While roof access to a nearby building gives you the best views of the nest, the eyasses are now exploring the outside ledges of the tower and are large enough, that you can have a good experience watching them from the street.

You’ll need to be patient, but a few hours of viewing should get you a view of both parents and a few of the eyasses. If you have a spotting scope, I would recommend bringing it with you.

The adult female is banded on both legs and is larger than the adult male who is not banded. She’s bulkier. I often use the analogy of Linebacker vs. Tight End, to explain the difference, but I learned yesterday that not everyone watches football. Maybe Weight Lifter vs. Runner is a better way of explaining the difference. Male falcons are called tercels. Etymologist think this might be because medieval falconers recognized males were a third smaller.

Nest Location
N – Scrape and Nesting Area. The nesting area is on the SW tower of the St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church. The top of the tower has tall arches. At the base of the arches is a ledge on the outside and a slightly curved roof area inside. The eyasses use all of this space. Depending on the time of day, they can be hidden from the street. I’ve found that late in the afternoon, you can usually see one on the SE side of the tower, but have had luck seeing them on the north side early in the afternoon. Since the parents perch on the south side of 86th Street, when the eyasses are hungry, they tend to move to the SE side of the tower.

Viewing Spots
1 – The eastbound M86 Street Bus Stop, on the SW corner of 86th and Broadway, is a good spot to watch the nest. It is up a hill and has a good sightline. You can also see two of the parents common perches (A & B).

2 – The NW corner of 86th and Broadway is a better spot to watch the parents but has a more restricted view of the nest.

3 – In the early afternoon, I’ve had good luck watching from 88th and West End Avenue.

4 – There is a view of the nest from 85th and West End Avenue, but it is rare to see the eyasses from this vantage point.

Peregrine Falcon Perches
A – You will usually see one of the parents protecting the nest from either of the railings on the top floor of the northern façade of 530 West End Avenue, at the SE corner of 86th and West End. But also keep track of the ledges on the top two floors of this building. The parents also use these ledges, especially to prepare food before bringing it to the nest.

B – Especially when they’re hunting they sometimes use the top corner of 257 West 86th Street on the north side of 86th and a ledge a few floors down.

C – The parents often use perches on the top of the highest windows on 575 West End Avenue at 88th and West End Avenue.