FALCON FLASH
Dateline: Cleveland, Ohio
March 18, 2015
Click here to read what happened earlier
"Boomer vocalized with sharp "e-chips" and postured with a head-low stance, seeking to coax Newt into the tray for a courtship nest display.…. their courtship is elaborate and the displays at the nest are an important part of solidifying their bond and preparing for the nesting cycle, as we've been seeing on cam more frequently lately when they both go into the tray and posture together. I remained still, but Newt seemed leery and wouldn't go into the tray despite Boomer's efforts. Boomer did some pebble re-arranging as Newt watched………”
"As I was thinking of leaving after watching Boomer awhile Newton flew up and joined Boomer at the nest site, perching on the ledge outside the tray”.
“….. and he walked with the slow and methodical gait and hitched wings that is one form of the solicitation posture ("soliciting" Newton into the box)......”
“Once it was clear that Newton wasn't going to join him in the tray, Boomer flew out as she remained on the ledge. She stayed momentarily, and then left as well. As I posted previously, even though Newt wouldn't go into the tray with Boomer I felt that this was a positive step in the direction toward getting Newton accustomed to people in the close windows. I was glad that she didn't leave right away, because even though she has been tolerant of people/bridge workers over her years at the I-90 Bridge site she chose nest locations that were away from where the work was being done. Newton has been greatly successful despite multiple moves and relocations at that site, even bearing and raising one chick last year amidst the major work that culminated in the demolition of the bridge. I suspect that she will become accustomed to people viewing her here as well, yet I want to remain careful not to go too often prior to egg-laying so that I don't interfere with this process”.
For more information about falcon courtship, visit the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group website at: http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/pefabehavior.htm
Meanwhile, at the nearby nestsite where a battle between two females was described in the March 4 Falcon Flash, another battle took place this week. You may remember there was an unknown female in the area and we were worried she might challenge Newton for her nestsite – but she chose to challenge another female at a nearby nestsite – and won the battle. Mr. and Mrs. Saladin have named the winner, Cuyahoga, (can you find out why?). Mr. Saladin witnessed this recent skirmish and reports: “….there were three peregrines, Bolt (the male), Cuyahoga, and another unbanded female…… this battle wasn't as intense as the one we witnessed recently (as these two females didn't engage, but made some swift and aggressive flights), but it was lengthy and Bolt was a bit more involved. We can't be sure at this point if this is a different unbanded female or if it could possibly be Hope (who had lost the previous battle), returning to try to reclaim Bolt/the territory”.
Have you been monitoring the Falcon Cams? You may have noticed that Newton and Boomer are spending more time in the nestbox as courtship progresses. Nest monitor, Mrs. Saladin, tells us that when she visits the nestsite, Newton usually stays away. Newton is still adjusting to life on a skyscraper and she isn’t yet used to people watching her from inside the windows. Mrs. Saladin reports she recently went to the nestsite and “watched just Boomer at the tray for a while. He was at the tray preening (cleaning his feathers)…..
and half-snoozing from time to time, clearly very relaxed and used to window watchers”.
We usually have eggs at the Terminal Tower nestsite by now, but Newton is known to lay eggs later. And she is still adjusting to her new nest and mate. And it has been a cold winter. Will there be eggs?????
Stay tuned for falcon news…….
To watch the falcons live go to:
Our thanks to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for sponsoring the FalconCams and for the still.
Thanks to volunteers Mr. and Mrs. Saladin for the photos and commentary.
In the following picture you can see Newton watching Mrs. Saladin who was peeking at her from behind a closed window.
Now that we know there is a female in the area looking for a nest and mate,we once again wonder if she might challenge Newton. As nesting season progresses, encounters between peregrines who are driven by instinct to nest become more frequent and intense. Mr. and Mrs. Saladin report that Bolt, the male in the story about the battle, “has been picking up his aggression in defending his territory….. Over the past several weeks Bolt has chased off eagles and hawks, and the intensity of his territorial defense has been steadily increasing”. Here is Bolt chasing a bald eagle out of his territory.
As part of courtship, Boomer has made 2 “scrapes” in the nestbox. In the wild, peregrine falcons nest on cliffs and they scrape a depression in the pebbles for their eggs. Look at the FalconCam images and you will see Boomer has made two scrapes in the nestbox -- one large one to the left and a small one in the right corner. He shows off the great scrapes he has made for Newton by moving pebbles around and straightening the nest which is a courtship display. Newton will choose which scrape she likes best as the spot to lay her first egg.
This is a still taken from the FalconCam. Do you think Newton likes the scrape Boomer made for her?
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