April 9, 2017 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts
An early evening visit just before 6PM to observe the pair of Peregrine Falcons in downtown Brockton. This pair seems to be in breeding mode yet again atop one of the local cell phone towers. In 2016, two checks are banded at about 6 weeks of age. One chick jumped but was recovered 2 hours later nearby. The two female chicks had the following band numbers: 18/BE and 19/BE. The adults are unbanded.
April 9, 2017 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts
The world’s fastest animal continues to make a home atop a historic courthouse in downtown Taunton. A pair of peregrine falcons formed a nest in 2013 on the Taunton Superior Courthouse, making the Silver City landmark one of only 30+ locations in the state to host a nest for the aerodynamic bird of prey since the species disappeared entirely from Massachusetts in the mid-1950s.
“The peregrine falcon nesting in Taunton was a great new finding,” said Tom French, assistant director of MassWildlife, who oversees the agency’s Natural Heritage program. “Five years ago it would have been unheard of. … The courthouse is clearly working well for them. It’s absolutely another sign that the peregrine is coming back strong.”
MassWildlife found out in 2013 about the two peregrine falcons nesting at the Taunton Superior Courthouse. After further investigation, they also discovered that the couple hatched a clutch of four chicks there earlier that year, French said. Two of the baby falcons died during the learning-how-to-fly stage, French said, while the other fledglings left the nest successfully.
French said city residents should expect peregrine falcons to stay as permanent fixtures next to the Taunton Green. This photo shows the banded female with the black over green 64/V alphanumeric state band on it’s left ankle. The male, seen here launching into flight, is unbanded.
