Peregrine Falcon Visits Midtown Bird Roost

A Peregrine Falcon on the prowl visited the bird roost at the Nebraska Medical Center on the evening of July 28th. It swooped around for a time, causing the gathering birds to get perturbed, and then swooped up to land on a medical center building sign and sat there for a good long while, keeping a close look around.

During this time of the evening, many European Starling had already landed in the trees at the midtown Omaha roost. Numerous Common Grackles had already done the same. Most of the expected Purple Martins were still airborne, as several hundred would soon to settle in for the night, as they have done each season for the past few years.

There was only a single person enjoying the spectacle of the congregating birds, especially the martins as they gather about, calling in their musical chords and enjoying their time in the sky before alighting into the roost trees.

The species recognized to be present in this vicinity these days are:

• American Robin
  
• Peregrine Falcon
  
• Western Kingbird
  
• Rock Pigeon
  
• House Sparrow
  
• European Starling
  
• Common Grackle
  
• House Finch
  
• American Crow
  
• Mourning Dove
  
• Barn Swallow
  
• Chimney Swift, more especially up towards the Blackstone District and eastward of 40th and Farnam Streets
  

There is also the Common Nighthawk, Downy Woodpecker and Northern Cardinal occurring in the vicinity, again in the Blackstone District.

One thing predominantly missing at the midtown martin roost were the banners on the walkway. The Nebraska Medical Center has been remiss in getting these up in a timely fashion, as bird strikes resulting in the death and injury to birds has been repeatedly documented. The banners should already be in place. The following picture is indicative and also shows how the window decals are also looking decrepit.

Update

On a humid Saturday evening, there were thousands of martins seen in the skyscape above the medical center campus, as they flew before roosting among the precious few trees. The Peregrine Falcon was perched upon its roost of an artificial construct on the west side of a big building, as previously seen.

Among the important features for this Saturday night, was a family of watchers. A couple and their son were enjoying the multitude of martins. Father and son eventually walked beneath the roost trees because they cared to experience an understanding of being among the multitude of birds amidst the the trees so appreciated.

They knew about the roost and came to see the birds.

How wonderful that there is some appreciation for the gathering of these birds!