Hi all – It’s been a while, I know. But we have exciting news to share, so I’ll get right to it.
A Fledgling Takes a (Too Early) Flight
Two and a half weeks ago, I was watching the camera feed of the peregrine nest site when one of the fledglings decided to take a walk along the outer edge of the balcony. Since that meant it was off camera, I decided to walk over (I live very close to campus) and see what was up.
As soon as I rounded the corner of the front of Old Main, a large brown leaf came wafting down through the trees and landed lightly on the ground. The fledgling had fallen off of the balcony and alit safely, but was now trapped at ground level.
Falcon wings are narrow (not like the broader wings of a hawk), so they have very little lift, and with not enough exercise to get the muscle strength or coordination needed to get off the ground, our fledgling was stuck. What to do?!
Help is on the Way!
A call to our amazing falcon rehabilitator, Dave Hogan, and another to Jessica Archer, CLAS media person extraordinaire, and we got the falcon cornered, with the help of Megan McCullen, Planetarium Director, into a plastic tub, and delivered safely to Dave.
Back Home Again
Last Thursday, our fledgling returned. Its siblings had already taken flight (they were still hanging around, practicing flying and getting hunting lessons from their parents), so we decided we could release our rehabbed bird with a good chance of mom and dad falcon taking it back “under their wings” (falcons will chase, harass and even kill intruders into their territory).
From the top of the parking structure across from State Hall, we waited patiently after Dave set the pet carrier on the ground and opened the door. Minutes ticked past, and finally the falcon tentatively emerged. A few hops, a quick jaunt to the top of the pet carrier, a few flaps of the wing – and it was off! (Dave wasn’t sure if it’s a large male or small female – the leg size for banding was between the two, but our youngster is banded – Black 63 over Blue C).
A short flight took it over to the roof of Science Hall, where it hung out for a while. There’s not much lift from the top of short buildings, either, but finally it took off and disappeared behind the STEM Building – pursued by another falcon!
More falcons appeared, and we watched two adults and two juveniles around the Maccabees Building and Old Main perch and leave and generally fly around.
A Happy Ending
A naming contest on Instagram followed the successful release, and Independence (Indy for short) got a name.
Sunday night around 9pm, all three juveniles were roosting on Old Main, so it looks like everything is going well so far and Indy has been adopted back into the family. If you are in the area, keep your eyes peeled – they should be around for another month or so yet, learning the ins and outs of being a peregrine before being driven off to seek a life of their own.