Updates

How can you not love getting surprised by a fourth egg! I had a feeling that by saying “it appears that no more eggs will be laid” another would be laid.  Peregrines typically lay 4 and sometimes 5 eggs. The fourth was laid at 2:26:02 PM on March 25. It just took Frida a little more time to develop her last egg (will there be one more?). With that said, incubation is still in full swing.

It appears that no more eggs will be laid this spring, as the forth egg would have been laid over the weekend. This is not abnormal, as their average clutch size varies from 3-4 (sometimes 5). With incubation underway, this puts hatching to begin towards the tail end of the second full week in April.

Over the next several weeks, we will watch as the pair incubate the eggs where the female does the majority of incubation duties. She will occasionally get breaks to stretch, feed and preen where the male takes over. They will shift/roll eggs to ensure they develop properly several times a day. This prevents the developing embryo from sticking to the shell and ensures even heat distribution.

Happy Spring! Frida and Mango are now incubating three eggs! The second was laid on March 17 and the third was laid early this morning. Now that they have almost a full clutch of eggs, they will be incubating them more. Their typical incubation period lasts 28 days and the last egg should be laid late tomorrow or early Saturday. This puts hatching close to the beginning of Earth Week. Delaying incubation is a natural adaption where all eggs hatch very close to each other and gives all young a better chance of surviving, where with ospreys, they start incubating after the first egg is laid and there are usually more differences in ages of young. This accounts for shortages in prey where only the oldest may survive if there is not enough food.

On the morning of March 15 at 6:30am, viewers got their first glance of the first egg. We knew egg laying was close as the pair has been observed copulating, performing eee-chup courtship (bowing) displays on camera. Frida has also been spending more time in the nest box preparing her scrape, which is a shallow depression in the nest box where eggs are laid. Peregrines do not build a nest like hawks, eagles and ospreys and instead create a shallow depression in gravel, soil and other debris to nest. This is often the case on ledges of cliffs and in our human dominated landscape, it also includes tall buildings and sometimes flowerpots left unattended on upper floors of apartment building patios. The second egg should be laid sometime over night or tomorrow.

On another note, we decided to wait to remove the worn green carpet for perching. Introducing disturbance to the pair before laying began would not have been good. Instead, we will swap this carpet when we visit the nest for a health check after the young hatch in around 45 days (late April).

Lastly, we opened up chat on two of the live streams on our YouTube channel, so you can watch and talk with other viewers. BW

Frida, the female peregrine falcon, sits in the nest box that is located on the top of the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

Here we go! Those watching closely have seen the pair more and more lately as they strengthen their pair bond by mating and bowing to each other in the nest box. Some light maintenance will occur sometime in the next two weeks. The green carpet that is worn will be replaced, prey remains will be cleaned up, and lens covers will be cleaned.

Some seasonal notes. Last year the first egg was laid on March 16. In 2022 + 2023 it was March 19, so who wants to bet that an egg will be laid during the third week of March? I’m betting it will be earlier than last year. Time will tell. Either way, it will be great to focus on wildlife and see some new life after what seemed like a really cold, long and dark winter.

On Tuesday morning, June 11, 2024 those watching the Union County Falcon Cam saw the hatch on the roof open and a young falcon was put out on the roof with food.  An effort to foster a fledgling falcon from another nest was attempted. The young falcon fledged from a nest under I-295 and was recovered from the river beneath. After spending a few days in rehab, the decision to foster here was made, as going back to their bridge nest site would have been much more risky, with lots of fast moving vehicles and a river below.

Fostering is a technique that has been successful in many prior, similar situations. It is important for fledgling falcons, who still rely on adults for food, to be a part of a falcon family.

This time the adults reacted badly, acting like the juvenile falcon was a competitor. It may be that the timing was just not close enough in terms of the fledging stage their own four chicks were at, even though they were all still close to the building/roof and clearly dependent on the adults.

We re-activated the live streams and have not seen BN/55. We will be watching for sightings of her here and elsewhere. We’re thankful for the support of our faithful UC Falcon Cam viewers, wildlife rehabilitators, and volunteers who helped with this mission.

