1:30 p.m. Peregrine falcon in the tree on Washington, by First United Methodist Church at 120 State St. I watched as it perched and then swooped down out of the tree and headed east along Washington. Pretty cool! First time I’ve seen it, having heard of its presence in the area. [link]
Washington & State
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The Bird Division of the Museum of Zoology has a page about the peregrines, with more close up photos. [link]
I’ve heard a rumor that the DNRE is considering, maybe planning, to put a nesting platform for the falcons on a UM building, probably at the medical center, where the birds seem to spend a lot of time now.
Wow. I’m jealous. I saw a smallish raptor while sledding at Radrick Farms but couldn’t get close enough to ID it.
I witnessed a falcon “pounce” on a sparrow/finch that was on the sidewalk at that same location (on the other side of Washington from the church) this past summer… about 10 feet in front of me. Blew me away!
That probably explains why the sparrows/finches have vanished from my feeder.
I’ve noticed over the past few years that there are no longer any pigeons anywhere near the diag or the old westside. They used to compete for breadcrumbs from the sparrows that I used to feed, now they are gone, because of the resurgence of raptors in the area. I think the raptors are quickly adapting to living in urban areas and getting used to being around people. It’s exciting!