Young peregrine falcons exhibit heightened curiosity during the critical period just before and after fledging from the nest. As they approach the age of fledging, typically around six weeks old, their curiosity becomes more pronounced. They frequently peer over the nest edge, watching the activities taking place in their neighborhood. This helps them understand their environment and prepares them mentally for the challenges of flight. During this pre-fledging phase, these young falcons engage in vigorous wing-flapping exercises, sometimes leaping into the air and practicing short hops within the nest area. This not only strengthens their wings but also gives them a sense of the air currents and how their bodies respond to them.
Ledging behavior is a critical developmental stage for nestling Peregrine Falcons, marking their transition from the safety of the nest to the broader habitat around them. This behavior typically begins when the nestlings are about four to five weeks old and involves the young falcons venturing to and beyond the edges of the nesting site. For the Utica birds, this means exploring the nestbox’s side platforms, or “verandas,” and then progressing to the window ledges beyond. This can be a perilous time for the young birds as they negotiate narrow ledges and find themselves in difficult and uncomfortable positions. However, the ledging process is vital for building their physical strength, coordination, experience, and confidence. It also provides them with their first serious problem-solving experiences as they face unpredictable and challenging obstacles. Mastering these skills is essential before the birds take their first flights.
Parental involvement is crucial during the ledging stage. Adult Peregrines, particularly the mother, often encourage their young to venture onto the ledges and practice their flying skills. The parents may demonstrate landing and take-off techniques, providing visual guidance for the nestlings. Additionally, they continue to bring food to the nest, but as the ledging behavior progresses, they may start delivering prey to more challenging locations, encouraging the young falcons to venture out and practice retrieving their meals.
As the chicks get close to fledging time, they begin to do more interacting in the nestbox. Play is an essential aspect of the development of many animal species, including nestling Peregrine Falcons. In the confined space of the nest, Peregrines chicks engage in playful activities that are fundamental for their physical growth, coordination, and social development. These activities include stomping on each other with their oversized feet, grabbing at each other with bills and talons, playing tug-o-war with food scraps, and knocking each other over flailing wings.
Social interactions during play are vital for establishing social hierarchies and learning communication skills among nestling falcons. Through play-fighting, vocalizations, and cooperative behaviors, the young birds learn to assert dominance, recognize submission, and understand their place within the sibling hierarchy. These interactions help reduce future conflicts and ensure a more cohesive social structure as they mature. Mock pecking and gentle grappling with siblings also help the young falcons develop their motor skills and improve their reflexes. These interactions mimic the quick and precise movements they will need when capturing prey and evading predators. By engaging in such play, the nestlings build the necessary strength and agility that are vital for their survival as they transition to independence.
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.
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.
