Lawrence Peregrines: more scraping!

March 31, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0331-001A late afternoon view of the female peregrine in the nest box alone.  She appears to continue the process of scraping the gravel in the nest box in continued preparation for egg laying.  Also the female has been seen picking at pieces of gravel, as if doing a bit of house cleaning.

Lawrence Peregrines: report from battle field!

March 31, 2018 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

IMG_9461Report from Elizabeth Carlson:

Good Morning! My sons and I have always been avid bird watchers, this experience is one of the top ones! Of course any pictures my son took and story can be shared. I’m just taking the lead on the emails and investigating information. It was the unrecognizable screeches that brought us outside to witness this event. The birds were the same size, but the younger clearly the advantage in aggression.  The 20 minutes on the lawn was what it took to get in touch with Tom as we tried to call animal control and were sent through a series of phone calls. The entire time the younger male stayed in close range being very intimidating vocally. The bird on the ground seemed unhurt and we sensed it appreciated our guard or else we would have backed off. Growing up around all sorts, big and small I have never seen such aggression once humans intercepted. That he flew between us was a little unnerving, and my read on the photo Rob took with the falcons stare of, ” you want to be next” message in his eyes. Rob and I feel very fortune to witness this event and the world that it has opened up for us. Thank you so much for reaching out! There is so much information, we are a little overwhelmed, or at least I am.  I hope to keep in touch and that you have a great day. For now it’s back to the live view! Thank you!

Lawrence Peregrines: back story on 6*/4* a.k.a. “Crash”

March 30, 2018 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts, Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

Report from Ursula and David Goodine:

Hello Tom and everyone,

Many thanks to Robert Carlson for the stunning photos and report about the male Peregrine Falcon, Black 6/ Green 4.  The altercation between the two males that was witnessed today, was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Nature in action, and will surely not be easily forgotten!

CF2C1964-002If anyone is interested, here is a little history that we would like to share about 6*/4*.  Tom, you may recall that Dave and I have “known” this Peregrine since 2001, when we witnessed him and his other siblings fledge from the then “New Hampshire Building” in Manchester.  He was the runt of the brood, and took a lot of time taking that first leap.  In fact, we knick-named him “Crash”, as he seemed to have a tough time with his landings after fledging.  He finally got it right, and he and his siblings liked to roost on the letters on top of the building.  Of course, the building was later sold and the name was changed to the Brady Sullivan Tower.

It was in 2002 that Joe Hogan first discovered a pair of Peregrines in Lawrence, and followed their activities that eventually led to their nesting in that city, beginning in 2003.  We subsequently confirmed the male’s band, as you mentioned in your note, and have been monitoring him ever since then.  We named his mate “Victoria”, as her bands were Black V/ Green 5, and they dominated the territory until her death in 2015, at the age of 14.  By our calculations, the pair raised 32 chicks over the 12 years they reigned.  She was replaced by the presumably current unbanded female.

CF2C1926-002Even though Crash was grounded by the new aggressive male, he did manage to fly off, and it is our hope that he is still alive, and can protect his dominion.  But as you said, time will tell who will prevail.  Chris Martin of New Hampshire Audubon, who banded Crash in 2001, once wrote an article about this runt and named it, “Don’t Count the Little Guy Out”.  Chris depicted this Peregrine as the least likely to survive his siblings, but wrote that this was not the case.  It turned out that 6/4 out lived all three of his siblings.  At the ripe age of 17, please don’t count the “little old guy” out!

Again, thanks to Robert Carlson for reporting the incident, and to Tom for passing on this very important information.

All the best,  Ursula & Dave Goodine

Lawrence Peregrines: new male in the box?

March 30, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0330-001Made a mid-morning visit tot he nest box and observed an interaction with two peregrines in the nest box.  At the time it looked like the ongoing pair of peregrines.  But upon closer look, it appears that the new male is in the box.  The bird seen has a silver, federal leg band on its right leg and no left leg band.  This is consistent with the new male, who may have been making a visit of two over the past few days…..stay tuned!  They are engaged in head bowing and vocalizing with each other.

Lawrence Peregrines: fighting peregrines!

March 30, 2018 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

IMG_9459Report from Tom French at MassWildlife:

Today, I received a call from Robert Carlson that two Peregrine Falcons were fighting on the front lawn of his house in North Andover, Essex Co., MA.  When Robert and his mother came outside from the house to look, one of the falcons flew off after about half a minute, but the second bird did not.  Eventually four people approached the second bird to about three feet away on two opposite sides.  The first bird came back swooping between the four people standing six feet apart striking the bird on the ground.  The first bird repeated this one more time, striking the bird in the ground, before leaving.  The grounded bird remained on the lawn for about 20 minutes in spite of people standing so close, and did not fly until they attempted to place a box over the bird. 

It is not known if the bird that flew off was banded, but the bird that stayed is banded 6*/4* black over green (type 6 band).   This is the original resident male that has been nesting in Lawrence since 2003.  This bird is now 17 years old bird and clearly lost this battle, so it will be interesting to see if he is able to maintain his place as the resident male in Lawrence for the rest of the season.  Here is his original banding information.

