Lawrence Peregrines: Fourth egg!!

April 12, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0412Great news….the fourth egg was laid overnight and now the full-time incubation process begins and lasts about 30 days!  This is likely the final egg, but were not able to know for sure just yet.

Checked in a look around 6AM this morning and the female was hunkered down, in incubation mode, under partly cloudy skies, winds from the south at 6MPH, and temp at 35F.

The forecast today calls for a chance of showers, mainly after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 58. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.  Finally, warmer temps on the way!

2018.0412.1The male came in and allowed the female to take a break, and then he proceeded to incubate the eggs, now starting to share in the task of sharing the duties.  Once incubation begins, the incubation process usually takes between 29 – 33 days until the chicks hatch!  During this time the weather is expected to become warmer!  Despite the dramatic events of the last two weeks, the circle of life continues on!

Lawrence Peregrines: awaiting next egg?

April 11, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0411.1-001Up again just before 6AM, and observed the female out of the box, and 3 eggs nestled close to one another, under overcast skies, fog and mist, little wind, and temp at 34F. A dense fog advisory is in effect for a few more hours.  The female will typically get and head out first thing in morning.  Once full time incubation starts, the male will cover for her while she is out. 

The forecast calls for patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

2018.0411.2-001A 6:18 AM, the male arrives at the nest box, the female departs, and the male fidgets around, adjusting eggs a bit, and then departs after 7 minutes leaving the eggs unattended.  This would suggest that full time incubation has not yet started.  Full time incubation means one of the falcons will be on the eggs at all times except for a few short breaks, typically lasting no more than 2-3 minutes.  The male was almost fumbling and bumbling with the eggs and seemed unsure on what to do….stay tuned!

2018.0411.3-001The female returns at 6:36 AM and lands on the outer edge of the nest box.  She moves around just a bit and then resumes her incubation posture. She will often make a number of micro adjustments before sitting still for a while. The eggs were left alone for almost 20 minutes.

2018.0411.4-001

Lawrence Peregrines: Three eggs!!

April 10, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0410.1-001Up early just before 6AM, for a look at the possible third egg and the answer is YES!  This morning the female is waking up to overcast skies, wind from the NE at 5MPH, and temp about 34F.

The forecast for today: Scattered showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

 

The female was moving around quite a bit late yesterday afternoon, and spent time standing over the two eggs.  It looked like she was ready to drop the third egg, but the timing was not yet right.  Looks like the third egg was laid after dark.  The time interval between egg #2 and egg #3 looks to be in the range of 56 -64 hours, or just a bit more than 2 days apart……well within normal range!

2018.0410.2Around 6:25AM the female departed for another break, and then returned and perched on the outer pole for a while, before returning to the inside of the box…

 

 

 

2018.0410.3Once again, she hovers over the eggs, and then nestles in back in incubation mode to keep the eggs warm.  The male has not yet engaged in incubation duties, but will do so shortly!

Lawrence Peregrines: waiting for next egg…

April 9, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0409.1-001Today may be the day that the female lays her third egg!  The second egg was laid Saturday in the middle of the day, and typically the female will lay eggs about 48 hours apart.  Today the female woke up to clear skies, and winds from the west at 10MPH, and temperature around 30F.  The wind chill was around 21F and with the wind blowing from the west, she felt the chill and spent lots of time incubating the eggs and protecting them from the cold.  She did spend time perched at edge of nest box and on the outer perch pole.

 

 

2018.0409.2-001Late in the morning, the male arrived in the nest box with prey and it was a joy to watch them engage in pair bonding as a new pair, and  watch them in a classic food exchange.  The photo shows the males with back to camera and the female facing the camera.  By this time the temps had moved up a bit, but the wind chill at 27F, made the air still feel quite cold.

 

 

2018.0409.3-001By late in the afternoon, the temps had warmed up to mid-forties, with wind chill just above 40F.  The wind remained fairly steady and continued from the west at 10MPH.  The female spent time hovering over the eggs, rather than squatting low in incubation posture.  It seemed like she might be ready to lay another, but turns out, not just yet!

Lawrence Peregrines: a rest day between eggs!

April 8, 2018 in In the Nest Box

2018.0408.1-001Just after 6AM, had a nice look on the nest box, under fair skies, light winds from the north at 6MPH, and temps just below freezing, and a wind chill around 25F.  The female departed the nest box for a while, as is normal firth thing in the morning.  As the eggs are being laid, it is normal for the female to spend time warming the eggs, and time outside the nest box, but near by.  Whne she is up and out, it provides a nice look at the reddish brown eggs.

 

 

2018.0408.2-001In the middle of the day, she is seen incubating the eggs, with her tail pressed down firm behind her, and her wing tips a bit up in the air, all to help her keep the warm air in!  The winds remained light and temps warmed up to just over 40F.

