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Please begin your 2010 posts here!

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Hi folks!
Its a little early for any activity on this nest but wanted to give you an update about some troubling news. This was sent out by Bob Walters from the Utah Wildlife Division:

Unfortunately, according to Dee Hunsaker on April 15, the LDS Church is going to
begin a major project to replace the existing window washing system on the JSMB.
From start-up through July 15, workers will be all over the Building. As a result,
Dee, Jesse Baer, Richard Sawatzki and I began and continue to have discussions
concerning what we can do to "get ahead of a train wreck" and encourage the famous
peregrine pair to nest elsewhere in the vicinity.

1. Dee and I agreed that we should first discourage nesting by our birds on the
JSMB: to allow the birds to begin the nesting effort, knowing that oncoming
disturbance will undoubtedly cause failure, is the wrong direction to go. So on
Wednesday, January 13, Dee and JSMB workers installed a piece of plywood which
covers the nest box opening. Hopefully, the peregrine adults will not attempt to
nest somewhere just outside the "closed-off" box, or elsewhere on the JSMB*

2. Dee, Jesse, Richard and I have also agreed that we should attempt to establish
alternate nest sites (build and install an alternative nest box, or boxes elsewhere
on Temple Square). Jesse informed me yesterday that he will soon initiate the effort
to receive the go-ahead to mount a nest box, or boxes on:

1. the Administration Building, due east of the JSMB,
2. the flat roof that extends to the west from the tall Church Office Building,
north and east of the JSMB,
3. other locations on buildings on Temple Square as well - but let's face it, it
will be difficult to find a spot as appealing as the urban cliff (the JSMB) where
our birds have recently been "at home" from 2004, 2006-2009 and successfully fledged
out young in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009. I'm hesitant to consider where we might
mount boxes south of South Temple Street given the continuing, large-scale
construction south of the JSMB.

So, you're up to speed. Cross your fingers relative to Jesse's request to move
forward with the plan. I'm certain that you agree that it's just great that we enjoy
the continuing support of Jesse Baer, Dee Hunsaker, Richard Sawatzki and untold,
behind the scenes LDS Church falcon lovers! Thank you, thank you , thank you!

I'll soon begin to construct new nest boxes ... don't let that interfere with
e-mails, calls, etc. if you have questions, suggestions, etc. Thanks to all!

* as you may recall, in the early 1980's, a peregrine pair attempted to use one of
the "ovals" as a nest site and rather predictably failed to hatch out young from a
clutch of eggs resting upon a thin mat of pigeon guano



I will keep posted on any developing info.--Liz

Thanks from me too Liz! This seems to be happening in a bunch of places this year. At least there are falcon experts to handle the situations in these areas.

While this isn't regarding specifically the "Salt Lake" pair... I did notice this story on KSL today (I'm pretty sure they do this every year, but it's a news story none-the-less):

Thanks for posting that article, Silver-wolf581 and welcome to the forum!

Thank you for the welcome guys

It's been a long time since I've had a chance to go down there. I'd love to go again at some point. Since they're closing off access, here's hoping any pairs that nest down there are successful this year.

Thanks for the article silver wolf, and welcome! Hikers have disrupted falcon nests on the east coast (VA, WV) and they are starting to get control of it. Its good to see Utah has taken a strong position on this too.

Hi Gang,

Here's an update on the new nest from Bob Walters:

As some have noticed, thanks to the herculean efforts of Jesse Baer and a most helpful crew of LDS Church workers, a new peregrine nest box was installed (March 19) below the roof line on the south face of the west wing of the tall Church Office Building. It's more, or less to the north of the lone, closed-off nest box on the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Simply put, the peregrine pair (observed and reported on/at the Temple on March 21 by Rob G. & Kat K.) can't miss it ... but as per normal, they'll make the decision as to whether it meets their needs. Among other questions the pair and I/we share: is it too close to the ground, will interior, summer temperatures soar (making it too blame warm for nesting, brooding, etc.)?

BTW, I confirmed that a webcam has been installed in the new box! That's great news.

That's wonderful news, Liz--thanks! I didn't expect a webcam so we could watch the pair, so that's icing on the cake!

Last modified: Tuesday, April 20, 2010


The downtown Salt Lake City peregrine falcons
Between April 15 through July 15, 2010 the Joseph Smith Memorial Building building
managers began a major renovation project to improve the building's window washing system.

Unfortunately — since the project would create a somewhat intolerable disturbance
for the peregrines in their annual effort to raise young —
the decision was made to discourage the falcons from nesting on the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The
entrance to the nest box was blocked, but a new nest box was built and installed
in the immediate vicinity.

In March 2010, the new nest box was wired with the Web cameras and a microphone
and placed on a Church Office Building wall just to the north of the Joseph Smith
Memorial Building.

Through the years, the peregrines have demonstrated the ability to find and
successfully utilize boxes removed from their favorite crag, the Joseph
Smith Memorial Building. Nest boxes have been placed in three distinct locations
on the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and in other locations in downtown
Salt Lake City with varying d
egrees of success.

Peregrine falcon enthusiasts have watched to no avail ever since. We've heard
that an adult pair of falcons were in the downtown area on April 2 and 3, and
a single adult visited on April 4, 5, 15 and 19. So far, however, neither bird has
shown any interest in the new nest box.

There is a possibility that the pair has found, and is now using, a nook in the
downtown area or a crevice in a sheer wall in one of the nearby canyons, and
we simply have not located the nest site. In case the peregrine pair shows
interest in a particular spot in the downtown area, a second new nest box i
s ready and waiting.

In any case, we are left to watch, wait and hope that the pair will find and make
a nest in the new box later in April or in May. As we have learned through
the years, though, there are no guarantees. The falcons have always been
in charge of the program, and they will decide if and when they will return to
nest in the City.

In the meantime, check back here for periodic updates on the downtown
Salt Lake City peregrine falcon saga, and thanks for your continued interest
and support!

Update: I talked with Bob Walters today and there has been a possible egg spotted on the south side of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on top of one of the cement ovals. A man who works in the bulding across the street contacted Bob and says he is sure there is a nest/egg. Bob has not verified it yet.

Yesterday, as I was leaving work, I noticed two peregrines sitting on the building across the street from this possible nest site. Actually one landed on top of the other with lots of wing flapping. Hmmm. I will keep you posted.