Author: Matt Perry

Update for Saturday, June 1, 2024

We have been observing Astrid and Ares for over a decade, and one of the most fascinating behaviors they exhibit is cooperative hunting. This activity is especially common during the breeding season when their need for prey increases due to the additional mouths to feed. In our Utica pair, and likely with Peregrines in general, it is the female who initiates the cooperative hunt and almost invariably makes the kill. Astrid typically targets Pigeons, and the most common tactic involves Ares flushing a flock into flight while Astrid focuses on an individual Pigeon and determines her angle of attack.

Peregrine Falcons are formidable hunters, renowned for their speed and precision. While they often hunt alone, pairs of Peregrines sometimes exhibit cooperative hunting behaviors, especially during the breeding season when the demand for food is high to sustain their growing chicks. This cooperation showcases their remarkable intelligence and adaptability. In a typical cooperative hunt, the male and female utilize their unique physical attributes and roles to increase their chances of a successful catch. The male, being smaller and more agile, often is tasked with making the first move – using his speed to flush prey out of hiding or to scatter a flock of birds. His role is crucial in creating an opportunity for the female, who is larger and more powerful. As the prey is driven into the open and disrupted by the male’s maneuvers, the female capitalizes on the chaos. She uses her greater strength and speed to pursue the disoriented prey. When hunting in this way, she usually secures her prey by coming in from behind it as opposed to using the Peregrine’s trademark high speed dive called a “stoop”.

Communication between the pair is essential for successful cooperative hunting. They use a combination of vocalizations and body language to coordinate their efforts. Sharp, rapid calls may signal the presence of prey or serve as cues for timing their attacks. This synchronized effort allows them to target larger or more elusive prey that would be challenging for a single falcon to capture. Through this teamwork, they ensure a more consistent and plentiful food supply for their nestlings, enhancing the survival chances of their offspring.

Update for Friday, May 31, 2024

We are now only eight days away from the start of fledgewatch. As an organization, we consider this activity the most important thing we do. Indeed, over the last decade, during fledgewatch we have rescued eight young birds, most of which, undoubtably would not have survived without an intervention. All eight were then successfully released back into their urban canyon and back to the care of Astrid and Ares. Spotting and being prepared to rescue fledgling Peregrine Falcons when they leave their nests for the first time is crucial for several reasons. Urban environments present unique challenges for young falcons, which can significantly impact their survival chances. Buildings, vehicular traffic, and other human-related hazards make the fledging process particularly perilous. Ensuring their safety during this critical period can help support the recovery and sustainability of Peregrine Falcon populations in the region and it would significantly assist Astrid & Ares in their breeding objectives.

When fledgling Peregrines take their initial flights, they often lack the strength, coordination, and experience to navigate the complex urban landscape effectively. They may misjudge distances, become exhausted quickly, or fail to land on secure perches, leading to situations where they end up on the ground, in traffic or in other dangerous locations. By closely monitoring these fledglings, fledgewatch volunteers can quickly intervene if a young falcon encounters trouble. Timely rescues can prevent injuries or fatalities, giving fledglings a second chance to develop their flight skills safely. Importantly, when given a second chance, almost invariably, fledglings do exceptionally well – having learned much from their initial mistakes.

Update for Thursday, May 30, 2024

Female Peregrine Falcons play a crucial role in guiding their fledglings during the critical period of learning to fly and land safely. As their young approach fledging age, the female becomes increasingly attentive to their needs, demonstrating safe perching spots and guiding their early flights. This period is vital for the fledglings, as mastering the ability to land safely is essential for their survival.

One of the ways female Peregrines assist their young is by repeatedly flying to and perching on safe, sturdy ledges in view of the nest. These ledges are typically flat, wide, and free of obstructions, providing an ideal landing area for the inexperienced fledglings. The female will sometimes also call to her chicks, using vocalizations to attract their attention to these safe perches. Her behavior serves as both a demonstration and an encouragement, showing the fledglings where they can safely land and rest. During these demonstrations, the fledglings watch intently, absorbing crucial information about their environment. The female’s actions help them identify landmarks and learn the spatial layout of their immediate surroundings. As the young falcons begin to take their first flights, they attempt to follow their mother’s example, aiming for the same secure ledges she used. The presence of the female on these ledges also provides a sense of security, as fledglings are more likely to land near their parents when they are still developing their flying and landing skills.

Update for Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Early this morning, Ares brought prey to the nest but Astrid did not meet him there. He went ahead and took it inside the box and started a feeding. Richae immediately stole the food from him and brought it to the back of the box where she started feeding on it. Made a couple of tries to recover it failing each time, but the third time he succeeded. He went to the lip of the box and began feeding out the meal. The chicks had not been fed yet that morning and so they were very right in his face, raucously begging. To his credits, Ares continued and was doing a great job. Astrid arrived and made an attempt to take over on the feeding, but she couldn’t get by youngsters. She then somewhat reluctantly stood back and allowed Ares to continue. After a minute, she made a mad dash into the fray and took over from her mate.

Male Peregrine Falcons exhibit a strong instinct to feed their nestlings, a behavior that underscores their crucial role in the family unit. During the breeding season, males are primarily responsible for hunting and providing food for their mates and chicks. They excel in capturing a variety of prey, which they bring back to the nest site. Despite this essential contribution, males often face a unique challenge: their mates, the female Peregrine Falcons, are typically more dominant at the nest and may not always allow them to feed the chicks directly. This dominance stems from the females’ larger size and assertive nature, which ensure they maintain control over the feeding process to monitor and ration food distribution among the hungry nestlings.

Even with these limitations, male Peregrines show persistent efforts to contribute to the feeding of their offspring. They deliver prey to a designated spot near the nest or directly to the female, who then takes over the task of tearing the prey into manageable pieces for the nestlings. This indirect method of provisioning highlights the cooperative nature of falcon parenting, where the male’s role in hunting is indispensable, even if he doesn’t always get to feed the chicks himself. The male’s consistent hunting efforts ensure a steady supply of food, which is crucial for the rapid growth and development of the young falcons.

Update for Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Peregrine Falcon nests can be very loud places especially when the young inside are over three weeks of age. Their squealing begging calls are ear piercing and it’s amazing that parent falcons can stand being in the nest with them. As it happens, nestling Peregrine Falcons exhibit a range of vocalizations that are crucial for their development and survival. Primarily, these sounds communicate their needs to parents and facilitate interactions with siblings. The most prominent vocalization is the begging call, a high-pitched, insistent “cheep”, “chip-chip”, or squeal that intensifies when a parent arrives with food. The frequency and intensity of these calls are directly related to the nestlings’ hunger levels, with louder and more persistent calls indicating a greater need for food.

As they grow, nestling Peregrines produce a variety of other vocalizations, including softer, more conversational sounds used during interactions with siblings. These sounds help establish social bonds and hierarchies within the nest. Additionally, as nestlings practice flapping their wings and other pre-flight behaviors, their vocalizations can include excited chirps, squeals, and wails, signaling their readiness for the next stages of development. These varied vocalizations are essential for ensuring that their needs are met and for maintaining the social structure of the brood, ultimately preparing them for independence.