Shots Around the Sloop: 2br/2bth w/ Amazing View of Lake, Museums, Park, City and Falcon

Unique amenities at Museum Park West

We like these Peregrine falcon pictures/stories, so we're going to follow-up on yesterdays post with some additional information.

First a funny story:

Hi, I work for the real estate company that recently took over the high-rise at Roosevelt and Prairie. Doing a unit walkthrough on the 53rd penthouse unit I spotted your friend a few weeks ago. Attached are a few pictures if you want to add to your recent blog (which we enjoy reading here in the office).

Flying to Museum Park West

Close-up:  Not your average view

Second, Stephanie Ware (from the Field Museum) who has helped keep track of the falcons provides some more information:

Just wanted to let this reader know that the pictures taken by a reader (http://www.sloopin.com/2012/07/sloopy-peregrine-falcon-spotted-again.html) were, indeed, pictures of our resident peregrine falcon juveniles. This year, the south loop pair produced one male and three female offspring. You can see a few pictures of the banding of the chicks and the adult female (Helen) and her mate "Mr. M." here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicago_steph/sets/72157629970779052/ 

This year, the building invited a Chicago Tribune photographer to the banding and he got better shots: http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-120531-falcon-chicks-banded-pictures,0,2540123.photogallery 

We had word from the Indiana group that Sloopy again nested at a lime plant in East Chicago. She and her unbanded mate had four chicks (3F, 1M) and they were banded on May 22nd. I guess naming her Sloopy gave her good luck! All in all, a great season for peregrines! Thanks so much for posting this!

(Hat tip: NA & SW!)

Peregrine Falcon Nesting at 1130 S. Michigan

In case you missed the story in the Chicago Journal, a Peregrine Falcon is nesting on the top of 1130 S. Michigan highrise. There is even a live Falcon Cam in place to watch the hatching of the babies as well.

We're glad to see that the falcons came back to the Sloop. As some of our readers might remember, last year (almost to the day) we were contacted by Stephanie Ware who works at the Field museum (and lives in the Sloop) regarding this topic:

I work with a program that monitors the Peregrine Falcon population here in Chicago. Two years ago, a pair of peregrines new to the Chicago region tried to nest on the Field Museum, but they were unsuccessful. They returned the following year and, after laying a few eggs in a precarious location on the museum, tried to set up shop at a construction site in the south loop. That nest failed as well.

The pair is back this year and we have been tracking them since early March. However, we haven't been able to determine where or IF they have chosen a new nesting site. At this point in the season, this pair will have likely laid eggs and they should be hatching in the next couple of weeks. We would like to find them in order to put leg bands on the chicks and record the identities of the adults.

Anyway, glad to see they were found this year and here's hoping to a successful birth!

(Hat Tip: PF!)

Peregrine Falcon Having a Snack at 5 E. 14th Place

Could it be Sloopy?

You'd posted a shot I'd gotten of a peregrine from a distance a while ago (a year or two?); couldn't believe my luck with the picture I got today...from my couch...maybe 30 minutes after reading about the Chicago Peregrine Program in the Field Museum 'in the Field' member magazine. This is from the 5 E. 14th Place building. Feel free to use one if you'd like :)

So here is the post the reader was referencing from 2012.

Anyway it's probably not Sloopy the falcon unfortunately.

If you recall we've had various posts on the topic of Peregrine Falcons here at Sloopin.  Back in 2009, Field Museum employee Stephanie Ware asked our readers to help spot some mysterious Peregrine's that were flying around the neighborhood.

Then in 2010 some of the flacons came back and were nesting on the top of 1130 S. Michigan.  Later we found out that since we helped the Field Museum locate some of the falcons they actually named a baby SLOOPY!  Yes, a Peregrine Falcon named Sloopy!

Ironically, SLOOPY doesn't live in the Sloop.  She actually lives in Indiana now (from the Field Museum website):

“Sloopy” (b/r, 06/E) a female produced in 2009 at the Broadway site in Chicago, Illinois. Sloopy paired with an unbanded male at the Inland Steel lime plant (Mittal Steel, Indiana Harbor East) in East Chicago, Indiana. This was Sloopy’s second year at the site. Raul Dominguez checked the nest box on 3/26 and found a banded adult present in box but no eggs observed. There were four eggs on 4/20 and 4/26. The adult was still incubating on 5/2. Two chicks and one egg were reported on 5/6. At least three chicks (probably 4) were seen on 5/9. Four chicks (3f,1m) were banded on 5/22. They fledged by mid-June.