Anyone who finds a grounded or injured falcon or hawk should call the nearest licensed wildlife rehabilitator or the city/municipal Animal Control office for assistance. 

The male chicks are itching to fledge! They all easily make their way around the roof and onto railings to perch, which is called branching. This is an important time for them to hone their flight skills, especially landing and taking off.  Males can fledge as early as six weeks old. Once they do fledge, the adults will continue to provide food for them. Sometimes, they will transfer prey mid-air, which will also help the young develop hunting skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.

It has been said before, time flies! This brood of four healthy eyases are now almost four weeks old and have been banded for future tracking.  On May 20^th, Kathy Clark, Chief of the NJFW Endangered and Nongame Species Program and Union County staff banded all four young.

For banding, they were all brought inside the building so it can be done in a controlled environment. Falcon young can be sexed at the time of banding and all young produced here are male! This is a stark contrast to the last couple years when all were female!

To sex, their upper mandible/bill length is measured. This is to ensure the correct size band is used on the bird. Males are smaller, so their upper bills are smaller (up to 18mm) and they get a smaller band (size 6 – females get a size 7). This is a little more tricky when you have young that are all the same sex! It makes even the experienced bander double and triple check their measurements to be sure they are accurate and using the correct size band. You basically don’t want to put a male band on a female or it would be too tight on their leg.

Their aux. bands are: BH/92, BH/93, BH/94 & BH/95. As they get larger and it gets warmer, they will head outside more and more. Soon they will be venturing around the roof ledges and make it harder to keep track of them. In another couple weeks, they will make their first flights, which is when they’re around 6-7 weeks old. If you live in the area and want to volunteer to watch this nest from the ground, we could use your help. Once these young fledge, they can often land on the ground. Having a volunteer on fledge watch really helps ensure their safety! Please reach out to Ben Wurst if you’re interested.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is celebrating the successful banding of four recently hatched male peregrine chicks at Union County’s Courthouse Tower, located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. These identification bands, along with web cameras installed on the courthouse roof, assist the County and its wildlife preservation partners in carefully tracking the behaviors, whereabouts, and habits of the peregrine falcons, with the hope of better understanding and preserving the species.

“We are delighted to welcome these beautiful new additions to Union County,” said Union County Chairwoman, Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “We appreciate the privilege and responsibility of having this endangered species in the state of NJ living and breeding on our grounds.  We proudly continue our partnership with the NJ Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation in our shared commitment to preserving and protecting our precious wildlife.”

On May 20^th, Union County’s Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Vice-Chairwoman Lourdes Leon, and County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi, along with personnel from the Trailside Nature and Science Center, judiciary staff, and wildlife preservation partners, NJ Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation, helped place identification bands on four recently-hatched peregrine chicks.

The baby peregrines received a health checkup and were promptly returned to their nest with their attentive parents, Mango and Frida. This adult pair have successfully raised 23 babies on top of the courthouse since 2019.  This brood of falcons will be officially of fledging age in early to mid-June.  

The population of peregrine falcons in the U.S. was severely reduced in the 20th century due to pollutants, including the pesticide DDT. They were added to the federal endangered species list in 1973. As a result of improvements in many parts of the country, the falcons were removed from the federal list in 1999. However, they continue to be an endangered species in New Jersey.  These falcons typically nest on rock cliff ledges; however, peregrine falcons have adapted to use tall buildings in cities such as the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

Union County participated in the restoration effort in 2006, when County personnel, under the guidance of state wildlife experts, affixed a nesting box to the Courthouse Tower roof.

Every year since then, a pair of peregrine falcons has laid eggs in the nesting box. Cameras were installed in 2016 to provide the 24/7 Falcon Cam livestream of the interior and exterior of the nest.

Frida laid her fourth egg on Sunday morning a little before 9:30 AM on March 24!  Now the pair will remain on their clutch of eggs for the next 28-30 days. Hatching will begin sometime at the end of April. The female will do the majority of incubation but they will take turns incubating, so that Frida can stretch her wings and feed away from the nest.

