6. The Lofty Perches of Riverside Church are Home to Peregrine Falcons

Think pigeons are a prodigious nuisance in New York? Well then surely you are a fan of the numerous fast-flying Peregrine Falcons that have made their homes in the tallest points of New York City. Peregrine Falcons are incredible birds of prey that have a flying speed of up to 60 miles per hour. These birds of prey prefer to live in lofty perches where they have an unobstructed vantage point of everything going on below. From there, they dive-bomb, swooping down to hunt their prey (predominantly pigeons) at up to 200 miles per hour.

Peregrine Falcons have made nested in various tall points in the city, such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Verrazano Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, George Washington Bridge, Metropolitan Life Building – and also Riverside Church. Peregrine Falcons have nested for decades on the bell tower of the church behind a gargoyle approximately three-quarters of the way up.  The tower of the church has become a popular spot for falcon nests over the years, with birdwatchers able to spot baby falcons around early June, as they flap their wings to strengthen them for their first flight. The adults can be seen in the area all throughout the year