Nesting high above Downtown Cleveland, the peregrine falcons on Terminal Tower have the best view in the city. In 1970, the species was placed on the endangered species list due to the exposure of osprey to DDT. Ingesting the toxin caused their eggshells to thin and break underneath the weight of an incubating female, and it poisoned adults as it built up in their systems. After reintroduction efforts, some Northeast Ohio falcons found a new home in Terminal Tower.
Cleveland Perch
Cleveland’s skyscraper has been home to a steady population of peregrine falcons for years. “A pair ended up trying to ‘settle in’ on the 12th-floor ledge at the Terminal Tower, so a nest tray was installed for them to give them material and a better chance for nesting success,” says Chris Saladin, who monitors the nest with her husband, Chad.
The Perfect Home
Since then, peregrines have returned year after year to breed.
They originally nested in habitats like rocky cliffs on ledges or coves, but since their reintroduction have adapted to modern life and are regularly seen in big cities and coastal areas. “They don’t build a nest, and instead lay their eggs in dirt or gravel, using material to create a ‘scrape’ or ‘bowl’ for their eggs,” says Chris.
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Defenders of the Nest
Peregrines are known for their stoops, the dives directly to trap and kill prey. A stoop can reach more than 200 mph. Fierce and loyal, peregrines mate for life and will defend their nest and young to the death. “It’s the speed and action-oriented nature of this bird that drew us in, and we became more immersed as we got to experience the personality of the peregrine,” Chris says.
Peregrine Fan Club
Chris and Chad have been monitoring peregrines for decades. The couple were official falcon nest monitors for the Ohio Division of Wildlife from the 1990s until the monitoring project ended in 2015. They took over for the former monitor of the Terminal Tower site in 2010. The two study and share information about peregrines on their Facebook account, C&C’s Ohio Peregrine Page.
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