigan, ducks, gulls, pigeons, and songbirds.

FEW PREDATORS: Predators include eagles, Great Horned owls, Gyrfalcons, and other peregrines.

SHARED CHARACTERISTICS: All falcons have some shared characteristics that includes: a conspicuously toothed and notched bill, a nasal cone, and pointed wings which may span over 44 inches.

Nesting

It is not unusual to find a 24/7 camera poised on a Peregrine falcon nest perched on a tall building in the city.  Peregrines will perch and nest on any open tall structure such as a skyscraper, water tower, power structures, bridges, rim of the Grand Canyon, in trees on steep slopes, and more.

They typically create a nest about one-third down the cliff face anywhere from 25 to 1,300 feet high. The nest itself is pretty minimal ‘scrape’ about nine inches across and two inches deep. 

In a pinch, falcons will select abandoned nests created by other birds such as, Bald Eagles, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk.

Superstar Chicks

At birth, this baby is entirely helpless with closed eyes. Yet, the tiny falcon chick will work up to 36 hours to peck free of it shell. This amazingly, difficult process has been the focus of many morning  falcon-cam programs. 

Juveniles have many vertical bars on their breasts. Adults also have the barred under breast, with blue-gray feathers above and a dark head with thick sideburns. This barred look is standard across all ages and geographic variation.

Where to find them

Peregrines inhabit open landscapes from tundra to deserts when not nesting. Areas include coastlines, barrier islands, lake edges, mudflats, and cliff sides. They may also be found near concentrations of prey, such as Rock Pigeons.

Peregrines in the Arctic tundra will migrate to South American earning their high mileage discount by covering as much as 15,500 miles in one year.  Their sharp homing instinct will lead them back to favored nesting spots which may have been in continuous use for hundreds of years, by successive falcon generations. 

JUST FOR FUN! Take an amazing virtual ride on the back of a trained falcon named Genghis at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/p/peregrine-falcon/

REFERENCES:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, raptors (https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/raptors
–All About Birds, Cornell (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/lifehistory)

Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

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Many plants sharing our gardens are not natives but imports from other lands. At the time, introducing the species probably seemed like a good idea, that is until it turns invasive and deadly.

Scotch broom (Courtesy of King County)

Scotch Broom is a perennial shrub with lovely yellow pea-like flowers, dark green stems, and evil on its mind. OK I made up the evil part, but the more you know about Scotch Broom the more you might agree.

History

Scotch Broom was introduced in the US in the early 1800s.

History indicates that broom was imported as domestic sheep fodder. But, broom may have been imported for its wide variety of medical and utility functions.

Medical ailments treated included (Note: This weed is poisonous. Modern medicines provide safer alternatives):   

Heart problemsHemophiliaRheumatismGout
JaundiceKidney stonesRespiratory conditionsSnake Bite
Sore musclesInfectionsPurgativeEmetic

Utility functions included hair rinse, leather tanning, sweeping brooms, thatched roofs, rope, beer flavoring, yellow dye, and a substitute for hops, capers, and coffee. In addition, Scotch Broom roots host nitrogen-fixing bacteria which help the plant colonize nutrient-poor soils.

It is native to much of Europe and Africa where natural predators for the plant evolved.

In the early 1900’s, broom was planted to prevent soil erosion along Pacific Coast highways. It probably seemed like a great idea at the time.

It didn’t take very long for Scotch broom to become an international superstar pest. Today, broom is considered a pest throughout most of its range.

More than just one

Does it seem like the Scotch broom blooms more than once a year? Well, it does, kinda. There is more than one type of broom and more than one type lives on the Oregon Coast.  

The ranges for Scotch, Spanish, French, and Portuguese broom overlap. You may notice different bloom seasons, lighter color flowers, height differences, and more.  All have a nice yellowish bloom similar to a pea.

Scotch broom and Gorse are sometimes confused (Gorse is very stickery). They both grows in similar conditions, and cause similar problems, but are different species.  

Pest Status

This plant has earned its weed status well by aggressively invading many areas. Once in place it is very difficult to get rid of and control. What makes it so bad?

Broom regenerates quickly, forming dense stands. These stands are unpalatable and somewhat poisonous to wildlife. They will become so dense that even quail cannot live there.  

These thick dense stands will also prevent normal reforestation and regeneration processes and drive many native species out by shading, increasing soil acidity, and toxicity.  

Broom increases fire hazard frequency and intensity. It is one of the most flammable plants there is and poses enormous threat to communities.