Since then we've had various other posts.  Here is one from 2011 looking west.  Most recently we received an amazing pic from a Related Real Estate agent of one of the falcons perched on a high-rise on Roosevelt Road with an amazing view in the background:

If this has wet your appetite for more info, here is a Peregrine Falcon facebook page as well as a website about the Field Museum's program.

Sloopy the Falcon

If you're a loyal reader from way back in 2009, you may remember a post we did for the Field Museum asking residents to keep their eyes open for the Peregrine Falcon.

Not mentioned in that post was that Stephanie was going to name one of the Falcon's Sloopy. Well we just received an nice note from her last week:

Hi guys,

I am the Field Museum employee working with the Chicago Peregrine Falcon Program. You guys helped us out a great deal in 2009 when we were looking for the whereabouts of the south loop pair.

First off, they are nesting again this year. They have two chicks and everyone seems healthy! Second, in 2009, we named one of the Broadway nest's females in honor of Sloopin -- Sloopy. We wanted to name one of the South Loop chicks Sloopy, but the building they nested on had dibs on the names. Anyway,as it turns out, Sloopy is a new mother. She's nesting at a lime plant down in Indiana.

We often don't hear anything about our chicks after they leave the nest, so it's really gratifying for us when they are spotted and ID'din those years after. It's spectacularly more gratifying when we hear they actually have a territory of their own and are adding to the population.

Guess it was good mojo to name her Sloopy!

Steph

Good to hear and thanks for the update!

(Hat tip: SW!)

The Sloop's Newest Neighbor? Where are the Peregrine Falcon's Nesting?

We need your help! Stephanie Ware (a reader, Field Museum employee and fellow Slooper) recently reached out to us about helping her program find a new resident to the South Loop, the Peregrine Falcon. They've been spotted in the South Loop (around 14th and Wabash), but they're specifically trying to determine where or IF these Falcons have chosen a new nesting site in the neighborhood:

Hi There,

I work with a program that monitors the Peregrine Falcon population here in Chicago. Two years ago, a pair of peregrines new to the Chicago region tried to nest on the Field Museum, but they were unsuccessful. They returned the following year and, after laying a few eggs in a precarious location on the museum, tried to set up shop at a construction site in the south loop. That nest failed as well.

The pair is back this year and we have been tracking them since early March. However, we haven't been able to determine where or IF they have chosen a new nesting site. At this point in the season, this pair will have likely laid eggs and they should be hatching in the next couple of weeks. We would like to find them in order to put leg bands on the chicks and record the identities of the adults.

Peregrines nest on cliff ledges, so our wild urban population makes fine use of the ledges on Chicago's taller buildings as nesting sites. Residents of those buildings may see the adults frequently and we would love to hear about those sightings. Perhaps your readers may be of some assistance. If you would consider posting a picture of a peregrine on your blog and mention my email address (sware@fieldmuseum.org), that would give people an easy place to report those sightings. I have been seeing them most frequently in the area of 14th and Wabash.

I have attached a picture I took last year of the museum's adult male, which should provide ample information regarding physical characteristics.

Thank you for your consideration!

Stephanie Ware
Collections Assistant, Insect Division
Secretary, Scholarship Committee
Member, Chicago Peregrine Program
Zoology Department
The Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60605-2496
sware@fieldmuseum.org

For those of you who don't know, the Peregrine Falcon is Chicago's official bird. For more information about the bird you can check out Stephanie's blog or this article.

Keep your eyes peeled to the sky and hopefully we can help figure out where the Falcons are nesting!

Peregrine Falcons No Longer On the "Edge of Extinction"

A reoccurring topic we think some loyal readers might like (via Chicago Tribune):

Talons clenched, eyes locked on prey, a peregrine falcon looks almost peaceful as it leans forward, relaxes and drops into a 200-mph dive for dinner. It is the fastest known animal on earth. And it has no predator.  

Yet there was a time when the raptors' screeches went silent along the riverside cliffs of Illinois. Their population here: zero.  

By the 1960s, humans had taken a toll. Pesticides like DDT thinned their eggshells, so parents crushed their chicks before they even hatched. Season after season, fewer and fewer.   

But after the population nosedive, a climb. 

The peregrine falcon's status in Illinois has improved over the years from endangered to threatened, and now the bird has been removed altogether from the state list of species needing aid, said officials, who plan to make the announcement Tuesday. Peregrine falcons are still federally protected but no longer on the edge of extinction.

