Outdoor briefs 5/4

The Tribune-Democrat

May 03, 2008 09:53 pm

— 3 peregrine falcon chicks born at Pitt
PITTSBURGH – Three new residents are living on the 40th floor of the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning. The newest members of the university community are three peregrine falcons that hatched.
The National Aviary’s director of conservation and field research, Todd Katzner, says that minutes after the white fluffy birds were born the two parents were in the nest, keeping the chicks warm as egg shells flew about. The aviary has a camera trained on the university nest. Footage can be viewed at www.aviary.org.
Peregrines became endangered decades ago due to low reproduction rates. A national recovery program, including a ban on dangerous pesticides, have helped the peregrine population recover.
Lack of funding delays controversial range
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP – Funding issues are delaying construction of a multipurpose training range at the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Fort Indiantown Gap facility.
Adjutant General Jessica Wright said Friday that doubts about whether the start of construction would meet required deadlines led her to shift the money to other projects.
The $15 million range is designed to train troops to operate the Guard’s Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles.
The plan has drawn neighborhood opposition because it would have the range’s safety zone encroach onto a 900-acre portion of a state game land for up to three months a year.
The construction is being postponed but the Guard is still pursuing required environmental studies.
Game commissionoffers workshops
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission has scheduled three June wildlife education workshops for educators and scout and youth group leaders in June.
WILD About Owls will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 11 at the agency’s Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lebanon County.
The free, one-day workshop will examine owls in Pennsylvania, and feature game commission biologists. Participants will see barn owl nestlings banded.
Information: Theresa Alberici at talberici@state.pa.us.
WILD about Schoolyard Habitats will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 19 at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center in Reading.
The free, one-day workshop explores ways to utilize large and small schoolyards as outdoor classrooms, and identifies methods and specific plants to help attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife to schoolyards. Participants will have an opportunity to apply for a small grant to start schoolyard projects. Information: Theresa Alberici at talberici@state.pa.us.
WILD about Watersheds will be held in Harrisburg, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 25 at the Olewine Nature Center at Wildwood Lake Sanctuary and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 26 at the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission launch on Front Street. The first day will include classroom and hands-on activities for indoors or outdoors. The second day will “immerse” participants in the watershed as they canoe the Susquehanna River and learn about the reintroduction of American shad, bald eagles and peregrine falcons to the watershed.
Boaters survive after craft jumps dam
PITTSBURGH – A retired state trooper said he felt lucky to be alive after he and two other people test-driving a boat jumped the craft over a dam on the Allegheny River.
Roger Hruby said he was on the boat with his son and a prospective buyer. The boaters were unfamiliar with the area and approached the Lock and Dam No. 2 near the Highland Park Bridge in Pittsburgh April 27. Hruby estimates the boat was traveling about 35 mph when it cleared the 12-foot dam. Nobody was thrown overboard, but Hruby says his son broke his tailbone.