September 29, 2016 in In the Nest Box
With terrific late afternoon sunlight, made a pass by the Clock Tower in Lawrence for a look at the peregrines. The adult peregrine was perched on the outside rim of the nest box window with beautiful westward views in the late day light. For no clear reason, the female was nearby on an upper ledge squawking away. The male showed no interest or reaction and neither of them moved!
September 13, 2016 in In the Nest Box
During a short visit to the Clock Tower this morning, discovered the female inside the nest box. She has been seen a bit more often on the nest box perch and inside the nest box. She will move the gravel lining on the floor of the nest box at times, and other times she just sits and gazes out to the west and enjoys the views!
August 31, 2016 in In the Nest Box
Made a short visit mid-afternoon to find the unbanded female in the midst of a balancing act on the perch pole outside of the nest box!
August 30, 2016 in On the Clock Tower
Checked all around the Clock Tower this morning only to find both Lawrence Peregrines on the east side in the shade. What a morning with bright cobalt blue skies, very light winds and the temperature pushing through 70 degrees. The adult pair have been seen together quite a bit over the past week. Lots of idle perching time with little flight action.
One of the adults was perched on the upper left ledge above the clock face on the west of the tower. The other peregrine was perched on top of the nest box window frame.
August 16, 2016 in On the Clock Tower
Had a nice moment to observe both adults perching proximate to one another on the Clock Tower just after 6 pm. The skies were overcast with light winds, light rain, 78 degrees and high humidity. The male was perched on the lateral post that sticks out from the nest box. The bi-colored leg bands (6/4) were just barely visible. Peregrines maintain a high fidelity to the nest site and will actively defend their home site from any and all intruders.
The female was perched farther up on the NW corner of the roof on the Clock Tower! She spent a bit of time caching away but did not move from her perch location.
June 10, 2016 in Near the Clock Tower
The Lawrence Peregrine chicks are now being seen around the Clock Tower both on ledges and roof edges. they are going through the initial phases of learning how to fly. It is very normal to watch them as they hop, skip, and jump. The high winds have made flight attempts a bit more of a challenge. They are quick to use their talons to grab hold of the edge of the roof to keep from join over! Here is a photo of one of the chicks with leg bands black/green 85/BS!
For a handful of additional fledgling photos: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/163431442 Click “next” in upper right corner to advance frames!
June 7, 2016 in In the Nest Box
And then there were three! The remaining peregrine falcons remain in the nest box and will likely fledge over next few days!
June 7, 2016 in On the Clock Tower
Finally, the first of the 2016 Lawrence Peregrines has fledged….last night just before sunset. The other three remain in the nest box and have yet to make first flight as of sundown tonight. The fledgling was bolding flapping on the extended wooden perch yesterday afternoon. After a diligent search both this morning and late this afternoon, the first fledgling was found on ledge just below the nest box and a bit to the east of the nest box. This ledge, like the nest box, is on the west face of the Ayer Mill Clock Tower. The fledgling was kind enough to provide sufficient looks to make a positive ID of its leg bands, black over green, 86/BS. Stay tuned on the siblings!
June 6, 2016 in In the Nest Box
As the peregrine chicks prepare to fledge, they spend much of their day flapping their wings, which both strengthens their flight muscles and shakes loose some of the few remaining down feathers. It’s time for the first one to launch! Perhaps early this evening!!
June 6, 2016 in In the Nest Box
What a sight seeing these young 2016 peregrines lining up to take flight out in the world! This may well be the last group photo for this year’s graduating class!
