While locals at 86th and West End report hearing and seeing the Peregrine Falcons early in the morning, when I’ve been going in the late afternoon it’s become much harder to find them.
On Monday afternoon, I had two fledglings on a water tank two blocks from the eyrie. The water tank is atop 160 West 86th Street, which is between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues.
Later, I had one fledgling on top of 535 West End Avenue being harassed by a Northern Mockingbird.
I had been coming to see Flaco right around his fly out time, so I came a bit early today. He got visited by some Fish Crows and American Robins and did a bit of stretching before fly out. It was then to a grassy compost hill, just like the night before where he stayed for a long time before flying to a Black Locust tree. He then flew to one of his favorite trees before we lost track of him.
I arrived after Flaco had flown out for the evening. He was in a tree above the East Drive. He flew off and we couldn’t find him. After a thirty minute search, I found him. Flaco was hiding in plain sight this evening between two hills of dirt before going higher.
There had been reports that he had irritated one of his eyes a few days ago. Both eyes looked fine on Monday night.
I didn’t stay long with the Peregrine Falcons on the west side as it started to drizzle. But I did see all of them. The father was on 530 West End Avenue and the fledglings were on the church tower, 530 West End Avenue, 2373 Broadway (on a balcony near 87th Street), and 255 West 86th Street. The mother made a quick pass by the church tower before flying up West End Avenue to at least 90th Street.
Thursday, was a repeat of Wednesday with the 86th Street and West End Avenue fledglings. Taking food from their father and then fighting over it. I’m so glad we’re past the risky fledging stage and on to sibling arguments and action. If you haven’t been, spend some time in the late afternoon and early evening to go watch them.
On Wednesday it became clear that they Peregrine Falcon parents at 86th and West End have begun making the fledglings come and get their food. While the adult male is still hunting for the fledglings, he was making them come and get their meals. Delivery service is now over for the season!
As he did last year, he’s switched to bringing House Sparrows rather than Rock Pigeons. He’s passing off the entire bird, rather than a plucked pigeon which he was bringing to the eyrie.
The fledglings have also begun competing for the food. When all of this takes place, in just a few minutes, the sound is increadible.
