Peregrine Falcon Update: 19-May-2006

Central Park South: Peregrine Falcons

Tonight I brought a portable chair to the site near Gapstow Bridge. This should be a welcome piece of equipment. Standing around for 2-3 hours can take its toll. There was a pleasant distraction tonight that may've lessened the details I would otherwise have picked up.

A pleasant surprise was seeing my friend Peter show up again to view the Peregrines & wildlife around The Pond. The pleasant distraction was Lily who arrived around 6:30p leaving around 8:00p. She had seen the Peregrine Falcons in the scopes on a previous night & dropped in to take in the sights.

Unfortunately no nest exchanges were observed but I might have missed a few details. When I arrived the female just left the nest and stayed off nest for a little more than 10 minutes. During this time the male was out & about. I left for home with the female on nest at 8:25p — 15 minutes after sunset.

Central Park's Gapstow Bridge 6:15p — 8:25p

Highlights: an excellent night for watching these nesting Peregrines.

• When I arrived the falcon (female) was up from a perch on the N face of the GM. By 6:17p she landed on the GM's N face, right section, 6 in from the W. By 6:19p the falcon flew to the NE corner of the GM's roof. By 6:20p the tiercel (male) was seen in flight. I wasn't sure where he flew off to.
• By 6:26p the falcon headed back to the GM's N face, right section, landing on a fence 6 in from the W. She dropped down to the level of the nest. No nest exchange was seen.
• By 6:28p the tiercel was spotted on the NE corner of the GM's roof. We (Peter & I) didn't see where he flew in from since we were focused on the nest area. He left by 6:48p to parts & direction unknown.
• By 7:20p the falcon perched on the GM's N face, right section, 3 in from the W. By 7:21p she flew to the NE corner on the GM's roof. I missed seeing her leave the nest between 6:26p & 7:20p.
• By 7:25p the female perched on the GM's N face, right section, 6 in from the W then dropped down to the nest.
• By 7:30p the male was seen flying around the GM but he didn't stay to perch in a place visible to us (Lily & I).
• I left the area around 8:25p with the female still on nest — roughly 15 minutes after sunset.

Related items:
• Peregrine Falcon updates — 2006: 13-Apr, 21-Apr, 24-Apr, 26-Apr, 28-Apr, 30-Apr, 4-May, 5-May, 6-May, 7-May, 9-May, 11-May, 12-May, 13-May, 14-May, 16-May, 17-May, 18-May, 19-May, 21-May, 22-May, 23-May, 31-May
• Earliest Peregrine Falcon Nest in N.Y.C.?
• Behavior of Peregrine Falcons in the N.Y.C. Region
      by Richard A. Herbert & Kathleen Green Skelton Herbert
• Obs. of Duck Hawks Nesting on Man-made Structures
      by Horace Groskin