Peregrine Falcon In Northern New Jersey – Part 2: Raising a Family (Late Spring to Summer 2026) 游隼, 在新泽西北部的一家 (第二集）：育雏时光 (2026年春末至夏季)

The peregrine falcon pair successfully raised two chicks, which hatched in early May (see my prior blog for part 1: Mating Season) . Over the following months, I watched the devoted parents take turns hunting pigeons and other small birds to feed their growing offspring.

It was a privilege to witness the chicks’ remarkable transformation into confident juveniles. Under their parents’ careful guidance, they learned essential survival skills—preening, soaring, diving, hunting, and mastering the art of flight. One of the most rewarding moments was watching a juvenile finally catch its first bird after several unsuccessful attempts, a milestone that marked its growing independence.

Throughout the season, I also observed numerous mid-air food exchanges between the adult falcons and, later, between the female and her juveniles. Most of these aerial transfers took place high above and far from my vantage point, making them especially challenging to photograph.

By early July, the larger juvenile left the nest area first. A few weeks later, the second juvenile also departed to begin its own life. As the breeding season came to an end, only one of the adult falcons would occasionally appear overhead, soaring alone—a quiet reminder that another successful nesting season had drawn to a close.

The photographs in this gallery were taken over a three-month period, from early May, when the chicks first became visible outside the nest, until both juveniles dispersed in mid-July. They are presented in no particular order, capturing different stages of the family’s remarkable journey.

这对游隼于五月初成功孵化并繁育了两只雏鸟（第一部分请参阅我之前的博客：《繁殖季节》）。在随后的几个月里，我目睹这对尽职尽责的亲鸟轮流外出捕猎鸽子及其他小型鸟类，为不断成长的幼鸟提供食物。

对我来说，能够亲见两只雏鸟一步步成长为自信、强健的年轻成鸟，是一次难得而珍贵的经历。在父母的耐心教导下，雏鸟逐渐掌握了野外生存所需的各种技能——梳理羽毛、展翅翱翔、高速俯冲、捕猎，以及精湛的飞行技巧。其中最令我欣慰的一幕，是看到一只年轻成鸟在经历了多次失败后，终于成功捕获了第一只猎物。这不仅是一次成功的捕猎，更标志着它开始迈向独立。

整个繁殖季中，我还多次观察到亲鸟之间，以及后来雌鸟与年轻成鸟之间进行的空中食物交接。这些精彩的空中传递大多发生在高空，距离我的拍摄位置很远，因此也是整个拍摄过程中最具挑战性的场景之一。

七月初，体型较大的那只亚成鸟率先离开了巢区；几周之后，另一只幼鸟也展翅离去，开始属于自己的生活。随着繁殖季结束，平静的天空偶尔还能看到一只亲鸟孤独地翱翔于天际，仿佛在无声地诉说着又一个成功繁殖季的落幕。

本组照片拍摄于三个月的时间里，从五月初雏鸟首次走出巢穴、进入人们视野开始，一直到七月中旬两只亚成鸟相继离巢。照片没有按照时间顺序排列，而是记录了这个游隼家庭哺育成长历程中的一个个精彩瞬间，也展现了幼鸟从嗷嗷待哺到展翅高飞的蜕变过程。