Endangered peregrine falcons born atop N.J. skyscraper

Real Estate Weekly, Oct 3, 2001

The newest tenants at one of the office towers along Jersey City's Hudson River waterfront is a family of peregrine falcons. Earlier this summer, three endangered peregrine falcon chicks were born atop LCOR, Inc.'s 101 Hudson St. building.

LCOR property managers Bob Barth and Tom Reid first discovered a pair of city-dwelling falcons at 101 Hudson St. last year. They alerted the State Department of Environmental Protection's endangered & non-game species program, which installed a nesting box on the roof. This spring, three chicks were born atop the skyscraper and banded by the state wildlife officials.

The chicks have now left their nests, but their parents live atop the skyscraper year-round and are expected to breed again next spring. The falcons provide spectacular aerial shows for the tenants of 101 Hudson St., hunting their prey in the air around the building and often eating their lunches on the parapets near the top of the building.

"LCOR is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the New Jersey DEP's division of fish and wildlife to provide a home for this peregrine falcon family," executive vice president and principal of LCOR, Inc. Kurt Eichler said. "When we first developed 101 Hudson St. in 1990, who would have known that the penthouse suite would become a nesting spot for a rare and endangered species of birds? This effort is another example of how development can co-exist with the natural environment."