Current Topic: Urban Birding

Downtown Falcons

Bringing binoculars and a long lens into the heart of a small city can raise some questions. “What are you taking photos of?” “Are you looking at birds??” are some questions that I am most always asked when I bird in downtown Binghamton, New York. There really isn’t much to see there aside from Pigeons and Sparrows, right? “There are Falcons here – look – one is perched right on top of that building.” Many people get an “a-ha!” moment when they realize that those Falcons are the reason that there are Pigeon and Sparrow wings scattered around the sidewalks. Some non-birders already know about these Falcons and love the fact that they keep the Pigeon population in tact. The young birds are loud and make their presence known. They train, hunt and eat in plain sight. This year, four birds successfully fledged.

Last week, I went out to find the recently fledged Falcons with a friend. We started on the top of one of the garages to get a higher view than from the streets. Three Falcons were found – two kids and one adult – all distant.

Finding Peregrine Falcons in Downtown Binghamton

It was hot and the birds were not moving around much so we decided to walk around at street-level to find the other birds. It wasn’t long before they started flying around.

Let the playing begin…

Two of the young chased each other around, locking talons a couple of times. In the three years of seeing Falcons here, this was my first time watching them actually play.

Sibling Falcons chasing each other

Sibling Falcons chasing each other

They would rest on top of the preferred perch – the Lady Justice that stood on top of the courthouse.

A preferred perch of the Falcons – Lady Justice above the courthouse

Another Falcon joins its sibling on Lady Justice

They didn’t perch for long though.

Taking a dive off of Lady Justice

Eventually three of the young were chasing each other around (I failed to get a photo of all three in one frame).

Chasing each other past Lady Justice’s base

One day I hope to see them actually catch a pigeon or exchange food. For now, watching them play was enough fun.

One of the recently fledged Peregrine Falcons