Artificial Incubation of Falcon Eggs

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effectiveness of captive breeding as a conservation tactic for birds often depends heavily on successful artificial incubation of eggs. Incubation procedures for peregrine falco (F. peregrinus) eggs were developed using mathematical models and applying empirical information. Each egg was incubated as an indivdidual at carefully regulated temperatures and under calculated conditions of humidity to maximize hatching success. Using this procedure, approximatley 83% of all fertile peregrin eggs laid by captive falcons were hatched in 1979 and 1980. Over 90% of all fertile, live eggs received from wild peregrine falcon eyries between 1978 and 1980 were also hatched. The incubation procedures described for falcon eggs appear applicable for use with other bird eggs.