The fledglings have become more difficult to locate, as they range further afield. This reflects both their increasing proficiency in flight and their growing independence and desire to explore the world beyond the downtown core. We know that last week they still roosted either on the nest ledge or the inset window ledges of the nearby Financial Center, and we've seen them up on the nest ledge during the day. They may continue to visit the nest ledge off and on for a few more weeks. This varies from year to year - some fledglings continue to hang out at "home", while others appear to avoid it entirely after their first flights. They also are perching lower on buildings. With the female on the wing for four weeks and the male a little longer, they no doubt are seriously chasing birds, and lots of pigeons hang out on the lower buildings. Has either made its first kill? We'd love to know!
Several observers watched all four downtown peregrines one evening last week. While Bell perched on a high balcony and surveyed points south, the fledgling male sailed around many stories below, near Freeway Park. He got too close to a pair of gulls, and one chased him briefly. A week or two prior, Bell probably would have been in the air immediately to challenge the gull; this time, she showed no visible reaction. Away from the gull, the young male zigzagged back and forth from skyscraper to skyscraper, climbing the ladders of rising air near the buildings. He ascended until he was free of the canyons and summits below and turned wide circles that took him over his known world until he vanished in the haze. He flew like a pro.
Meanwhile, his sister chowed down on dinner in front of the nest box, appearing oblivious to Stewart perched at the north end of the nest ledge. Bell did some warm-up wing-flaps and took off in pursuit of a pigeon. Her glancing blow sent it tumbling, and she plunged after it, but it escaped. By then, the young male appeared close behind her, and Stewart flew over to check out the action. The young female, satiated, chose to watch from the nest ledge.
The observers wondered if this was the last time they would see the whole family together. It's ironic that they become so difficult to find just when it would be so exciting to watch them learning to hunt for themselves.
