BLACK GYRFALCON H 



Throughout all Alaska, from the Aleutian Islands, north, both along the coast 

 and through the interior, extending from Bering Straits across the northern portion 

 of British America, the present falcon is the commonest resident bird of prey. 

 It was observed by Murdoch at Point Barrow, though it was not common. It 

 frequents the vicinity of cliffs and rocky points about the sea coast, or the rocky 

 ravines of the interior, during the breeding season, and the remainder of the year, 

 especially in fall, it is found wandering over the country everywhere that food can 

 be obtained; it is especially numerous during the migration of the Ptarmigan along 

 the sea-coast. 



Nesting. — Mr. Turner's notes contain the following account of a nest 

 he examined near Fort Chimo, Ungava, on May 22, 1883: 



The "Chapel" is an immense rock some 300 feet above the surrounding rocks, 

 and gradually slopes upward to the north end, which is almost precipitous and 

 absolutely inaccessible. The eastern side is more abrupt, being in places over 200 

 feet almost perpendicular. Here are several ledges on which these hawks have 

 built their nests for many years. On April 7, 1883, 1 observed beneath the nest site 

 first selected a number of sticks and other refuse lying on the snow below, as if the 

 situation had been subjected to a rearrangement or cleansing process; such material 

 as appeared unnecessary was rejected and cast over the side of the ledge. The site 

 of this nest was a narrow ledge of rock, which projected from the main wall and 

 embraced an area of not over three superficial feet. Here was an accumulation of 

 spruce and larch twigs and branches of various sizes imbedded in what appeared 

 to be the accumulated debris of many generations. Among this a few grass seeds 

 had found enough soil to enable them to send forth a rank growth which was now 

 appearing. The mass or accumulation was about 10 inches deep and covered 

 nearly the entire surface of the ledge, heaped up immediately under the new nest, 

 forming an irregularly truncated cone of matter on which the nest was placed. In 

 front of it huge icicles stood and joined with the slightly projecting roof above the 

 ledge. Some of these ice columns were 2 or 3 inches thick and 4 inches wide. 

 They formed an icy palisade around the edge of the nest and permitted approach 

 to the interior only by a narrow space, or doorway, next to the main wall of rock. 

 I was compelled to detach the ice before I could reach the four eggs which I saw 

 within the nest. The nest was composed of a few twigs and branches of larch 

 and spruce, irregularly disposed on only the outer side of the rim of the nest to 

 prevent the eggs from rolling out, forming only a semicircular protection, while the 

 rear portion was a part of the bare rock of the ledge. Below the twigs were the 

 remains of former nests. Some of the sticks were so rotten that they would not 

 support their weight when held by one end. The eggs were placed nearly touching 

 each other. 



Major Bendire (1892) writes: 



Mr. R. MacFarlane, chief factor of the Hudson Bay Company, states that this 

 Falcon is common in the wooded country on both sides of the Anderson River, and 

 from the fact that over twenty nests were secured by him this must certainly be 

 the case. All of these nests, with but two exceptions, were placed close to or near 

 the tops of the tallest trees in the neighborhood, generally in pines. One nest was 

 built on a ledge of rocks and the other against the side of a deep ravine. The nests 

 were composed of sticks and small branches and lined with mosses, hay, deer hair, 

 feathers, etc. They were similar in composition but smaller in size than those of 

 the Bald Eagle, and while the number of eggs was either three or four, their con- 

 tents were frequently found in different stages of development. 



Both parents manifested much anger and excitement when interfered with, or 

 even distantly approached. They made a great noise, and indeed more than 



