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5 Peregrine Falcons Banded At Gulf Tower

Five peregrine falcons were banded at the Gulf Tower in downtown Pittsburgh Monday morning.

The chicks were given a thorough check up and were banded as part of the Urban Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project.
 

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The three males and two females were born from two different mothers. Two belonged to Tasha2 and the other three belonged to Dori, while Louie is the father to all five of the chicks.

"Banding peregrine falcons is an important part of continued monitoring of this state endangered and federally protected species," said Dr. Todd Katzner, director of conservation and field research at the National Aviary. "By banding these birds, we are able to keep tabs on them and often identify where they settle when they find a breeding territory.”

Banding helped aviary workers determine where the chicks’ parents were born.

The public can follow the growth of the chicks, which will soon be acquiring their flight feathers in preparation for their maiden flight, via the Pittsburgh FalconCam at Aviary.org. It provides real-time video and sound. The birds also can be seen on a big screen television at the National Aviary.

Peregrine chicks at the nest at the Gulf Tower in downtown Pittsburgh will be banded in early June.

The peregrine falcon is listed as a Pennsylvania endangered species under the state wildlife code because their populations have not fully recovered here.