Peregrines

Falco peregrinusWednesday at dusk: Peregrines (Falco peregrinus) on the steeple.falco peregrinusThursday morning, the fifth straight day of seeing Peregrines — either here in Brooklyn or across the East River at 55 Water St. This picture is from two blocks away. Gamaliel King’s steeple is a challenge to shoot between the trees, row houses… Falco peregrinusAnd of course the closer you are, the steeper the angle.p3But what’s that pale blob on lower-middle right?falco peregrinusFalco peregrinusFalco peregrinusFalco peregrinusFalco peregrinusThis steeple, with all its nooks and crannies, has never been, as far as I know, a Peregrine nesting site. It is the tallest structure for several blocks ’round, and a regular perching site for Peregrines. There is a local nest, or scrape, in the neighborhood, at the House of Detention, just four blocks away.

However, for this pair, there may be some trouble in paradise.Falco peregrinusIt turns out that in every picture I took, the toes of this bird’s leg are curled up like so. Except for this one, from further away down the street:Falco peregrinusIt’s not as clear here, but it sure looks like the foot is hanging lame, at the joint between tibiotarsus/tarsometatarus(?). Not at all good news for a raptor.

Updated: Ah, good news, perhaps: I’ve heard from a Peregrine professional, who reports “Peregrines will often perch on one leg, with the other raised and foot curled, as several of your photos show. To me, the falcon looks like it’s in a normal resting posture. I’m not sure how long you watched this falcon, but sometimes they’ll hold that position for a while.”

5 Responses to “Peregrines”


  1. 1 Tom Bland February 22, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    That’s an interesting observation about the Peregrine’s foot. I wonder how that might have happened…

  2. 2 peter February 23, 2014 at 7:30 am

    Chris Nadareski of NYSDEC (I think) bands and monitors peregrine nests in case you need to reach out. I’m sure a Google search will do.
    Peter


  1. 1 Black Snow and Nesting Red-tails | Out walking the dog Trackback on February 22, 2014 at 8:06 pm
  2. 2 At the House of D | Backyard and Beyond Trackback on March 5, 2014 at 8:07 am
  3. 3 Borough of Raptors I | Backyard and Beyond Trackback on January 6, 2015 at 7:02 am

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