Peregrine Falcons chicks moved to new location!

May 20, 2013 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

After many deliberations and discussions among staff at MassWildlife, the Lawrence Peregrines nest was moved at the end of last week.  The Peregrines have been nesting in an 8th floor window box in the Ayer Mill Clock Tower on Merrimack St. in Lawrence.  In prior years the peregrines have used alternate nearby nest locations.  This year, the pair selected a nest location inside a window in an abandoned mill building.  The building is kept under extremely tight security due to a mandate from the Lawrence Police Department.  The area inside the window was observed to be so small and confining for the chicks to experience proper growth and room to move around and spread wings prior to fledging.  The MassWildlife staff knows from experience that the relocation of the nest must be withing reasonable earshot of the adult pair.  In this case, the adults found the chicks right away!

Peregrine Falcon, female perched near nest

May 16, 2013 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

The female continues to keep close guard around the nest.  She has numerous nearby perch locations, this one being atop a utility pole at a low elevation providing a proximate photo opportunity!  In this sequence she was perched by the window opening, a nearby ledge, and then emerges from window opening offering a clear view of her black/green V/5  leg bands.

6 photos posted:  http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/150247035    Click “next” in upper right to advance frames….enjoy!

Peregrine chicks!!

May 15, 2013 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

A first glimpse at the 2013 peregrine chicks!!  They have been moving around ever so slowly and not often near the very small opening in the window.  The space is very tight allowing precious little room to grow and spread their wings.  they have been feed reugularly and continue to grow.  How exciting to have this wonderful glimspe of what now appears to be 4 chicks for this year.  In 2012, 4 eggs were laid but only 2 eggs hatched.

4 chick photos posted:  http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/150226502    Click “next” in upper right to advance frames….enjoy!

Peregrine Falcon pair

May 14, 2013 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

The Peregrines have been staying close to the nest and caring for the 4 hatched chicks in a tight window well nest space.  This photos shows a very normal food exchange between the male and female.  The male will secure pray, in this instance a starling, and returnto the female in a perch nearby the nest.  the female then brings the pray to the nest and tears it apart to feed the chicks!

Peregrine female in nest window

April 30, 2013 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

The window opening where the nest is located seems very small quarters for the now 4 hatched chicks.  Some background discussion has been taking place with MassWildlife officials about the possibility of relocating the nest to more open space in order to allow the chicks the roomr needed for the next stage of growth.  Stay tuned!

Peregrine Falcon female with Bluejay

April 29, 2013 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

The activityaround the Peregrine falcon nest site continues in fits and starts with bursts of acttion and long periods of quiet!  Upon arrival this morning, the male was perched in beautiful morning sun against a sapphire blue sky.  Out of nowhere the female appears and circles one of the buildings and out of fisght.  She returns a few minutes later with pray in talon and zooms up to a perch ledge to rip apart a bluejay.  Quite a show to watch the systematic feeding frenzy.

6 photos posted: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/149938811   Click “next” in upper right to advance frames….enjoy!

Peregrine Falcon, adult male

April 22, 2013 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

The male Peregrine continues to keep vigil around the nest within the complex at 250 Canal St. in Lawrence.  The male frequently perches in a variety of rooftop corners.  He will ward off any intruders in a very intentional way.  We are very close to the time that the chicks should have hatched or be hatching.  With no webcam it is a challenge to know the exact status of how many eggs laid, how many hatched and the condition of the nest.  Hopefully we will see an increase in feeding activity to signal hungry chicks.  Peregrine Falcon chicks, called eyases, eat an incredible amount of food – in six days, they double their weight, and at three weeks are ten times their size at birth!  Stay tuned!

A few more photos posted:  http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/149891476   Click “next in upper right corner to advance frames…enjoy!

Peregrine Falcon male enjoying meal

April 17, 2013 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

The Peregrines continue to keep an active presence around the 250 Canal St. complex.  Most sightings are of the male either perched or in the process of consuming freshly caught prey.  The incubation period is about 30 days and duties are shared by female and male.  The pair typically mate for life.

6 photos posted:  http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/149751747   Click “next” in upper right corner to advance frames….enjoy!

Peregrine Falcon male taking flight after meal

April 10, 2013 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

Peregrine Falcon male taking flight after finishing a meal atop the rooftop.  Peregrine male has black over green leg band 6/4 easily seen on the left ankle.  The Peregrine had acpatured avian prey on the rooftop and ripped apart for a meal.  Upon completion of the meal, it carefully wiped it’s bill clean at the edge of the roof and then took flight in easterly direction.  Overcast cloudy day but light was good enough to capture somewhat clear images. 

5 Photos posted: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/149751742   Click “next” in upper right corner to advance frames…..enjoy!

Peregrine Falcon

April 10, 2013 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.

Peregrine Falcon male perched atop one of the buildings in the 250 Canal St. complex on a cloudy afternoon!