The Department of Environmental Protection invites teachers, non-formal educators, home-school teachers, youth group leaders and Scout leaders to attend a Peregrine Falcon Educators’ Workshop, WILD in the City, on April 2 in the Rachel Carson Building auditorium, 400 Market St. in Harrisburg from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

DEP and the Game Commission are sponsoring the workshop in cooperation with ZOOAMERICA North American Wildlife Park.

Since 1997, countless peregrine falcons have made their home on a ledge off the 15th floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building. For many years, peregrine falcons were a Pennsylvania endangered species.

Through reintroduction programs, peregrines have adapted to life in urban environments like Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Williamsport. Each year, DEP and PGC track these birds of prey’s activities and share educational information with a worldwide audience through the Internet.

The Rachel Carson nest site has been active and reproducing young peregrine falcons for 13 years.

Workshop participants, who can attend at no cost, will explore the successes of peregrine falcon reintroduction in Pennsylvania; examine falcon specifics and endangered species concepts; and observe falcons in Harrisburg.

The workshop will feature a number of peregrine falcon experts, including Dr. Art McMorris, PGC’s Peregrine falcon coordinator; ZOOAMERICA education coordinator Elaine Gruin; DEP environmental educators Jack Farster and Ann Devine; and Project WILD coordinator Theresa Alberici, among others.

Participating teachers are eligible for 5.0 Act 48 credit hours. Lunch and refreshments will be provided at no cost.

Space is limited, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who have not attended this workshop in the past will be given first consideration; those who have will be placed on a waiting list.

To register for the workshop, contact DEP’s Environmental Education and Information Center at 717-772-1644, or send email to: adevine@pa.gov, by March 26.

Watch the Rachel Carson Building peregrine falcon live through the Falcon Cam.

3/11/2013