May 05 2008
Why do they nest near us?
Several people have asked me why birds of prey, especially red-tailed hawks and peregrines, would choose to nest close to humans. Isn’t it unnatural? Doesn’t it make them tame? Are the ones who nest on buildings already tame?
In the case of peregrines, whom I know better than red-tails, I can tell you it never makes them tame. To them, we are still their mortal enemies. Instead, conscious or not they have made a calculation: The enemy of my enemy is my friend… and besides, there’s lots to eat.
Birds of prey know that humans can and do hurt them but they also know from personal experience that it is rare. Meanwhile, they have learned there’s an advantage in being near humans because we keep their other enemies away.
A good example is that great-horned owls, a dangerous predator of peregrines, are rarely if ever found on office buildings. Peregrines who nest on buildings have one less worry as they raise their young.
Another advantage is the food we generate. Humans create a lot of garbage and many prey species eat it. For red-tailed hawks, we indirectly provide rodents. For peregrines, our buildings house pigeons and starlings, a ready food supply.
When their nests are successful their hunch about us is reinforced. The juvenile peregrine in the picture is a case in point. She was born in downtown Pittsburgh on the Gulf Tower in April 2007. Her parents made the calculation that the territory was safe with plentiful food and they successfully raised four young birds. As you can see, she was thriving last July when her picture was taken by Matt Frederick as she perched on Roberto Capriotti’s windowsill at K&L Gates in the Oliver Building.
If these birds can put up with seeing humans every day, the rest is easy.
p.s. I wish she’d landed on my windowsill… but if she had, I would have been unable to concentrate for the rest of the day!
Wonderful words to accompany an equally wonderful photo. And I understand your comment about an inability to concentrate after unique experiences with this bird. Completely.
Has Egg #4 hatched? If it hasn’t, is this common in peregrine clutches?
Egg #4 hasn’t hatched yet and probably won’t. This happens from time to time in peregrine clutches and is normal, especially in the wild where there are greater threats to nesting.
Have you heard any information regarding last years hatchlings?
News of last year’s hatchlings: Unfortunately, the first year of a peregrine’s life is spent wandering - and it is hazardous. We usually only hear when they are injured or dead.
Of the 4 peregrines hatched at Gulf Tower in 2007, there is no further news of the above female nor of two of her other siblings so we presume they are alive. One of her male siblings was found injured in Clairton in November 2007 and died that evening.
Of the 4 peregrines hatched at Pitt in 2007, we have no news of 3 of them. The 4th was found dead along a road in southwestern Ontario in January 2008.
I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate at all, either. She seems to have such an expression of bright-eyed interest in this photo! “Hi, what are you doing in there?”
As for this young lady and the rest of last year’s unaccounted-for fledgelings, I hope that no news continues to be good news.