March 20, 2017 in On the Clock Tower
On a late afternoon visit under sunny and very clear skies, had a nice opportunity to watch the unbanded female in flight around the Clock Tower. She finally made a smooth landing on one of the upper struts on the weathervane. The male was perched nearby but no move to join her.
March 20, 2017 in Peregrines at 250 Canal St.
While scanning for falcons in the area, just happened to glimpse a perched bird atop one of the old brick towering smokestacks in the 250 Canal Street building complex. This a perch that gets much more use after fledglings have left the nest box. Once in a while the adults perch here as well….here the female enjoys a spectacular view of the river and surrounding area!
March 16, 2017 in Verizon Cell Tower
The sun was shining bright this morning with clear skies and moderate winds. After a quick look around the Clock Tower, and in light of cold temps in the twenties, and lower with wind chill, made a run over to the Verizon Cell Tower. Sure enough, up on the sixth floor ledge along the hot air exhaust vents, were both peregrines. The female seemed to be trying to get the attention of the male, but he displayed a clear indifference. So after ten minutes of walking back and forth along the ledge, she took a powder and flew around to the east side of the building to an awning over a pair of larger vents, and perched herself in the sun and out of the wind! Nice seeing them somewhat close together….
March 13, 2017 in On the Clock Tower
It is that time of year and love is in the air with the peregrine falcons! The Lawrence Peregrines remain near the nest box and one of the them is proximate at all times. Made a quick visit to the Clock Tower and was happy to watch the female perched on a favorite corner. This is a large just below the actual clock face and it is located on the NW corner of the Clock Tower.
March 13, 2017 in Near the Clock Tower
Made a late afternoon visit and was unable to spot the peregrines anywhere around the Clock Tower…..when just a bit of movement caught my eye. It was one of the peregrines, on an upper ledge on the south side of the main building on Merrimack Street. It was clearly feasting on a late day snack but doing so solo and enjoying each moment!
February 28, 2017 in On the Clock Tower
Both Lawrence Peregrines were observed just before dark on a cloudy afternoon. They were both perched on a lower granite ledge beneath the clock face on the NW corner of the Clock Tower. The smaller peregrine on the left is the male and the larger peregrine on the right with thicker barring is the female.
As a bit of background, peregrine falcons form monogamous pair bonds that often last throughout many breeding seasons. Both males and females have a strong attachment to previous nesting sites, which may explain monogamy over multiple breeding seasons, rather than attachment between individuals.
Males display at nest ledges and other nearby locations to attract females and advertise ownership to other falcons. The development, and renewal of a pair bond is indicated by the male and female roosting near each other. Eventually they sit at the nest ledge side by side. Individuals may also peep at each other, preen, nibble their mate’s toes, or “bill” (gently grab the other bird’s bill in their own). Both sexes may then engage in “ledge displays”, centered on, or near, the area of their nest, or scrape. Prior to egg-laying, the pair will engage in incredible aerial displays, involving power dives, tight cornering, high soaring, and body rolls during a dive. Once the pair has formed, or been renewed, they begin to hunt cooperatively and females begin to beg for food from the male!
February 23, 2017 in On the Clock Tower
As we move through February, we approach the start of courtship activities and the breeding season. More often, the female will perch at the opening to the nest box or on the lateral wooden perch pole. The female is more heavily spotted on the upper breast and becomes more heavily barred on the abdomen, flanks, thighs, and under the tail feathers.
During the start of the breeding season, the first indication of courtship activity is the perching/roosting of male and female at same perch locations. Eventually the pair perches/roosts side by side on the same ledge. During incubation, the male roosts in a prominent location away from scrape, often on or near the top of cliff. After brooding ceases, the female does not roost on nest ledge.
February 22, 2017 in On the Clock Tower
Standing securely at 267 feet tall, the Ayer Mill Clock Tower is the largest mill clock in the world, and a landmark for the Merrimack Valley. The tower itself was completed in 1910 as the crown jewel of the Ayer Mill, part of the American Woolen Company’s collection of mill buildings. The Ayer Mill operated for the next four decades, slowly shrinking in production as mill companies moved to Southern states with cheaper labor until it closed its doors in 1955.
With the collapse of the textile mills, it fell into disrepair. The bell had disappeared from the tower, the glass in the dials was broken, rain had destroyed the original beadboard ceiling at the bell level, pigeons were nesting from the cistern level to the top of the tower, and the original clock no longer functioned. Like the city of Lawrence surrounding it, the Ayer Mill Clock Tower was in decay.
The Greater Lawrence Community Foundation determined that the tower could be returned to its former grandeur, and proceed to raise funds for the restoration. Over $1 million was raised and put towards breathing life back into the symbol of Lawrence.
The Clock Tower has also been home for a pair of nesting Peregrine Falcons. The peregrines keep watch around the Tower as they prepare for another successful breeding season. Here is a photo of the female peregrine perched on the SW corner of the roof overlooking the setting sun in the distance!
February 16, 2017 in Verizon Cell Tower
It was another cloudy cold winterish morning with both of the Lawrence Peregrines tucked away on the hot air exhaust ledges at the Verizon Cell Tower. The wind was strong out of the NW and the peregrines tucked in tight to stay warm!
February 14, 2017 in Near the Clock Tower
Spent a bit more time searching for the female and finally found her perched in the sun on the south side of the New Balance building. She was atop a steel beam perch just below the roof line near the intersection of Merrimack and Union Streets. She is getting ready for courtship activities to commence over next few weeks. These peregrines spend a considerable amount of time not flying, but rather in the boring, but no doubt important task of perching near the nest site. It’s their way of maintaining claim to their local territory, and letting others know that there’s no room at the inn. They’ve even been seen escorting other Peregrines out of the area without hesitation!
