As in years past, the Riverside Church Peregrine Falcon fledglings have moved to the Interchurch Center, a block south of the church. I saw at least three of the fledglings and both parents on the building. The parents also perched on the church.
(One of the fledglings was found on the ground over the weekend and was sent to the Wild Bird Fund. I don’t any more details.)
I made two quick visits to the two Central Park nest location, 93rd/CPW and the NYAC. It was very quiet and I only could one fledgling at each location and the mother at 93rd/CPW.
This is typical as we move into June. The fledglings become harder and harder to locate.
I had a relaxed late afternoon/early evening with the NYAC fledglings and their father. One fledgling was relaxed in at tree, another on a lamp post and a third had dinner. The father watched over all of them.
I stopped by the NYAC family on my way home from Riverside Church and today was much like yesterday. The fledglings using trees and street lamps in the park west and north of Central Park South and Seventh Avenue.
One extraordinary things happened however. One of the parents seeing a squirrel attack one the fledglings, quickly caught it and carried it 100 feet away. The parent lost its grip on the squirrel when it landed and the squirrel fell 25 feet. The squirrel was able to climb up a tree, but kept close eye on the hawk until it flew off.
I arrived at the church to absolute quiet. I didn’t see any of the falcons. But after about ten minutes, I got to see three young falcons on the nest, and then two food deliveries.
I also saw the parents try to get the fledglings to chase after them in order to get prey the parents were holding.
Much to my surprise I spotted a domestic pigeon on the church tower. I wasn’t the only one who spotted it. A parent went after the pigeon, missed getting it on the building but then gave chase. I wasn’t able to see the outcome, but I would don’t think it was positive for the pigeon.
I only had about an hour after dinner to watch the NYAC hawks. They’re still staying together just inside the park and I got to see the whole family. The fledglings are getting comfortable flying from tree to tree and they were very active late in the evening.
