Comments on: Question: What happens as peregrines age?

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:55:02 +0000

Here's the report on peregrine breeding locations in New York state in 2009: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/pefa2009.pdf There are many nest sites on the coast of Long Island near NYC and even one in the interior, but I don't know Long Island well enough to tell where that dot south of Glen Cove actually is.

By: Gintaras B.

Gintaras B. — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 02:38:55 +0000

Kate, do you know anything about Peregrine Falcons in NY area? particularly in Mineola/Carle Place area.
I’ve seen Peregrine Falcon about 5-6 times, have taken photos.
Would like to know more about these…

At same place I’ve seen Red Tailed Hawks many times, but Peregrines came here just 5-6 times….

Also, Today, 6/12/2010 I had a RTH come very close where I live, after I took photos, I noticed, Red Tailed One didn’t have tag…Is it usual for Red Tailed Hawks?

By: M Yontz

M Yontz — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:06:03 +0000

Thanks Kate!

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 01:58:09 +0000

Tips on telling the difference between the nests (since everything looks the same on camera):
The the Cathedral of Learning the camera is are always looking down on the peregrines because the area of the nest is so small the camera has to be positioned quite close. You can always see all the gravel (the flat area of the nest).
At the Gulf Tower the camera looks straight across at the birds. It’s a straight-across view nearly at the level of the gravel. Sometime the birds are perched above your view.

By: M Yontz

M Yontz — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 01:11:48 +0000

I got confused. This is the first time I have followed either bird and it is a bit confusing. I think I have it all straight now. I am sure my kids at school will be saddened to hear about Tasha. Do you suspect she is dead?

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:29:01 +0000

No, no! Dorothy is not the sad one! She is the one with 5 eggs at the Cathedral of Learning.
Tasha is the female peregrine with the sad story who used to nest at the Gulf Tower.

By: M Yontz

M Yontz — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:51:07 +0000

Thank you so much for the information. All that you have provided has been wonderful. I was very sad to read about Dorothy.

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:47:25 +0000

Tasha is not being a bad mother. We think she has been confronting a challenger. The nest is more important to her than the eggs. She can lay more eggs if she keeps the nest.

Dorothy’s eggs will begin hatching on or about April 19th — maybe earlier, maybe later.

By: M Yontz

M Yontz — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:55:00 +0000

Thanks for responding. I teach 4th and 5th grade. The kids think Tasha is being a bad mother by not sitting on her eggs. I explained what you posted about not incubating them until all the eggs are laid. Do you think that since she is an older bird that might have something to do with it? Do you have an approximate date as to when Dorothy’s eggs might hatch? We won’t want to miss that! Sorry for all the questions. If there is a better place for me to post, please let me know. Thanks again for your time!

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 01:49:22 +0000

Dorothy & E2 are the pair at the Cathedral of Learning and have 5 eggs. They have a very stable life – no excitement this year. If you watch closely you’ll see E2 come to relieve her of nest duty & sit on the eggs. He is 1/3 smaller than she is so he has a hard time getting them all under his belly. The camera is so close at Pitt that you can’t see that E2 is near the nest. At lunchtime I saw him perched near the nest, but not “on camera.” Dorothy is 11 years old and is probably in her prime since she laid more eggs than ever. E2 is 5 years old.

Tasha & Louie are the pair at the Gulf Tower where there are only 2 eggs and no one is incubating them. They are not at the nest much since last weekend. Something mysterious is going on, prehaps a challenger. Louie comes on the scene occasionally and sits on the eggs but only for a short time. Tasha is 14 years old. Louie is 8 years old.