 

 

2018.0408.3-001At the end of the day, another chance to view the eggs while the female is out on another well deserved break.  The winds had picked up quite a bit from the NW at 16MPH, and gusts up almost 25MPH.

Lawrence Peregrines: Two eggs!

April 7, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0407-001The weather improved from earlier this morning with rising temps and clearing skies.  By the middle of the day the sun came out full force, big winds from the west at 17MPH, gusts up over 25MPH, and temps in the mid-forties.  Made a look a bit after 2pm and what a nice surprise to find the second egg.  The last look was around 10:30 AM….so this second egg was laid middle of the day.  In the past number of years, at this nest location, the first three eggs have usually been laid overnight and about 48 hours apart.  This egg was laid at a bit of a longer interval, at about 56 hours apart.  If this year is somewhat like years past, we are likely to see the next egg on Monday morning, or a bit later in the day…..stay tuned!

Here, the female had departed the nest for a short break, returned to the nest box, and perched for a moment on the outer edge looking in!

Lawrence Peregrines: waiting for second egg!

April 7, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0407.2-001Had some time to get up and watch from just after 6AM, with the female in and out of the nest box.  At 7AM, it was snowing lightly with winds from SW at 6MPH, and temp around 37F.  The female was seen perched just outside the nest box.  After initial egg is laid, the female will hover over and/or incubate the egg, particularly if the temperature is at or near freezing.  At this point in the egg laying process, active incubation has yet to begin.  Thought we might see the second egg, but it may be just a bit delayed and coming later today!

Lawrence Peregrines: watching over first egg!

April 6, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0406The female has spent most of today watching over her first egg!  She has dug for tight incubation, she has been out of the nest box, and she has been just getting used to having an egg, and knowing more eggs are likely to follow soon.  Sometimes she completely covers the egg and other times, like this, she hovers over, but does not fully cover the egg.

 

 

2018.0406.1In this next photo, she shows herself hunkered down, much more on top of the egg, with her tail down low and wings slightly elevated

A Falcon Soars Above Lawrence for 16 Years, Falls To Rival!

April 6, 2018 in lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

IMG_9459A Falcon Soars Above Lawrence for 16 Years, Then Falls To A Rival

‘The end of a long and impressive legacy’                          

By Keith Eddings at The Eagle Tribune

LAWRENCE — He was first named “Crash,” for his clumsy landings as a weeks-old peregrine falcon fledgling with three siblings from their nest atop what is now the Brady Sullivan Tower in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 2001.

The four were the first of their species known to have fledged from a downtown urban setting in that state, making the event notable enough that it was covered by a local newspaper.

Crash – he was soon renamed Black6/Green4 for the colors and numbers that identified him on his leg band – was the weakest and not expected to survive. But he showed up in Lawrence a year later, met a female and made a home in an abandoned nest built by red-tailed hawks on an empty tray that had held an air conditioner on the sixth floor of the New Balance building on South Union Street. The pair eventually moved up to the clock tower over the building, formerly the Ayer Mill, where they became favorites among local birdwatchers and state wildlife officials, in part for their prolific breeding.

Black6/Green4 and the female fledged 32 chicks over a dozen years in downtown Lawrence, taking a giant step for wildlife in a dense urban environment by contributing significantly to a species that was on the federal endangered species list for 30 years. Peregrines were removed from the list just two years before Black6/Green4 was born, after a recovery that began when the federal government banned DDT, the pesticide that softened the shells of the eggs laid by falcons, hawks and eagles, causing them to crack.

The female died in 2015, at 14 years old. Another female soon took her place in the clock tower nest. The new pair had another 10 chicks over three years. Another of their annual clutches had been anticipated this spring, which would have given peregrines another foothold toward recovery.

That hope ended on March 30, when Black6/Green4 left his nest to hunt for the pigeons and songbirds that are among peregrines’ favorite meals. His hunt took him to a yard on Waverly Road in North Andover, where he was confronted by a much younger peregrine that may have been stalking him for days and even visited his nest in the clock tower, state wildlife officials suspect.

Feathers flew.

“It was the unrecognizable screeches that brought us outside,” said Elizabeth Carlson, who witnessed the attack on her lawn with her son, Robert, a professional photographer who took pictures of it. “The birds were the same size, but the younger clearly the advantage…. Growing up around all sorts (of animals) I have never seen such aggression.”

The younger bird flew off when the Carlsons and two others approached but quickly resumed the attack, swooping down from surrounding trees and between the four people, who were standing just feet apart. Carlson said the swoops were “a little unnerving” and said the determined look on the younger peregrine’s face suggested he was asking, “You want to be next?”

The attack lasted 20 minutes. The younger peregrine flew off, leaving Black6/Green4 mortally wounded. He remained on the lawn for 20 minutes more and was able to fly off when the Carlsons attempted to place him in a box so they could deliver him to a wildlife rescue clinic.

