Ellesmere

Ellesmere

Species: Gyrfalcon

Nicknames: Elle, Smellesmere

Sex: Presumed female

Hatched: 2015

Arrived: 2016

Condition: Wing injury (hit by car)

Ellesmere’s Story:

Ellesmere hatched, like all wild Gyrfalcons, in the Arctic Tundra. In her first winter she wandered southward to the Ottawa area, probably in search of a place with lots of food. Unfortunately her journey brought her across a road, and Ellesmere was hit by a car.

Raptors often hunt near roadsides, in part because human litter draws rodents and other small animals into the ditches. This creates a dangerous trap for these birds, who don’t understand the hazards the road poses. Far too many are struck by cars, all because people can’t wait to find a garbage can.

Ellesmere was taken to the Wild Bird Care Centre. The collision damaged her wing, and although it was repaired, it didn’t heal well enough for her to fly properly. Without the ability for high-speed pursuit and long-distance gliding, she simply couldn’t survive in the wild. She joined Wild Ontario in 2016 and provides a great opportunity for southern-Ontario residents to encounter this northern species!

Gyrfalcons are the largest falcon species in the world, and their size helps them survive in their challenging, Arctic home. These bulky birds often hunt for large prey like ptarmigan, geese, seabirds, and Arctic Hare, using a fast glide to catch their prey unaware.