Table 1. Peregrine Falcons released in Hull, Quebec, between 
1976 and 1986 
YEAR 
NUMBER OF BIRDS RELEASED 
Fontaine Building Place Vincent Massey 
1976 
1977 
1978 
1979 
1980 
1981 
4 
4 
8 
1982 
1983 
1984 
1985 
1986 
3 
8 
TOTAL 
36 
27 
Releasing Falcons in 1986 
In 1986, we released eight peregrines from a hack box or 
cage on the Fontaine Building in Hull, overlooking the Ottawa 
River (Figure 1). The Canada Life Assurance Company sponsored 
the release by providing $3,200 toward the purchase of the 
birds. Mr. Ray Cholette and other Canada Life officials parti¬ 
cipated in the transfer of the young birds from their shipping 
crate to the hack box (Figure 2). The Hull release was only one 
of several efforts to assist endangered species that Canada Life 
has sponsored (Stott 1986). 
We found that, like all others associated with the hacking 
of peregrines, we became strongly attached to the young birds as 
they developed from downy chicks (Figure 3) to sleek and agile 
masters of the air (Figure 4). Excerpts from our field notes 
reveal their rapid but sometimes shaky progress (Table 2). By 
early October we believe that all peregrines we released at the 
Fontaine Building had left the Ottawa-Hull area. On October 12, 
we cleaned the site, leaving the hack box open in case a return¬ 
ing pair should want to nest in it next spring. As of January, 
1987, none of the eight birds released have been reported dead, 
and we assume that at least some are now wintering successfully 
in Central or South America. 
105 
