Volunteers from the Rachel Carson State Office Building and Wildwood Lake Sanctuary will keep a close eye on the Peregrine falcon nest located on the 15th floor of the building in Harrisburg next week as the four young nestlings attempt their first free flight.

These first flights are typically precarious at best. The young birds will often land in harms way on a nearby parking garage or street. When this happens, the watch and rescue crews notify Department of Environmental Protection environmental education staff and the fledglings will be captured, examined and placed on the roof of the Rachel Carson building to regain strength and courage to make their next attempt at airborne freedom.

Although subsequent attempts are usually more successful, the watch and rescue crews will continue to track the whereabouts of each fledgling to ensure their safety. Within a week’s time all four of the fledglings should have gained the skill and strength necessary to return to the ledge.

This is a good time to visit the Falcon page as the young peregrines take their first step towards independence. Then, over the next eight weeks, watch them get flight and hunting lesson from the adult peregrines.

The word Peregrine comes from the Latin adjective peregrinus, meaning wanderer. By summer’s end, these young birds will do just that; they’ll travel hundreds of miles in unknown directions. By this time next year, the surviving juveniles will seek out a mate and establish their own breeding territories.

Link: Watch the Pittsburgh Peregrind Falcon Nest

6/8/2007