26 October 2026
Over the years, peregrine falcons have been seen near the Highland Park Bridge but the most recent evidence of nesting was in 2022 when Mark Vass saw an adult feeding a juvenile in late June 2022.
In early March 2024 Justin Kolakowski saw a pair of peregrines chase a bald eagle, then land on the water tower near the bridge. I visited Aspinwall Riverfront Park and walked the trail seven times from March to July that year and found as many as 70 American herring gulls (Larus smithsonianus) but no peregrines. Then on 8 August 2024 I saw 1 peregrine falcon, obviously not nesting, and 60 herring gulls.
August 2024: Peregrines: 1, Gulls: 60
Yesterday I went back to Aspinwall Riverfront Park and was surprised to find no gulls at all — zero — but while I was counting pigeons a peregrine falcon zoomed upriver and made two sharp dive-and-climb displays. I lost track of him when a female peregrine arrived from upstream, flew past him and landed on the bridge. Their size difference was obvious –male and female.
October 2025: Peregrines 2, Gulls 0.
What really counts is the score next June.
I remember being there in the month of October other years and strangely there were no gulls. Where do they go? There will be over 70 and probably over 100 by July.
Herring gulls are usually at large bodies of water such as the ocean or Great Lakes. eBird always wants an explanation if I record a high number in April-to-July. I suspect the gulls leave for the ocean or Great Lakes as soon as they’re done nesting at the Highland Park Bridge. Interestingly, they’ll be back this winter if the Great Lakes freeze.