August 30, 2016 in On the Clock Tower
With wind out of the west at just under 10 MPH, 80 degrees, and clear blue skies, had a nice opportunity to observe the adult male Peregrine Falcon atop the Ayer Mill Clock Tower. The male was seen in the late day sun perched on the back strut of the weathervane….a favorite perch over the years!
August 30, 2016 in On the Clock Tower
Checked all around the Clock Tower this morning only to find both Lawrence Peregrines on the east side in the shade. What a morning with bright cobalt blue skies, very light winds and the temperature pushing through 70 degrees. The adult pair have been seen together quite a bit over the past week. Lots of idle perching time with little flight action.
One of the adults was perched on the upper left ledge above the clock face on the west of the tower. The other peregrine was perched on top of the nest box window frame.
August 23, 2016 in In the Nest Box
Had beautiful looks at the adult female peregrine falcon early this evening under clear skies, low humidity, SW winds at 13 MPH, and temp around 77 degrees. It was about an hour before sunset under stunning light conditions! The adult female was perched at the rim of the nestbox and then moved out onto the wooden perch. The adult male was making aerial loops way overhead and that prompted a series of cacking replies from the female!
August 22, 2016 in On the Clock Tower
One of the favorite morning perches is on a ledge above the west face of the Clock Tower. A cool spot away from direct sun and rising temps. Well hidden and easy for takeoff in hot pursuit!
August 18, 2016 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn
A wonderful report and documenting photos just in from Peter Green in Providence RI on one of the 2014 hatch year peregrine falcon chicks from Woburn, MA:
RI-DOT (Dept of Transportation) was recently inspecting the old Sakonnet River Bridge when they spotted the falcons and gave me the tip. They were able to read the “44” on the band and I got the “BD” so together we pieced together “44/BD” and I knew it must have been banded by Tom French because he uses green/black with the letters BD. There is already a new bridge up and being used, this old bridge will be torn down in 2017 and the falcons will need to relocate.
Peter Green is a very talented bird and wildlife photographer in Providence, RI with a keen interest in urban raptors. You are encouraged to check out his amazing work on his website http://www.providenceraptors.com and feel free to look at his impressive list of select exhibits and presentations!
Here is more info from Tom French:
“This is the latest I have ever heard for unfledged Peregrine chicks. These chicks appear to be about six weeks old, so they would have hatched around June 24, and the eggs would have been laid about May 22. I have never heard of Peregrines raising two broods in a single season, so I expect this was the result of re-nesting after losing the first clutch of eggs. From my experience, recycling takes about 2 weeks, so the first clutch would have been lost about May 8. I have had first clutches completed at least as late as April 19, so the clutch might have been about 2 ½ weeks old. If the clutch was much older when lost, I don’t think the female would re-lay. So, the dates potentially work for a lost first clutch, and a successful second.”
And finally, thanks to Tom French, here is the original banding information for Peregrine Falcon 44/BD:
Band numbers: 1156-19120, and 44/BD black over green
Banding date and location: 06-24-14, MA, Middlesex Co., Woburn, on a long-abandoned quarry wall, behind an industrial park.
Sex: Male
Siblings: Two, 1 male (45/BD), 1 female (75/BD).
Other reports after fledging: On October 5, 2014, he was identified on the beach at the south tip of Gooseberry Neck, Westport, Bristol Co., MA by Mark Lynch of Worcester.
Your report: Nesting on the Sakonnet Bridge, 0.9 miles north of Tiverton, Newport Co., RI. Band number confirmed 08-05-16.
August 16, 2016 in On the Clock Tower
Had a nice moment to observe both adults perching proximate to one another on the Clock Tower just after 6 pm. The skies were overcast with light winds, light rain, 78 degrees and high humidity. The male was perched on the lateral post that sticks out from the nest box. The bi-colored leg bands (6/4) were just barely visible. Peregrines maintain a high fidelity to the nest site and will actively defend their home site from any and all intruders.
The female was perched farther up on the NW corner of the roof on the Clock Tower! She spent a bit of time caching away but did not move from her perch location.
August 16, 2016 in On the Clock Tower
On many mornings during the hot stretches, one of the peregrines is likely found in the shade on the west side of the Clock Tower. One of the popular perches is on one of the ledges diagonally just above the clock face. It provides the peregrine with shade, plenty of height, and a nice amount of space to loaf for a while with excellent views to the west and over the Merrimack River!
August 11, 2016 in Verizon Cell Tower
The Verizon Cell Tower has been a very regular perch locations for the Lawrence Peregrines these past two months. Both the adults and two of the hatch year chicks have been seen with some frequency. This sighting was just the two adults. It was nice to zero in on the alpha numeric bi-color leg band (6/4) in the photograph and to confirm yet another sighting of this long-time male peregrine.
According to Christian Martin at NH Audubon, the male (6/4) in Lawrence was born in Manchester, NH in 2001 to a first year nesting pair. There were four chicks in the brood and he was the runt of the brood. The big question at that time, was, will this runt of the brood make it to adult life?
As of February 2012, the runt of the 2001 brood is the only one to survive from the original group. This Peregrine Falcon has a very healthy breeding history with a history starting in 2003 at this site in Lawrence.
His leg bands are 6*/4* black over green. The “*” indicates that the numbers are not vertical, but are laid over on their sides on the band. The service number on his other leg band is 2206-59866. As of August 2016, the champion breeder has just turned 15 years old!
The second photo shows his new number one girl and the mother of the 2016 hatch year brood of 4 chicks!
August 8, 2016 in Verizon Cell Tower
A number of the Lawrence peregrine falcons have been seen with regularity in perch mode on the Verizon Cell Tower in Lawrence. Both the adults and the 2016 hatch year fledglings have used this as a recent perch location. The cell tower is located at the corner of Hampshire st. and Canal st. in Lawrence. The lighting was a challenge for this image. The temp was 87 degrees with clear skies and winds from NW at 9 miles per hour.
July 28, 2016 in Verizon Cell Tower
The Lawrence Peregrines continue to be seen in a variety of perch locations over last few weeks. Both adults and at least two of the 2016 hatch year fledglings have been seen on the Verizon Cell Tower on Hampshire St. This has typically been a cold weather perch location so it was a bit of a surprise to find the falcons here!