For those who have tuned in lately, NJ Conserve Wildlife Biologists has been witnessing what is likely a territorial dispute, which is when a rival adult is attempting to take over the nest. They have seen this when the female calls and leaves her nest to defend her territory. This happened yesterday and again this morning.

The male has also been heard calling alongside his mate. They are not sure if it is a male or female who is attempting the takeover, but 2019 the previous female was replaced by this unbanded female (Frida). We are seeing this occur more and more at established nests as they are desirable to breeding age adults, which there are more of these days than in past years.

It is hard to capture on camera but we may see a glimpse of a passing falcon on the wing. Behavior of adults is how we can tell what is going on and having audio really helps when they are not visible on camera. Time will tell if any turnover will occur here.

The male peregrine falcon reveals Egg #3 early Friday morning March 22^nd.

This brood of four female falcons were officially fledging age (that is, 6 weeks old) on June 9th.  They disappeared on that date and haven’t been on camera since then.  But they didn’t go far:  for a couple of days, their heads and/or wings could be seen occasionally as they flapped on the ledge that is just one level below the roof, where the cameras cannot view.  This isn’t unusual and happens every season.  What’s unusual, however, is they didn’t just “pop” back up to nest level within days!  

Union County Trailside staff went out to observe from the ground, and saw all four fledglings — flying!  As a group, the fledglings have been exploring other areas of the courthouse and nearby buildings.  The adults bring food wherever the youngsters are, so all that action has been away from the usual nest-level roof.  

I know we’re all anxious to see them and the fun flight-learning antics that come with new flyers.  We hope they will find their way back to the highest point in the city and back on camera!

Well, time flies and soon so will these young female falcons! They’re now exploring the entire roof of the Union County Courthouse. As you may notice if you tune in and don’t see them on the main camera. Now they are more frequently observed on the Rooftop View camera, which is on the opposite side of the building.

These young are now starting to “branch out” which is a term meant more for raptors who nest in trees, but it is where they start to explore more of their direct surrounding while strengthening their wing/flight muscles by flapping. They will do this more as their flight feathers come in more fully. When they reach 7 weeks old then they will start to fledge.

On May 22, 2023, the four 3-4 week old eyases were banded for future tracking. Kathy Clark, Acting Chief of the NJDEP Fish & Wildlife Endangered and Nongame Species Program, Union County staff and a few guests ventured onto the roof of the Union County Courthouse, bagged young and brought them inside to stay cool and calm for banding. Everything that happened outside was streamed live.

All young were determined to be female, which is the same as last year! They were all banded with both federal and state auxiliary bands, which allow biolgists, photographers and birders to be able to identify them in the field (when alive). Their bands are: BN/23, BN/24, BN/25 & BN/26. All were healthy with blood samples taken for lead analysis. Every day they are dropping more white downy plumage which is showing their brown body and flight feathers. Soon they will be venturing further and further from the nest box as they start to strengthen their wing muscles for their first flight.

Thank you to all who support the UC Falcon Cam!

On May 2, 2023 Kathy Clark, NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, Cathy Malok, The Raptor Trust and JD Stamler, Trailside Park Naturalist visited this eyrie (nest of a bird of prey) to medicate all young for trichomoniasism, which is a pigeon borne disease that can be transferred to young falcons and be deadly. As we have already seen pigeon prey come into the nestbox, this treatment is crucial to the survival of this brood. The live stream continued during this treatment, and falcon cam viewers were made aware that the adults would be upset by their arrival on the rooftop. The young were removed from the nestbox for treatment and then placed back shortly thereafter. The adults returned once all human disturbance ended.  The whole process took about 10-15 minutes.

Four Babies Hatched on top of the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth!

Early afternoon on April 29, 2023 proud peregrine falcons, Frida and Mango, welcomed their fourth chick to the family on this rainy day. This pair of falcons have successfully raised chicks since 2019. Both parents will take turns incubating and feeding the chicks as they grow.

Frida laid her fourth egg on Sunday evening March 26! Now the pair will remain on their clutch of eggs for the next 28-30 days. This puts hatching to begin during the last week of April. While incubating their eggs, falcons will rest and sometimes have one eye open and one closed as pictured above. The female will do the majority of incubation but they will take turns incubating, so that Frida can stretch her wings and feed away from the nest.

