Latest 07/03/08 - Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
During the World Series of Birding back in May, Bob (our team master scout) had told me about the Peregrine Falcons that were nesting at the building that he works at. Peregrines are my favorite birds of prey so I jump on any chance I get to see them up close. One minor detail in this story is that their nest is up on the 23rd floor and I am deathly afraid of heights.
I contacted Bob in late June to find out how the Peregrines were fairing. He told me that all 4 chicks had just left the nest and that they were being fed in various parts of the building by the two adults. This was the perfect time to head on up to Allentown (about 90 minutes ride north from where I work) and try to get some pictures.
I met up with Bob at around 5:00pm and while I was parking my car, I saw one of the adult Peregrines fly to the top of the building with prey. I could also see one of the juvenile birds sitting on a ledge nearby. We got to the top and after we made sure there were no Peregrines around, we came out to survey the nesting area.
There were numerous skulls, bones, feathers and other bird body parts scattered on and around the nesting site. It was very interesting to see that many of the victims had bands on them (over 10). I saw Blue Jay and Cuckoo feathers and what looked like remains of a Kestrel.
After I took a few pictures of the nesting area and some of the bird remains, I went next to the 5 foot wall at the edge of the roof and looked around.
The top 3 floors are smaller than the rest of the building and I was looking down to the ledge of the 21st floor. The adult peregrine was right there looking back at me. I took a deep breath , leaned over the wall and got my camera and bazooka like lense in position to take 5-6 photos before I pulled back an sat down on the floor. My legs were shaking but I had to do it one more time and take a couple of shots of the immature bird. I managed to do that without causing any bodily harm to myself and I was content.
It was a very enjoyable trip and I have to thank Bob for that. My all time favorite encounter with these great birds is still the time I spent helping band some of them in Cape May some twenty years ago.