Author: Web Site Administrator

The two peregrine falcon eyases are now getting close to fledgling age (6 weeks). They have lost the majority of their fluffy down feathers and are eager to hop, jump and flap around the building ledges to strengthen their flight muscles.

They were successfully banded on June 5 with both a federal bird bands and field readable bands (BK/29 and BK/30), that allow biologists to track them through re-sightings of the bands by photographers or other nest cams.

This morning, Betsy had prey on an upper ledge and both eyases were freaking out. Running and flapping all along the lower ledge. It didn’t take long for BK/30 to run and get some air to hop up onto the upper ledge! A great tactic by the adult female to help allow these young falcons to gain more skills, hopping and short flights, before they actual fledge.

Next week they will be six weeks old and this is when most young males fledge. Soon they will take to the sky on their first flights. It has been amazing watching these two falcons grow up at this site, under the most bizarre circumstances. If you live in the Elizabeth area and are interested in volunteering for fledge watch, reach out to Ben Wurst via email.

You can help choose patriotic names for the chicks as part of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration. Read more and vote on Union County’s website.

On May 22, we visited this site with Union County staff to medicate the two ~ 10 day old peregrine falcon nestlings for a pigeon borne disease called trichomoniasis. Both were healthy with no signs of the disease and had average weights for their age at 217 & 226 grams. The medication was administered with raw chicken. The three unhatched eggs were removed from the nest.

We will return in two weeks with NJDEP Fish & Wildlife to band the two nestlings for future tracking when they are around three weeks old. Then we will be able to determine their sex.

To commemorate the 250^th anniversary of our nation, the unbanded female has been named “Betsy” in honor of Betsy Ross, who is credited with sewing our nation’s first American flag.  “Betsy” is also a nickname for Elizabeth which honors the city in which the falcons reside.

The two nestlings are now just over a week old! With cooler temperatures Betsy has been sitting tight to help keep them warm. They are getting close to the age where they can finally thermoregulate their body temperatures better. It is now clear that the other eggs will definitely not hatch.

The nestlings will be medicated preventively for trichomoniasis, which they can get from pigeons that are fed to them. Banding is scheduled for June 5. Stay tuned for the nestling naming contest that will feature names to commemorate the 250^th anniversary of our nation

We now have two hatchlings! The first hatched late on May 11 and the second on May 13 in the morning. The inside view gave viewers an amazing view of the egg splitting while the chick was nudged by the unbanded female.

Considering all the uncertainty surrounding this nesting season, seeing two healthy hatchlings is nothing short of remarkable.

Watching these tiny falcons enter the world, and seeing the attentiveness of the adults, has been an extraordinary reminder of how resilient wildlife can be!

We have waited to post an update because of all the uncertainty surrounding this nesting season.

Earlier today, several viewers pointed out what appeared to be a pip in one of the eggs. Better and closer views this afternoon confirmed that there is indeed a pip — hatching has officially begun!

This development is especially remarkable because just as we were beginning to lose hope that any young would be produced this year, the first chick is now working its way into the world.

What makes this even more surprising is that the eggs have not always been incubated consistently throughout the past month. At times, some eggs were left uncovered, yet at least one egg managed to remain viable under the care of the adult falcons over the past 30+ days.

Now the big question is: how many chicks will hatch?

Stay tuned as this extraordinary season continues to unfold live.

With the turnover of the nesting female during the nesting season and there being five eggs, it seems unlikely that all will hatch. At many times during the past several weeks occasionally an egg has been observed out of the scrape or nest bowl, where they would be kept warm. Many times this was because Mango, the male was incubating them, and he is smaller than the female, as noted in the previous update.

Just yesterday another egg was observed in this area. As they shift and roll eggs, typically to ensure even development of the embryos, now multiple eggs may be receiving uneven incubation and improper development of the embryos.

The last egg was laid on April 2, so if eggs are going to hatch, then that should begin this weekend. It may be delayed a couple days given the turnover of females and incubation being delayed. But incubation in general has not been normal this year.. So we will have to wait and see what plays out this year.