Falcons News

  • 2023 falcon chick banding at Fox Hall

    Mass. Wildlife Officials: Two Falcon Chicks Join UMass Lowell Ranks

    Donning hard hats and holding Styrofoam pool noodles to keep a protective mother peregrine falcon at bay, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife biologists retrieved two falcon chicks hatched in a nest box at UMass Lowell, to get a look at the birds and assess their health. 
    Press Release
  • Falcon banding 2016

    Wildlife Officials to Band New Falcon Chick

    Wildlife officials will go out onto the roof of the tallest building in Lowell to get a falcon chick ready to leave the nest. 
    Press Release
  • Here are the latest photos of the couple taken by Imelda Joson on Sept. 2. The first one shows Chris relaxing on a window ledge at Fox Hall, while other shows Merri hanging out in the nest box.

    Both Merri and Chris Are Doing Fine

    Merri and Chris continue to hang around the campus, returning to Fox Hall each dusk to roost.
    Department News
  • One of the female chicks, “Sam,” was photographed by Imelda Joson exercising her wings at Fox Hall on June 29.

    Young Falcons Have Left the Nest

    Two of the three hatched falcon chicks have left the nest site for good and are exploring their surroundings. The third remains missing.
    Department News
  • Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife assistant director Thomas French attaches bands to one of three peregrine falcons

    UMass Lowell Tracks On-campus Peregrine Falcons

    This year, three chicks were born about a month ago atop Fox Hall at UMass Lowell. Wednesday, state wildlife officials checked on the chicks and attached their leg bands.
    Eagle-Tribune In The News
  • Screen grab of falcon chicks being returned to the next after being banded in 2015.

    Chicks To Be Banded Wednesday, June 8

    On June 8, the three peregrine falcon chicks will be banded by officials from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.
    Department News
  • Despite his leg injury, Chris kept a close watch on the chicks.

    Chris Suffers Serious Injury

    Merri’s new mate, Chris, has suffered a debilitating injury, resulting in the loss of his right leg.
    Department News
  • Lance perched.

    “Lance,” Merri’s Former Mate, Passes Away

    UMass Lowell is saddened to report that Lance, Merri’s former mate and the father of last year’s chicks, died on April 11. He was just about six years old.
    Department News
  • Merri with her four eggs photographed on April 14, 2016. Peregrine falcons lay their eggs in a shallow nest depression called a “scrape.”

    Merri Now Has Four Eggs

    Merri laid her fourth and final egg for the season early in the morning of Wednesday, April 13.
    Department News
  • This photo taken by Imelda Joson on March 22 shows Merri (left) and Lance together on the roof of Fox Hall.

    The Third Bird Has Taken Over The Nest

    The adult male intruder falcon that veteran falcon watcher Imelda Joson first spotted last December has now taken over the nest at Fox Hall from Lance.
    Department News
  • Merri laid her first egg early in the morning of Wednesday, April 6.

    Merri Lays Her First Egg!

    Merri laid her first egg early in the morning of Wednesday, April 6.
    Department News
  • Merri, left, and Lance inside the nest box taken on March 4.

    Welcome to the 2016 nesting season!

    After a relatively mild winter, Merri and Lance are getting ready to start a new family. Merri is now spending more time around and inside the nest box, so we can expect to see the first egg real soon.
    Department News
  • One of the male juvenile falcons, nicknamed “K2,” has been successfully reunited with his family at Fox Hall on July 14, 2015.

    Injured Chick Returned To Fox Hall

    One of the male juvenile falcons, nicknamed “K2,” has been successfully reunited with his family at Fox Hall on July 14, 2015.
    Department News
  • Merri feeds Jane with a pigeon.

    Falcon Chick "Jane" Now Safe & Sound

    As of Monday, June 22, all four juvenile falcons are now able to fly around Fox Hall, roosting on the antenna tower as well as on nearby buildings.
    Department News
  • Unable to reach the nest box, Jane (with arrow) spent Saturday and Sunday on top of the Recreation Center.

    Young Falcons Are Now Soaring High!

    As of Monday, June 22, all four juvenile falcons are now able to fly around Fox Hall, roosting on the antenna tower as well as on nearby buildings.
    Department News
  • Baby-Falcon-in-cage-June10-2015

    Baby Falcon Reunited Safely with His Family

    On Wednesday evening, June 10, one of the male falcon chicks fell from the roof of Fox Hall after venturing too close to the ledge.
    Department News
  • The four eggs.

    Four Eggs!

    Merri and Lance now have four eggs!
    Department News
  • Merri, left, and Lance inside the nest box taken on March 4.

    Welcome to the 2015 nesting season!

    After record snowfall this past winter, Merri and her new mate, Lance, are starting a new family together.
    Department News
  • UMass Lowell Image

    Supplemental Food

    Chicks Get Supplemental Food
    Department News
  • falcon-banding-2014

    Falcon Chicks Banding

    A team from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (DFW) led by biologist Tom French successfully banded all four chicks this morning.
    Department News