Nadareski banded four ladies at NY Presbyterian hospital in late May, 2020.

Peregrine Falcons in NYC

Research scientist Christopher Nadareski, Section Chief of Wildlife
Studies for the Bureau of Water Supply, has recently been banding
peregrine falcons at nesting box locations citywide.

Nadareski bands the fledglings when they are about 3 weeks old.

Wildlife experts use these bands, placed on the legs of nestlings that hatch in the spring, to monitor the number of peregrines in the city, track their movements and lifespans, and identify them in case they become sick or injured. Some of the nesting sites include the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, the Met Life Building, Riverside Church, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 55 Water Street, and the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street.

Peregrine falcons are thriving in NYC, thanks to our tall buildings and bridges, which mimic their natural habitat.

Capable of flying up to 200 mph while diving for prey, peregrines are the fastest birds in the world! The peregrine population was near extinction in the 1960s due to the widespread use of the now-banned pesticide DDT. The nesting boxes, which designed and constructed by DEP and the participating facilities, provide the birds a safe place to hatch chicks and protects them from human disturbance. These conservation efforts have greatly helped the species recover.