Peregrine Falcon Update: 21-May-2006

Central Park South: Peregrine Falcons

Tonight was the least active night since monitoring the Peregrines this year.

As I mentioned in a previous post the behavior of both adults changed radically on the 17th of May. This was when both adults started spending significant time away from the nest site.

Since there is no way of knowing what is truly happening with the falcons on the G.M. Building speculation will temporarily rule until some facts come to light.

At first I thought this change meant that the nesting had failed. The last mating was seen on the 13th of April which should indicate that this is well within the normal time for taking care of nestlings.

After watching the activites surrounding the Rochester, N.Y. Peregrine Falcons from KodakCam's ‘Unofficial Archive’ I can see that the behavior of the G.M. pair is similar to the upstate pair which are taking care of 13-15 day old nestlings.

More time needs to be spent observing this pair to determine if food is being brought to the eyrie. This should be a decent indicator that nestlings are being cared for. Up to three hours a night doesn't appear to be enough time to observe this behavior.

Central Park's Gapstow Bridge 5:25p — 8:40p

Highlights: little was seen from the pair & 40+ minutes with neither adult at the nest site.

• When I arrived no Peregrines were seen on any perches.
• By 7:57p a Peregrine was seen flying in from the N. It headed S along the E edge of the G.M. Building and wasn't seen again for the night.
• At 8:02p Donna was viewing through the LCD on the camera when she spotted a Peregrine exiting the nest site from the bottom of the fence.
• No falcons were seen again by the time we left the area at 8:40p.

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