Author: Web Site Administrator

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.

I think we’re all wondering what will happen this season. Will the new unbanded female (nicknamed “UBF” by viewers in the live chat) lay her own clutch of eggs? Will any of Lizzie’s eggs hatch? And where is Lizzie?

To be candid, it seems unlikely that all of the eggs will hatch at this point. Viewers have observed the UBF occasionally using an egg as a “pillow,” and Mango has had difficulty keeping all five eggs properly covered during incubation. While he has been incubating frequently, consistent incubation is critical — and not all of the eggs appear to be receiving it. As a result, the chances of all five hatching are low.

As for whether the UBF will lay her own clutch — we’re not sure. Anything is possible, and we’ll be watching closely.

And where is Lizzie? Unfortunately, we don’t know — and we may never know, similar to what happened with Frida. However, because Lizzie is banded, there is still a chance that her fate could be determined if she is ever found or identified elsewhere.

Either way, this season is shaping up to be one of the most unusual we’ve witnessed at the Union County Falcon Cam.

This season has been unusual but not surprising, as this is a desirable nest site. Viewers have been watching closely as an unbanded female has been attempting to push out the banded female, Lizzie. This unbanded female was here last month and has not given up on nesting here. These territorial disputes usually end in death, as they are so competitive that they do not give up until one is usually injured to the point where they are unable to compete for the nest and territory. Now the unbanded female has been seen more on the nest, so she may have won the battle. Time will tell what plays out. Union County staff do know what is happening here and are on the lookout for any injured or down falcon around the building.

It is too early to know what might happen with the five eggs being incubated (mostly) by Mango. 

The unbanded female is pictured sitting outside the nest while Mango, the male falcon, incubates the eggs in the nest.

Lizzie, the banded female that laid the five eggs, was just sighted here the other day (4/7).