Volunteer nest monitor, Mr. Scott Wright, has been watching the nest closely this week because extensive work is being done to SW and Buckeye’s skyscraper home. This year, work will be done on the 36th floor. Scaffolding and two "wall crawlers" are being constructed to ascend the front of the building. That is why you may have seen ropes in the FalconCam pictures from time to time recently.
The workers put up 6 sections at a time, which they then connect to the building to secure the "wall Crawler".
Work being done so close to the nest is a major worry, and Mr. Wright was present to watch closely as the workers reached the 12th floor. This work is part of a 5 year restoration of the building, and it seems as though the birds have become somewhat accustomed to human presence. They were obviously nervous, but they did not abandon the eggs – nor did they dive bomb the workers. Mr. Wright states, “Except for SW making a few fly-by's (not even close) and Mr. B making a racket but staying a good deal away yet flying over the workers, it was a non-event”.
The falcons don't like any intruders in their territory, either human or other birds. As Mr. Wright was watching SW and Buckeye during the “wall crawler” construction, he noticed the birds kept looking up. He reports that “When the workers went to lunch, I went down to see what the birds had been looking up at. I saw SW hit a turkey vulture over the square”. The following picture shows a turkey vulture. It is a very large bird, with a wingspan of about six feet, while a peregrine is about the size of a crow.
Over the years Mr. Wright has reported that the male falcon (usually it's the male) has chased off interlopers much larger than himself, such as bald eagles and a great-horned owl, as well as hawks and others who dare to cross the Falcon No Fly Zone. Peregrines are fierce predators and sometimes fight, if they must, to protect their nest. Twice at this nestsite, there have been fights between female peregrines that resulted in the deaths of the losers. Several times, Buckeye and SW have dive-bombed human window washers who came too close. One of the best stories Mr. Wright tells is when he watched a male chase the Goodyear Blimp during a Cleveland Indians baseball game. Here is Buckeye watching over his territory - Public Square is in the center of downtown Cleveland, Ohio.
To watch the falcons live go to: http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/news.php Our thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for sponsoring the FalconCams.
The photo of the turkey vulture is courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All other photos are courtesy of Scott Wright, volunteer peregrine nest monitor. They may be used by children for school and/or personal projects, but please give Mr. Wright photo credit. All others must contact Mr. Wright directly for permission to use his photos.
