McKinley Peregrines

 

We have been observing the McKinley Park Peregrine Falcons since before we knew they were "famous"! In 2023, when we had recently started birding, a birder we met in McKinley Park told us about a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons at a deserted industrial tower. At first we only saw one (the female) on 5.5.23. This year on 1.29.24, we saw the female attempt an attack on a Red-tailed Hawk. We saw both Peregrines on the last day of our Bop-a-Day challenge, 2.21.24. Now we monitor the pair for the Chicago Peregrine Program. 

This page is dedicated to some of our observations and a list of links to the times we have seen these amazing falcons.


  • 11.19.24 PM Both adult Peregrine Falcons seen.
  • 10.28.24 AM Both adults seen.
  • 10.12.24 AM Both adults seen.
  • 10.5.24 AM One adult seen.
  • 9.11.24 AM One adult seen. 
  • 9.19.24 AM Both parents seen. Juvenile not seen.
  • 9.2..24 AM Both parents seen. Juvenile not seen. Other adult Peregrine Falcon flyover. 
  • 9.1.24 AM Both parents seen. Juvenile not seen. 
  • 8.31.24 AM Both parents seen. Juvenile may have set out on her own.
  • 8.23.24 AM Both parents and female Juvenile seen.
  • 8.18.24 AM Both parents and female Juvenile seen.
  • 8.13.24 AM Both parents seen.
  • 8.12.24 AM Both parents seen.
  • 8.10.24 AM Both parents and female Juvenile seen.
  • 7.31.24 AM Both parents seen.
  • 7.27.24 AM Both parents seen. The female fledgeling flew with an unknown Juvenile Peregrine Falcon.
  • 7.22.24 AM Parent and Juvenile.
  • 7.21.24 AM Two visits. Both parents seen. The female fledgeling flew and vocalized after her parents.
  • 7.18.24 AM Both parents seen. The female fledgeling flew with prey then perched and ate.
  • 7.14.24 AM Both parents sighted perched and the female fledgeling predating.
  • 7.12.24 AM The first fledgeling sighting since 6.15.24! (Female fledgeling eating meal on west side of tower). Peregrine mother on east side of tower. 
  • 7.2.24 AM No fledgeling sighting. Peregrine father seems to be waiting at tower for fledgeling(s). One fledgeling still recovering from injuries at Willowbrook Wildlife Center.
  • 7.1.24 AM Possible Fledgeling sighting. Larger brownish peregrine seen flying (but not photographed) and vocalizing flying twice around industrial buildings. 
  • 6.15.24 AM Fledgeling and parent. Last photographed sighting of the female offspring.
  • 6.14.24 AM One Peregrine Falcon parent.
  • 6.13.24 AM and PM Nestling and parents.
  • 6.12.24 AM and PM One Peregrine Falcon nestling and parents.
  • 6.11.24 AM and PM One Peregrine Falcon fledgeling and one nestling and parents. 
  • 6.10.24 AM Two Peregrine Falcon nestlings and both parents.
  • 6.9.24 AM Two Peregrine Falcon nestlings and both parents.
  • 6.8.24 AM One Peregrine Falcon nestling and mother.
  • 6.7.24 AM Two Peregrine Falcon parents
  • 6.4.24 AM Two nestlings with many more flight feathers. Nestlings in windows cooling off. Parents opposite building in shade watching.
  • 5.31.24 AM Two eyasses confirmed.
  • 5.25.24 AM Feeding eyas and possible second eyas.
  • 5.21.24 AM Second sighting of the Peregrine Falcon Eyas (chick)!!!
  • 5.19.24 AM Eyas Chick!!! Peregrine Falcon father with Green Heron.
  • 5.8.24 PM Peregrine male on the east side of the tower. Male eats and flys then both at the scrape.
  • 5.4.24 AM Peregrine Falcon male with bird prey. Female and male seen switching positions at the scrape. Female takes food to eat at adjacent building.
  • 5.3.24 AM Male and Female switch at scrape.
  • 5.1.24 PM Peregrine male on the east side of the tower
  • 4.21.24 AM Peregrine male on the east side of the tower, then flys out and hunts Rock Pigeons.
  • 4.18.24 AM and PM Female seen in the morning. Male in the afternoon.
  • 4.15.25 PM  Short visit. Peregrine male on the east side of the tower.
  • 4.13.24 PM Peregrine male on the east side of the tower.
  • 4.8.24 PM Peregrine male on the east side of the tower.
  • 4.1.24 AM Peregrine Falcon female and male seen switching positions at the scrape. Scrape exact location seems to be the Green painted window.
  • 3.28.24 PM Peregrine Falcon female and male seen. Male at window. Female flying from one roost to another.
  • 3.23.24 AM Peregrine Falcon female and male seen switching positions at the scrape. 
  • 3.22.24 PM Peregrine female on the side of the tower.
  • 3.19.24 AM Peregrine female inside tower at nest, male perched. PM Documented mating.
  • 3.17.24 Male and female fly in to perch. Documented mating.
  • 3.15.24 Peregrine Falcon female perched at east side of tower window, male flew out from south side of tower. 
  • 3.13.24 Peregrine female eats, flys to perch at east side of tower. Male eats and perches.
  • 3.12.24 Peregrine female flys to perch at east side of tower window.
  • 3.11.24 Peregrine male perched at east side of tower window.
  • 3.10.24 Peregrine female flying. Peregrine male inside building window at possible nesting site.
  • 3.9.24 AM Peregrine male perched at east side of tower window. PM Documented mating.
  • 3.7.24 Male and female share meal. Documented mating.
  • 2.21.24 Peregrine Falcon female and male perched. Male flying and calling. 
  • 1.29.24 Peregrine Falcon female attempted attack on a Red-tailed Hawk. She pursued Hawk across Park in flight with repeated calls.
  • 5.5.23 Our first sighting of the Peregrine female.


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