The falcons watched Sunday’s climate march from a penthouse ledge at the Century building, but their nest was gone. Photo courtesy of Linda Marcus.
A nesting box on a ledge at 25 Central Park West where two endangered falcons successfully hatched falcon chicks this spring has been dismantled by order of the condo board.
For several years, falcons Comet and Cruiser tried unsuccessfully to nest on the ledge outside a penthouse apartment at 25 CPW, known as The Century. But their eggs never hatched. This year, animal activists Steve Nislick and Linda Marcus, who own the apartment, had a contractor build a nest box on the ledge. Comet and Cruiser laid eggs in the nest and became proud parents of two falcons in May. Those two birds have since flown the coop, but their parents continue to hang out on the ledge.
But the condo board said the nest was potentially unsafe, and the state Department of Environmental Conservation said it was okay to remove the nest now because the children are gone. Last week, the board had it removed despite receiving a petition signed by more than 4,000 people asking them to leave the nest alone. As the Post reported:
Comet and Cruiser’s nesting box had been secured to the penthouse windowsill of animal advocates Steve Nislick and wife Linda Marcus at 25 Central Park West. But construction workers on scaffolds removed the box without warning on Monday, Marcus said. Shortly after, the condo board sent a letter to her apartment saying the board authorized the removal because of the “dangerous condition” it posed to pedestrians and residents below.
“I looked out the window and it was gone,” Marcus said. “The birds came back and were making all kinds of noise. It was heartbreaking.”
Although their progeny have left the nest, Comet and Cruiser could be stymied if they try to reproduce next spring. As the Post notes: “Eggs laid on building ledges often break.”
Here’s a photo of the nest in happier times:
This is so sad. There is nothing unsafe about that box. It looks incredibly secure. If the building wanted to do anything about it, they should have suggested a plan for it to be more secure and successful. Such a treasure to have falcons breeding in this city! Heartbreaking.
I agree, vmm. Another genius decision by a condo board – don’t do the right thing, do the easy thing.
Boooo! How lucky we are to have the opportunity to experience wildlife other than dogs, pigeons, and rats in our bustling City. Bad condo board! BAD CONDO BOARD!
Heartbreaking to read.
Shame on the condo board, must be a miserable group. There is nothing unsafe about the nesting box. I would hope the condo board reverses its decision.
My co-op has a rule that you can’t put anything out your window. Nothing, not even a thermometer. I doubt this is about the falcons, but about the prospect of others putting stuff out on their ledges like Direct TV satellites and flower pots. As usual, the majority wreck it for the few.
That is ridiculous. That box is clearly not unsafe. What can we do to reverse this? I remember a few years ago Pale Male and Lola were evicted from a building on 5th Avenue and the protesters eventually got the building to reverse their decision.
compliments to Linda Marcus and Steve Nislick for their dedication, perseverance, good intentions and obviously a good job done on providing the bird house. what more can a person do?
shame on the board for not writing a variance.
Disgraceful. You have to be a deeply miserable person not to realize an exception was warranted in this situation. The board should be ashamed.
All the board had to do was to hire an engineer (billed back to the shareholder) to certify that the platform/box was structurally sound and in no danger of falling. Or, how to fix it.
Some boards have no imagination, especially in bigger buildings like these where they hide behind the managing agent.
I think the falcon is laughing at the silly climate alarmists marching below.
A big fat thumbs down for the condo board of the Century.
And a special middle finger to them all from me.
Here’s hoping that Karma is real.
This is a disgrace. New Yorkers need to share in a beautiful natural event like saving endangered animals and insuring their ability to raise a future generation. The nest was responsibly constructed and posed no danger. These boards misuse their power. Give guidelines, but don’t just ruin a compassionate and humane act with total disregard and plain meanness!