From DEP’s Falconwire this week: Of all the scenarios that could have played out at the Rachel Carson State Office Building peregrine falcon nest site in Harrisburg, the most hopeful has apparently happened.

On February 6, DEP staff spotted two peregrines flying together near the nest ledge. Later, they were seen on the ledge exhibiting ritual courtship behavior.

One question on the minds of falcon watchers for some time was, how long would an estranged female peregrine wait for her mate to return? Well, the answer, at least for this female is 52 days.

We all watched her for weeks as she perched at locations normally occupied by the male, seemingly to increase her odds of spotting him. Although peregrines do mate for life, they have an intense desire to reproduce and proliferate their species. So, they will take another mate under the right circumstances.

There is no guarantee that this male will remain here with the female but this turn of events is very encouraging. More information will be provided as we learn more about the new male at the Rachel Carson site.

For more information and continuously updated photos of the falcon nesting site on the Rachel Carson Building, visit the Falcon webpage.

2/11/2005