IMG_9461Band numbers:  2206-59866, and 6*/4* black over green

Banding date and location:  June 7, 2001 – NH, Hillsborough Co., Manchester, Brady Sullivan Tower Bldg. (12 story), 1750 Elm Street (25 miles north of Lawrence)

Sex:  Male

Previous reports of 6*/4*:  Became the resident male of the pair in Lawrence, MA – MA, Essex Co., Lawrence, 5 South Union Street, New Balance Shoes clock tower (042 42 8.75N, 071 09 16.95W).  This was probably the banded male of a pair of juvenile-plumaged birds seen in Lawrence throughout the spring of 2002.  The 6*/4* band was confirmed on 04-08-03, 06-04-07, 05-25-11 (Ursula & Dave Goodine), 02-05-12 (Craig Gibson), 05-18-12 (Dave & Ursula Goodine), 09-21-12 (Craig Gibson), 02-04-13 (Craig Gibson), 05-17-13, 06-09-15, 06-01-17

This report:

March 30, 2018 – MA, Essex Co., North Andover, Waverly Road (about 1 mile straight-line distance from the nest site) – fighting with another adult male Peregrine Falcon on the ground – photographed by Robert Carlson

Lawrence Peregrines: more courtship displays

March 29, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0329-001Another series of early morning interactions inside the nest box between the male and female.  They continue with bowing and vocalizing where they bow to one another and make an “ee-chup” type sound.  During this type of courtship display they may also touch bills.  The female is facing the male, and she has no leg bands.

Literature Cited:

Cade, T. J., J. H. Enderson and J. Linthicum. 1996a. Guide to Management of Peregrine Falcons at the eyrie. Boise, ID: The Peregrine Fund, Inc. (Excerpt: Linthicum, Janet. Observing Breeding Behavior)

Lawrence Peregrines: even more scraping!!

March 28, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0328-001Another beautiful morning with a few clouds, winds SE 3MPH, and temp around 37F.  The female continues to leave the nest box for a while and then return; again she enters the nest box and repeats the process of laying out horizontally and pushing the gravel around.  This helps her to fashion the nest bowl to her liking and is all part of the preparing for egg laying!

SCRAPING: Either bird can do this. The falcon runs its breast through the substrate or nest depression, pushing out with its legs behind. The bird is forming the nest cup (scrape), but this is also part of courtship. Scrapes may be made at several potential ledges before one is finally chosen for laying.

Literature Cited:

Cade, T. J., J. H. Enderson and J. Linthicum. 1996a. Guide to Management of Peregrine Falcons at the eyrie. Boise, ID: The Peregrine Fund, Inc. (Excerpt: Linthicum, Janet. Observing Breeding Behavior)

Lawrence Peregrines: copulation

March 27, 2018 in lawrence peregrines, Near the Clock Tower, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

_W7I4886-001

Made a pass by the Ayer Mill Clock Tower while heading to Industrial Way to observe the winter crow roost.  Skies were overcast, winds were E at 7MPH, and temps in mid-forties.  The male was in the nest box and then hopped out onto the wooden perch pole.  The female arrived and landed on the SW corner of the New Balance building at 200 Merrimack Street.  She cleaned her bill and then made a few soft calls to the nearby male.  He swooped off of the perch pole and landed atop the female with talons carefully tucked in.

During copulation the female is pitched forward,making an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the perch The copulation wail is given throughout.  As the male mounts,the female spreads her wings out at the elbow about one-fourth open. The tail, up and to the side, may be partly spread.

 

_W7I4933-001The male flaps his wings throughout copulation, maintaining an upright posture with the neck extended and bent in a curve. Usually the male gives one or two bursts of the Chitter vocalization just before,during,and/or just after mounting and then Eechips sporadically. Some individuals give bursts of Chitter throughout.

Toward the end of copulation the male stops his tail movements pressing his cloaca against the female’s.  Rapid wing-beats accompany this tail-press.  The female may spread her tail partly at this time,and the male departs with a Hitched-Wing Display directly afterwards.

Literature Cited:

Cade, T. J., J. H. Enderson and J. Linthicum. 1996a. Guide to Management of Peregrine Falcons at the eyrie. Boise, ID: The Peregrine Fund, Inc. (Excerpt: Linthicum, Janet. Observing Breeding Behavior)

Wrege, P. H. and T. J. Cade. 1977. Courtship behavior of large falcons in captivity. Raptor Res. no. 11:1-46.

Lawrence Peregrines: more scraping!!

March 27, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0327-001Another beautiful morning with clear skies, bright sun, little wind, and temp around 24F.  The female continues to leave the nest box for a while and then return; again she enters the nest box and repeats the process of laying out horizontally and pushing the gravel around.  This helps her to fashion the nest bowl to her liking and is all part of the preparing for egg laying!

SCRAPING: Either bird can do this. The falcon runs its breast through the substrate or nest depression, pushing out with its legs behind. The bird is forming the nest cup (scrape), but this is also part of courtship. Scrapes may be made at several potential ledges before one is finally chosen for laying.

Literature Cited:

Cade, T. J., J. H. Enderson and J. Linthicum. 1996a. Guide to Management of Peregrine Falcons at the eyrie. Boise, ID: The Peregrine Fund, Inc. (Excerpt: Linthicum, Janet. Observing Breeding Behavior)

Lawrence Peregrines: nest scraping

March 26, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0326-001Another beautiful morning with clear skies, bright sun, winds N 12MPH, and temp around 30F.  The female continues to leave the nest box for a while and then return; again she enters the nest box and repeats the process of laying out horizontally and pushing the gravel around.  This helps her to fashion the nest bowl to her liking and is all part of the preparing for egg laying!

SCRAPING: Either bird can do this. The falcon runs its breast through the substrate or nest depression, pushing out with its legs behind. The bird is forming the nest cup (scrape), but this is also part of courtship. Scrapes may be made at several potential ledges before one is finally chosen for laying.

Literature Cited:

Cade, T. J., J. H. Enderson and J. Linthicum. 1996a. Guide to Management of Peregrine Falcons at the eyrie. Boise, ID: The Peregrine Fund, Inc. (Excerpt: Linthicum, Janet. Observing Breeding Behavior)