Nature is not always nice: Peregrine Falcons Fight in Union County, NJ

Peregrine Falcons are powerful and fast-flying birds. They were nearly wiped away from eastern North America by pesticide poisoning in the middle 20th century. After many recovery efforts, Peregrine Falcons are finally coming back, including to New York Harbor.

But the birds don't always play nice. Against the backdrop of urban-suburban life, two female peregrine falcons fought, as a younger bird tried to take over a valuable nesting ground of a veteran. The whole sequence was captured frame by frame on a wildlife camera. Now that's true reality television!

From the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ:

PEREGRINE FALCON PAIR FIGHTS AGAINST INTRUDER
Protecting their nest proved to be a matter of life and death for the resident falcon pair on top of the Union County Courthouse who fought a relentless female intruder throughout the month of March. A fierce battle played out for thousands of viewers who watched to see which female would prevail. Every time it appeared the intruder had been defeated, she returned to fight again as seen in the March 29 footage when the female peregrine falcons locked talons and fell from the sky. 

On April 4, the intruder, 91/BA from Rochester, New York, named Cadence, was spotted again at the nest. A tangle between the two females further weakened the visibly injured and exhausted resident. ENSP Zoologist Kathy Clark watched as 91/BA hit the resident female who has not been seen since.

This live streaming video, provided in partnership with Union County, offers the unfiltered behavior of nesting peregrine falcons and natural selection at work. The resident male has continued to ensure the survival of his offspring as he begins to court his new mate.  If the eggs are not kept warm, then the embryos will fail to develop. Though unlikely, the new young female could incubate these eggs or lay her own.

Visit the Union County Falcon Cam on our website to watch this story unfold. Read expert commentary and view taped footage on our Nestbox News.

And since just one wildlife webcam may not be enough, CWF is proud to feature three other cameras on our website - Osprey Cam, Bat Cam, and Jersey City Falcon Cam.