Two days later, another homeowner found him lying in his yard in Amesbury, about 15 miles from where he was attacked. The homeowner was able to place him in a parakeet cage and posted his picture on Facebook. A New Hampshire falconer saw the picture and contacted Massachusetts falconer Wendy Pavlicek, who picked him up and delivered him Monday morning to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic in North Grafton, operated by Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

News of the attack and the attempt to rescue Black6/Green4 spread quickly among the scores of birders in the region who have followed his life in Lawrence, including Tom French, the assistant director of the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife responsible for the division’s endangered species program. To protect Tufts from being overwhelmed with phone calls and emails seeking to learn the peregrine’s fate, French sent out an email declaring himself the point person between the birders and the rehab center.

“He is in very poor shape,” French said in an email to the birders Monday. “He is severely emaciated and very depressed, so he is now being kept in an oxygen cage. He has bruises and talon punctures, but apparently no broken bones.”

A few hours later, French sent another email.

“I just learned from the Tufts Wildlife Clinic that the 17-year-old male Peregrine Falcon, 6*/4* from Lawrence just died,” he wrote. “This is not a surprise, but it is the end of a long and impressive legacy.”

By then, the bird that attacked and killed Black6/Green4 had moved into his nest and copulated with his mate.

On Thursday, she laid her first egg. She laid another Friday night. One or two more are expected to follow over the next few days.

It was a Shakespearean end to Black6/Green4’s life, straight from the pages of “Hamlet.” But his fate is common among peregrines, French said Friday.

“That’s the way it works,” he said. “The old-fashioned concept (of how peregrines meet and mate) is that a young male and a young female settle into a place to reproduce. In reality these days, a lot of the best places already are taken. So a hostile takeover is more common. When they get to breeding age and move around looking for a place, they find one that has an established pair and kill the member of the pair that’s the same sex. If they succeed, they inherit the mate, the nest and all the territory that goes with it.”

Females will attack females with the same purpose that males attack males, French said.

At 17, Black6/Green4 was the second oldest peregrine ever recorded in Massachusetts, French said. The oldest disappeared at 19 and was never found. Their average lifespan is 10 years.

The Lawrence falcon’s long life and the 42 chicks he produced with the two females is a landmark event in the peregrine’s more than half-century of recovery nationwide, including when they went extinct first in Massachusetts in 1955 and then the entire eastern United States. The first returned to Massachusetts in 1987. Today, there are 48 known pairs in the state.

“Peregrines are one of the icons, the poster children,” of the recovery all raptors have made since the pesticide DDT was banned in 1972, French said. “There are a lot of superlatives to describe them. They’re the fastest animal in the world. The fastest measured at 242 mph in a dive. They’re (unique) in their design and engineering and they’ve been marveled at since the kings and princes of falconry in the Middle Ages. They have a lot of history to go with them.”

Craig Gibson, the Roman Catholic chaplain at Lawrence General Hospital, had been observing Black6/Green4 in the sky above Lawrence since in November 2011. He said the bird’s life in the city is replicated daily on the streets below.

“It’s a fascinating story, right in our backyard,” Gibson said. “Here you have a 17-year-old male who was the runt of the litter. It didn’t look like (when he fledged) up in Manchester that he would make it. So he’s an incredible survival story in a city where there are many who against all odds find their way to success.”

Black6/Green4 survival story includes this: He outlived his three siblings and most of his fledglings, whose fate is known because they were tagged, according to records French described in his emails to the other birders last week.

Among his fledglings, a female was killed when she flew into the Travelers Tower in Hartford while chasing a pigeon in 2003. A male with severe bumblefoot – a bacterial infection of the feet – was euthanized after he showed up in the backyard of a pigeon racer in 2004. Another female was hit by a car on Nantucket in 2009. A male living above Fox Hall at UMass Lowell lost an eye from a shotgun pellet in 2016 and was euthanized a few months later after he was found emaciated at Governor’s Academy in Newbury. Another male was euthanized in 2016 after he was struck by a plane at Logan International Airport.

Against these odds, Black6/Green4’s former mate and the young male who is taking his place in the clock tower above New Balance are expected to hatch their chicks late in May.

To see a live webcam of Black6/Green4’s nest, where his former mate is incubating eggs fathered by her new mate, visit http://lawrenceperegrines.com/, then click on “New Balance Falcon Cam”

 

Lawrence Peregrines: first egg late in day

April 5, 2018 in In the Nest Box, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

2018.0405.4It is always a joy-filled day when the first egg is laid, and the new breeding season is underway.  It has been a dramatic week with “Crash” getting caught in a major altercation, and having the nest taken over by another peregrine falcon, and then his death.  The first egg has been laid just under 6 days after the big fight.  The female is right on schedule despite this major, unexpected change.  She laid her first egg almost to the day a year ago, and then laid 3 more eggs in the following days.  Once you see the first egg, you can’t help but look in again, and again!  Great news!