The loss of the Peregrine pair’s nest at Sedge due to a raccoon attack has been a severe blow this season. While raccoons are a common predator in urban areas and a formidable foe to these falcons, the pair is still fortunate compared to the mysterious disappearances of multiple adult falcons this spring.
Upon reviewing the night of the attack on camera, it was surprising to see one of the adults flying around in the background while the raccoon was climbing the tower, eating the eggs, and then sitting around for a bit. This is unusual since Peregrines are typically not active at night, and it raises questions about their awareness of these kinds of events.
It seems that at least sometimes, they do know or see these nighttime raids. What’s especially sad is that the adult first appeared, flying frantically through the darkness, almost forty minutes before the raccoon arrived at the top of the tower. This means the bird watched the whole time as the raccoon tried repeatedly to scale the tower and get by the predator guards.
This must have been tough to watch for so long. Unfortunately, the Peregrine had no good options. It could have tried to swipe at the raccoon, but it must have determined that the risk of injury or death was too high. This decision, while heartbreaking, is a testament to the bird’s instinct for self-preservation.
Watching this helpless falcon reminded me of a movie with Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams, titled ‘Nocturnal Animals’, where the father sits helplessly as his family is taken from him on a desolate road in the middle of the night. The movie is a psychological thriller that explores themes of loss and helplessness, much like the situation of the Peregrine pair at Sedge. The emotional impact of this observation was profound, and I spent far too long fumbling through IMDb, trying to remember its name. I must have blocked it out because it was so traumatizing.
I can’t believe what a fitting title for this post that “Nocturnal Animals” turned out to be.