Peregrine sunbathing on Clock Tower!

March 11, 2015 in On the Clock Tower

A beautiful sunny Wednesday morning with one of the peregrines perched in the sun on a ledge above the clock face on the east side of the Clock Tower!

Peregrine Falcons ready for breeding season!

March 3, 2015 in In the Nest Box, On the Clock Tower

Looks like all systems may be in the go position for the peregrines at the Clock Tower in Lawrence.  The long standing female was injured and was placed under the care of the staff at Tufts Wildlife Clinic.  The male falcon has attracted a new female friend.  Based on many recent observations, it is increasingly likely that this pair will become a pair and proceed into the breeding season together.  They have been seen around the nest box with greater frequency.  Stay tuned!

Peregrines seen on the Clock Tower together!

February 25, 2015 in On the Clock Tower

The clock is ticking down to the start of the peregrine breeding season.  Since the historic Lawrence matriarch female has been retired to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic, the male has attracted a new female friend.  They continue to spend lots of time together.  Initially they have been seen mostly at the Verizon Cell Tower.  Then the female started to be seen solo around the Clock Tower perch locations.  This morning she was perched on one of the ledges above the east clock face while the male was above on one of the window sills just below the base of weather vane also on the east side of the building.  Very encouraging signs as we may be less than 4 weeks away from first eggs being laid!

 

Peregrine male atop weathervane!

January 22, 2015 in On the Clock Tower

So nice to see the male peregrine back on the tail strut on the weathervane atop the Clock Tower!!

Peregrines back at Clock Tower

September 10, 2014 in On the Clock Tower

The Peregrine Falcons have been seen with regularity over the past few days.  The adult pair were only seen a few times on the Clock Tower during the month of August.  Almost every sighting was just a solo sighting and never of the pair.  However, in the last few days, the pair have returned from summer camp on Plum Island and are perching in many of their normal perch locations.  They are also fully engaged in reminding neighbors and visitors about their territory around the Clock Tower!  This image shows the male perched on the outside edge of the nest box.

Fledgling on lower ledge!

June 12, 2014 in On the Clock Tower

After a few days remaining in the nest box, the third and final chick fledged on Thursday.  In the late afternoon, had a nice opportunity to observe the fledgling on a lower ledge closer to Merrimack Street.  It was testing its wings and hopping along a ledge.  Not only a treat to watch from a close vantage point, but also had the chance to observe and document the black/green bicolor leg bands used on peregrines in Eastern United States.  This fledgling has black numbers (59) over green letters (BD).

More photos: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/156086349

There is an international protocol in North America for colored leg bands on Peregrine Falcons. The color indicates the origin or subspecies for chicks banded in the nest. The colors in the protocol and their meaning are:

Red Captive bred
Black/red bicolor Eastern United States
Black/green bicolor Eastern United States
Blue Tundra Peregrines
Black/blue bicolor Tundra or Anatum captured off the breeding grounds or subspecies unknown
Green Peale’s Peregrines
Black Anatum Peregrines

Characters used on the Peregrine bands are letters and numbers, with one character on the top of the band and one character on the bottom of the band. Older bands may have these characters either vertical or tipped ninety degrees to the left. Newer bands have all vertical characters.

Fledgling on nearby ledge!

June 11, 2014 in On the Clock Tower

The fledglings continue to be seen in a variety of locations around the Clock Tower with one of first two fledglings remaining for a day on a nearby ledge.  The older fledgling has flown to upper ledges and even atop the weathervane at the top of the Clock Tower!

Peregrine chicks; 2 fledge over weekend!

June 10, 2014 in On the Clock Tower

The peregrine chicks took their first flights away from the nest over this past weekend. Not always choosing to or being capable of returning to the nest site, they will be found in different locations around the Clock Tower like these 2 on a nearby lower ledge!

Peregrine Falcon, adult male

April 22, 2014 in On the Clock Tower

The incubation period is ready to draw to a close fairly soon with four eggs having been under constant incubation from March 24th.  Hatching should take place in the next few days.  the male has been keeping a proximate vigil nearby the nest.  He is always nearby and has been sharing part of the incubation duties!  In this photo, he is perched on the NE corner of the Clock Tower.

Peregrines copulating again!

March 9, 2014 in On the Clock Tower

The peregrines continue in copulation mode.  Had a short opportunity to fly by on Sunday night just before sunset and observed them both make aerial loops prior to the action on the back end of the Clock Tower weathervane.  They remained together for 9 seconds suggesting that the date for eggs is close and at this point possibly next week around March 20th…the first day of spring!