It creates a high fire hazard frequency and intensity. Even green, the shrubs will cause a fire to erupt. The broom is one of the most flammable plants there is and poses an enormous threat to our community’s fire safety. 

Seeds

The plant is a prolific seeder and can release 20,000 or more seeds per plant every year. Seeds stock pile over time until destroyed or germinated. Seed remain viable in the soil for decades and any disturbance can cause the seed to germinate.

Seeds will germinate after a ‘cooler’ fire (depending on the temperature of the fire). Hot fires can destroy the seeds.

It is hard to get rid of….

The only way to control this plant is through repetitive and ongoing treatments. Treatments include manual removal, chemicals, burning (hot), shading through planting, and some biological options (Bruhidius villosus, exapion fascirostre, and Leucoptera spartifoliella).

Once established, the plant is very drought tolerant. This tolerance makes herbicides less effective during certain times of the year.

So Expensive

Scotch Broom causes substantial timber revenue losses and costs a lot to control – somewhere over $40 million a year in Oregon alone.

REFERENCES:
–OSU Extension Service (https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/scotch-broom-beautiful-noxious)
–WebMD (https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-375/scotch-broom)
–King County, Scotch Broom (https://bit.ly/2X7XvAh)
–Scotch Broom (https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/profile/scotch-broom)
–The News Review, Ask a Master Gardener… (https://bit.ly/2X9v4Sq)
–USDA Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) (https://bit.ly/3gar3ol)
–Wikipedia, Cytisus scoparius (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytisus_scoparius)
–Weeds, Working Lands (https://bit.ly/30TRtUO)

Cascara (Frangula pershiana)

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‘Sacred bark’

Leaves and berries of the Cascara tree (courtesy Oregon State University, landscape)

Cascara is a medium-sized deciduous tree or large shrub that can reach 33-feet tall.

Spanish conquerors found several native people using the bark in the 1600s. The conquerors named the mottled gray bark “Sacred bark.”

Processed bark became famous in the 1800s. It was exported to the European markets.

As one might have guessed, the Pacific Northwest native tree populations declined through overharvesting.

Rising Star

Who would have thought that a local bark could become famous?

The commercial product was called ‘Cascara sagrada’ and it was used in more than 20 percent of the U.S. products in the late 1990’s. The industry at that time had an estimated value of $400 million.

In May 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of this tree in over-the-counter drug products and found the use potentially carcinogenic.  

Cascara flowers (courtesy of Oregon State University, Landscape)

Bark?

The outer bark has light splotching (sometimes from lichens). The inner bark is smooth and yellowish. Exposed inner bark will oxidize and turn brown.

Fresh cut bark is intensely bitter and will overpower the taste buds—for hours. Fresh cut, dried bark will cause vomiting and violent diarrhea.

Fruit

The sickly, sweet fruit can be eaten cooked or raw. The berries are deep purple or black with yellow pulp. The berries usually contain two or three hard, smooth seeds.

In the past, the food industry used cascara as a flavoring agent for liquors, soft drinks, ice cream, and baked goods.

NOTE: The fruit and honey both have a laxative effect.

When to Collect

Bark collected in the spring or early summer can be easily peeled off the stem. Bark will be aged and dried for at least a year before use.

Use

Cascara tree bark is a strong laxative that should be used carefully.

It can induce labor in pregnant women and transfer active compounds to nursing infants.

There are several precautions about this bark and warnings that it may be carcinogenic.  

Where Found

This tree is native to northern California up to British Columbia and from the Pacific Coast east into Montana. Leaves are oval up to 6-inches long with fine edge serrations. Small, green flowers develop into blue-black fruits.  

Cascara plant grow near streams in mixed forests. Check under big leaf maple trees–they are often an understory there.

Safe Uses

The fall yellow leaf color is pleasant (color varies based on light) and branching is interesting. Cascara does not adapt well to urban settings and is better in a woodland park or garden.

Cascara is a nice ornamental that can help prevent soil erosion and provide wildlife food and habitat. The fruit is a favorite of the Pileated woodpecker. Bears, raccoons, deer, and other wildlife also consumed the berries.

REFERENCE:
–Oregon State landscape plants (https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/rhamnus-purshiana and https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/frangula-purshiana)
–Wikipedia, Rhamnus purshiana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamnus_purshiana)
–Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest (http://nativeplantspnw.com/cascara-frangula-purshiana/)
–Trees & Shrubs for Pacific Northwest Gardens, Grant & Grant