Did You See the New ‘Predator Pile’ Hiding in the Hudson Valley?

There's a brand new pile of predators in the Hudson Valley, and it's one of the cutest things ever... for now.

Spring brings new beginnings for nearly every living thing in New York. From tens of thousands of bees looking for an expanded home to the stinkiest mating season in the state, animals are activating and procreating. The same goes for the predators living under the Mid-Hudson bridge.

Peregrine Falcons in the Hudson Valley, NY

One of the most impressive hunters on the planet, the peregrine falcon, have been making their homes on nearly every bridge in the Hudson Valley. The elevated vantage point is perfect for their style of hunting, and the "litterboxes" provided by the New York State Bridge Authority (NYSBA) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) ensure safety for their eggs. Recently, they hatched...

New Baby Peregrine Falcons on the Mid-Hudson Bridge

The falcon chicks (technically called "eyases") are currently nothing but a puddle of downy feathers. While counting the babies if difficult as they huddle together, pictures from the "falcon cam" seem to show at least three separate birds (below). What happens next will be a surprise for both the babies and their parents.

Years-Long Project with Peregrine Falcons in New York State Falcons

One of the reason for the nesting boxes is to encourage the return of a healthy peregrine falcon population in New York State. Once the birds are several weeks old, they will be banded so that their movements, reproduction, and any other activities can be more easily tracked (below).

The little eyases will soon be full-grown falcons diving at over 200 miles-per-hour across the Hudson Valley, but for now, they're still part of a fuzzy family high above the Hudson River. Check out another adorable animal family below, and keep scrolling to see the bloody reality of how a full-grown falcon gets its meals.