Meet BU’s New Falcon Chicks

The brood of chicks consists of two males and one female. Photos by Mike Spencer

A pair of local BU parents is preparing to become empty nesters. Literally.

We’re talking about the family of peregrine falcons that reside high atop BU’s 26-story StuVi II. Last month, three chicks hatched and took their first flights last week, and soon will begin hunting their own pigeons and rats and looking for new quarters.

BU’s peregrine falcon family was fathered by “Zorro,” whose comings and goings have been closely documented by a community of passionate local bird watchers since 2010. He was formerly spotted at Boston’s Children’s Hospital, along with an unidentified female partner and chicks. Two years later, he was spotted again, this time on a StuVi II ledge, possibly with the same female, and with two new chicks.

In early June, local bird enthusiast David Gates noticed that the parents had three new chicks, a big deal since peregrine falcons are still considered endangered in Massachusetts. Last fall, however, the state’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) and the Fisheries and Wildlife Board recommended the birds’ status be changed to “threatened” because of an increased number of falcon nesting pairs in the state.

After his discovery, Gates reported the news to MassWildlife, noting that the now seven-year-old Zorro was the proud father. MassWildlife sent out a team to band and carefully examine the new family members, and BU Today was invited, along with several local falcon enthusiasts, to witness the event.

Before going out onto the StuVi II roof, Tom French, MassWildlife Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program assistant director, warned the group to be careful. “I want to go quietly up to the box so I can catch the chicks,” he said. “Sometimes the parents are very aggressive.” Out on the roof, the group could hear the adult falcons’ cries and see them circling anxiously overhead. “Don’t worry, that’s just normal behavior from mom and dad when anyone comes to band their chicks,” assured local birder Ursula Goodine.

The fastest flying birds in the world, peregrine falcons can dive at a speed of 200 miles per hour. Goodine and crew stood on lookout and held up a broom to ward off the parents from diving and attacking French as he scooped up the chicks. French was hoping to catch the mother with a net and band her, too.

The group stood under an awning while French quietly approached the nest. He explained that falcons don’t build traditional nests, and in nature often nest on cliffs. With BU’s permission, in 2013 French had placed a box on the side of StuVi II, hoping that if Zorro and his companion returned to nest, the box would help protect the nest and eggs from the elements. It wasn’t until this year that the falcons used the box for their newly hatched chicks.

“I came close to catching mom—her shoulder went in the net,” French said, as he joined those under the awning, clutching a few small canvas bags. First he took out bits of straw and feathers, which turned out to be leftovers from recent family meals. “Here we have remnants of a starling, a house sparrow, a pigeon, a flicker, and a female Baltimore oriole,” he said, holding the bird parts in his palm. There was also a piece of turtle shell. Since falcons don’t eat turtle, French said, they had probably used the shell the way they might use a rock, to help line the nest.

Next, he carefully reached for three of the bags and took out a chick from each. With their gray faces, yellow feet, and fuzzy white bodies, they resembled Furby toys. Not yet able to fly, they stood, quietly at first, a few inches high, then began lightly squawking and hopping.

“Even as chicks, it’s amazing how deep they can dig their talons in,” French said as he picked each one up carefully to fit a metal band around its leg. MassWildlife bands as many peregrine chicks as possible each year, which involves fitting a small metal tag with unique state and federal numbers around the bird’s leg. The identification numbers help scientists track birds’ migration, age, population growth, reproductive status, and more, he said. The bands are “field readable,” meaning that a bird watcher can read the numbers using binoculars and then record them to keep track of each individual bird. That’s how Gates was able to identify Zorro as the father of the current brood.

Timing is critical. “If we waited another week we couldn’t do this—they’d be all over me,” French said as he secured the bands. He estimated that the chicks were about three-and-a-half weeks old. “Feathers are incased, blood feathers, dandruff is sheath,” he announced, as a coworker recorded his observations. “I want this banding to be right, because once it’s on there, it’s on for life,” and with that, he secured the metal rings around each bird’s leg. A quick examination told him that there were two males and one female.

After some photos were taken, French placed each bird back in its bag and returned them to the safety of the nest. The parents continued to swoop and squawk overhead until the visitors left.

The three chicks have been on “fledge watch” for the last few weeks, and finally took their first, tentative flights on June 29. Occasionally, chicks can land on the ground or get stuck, and if that happens, members of the BU community are asked to call MassWildlife for assistance.

BU has been home to other wildlife over the years: bats, skunks, opossums, raccoons, wild turkeys, and hawks. Nearby neighborhoods have on occasion reported sightings of coyotes, deer, and even a black bear.