Date: 5/21/26 4:22 am From: Geo Kloppel <geokloppel...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Ravens and Peregrines
Back in March of this year, antipathy really flared between the Taughannock Ravens and Peregrines. It turned out that the Ravens were establishing a new nest, high on the _south_ wall of the gorge about 400’ from the falls, and the Peregrines didn’t like that. I witnessed numerous attacks in the overhanging trees or out in the dizzy gulf in front of the Ravens’ nest.
Meanwhile, the Peregrines were also refurbishing their own traditional eyrie, 1,500’ away on the north wall. It certainly looked like they intended to nest there again, in spite of its exposure. But they did not. The ledge remains unoccupied. And for two months I’ve wondered what happened.
Now I know. Although the Peregrines were obviously attached to the eyrie that they have used since the year 2020, and refurbishing it was a pleasing courtship ritual, they did not forget the predation that they experienced there last year. So they left it empty, and nested up the gorge, very close to the falls, and therefore quite close to the Ravens’ nest. They now have four chicks up there.
