Category Archives: Wildlife

9 peregrine falcon chicks fledge at Acadia, Precipice Trail now open to hikers

peregrine falcon chicks

Nine peregrine falcon chicks fledged at three nests at Acadia National Park in 2019, helping clear the way for the popular Precipice Trail to open. Four of the chicks fledged from the Precipice on the east face of Champlain, while three fledged from Jordan Cliffs and two from Valley Cove. That is more than last year, bringing the total up to about 150 chicks that have fledged in the last 28 years.

Peregrine falcon chicks total 8 at Acadia, Precipice Trail now open

precipice trail

Three nests at Acadia National Park produced eight peregrine falcon chicks in 2018, making for a successful year for the state-endangered birds despite the unusual failure of a nest at the Precipice. But that nest failure means the Precipice Trail is now open, earlier than the usual late July, early August time frame, after chicks fledge.

Peregrine falcon chicks hatch at Valley Cove in Acadia; Precipice Trail damaged

peregrine falcon chicks

At least three peregrine falcon chicks have hatched at Valley Cove in Acadia National Park this year, but a nest was unsuccessful at the Precipice and a third site at Jordan Cliffs may also have failed, according to the park’s wildlife biologist. Based on a recent observation, Bruce Connery, wildlife biologist at Acadia, said in […]

Volunteers keep eagle eye on hawk count in Acadia

As he peers through binoculars, Jim Zeman spots a couple of raptors soaring on the horizon between two islands off Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park. Zeman quickly shares the hawk count with the others on the mountain top on a sunny early September afternoon. “Over the water, I see them,” Zeman says. “They are […]

Climate change consequences hot topic in Acadia, global news

With the United States planning to pull out of the Paris climate accord and Al Gore’s new movie, climate change is a hot issue this summer. The topic is also sharply in focus at Acadia National Park, where an exhibit at the Sieur de Monts Nature Center explores current and future climate change consequences at […]

Five peregrine falcon chicks fly at Acadia, but one nest fails

Five peregrine falcon checks have fledged at nests at two sites in Acadia National Park this year, but for unknown reasons a nest failed at a third site that has yielded chicks in recent years, a biologist at the park said Friday. Bruce Connery, wildlife biologist at Acadia, said there was a pair of adult […]

If not for Earth Day, imagine a silent spring in Acadia National Park

As millions around the world mark Earth Day, imagine what Acadia National Park would be like without the banning of DDT, the Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts, or any of the other changes since that first massive showing of environmental activism in 1970: No peregrine falcons nesting on the Precipice of Champlain Hazy views […]

Endangered falcons take the stage at Acadia National Park

Endangered falcons gave birth to 11 chicks this year at Acadia National Park and now are putting on a show for hundreds of visitors to the park. On Saturday alone, about 160 people stopped to catch the action of  the state-listed endangered falcons  at a “peregrine watch” site in the Precipice Trail parking area below a […]