March 18, 2018 in Near the Clock Tower, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
Under clear skies, bright sun, strong NW winds at 17MPH, gusting 23MPH, and temp around 18F, with wind chill at 3F, made a short visit to look for Peregrine Falcons at Boston University. Located one falcon next to the entry to the nest box atop the 26 story Stu Vi II high rise student dorms.
March 18, 2018 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
A pair of Peregrine Falcons were seen this morning in flight and perched on the Sheraton Hotel Boston South Tower. The South Tower is about 310 feet in height with 29 floors. This pair have regularly nested nearby close to the top of the Christian Science Monitor Building. The peregrines are seen in flight in the area and perched on rooftop corners on nearby taller buildings.
March 15, 2018 in Verizon Cell Tower
Had but a few moments to look for the peregrines; none at Clock Tower, so made a fast pass by the Verizon Cell Tower. Normally, at this point in the calendar, both peregrines would be always found in and around the Clock Tower making sure their territory is well defended, and ready for the breeding season. Not so today, with the male perched on an upper ledge at Cell Tower, under clear skies, bright sun, winds out of west close to 20MPH and gusts over 25MPH, and temps around 40F
March 12, 2018 in On the Clock Tower
Another morning visit to the Lawrence Peregrines at the Ayer Mill Clock Tower, under clear skies, bright sun, wind out of north at 8MPH, and temp just above 30F. Observed both peregrines loafing on upper level perches on the west side of the Tower. One of them flew off while the other remained on a ledge above and to the left of the west side clock face.
March 11, 2018 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
Made a short visit to downtown Taunton to look for the local pair of Peregrine Falcons. They popped up right away in flight mode over Taunton Green, and then on one of nearby buildings. After watching a bit, the the female landed on a roof level, rounded granite post and called out to the nearby male. A few moments later, he swooped in, and started copulation sequence.
In this instance, the male falcon mounted from flight onto female. Typically, as the male prepares to mount, the female sleeks feathers, crouches, and leans forward, and may move her tail up and to side. During copulation, the female is normally at an angle of about 45° with wings slightly lifted and extended (from elbow), sometimes tail partly spread. The male makes every effort to maintain an upright position throughout copulation by flapping wings high above body and balancing on his tarsi with closed toes and feet turned inward. During copulation, the male’s neck is extended and curved; he chitters while she gives copulatory wail.
After about ten seconds, the male departed and landed at a nearby perch, while the female remained atop the granite post, then departed and perched atop proximate rooftop
Known breeding pair in downtown Taunton; banded female and unbanded male; Band numbers: 1687-01294, and 64/V black over green Banding date and location: May 20, 2008, NY, Long Island, Nassau Co. Sex: Female
Reference cited:
White, Clayton M., Nancy J. Clum, Tom J. Cade and W. Grainger Hunt. 2002. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.660
February 13, 2018 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Haverhill, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
Made a pass through downtown Haverhill and found both adult falcons atop the apartment building at 170 Washington St. They were perched facing east and into the morning sun. After 12 minutes they both departed, a few minutes apart, for another regular perch, atop the Post Office and the Bank of America building to the east. To the right is the unbanded female.
The male falcon ‘black/green 72/AB’ – color-banded in NH in May 2012, and now approaching 6 years old.
This wild-hatched male was one of two chicks fledged from the falcon nesting box located at the Brady-Sullivan Tower in Manchester. Christian Martin banded him as a 25-day old chick, along with his 21-day old sibling, who later died after falling into an uncapped chimney at the nearby National Guard Armory, and was trapped out of sight in a basement boiler room.
Black/green 72/AB has been present in Haverhill since at least December 2014, when he was spotted and identified by local resident, and well-known NH birders, Steve & Jane Mirick.
February 12, 2018 in lawrence peregrines, Near the Clock Tower, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
Made a morning run by the Clock Tower in search of the Lawrence Peregrines. Mostly cloudy, wind from NW at 9MPH, and temp around 42F.
The female was perched on the short but prominent steel beam on south side of Merrimack Street near intersection with Union Street. This is a very regular perch location in the morning, as the weather warms up.
She was midway through a morning snack, when the male zoomed in and snatched the goodies….pair bonding underway!
January 25, 2018 in Verizon Cell Tower
Made a morning sweep in search of the Lawrence Peregrines, by first passing by the Ayer Mill Clock Tower, and then onto the Verizon Cell Tower. Weather conditions: bright sun, clear skies, wind out of NW at 9MPH, and temp rising to 24F. The Cell Tower is one of the most regular perch locations in the colder winter months due to the warm air exhaust vents on the south side of the building!
December 7, 2017 in Verizon Cell Tower
A beautiful morning with clear skies, bright sun, west wind at 9MPH and temp just above 40F. Adult female peregrine falcon perched on the south side of the Verizon Cell Tower on 6th floor ledge enjoying the hot air exhaust vents and morning sunshine; note bulging crop!
December 4, 2017 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Haverhill, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
Pair of Peregrine Falcons on the weathervane at the Post Office in downtown Haverhill. This adult pair was first discovered by Steve and Jane Mirick. They were not successful in breeding attempts in 2016. The male is perched atop the weathervane with the female below to the left.
They both departed in pursuit of prey and returned a short time late. They were observed under bright sun and clear skies with little wind and temps in low thirties. This pair has not been sighted for the last few months, so this is a welcome sighting and a promising sign of continued pair bonding!
The male provided nice looks at his leg bands. The alpha-numeric black over green left leg bands showed 72/AB. According to Chris martin at NH Audubon, this was a 2012 hatch year chick, 1 of 2 banded at Brady-Sullivan Tower in Manchester NH on 5/10/2012.
