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Some Hump Day animal fun: The city has an extensive page, on the DEP site, about peregrine falcons. The reasons listed why falcons like NYC are great:
1) There is plenty of food for the falcon in the City.Some baby falcons were born in early June. And check out the Peregrine Foundation.
2) The City reminds a falcon of its natural habitat... A City bridge or skyscraper provides a great deal of open air space and a unique perch for hunting.
3) Falcons and New Yorkers respect each others' privacy...As long as we do not try to feed falcons or treat them as pets or disturb their nesting and feeding areas, there is nothing for New Yorkers to fear. Instead, with patience and a pair of powerful binoculars, we can enjoy watching the beauty of these birds in flight.
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Ooh, the baby falcons are so adorable. We have peregrines in Chicago. There's one who likes to eat his meals (aka pigeons, aka rats with wings) on the ledge right outside my cubicle.
Watch out rat dogs!
Has anyone noticed that in the last few years there seems to be significantly less pigeons in New York? Perhaps in small part due to falcons?
i think they moved to chicago. we had a 64% increase in the pigeon population last year.
Walking by an empty lot on 38th and 9th Ave, I happened to notice a small group of chickadees dusting themselves near the fence when all of a sudden a peregrine falcon landed on top of them and looked straight at me before flying away clutching at least two of the birds in its talons.
I love you guys. Just yesteday I was editing a story about peregrine falcons in NYC (I work for a children's educational publishing company). I can't get enough of those birds!
Once in 5th grade we had a lecture about Peregrine Falcons at an all-school assembly and I had just been reading a Ranger Rick about them, and the lecturer was like, "does anyone know the cause of the erosion of the peregrine population?" and one kid-- may I add, a high schooler-- was like "PCP in pesticides kills them" (ok I know its not PCP exactly, but its some acronym like that-- I'm stupider now than I was 15 yrs ago) and she was like "NO." and thats when a tiny fat girl in the fifth grade with a halo of frizz backlit from the windows of the gym auditorium raised her pink, hammy hand and said, "actually the PCP lies dormant in the falcons bloodstream, not affecting its health. however when the falcon lays its eggs, the PCP prevents it from producing a hard shell. these weakened shells break easily, making it virtually impossible for the babies to grow to term, hence for the Peregrine to produce any offspring." silence. one clap. three claps. the auditorium erupts in applause. not really. but all day people came up to me and were like, "hey birdgirl-nice." I hereby open myself up to "you fucking loser" comments. good day.
nyc has the largest concentration of nesting peregrines in north america. this year i observed the various nests around the city but the nestlings had a tough time. at least four had to be rescued, one under the brooklyn bridge, one on lexington and 52nd st and one on the fdr near the ferry. i spend many of my days observing and photographing them...they are one of the many reasons nyc is too cool! when the ones downtown are nesting there's a crazy cool webcam on www.55waterst.com--you too can watch live pidgeons being devoured alive!
I just walked by a dying baby rat, taking its last gaps on the brick Tudor City sidewalk. I wish a falcon would come get it so it wouldn't be lying there grossing me out.
I wish I could borrow one to help with my mouse problem ...
that was a great story, julia (birdgirl). I think many of us can totally relate!
a friend of mine works for the JFK aiport in the summer, a part of a crew that runs falcons around the airport to eat or shoo away pigeons and other birds that would get sucked into the engines. pretty cool.
Why is it that otherwise gentle people get all excited about falcons and how they basically shred up other smaller birds for dinner? Appreciate any comments.
Himble, it's because falcons are beautiful and majestic. People can't help liking things that are attractive. It's similar to the way that animal rights groups use pictures of cute baby seals in their ads and not the uglier animals that are just as endangered.
Himble: the falcons treat their prey with respect; in contrast those people who own these chicken farms often keep their birds under tortured conditions.
Lewis, you mean the chicken I just had for lunch was probably tortured to death? Ugh.
Try organic free range chickens. They are treated much better.
Remember that story about the falcon (or was it a hawk?) that tried to grab a chihuahua in Bryant Park? I have a chihuahua now! This makes me nervous.
i saw a peregrine in my backyard once, and i tried to take a picture of it. needless to say, it didnt work... quite frankly, it would have been an excelent acomidation to my research project/speech that i have to give on these amazing birds. and by the way julia its actually ddt (instead of pcp) that was used as a pesticide that killed more than just bugs. ps. for those of you who cant figure out what wize auld oww is, its just wise old owl. nothing personal. :) comments would be appricated.