Why does this story have anything to do with Sloopin.  Well, there are some of the Falcons who live in the Sloop.  You can see some of the tracking information on the Field Museums website.

Beyond that, awhile ago we did a post trying to help the Museum locate where some of the Falcons were nesting.  Thanks to our readers there was some help and the Museum actually named one of the birds Sloopy!

Since then we've had a variety of emails from readers taking amazing pictures when the spot the Falcon.  Here is our favorite:

Anyway, nice to see hear this news!  And keep your eyes open for these guys!

Your Chance to Check-Out The Grant (1201 S. Prairie) on July 31st

Sponsored Post

We've always been enamored with the views of Chicago from the buildings in the South Loop.  While we haven't seen them all, we've seen a fair share.  

With that said, we're excited to partner with CS Magazine and Related Midwest for a fun event and an opportunity to check out the views at The Grant (1201 Prairie Ave): 

Maybe we will be lucky and see Sloopy the Falcon:

Sloopy the Falcon Spotted on the Balcony at The Grant

Sloopy the Peregrine Falcon Spotted Again?

A reader writes:

Looking out my window tonight, I was excited to see 3 hawkish birds flying and drifting and swooping off of 1401 S. State building. 

Before I moved to this neighborhood, I was excited by the exotic bird life my parents experienced with the parrots (Quaker parrots or monk parakeets) at their bird feeder and thrilled by the year of the owls by South Loop School. 

I'm not a birder, so I'm probably more impressed with geographically surprising birds than many would be. But soon after I moved to the South Loop, I was lucky enough to have an adolescent (I'm guessing) Peregrine land on my balcony. I wish I could find pictures of it now...didn't get many, but it was clear that the little lady/feller was working on flying skills with one or two other buddies. 

Today, almost exactly 4 years later, I got that same sense of excitement when I spied a group of three birds acting in a similar way around the 1401 building. They had a more gliding/darting/drafting motion than the many smooth-flying seagulls. Plus, they weren't hellbent on flying straight to the lake. I got a couple of pics with the camera as zoomy as it will go (they were pretty far from me), then ramped it up a notch by trying to catch pics through a small telescope. Not the greatest quality, but I was excited that I was able to make it happen at all.  

It's a beautiful bird.  Maybe it was Sloopy the Peregrine Falcon?

(Hat tip: JN!)

Is This One of the South Loops Falcons?

On Tuesday we had a post about Sloopy, a Peregrine Falcon that was named after the blog.

This prompted a reader to send an email and picture he captured this past winter:

Hey Sloopy,

I know very little about birds, but found this little guy sitting on my railing back in February. Could this be one of the falcons? Sorry for the poor quality camera phone pic.

(Hat tip: MarkChicago!)

Bald Eagle Seen Soaring Through the Sloop

Well this is pretty cool (via Sun Times):

David Lakauskas was taking a break in his South Loop office when he saw an unusually large bird flying by his window.

“In the corner of my eye I noticed something was not right,” he said. When he realized it was a “special bird,” he grabbed his camera.

Lakauskas was able to capture video of a bald eagle flying around his office building, at 329 West 18th Street, with about 10 seagulls following it.

So why were the seagulls following?  Two theories:

“Anytime there’s a big raptor around, other birds take notice. Most birds are fairly territorial so if an eagle comes by, gulls are going to mob it, harass it and try and get it to leave because if an eagle is there they’re all of a sudden at the bottom of the food chain,” he said.

Another possibility is that gulls were following the eagle to try and get a free meal.

“Gulls tend to be crafty when it comes to feeding,” he said. “If an eagle’s nearby … gulls will let a more competent raptor do the work of catching the fish or catching the duck and then once the prey has been captured, gulls will mob the raptor.”

If you're a fan of this here blog, you probably know we have a thing for birds in this neighborhood.  We even have a Peregrine Falcon named after it!

Other Hawk Sightings in the Sloop

Last week we posted about an unusual sight as a hawk was perched at street level on a ledge at Jewel. This prompted a reader to email us with her hawk sighting in the South Loop:

I saw the post about the falcon sighting in the s. loop & thought I'd send these along too - a little Kestrel paid my office window (on S. Wabash between Balbo & Harrison) a visit a couple weeks ago. I was excited to see a non-pigeon for a change :).

(Hat Tip: A!)