From May 16–22, weather conditions in Lawrence, Massachusetts remained cool and unsettled at times, with a mix of cloudy days, scattered rain showers, and occasional breaks of sunshine. Temperatures generally ranged from the upper 50s into the upper 60s during the day, while overnight conditions remained cooler and damp—typical for mid-May in northeastern Massachusetts.

Inside the nest box, the three young peregrines entered their second week of life and showed rapid daily growth. No longer fragile hatchlings, the chicks are now firmly in the nestling stage, becoming noticeably larger, stronger, and more active with each passing day. Their eyes are fully open, neck strength has improved considerably, and feeding responses are much more vigorous and coordinated. The soft white down covering their bodies remains prominent, though the earliest signs of emerging feather development are beginning beneath the skin. Both adults have remained extremely attentive, with the female still brooding the chicks frequently during cooler periods while the male continues regular prey deliveries to support the growing demands of the nestlings.

The fourth egg remains in the nest box and is no longer expected to hatch. While disappointing, this is not unusual in peregrine falcon nesting attempts and has occurred in this Lawrence nest box during prior seasons. Infertile eggs or eggs in which development stops naturally can occur even in experienced and otherwise successful pairs. The adults have now fully shifted their attention toward raising the three healthy nestlings, and activity inside the nest box continues to increase as feeding frequency, chick movement, and overall development accelerate with each passing day.

May 16, 2026: The past week in Lawrence, Massachusetts brought a mix of mild spring temperatures, scattered rain showers, and occasional brighter periods as the city’s resident peregrines settled into the busy transition from incubation to raising newly hatched chicks.

The first two eggs hatched overnight last Sunday morning, followed later in the day by a third hatchling, marking the successful beginning of the 2026 nesting season. A fourth egg remains in the nest box but is no longer expected to hatch. Since the arrival of the chicks, activity inside the nest box has increased dramatically. Both adults have remained highly attentive, with the female spending long stretches carefully brooding the hatchlings to keep them warm and protected, especially during cooler overnight periods and damp weather. The male has taken on an increasingly important role delivering prey regularly to the nest box, helping meet the rapidly growing nutritional demands of the young falcons.

The first week of life is a remarkable period of growth and development for peregrine hatchlings. Covered in soft white down and initially fragile and unsteady, the chicks grow noticeably stronger with each passing day. Their eyes begin opening more fully, neck strength improves, and feeding responses become more active and coordinated. At this stage, the female carefully tears prey into tiny pieces for feeding while continuing to shield the chicks beneath her body between meals. The nest box has now shifted from the quiet rhythm of incubation to the constant motion of brooding, feeding, preening, and protection that defines the early nestling stage.