The female laid the second egg early this morning! The pair will continue to take shifts to partially incubate the eggs until they have a full clutch. At times the eggs will be left alone, so don’t be alarmed by this.

When adults exchange nest duties, the eggs are repositioned and rolled. Egg three will be laid in another day or two and then the fourth early next week.

Frida and Mango welcome spring with their first egg of the season laid early this morning on March 19, 2023 in the perigloo that sits atop the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.  Peregrine falcons can lay up to four eggs and will begin incubation of their eggs after the last one has been laid.  The eggs are laid a day or two apart.  Stay tuned for the next egg expected on March 20 or 21.

Frida and Mango display courtship behavior at the nest (perigloo) on top of the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

Union County Commissioners Christopher Hudak and Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded with Liz Silvernail, Director of NJ Conserve Wildlife Foundation, look on as the first of three Peregrine falcon chicks are banded in the Union County Courthouse. Kathy Clark, of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, is placing a band on the leg of a three and a half week old chick that hatched on the top of the courthouse. Each falcon chick will have a unique banding code that makes it easier to identify them in the wild. By banding the falcons, NJ biologists can track how long these birds live, how far they travel, their parents and siblings and where they were hatched.

An oriole for lunch! Followed by one of the babies venturing outside the igloo.

Kathy Clark from DEP NJ Fish & Wildlife, Cathy H. Malok from Raptor Trust in Millington and Union County staff went up to the roof of the Courthouse to medicate the young falcons for trichomoniasis as a precautionary measure. In about 3 weeks we will be back for an official banding of the babies.

Frida takes a break from incubating the eggs and Mango takes over.

Repost; By Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager from Conserve Wildlife

Peregrine falcons are top tier, aerial predators that are capable of reaching speeds faster than any other animal in the world. In a stoop (a rapid dive) to catch prey, they can reach speeds over 200 mph (top recorded speed of 242 mph)! Even military aircraft, like the F-22 Raptor and SR-71 Blackbird, have been designed to mimic the special traits that falcons have to fly faster and be more maneuverable at top speeds.

Both falcons and F-22s are light weight, have extreme maneuverability, fly at high speeds, and have stealth-like flight to avoid detection from prey (or enemies).

Peregrines are also unique because they are only one of two species of birds (do you know the other one?) that are found worldwide and nest on every continent (besides Antarctica).

They mate for life and (Jersey birds) do not make long distance migrations.

Lastly, peregrine falcons are top tier predators and are an indicator species. The health of their population can tell us a lot about the health of our environment, which is one of the most important reasons for protecting them.

They have made a remarkable recovery in New Jersey. Forty years ago these aerial predators were missing from our skies… they were extirpated from all native nesting territories that were east of the Mississippi River by 1964.

After the NJ Endangered Species Conservation Act was passed in 1973, a plan to re-establish them was made. Young birds were “hacked” at artificial nest sites throughout the state from 1975 to 1980.

The innovative program was a success! Wild nesting of peregrines first occurred in 1980 at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Since that time the population has steadily increased and in 2003, peregrines nested on the natural cliffs of the New Jersey Palisades.

New Jersey is the most densely populated state, but peregrines don’t mind. Cities and urban areas actually provide suitable habitat for peregrines. Since they’re top tier predators and nest near areas with large numbers of prey, like pigeons, they provide a service by controlling their population.

Urban areas have two components necessary for peregrines: abundance of prey and ledges to nest on. One city is Jersey City. Since 2000 peregrines have nested on the roof of 101 Hudson St. The Jersey City nesting pair has been very productive over the years.

Their annual life cycle has been streamed online for the public to view and learn about their natural history. With your support we can keep the Falcon Cam streaming in homes, offices and classrooms to educate viewers about endangered species conservation in New Jersey. Donate to the project and be entered into a drawing to attend the banding of young falcons in 2014!

Male falcon taking his turn sitting on the four eggs trying to keep them warm. So windy up there now and a storm is coming.