Dunn Memorial Bridge Falcon Nest
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Viewing the Nest
When it is dark Peregrine Falcons are not active and the camera will not be able to gather images. Please visit during daylight hours (Eastern Daylight Time) to view the current image.
June 23, 2009: The two chicks are known to have hatched on May 8th and 9th. Since peregrine falcon young typically take their first flights at five to six weeks old, these birds fledged from the bridge during the second or third week in June. Without reports indicating otherwise, we assume both birds fledged successfully and are now undergoing a period of several weeks of training by their parents before becoming completely independent.
June 2, 2009: During a coordinated effort by Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Conservation staff, the two peregrine falcon chicks and their mother were fitted with metal leg bands. Both of the chicks were males. The two unhatched eggs were collected for chemical analysis and to determine why they did not hatch. It is not unusual for some eggs not to hatch, and these eggs may simply have been infertile. At this point, the chicks are big enough that they do not need constant tending by the parents. About the only time the adults are in the box is when they are feeding the young.
Banding the chicks
May 18, 2009: The two chicks now visible in the nest box hatched on May 8th and 9th. The remaining two eggs failed to hatch and if still in tact when the chick are banded, will be collected and submitted for analysis. The two chicks will be fitted with metal leg bands when around three weeks old, during the first week of June.
April 10, 2009: A third egg was laid on March 31st, and the fourth and last egg appeared on April 3rd. Since there have been no new eggs for nearly a week, we can assume that the clutch is complete, that incubation began on or shortly after April 3rd, and that eggs will begin hatching the first week in May.
April 1, 2009: Peregrine falcons returned once again to the Dunn Memorial Bridge, making this the 12th consecutive year they have nested at this location. The signs over the Dunn Memorial Bridge were replaced in March necessitating replacement of portions of the web camera system. When the system became operational on March 27th, there were already two eggs in the nest box. It is impossible to tell, at this point, when those eggs were laid.
What to Expect During the Nesting Season
Occasionally, eggs fail to hatch because they are infertile, because the embryos fail to develop for some reason, or because the developing embryos died at some point. Biologists from DEC may collect unhatched eggs from the nest box and attempt to determine why they failed to hatch.
The following is a brief description of what you can expect to see during the six week period of nestling development.
Week 1
For the first week or so after hatching peregrine falcon chicks are unable to control their body temperature and the adult falcons will keep the chicks warm by covering them with their bodies. This is called brooding. When it's cold outside, the chicks may only be visible as they are being fed.
The adult female will spend most of her time with her new brood while the male hunts. He will kill and deliver enough birds to the nest box to feed his mate and the chicks. Prey include a variety songbirds as well as pigeons, blue jays, woodpeckers and shorebirds, and prey remains will often be visible in the nest box. As with incubation, the male broods the young whenever the female leaves the nest.
Week 2
During the second week, the chicks will still be covered with white down feathers and will grow rapidly. They become too large to fit underneath the adults and will huddle together in the back of the nest box to keep warm. Although they are able to hobble around on flat feet, they do little but eat and sleep.
It is not unusual for some chicks in a brood, especially those first hatched, to become larger, stronger and more aggressive than the others. While smaller and meeker chicks may have to wait until larger, more aggressive nest mates have had their fill, the adults at the Dunn Memorial Bridge have almost always provided enough food for all of the chicks hatched to grow and develop to the stage where they attempt to fly.
Last year was the first time that a chick died in the nest box prior to fledging.
Weeks 3 and 4
By the third week, darker body feathers begin to emerge through the fluffy white down and by week four the nestlings will have completely lost the downy chick appearance. They are strong enough to stand on their toes and move all around the nest box.
Typically at about 41/2 weeks, the chicks begin to venture out of the nest box to explore more of their surroundings and to exercise their wings and legs. They will spend less and less time in the nest box, and better viewing opportunities will be from the Rensselaer Riverfront Park.
Week 6
When about six weeks old, the chicks will attempt to fly. The first flights will be from the top of one pier beneath the bridge to the next pier. This is a very critical time for the young of many bird species, and some of the falcon chicks may not fledge successfully.
Watchable Wildlife
There are three ways to view the nesting season activities of these Peregrine Falcons:
- You may choose to view the nesting activity via your computer by bookmarking this page. Here you have an opportunity to view a still photograph which is updated every minute during daylight hours. You may click on this image for a larger view.
- A kiosk containing a TV monitor is located on the Concourse level of the Empire State Plaza in Albany from late March through the nesting season. This provides a live video feed from the nest box. For directions to the Empire State Plaza Concourse and parking, visit the web site of the New York State Office of General Services.
- You may also visit the Rensselaer Riverfront Park on Broadway in the City of Rensselaer. From this vantage point you can watch the adults as they hunt for prey and defend their nesting territory. Once prey is caught it is either consumed immediately by the adults, brought back to the nest box to feed young, or cached (stored) for later consumption. You may also observe the young falcons once they venture out of the nest box onto the top of the concrete bridge pier where they feed, loaf and exercise their wing muscles in preparation for the first flight. A kiosk at the park contains information about the falcons as well as other Watchable Wildlife opportunities in the region. Bring along a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope for optimal viewing opportunities. The entrance to Rensselaer Riverfront Park is on Fifth Avenue, a very short street that takes you into the Park from Broadway in Rensselaer. Fifth Avenue is immediately opposite a Dunkin Donuts shop and is several hundred feet north of the on ramp to head West on Routes 9 & 20. There is a sign for the Park on Broadway.
Credits
The generous financial support of Level3 Communications Company provided the foundation for this project, covering equipment and installation costs for the basic video system. Niagara Mohawk Power Company assisted with power needs on the Dunn Memorial Bridge and Crown Castle Communications assisted with installation of the microwave receiver on the Corning Tower building of the Empire State Plaza. Staff from the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Transportation and the State Office of General Services all contributed to making the video camera project possible, and the City of Rensselaer maintains the wildlife viewing area at Riverfront Park in Rensselaer.
