September 18, 2013 in Near the Clock Tower
The female will land from time to time atop nearby utility poles. These landings provide excellent up close looks at both peregrines. The female will usually call out to the male to alert him to her position!
June 30, 2013 in Near the Clock Tower
The last fledgling of four suffered a open wound and right wing radial fracture last weekend. The young bird estimated to be about 8 weeks old was found at a playground along Island St. in Lawrence. The injured fledgling was watched by a group of teenagers and thankfully a call was placed to the local police and Ellen Bistany, the city Animal Control Officer was dispatched to the location. She took possession of the peregrine and then communicated with a local police detective who has a falconry background. A prompt visit with the detective allowed for a correct ID to be made as well as an initial determination of the probable injury….a wing fracture. The fledgling was brought to the MSPCA facility at Nevins Farm in Methuen. Pam Nixon, who serves as the assistant manager of the equine and farm animal adoption center was very helpful and arranged for contact with and transport to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic in North Grafton.
The Wildlife Clinic reports that the female fledgling with black over green leg bands 93/AD is bandaged with its wing in place. The fledgling sustained a fracture and soft tissue trauma. It has been able to perch on its own but it did sustain severe bruising. It has a figure eight bandage in place, and is splinted with no cast in place. It performs normal body functions and has a somewhat stable appetite.
This story represents an amazing example of an outstanding team effort by a chain of well informed and responsive caretakers. This peregrine family is quite well known In Lawrence by MassWildlife staffers, NH Audubon staffers, local police, nearby security guards, New Balance employees, commercial tenants at 250 Canal St., residential tenants at many nearby apartment buildings; staff, members and friends of GroundWork Lawrence the local conservation group; staff and members of the the Merrimack River Watershed Council; endless members of this list who have been in contact and shared so many observations, Eastern Mass Hawk Watchers and the list goes on!
5 photos of injured female fledling courtesy of Ellen Bistany: http://www.pbase.com/
5 close up flight photos from fledge day: http://www.pbase.com/
15 close up photos from fledge day: http://www.pbase.com/
Blog post from her fledge day: http://lawrenceperegrines.com/
Will provide further update; a wonderful story to share about great teamwork in the field!
June 9, 2013 in Near the Clock Tower
Had a dazzling encounter with the female Peregrine while watching her perched on the Clock Tower. She took off in a steep dive in pursuit of a group of starlings located not far from my distant rooftop viewing location. She seemed to chase the starlings for a while and then landed nearby. She squawked on and off and then departed. It was an unexpected and exciting show so close!!
8 close up photos of the adult female with leg band V/5: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/150728623 Click “next” upper right to advance frames
April 7, 2013 in Near the Clock Tower, On the Clock Tower
Out and about looking for the Peregrines on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. One of the Peregrines went whistling by near the Pemberton Mill building and then for a few loops over the Merrimack River. It then landed atop the Clock Tower on the weathervane. This was the female Peregrine, so the male was likley back incubating the eggs on the nest. While perched on one of the triangular pediment roof area, the leg bands were seen with the “V5” providing confirmation of female identification.
A few more photos posted: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/149613023 Click “next” in upper right to advance frames….enjoy!
March 10, 2013 in Near the Clock Tower
A magnificent encounter with both Peregrines just before egg laying time and before departing for a week long family vacation. The morinng was filled with brilliant sunshine and almost cloudless skies. The Peregrines moved around the southeast corner of the building at 200 Merrimack Street. They made many fly by loops chasing bothersome pigeons and numerous roof top landings. Thankfully the rooftop posing provided an opportunity to capture photos that allow for positive ID by way of legs bands. This flight shot is one of my new favorites!! Hope you enjoy this one too!
Photos posted: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/149201322 Click “next” in upper right corner to advance frames….enjoy!
February 21, 2013 in Near the Clock Tower
A late afternoon visit by the Clock Tower provided an unexpected moment to see and enjoy the male Peregrine resting on a protruding beam above the Ideal Box Co located at 200 Merrimack St. This beam is a more frequent morning perch but today was the late afternoon perch in beautiful soft late in the day light!
February 20, 2013 in Near the Clock Tower
While scanning the Merrimack River on an overcast morning just before 10 AM, a large soaring bird caught my attention. Turns out to be a subadult Bald Eagle. Quite a treat to watch this beautiful eagle make a few lops and then proceed to fly in easterly direction down the river! A few exrea photos posted:
http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/148885411 Click “next” in upper right corner to advance frames!
February 4, 2013 in Near the Clock Tower
The Peregrine pair have been seen together much more aften lately as breeding season approaches. They are seen in many of the regular perch locations but seem to be in more close proximity to each other. This was a beautiful blue sky, bright sun morning and they were easy to view from the New Balance parking lot opposite from thr main entrance. Was able to ID both male and female with help from leg bands.
5 photos posted: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/148636038
Enjoy!
January 17, 2013 in Near the Clock Tower
This Peregrine was perched on the north (back) side of the Monarch Loft Apartments overlooking the Merrimack River. There is a short steel beam that protrudes from the roof and this can be one of the Peregrine perch locations. This image is facing west with the bright morning sun over my left rear shoulder. The other Peregrine was not seen.
January 17, 2013 in Near the Clock Tower
Common Redpolls have appeared all over the Merrimack Valley this winter. Lawrence is no exception as these beautiful Redpolls show. A pack of 15 were observed along the Merrimack behind the Monarch Apartment building on Merrimack St. just east of the newly re-opened Duck Bridge. They put on quie a show in the snow banks!
More photos posted: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/148381796
