Peregrine Falcon #16-0948

Species Name (EN): 
Species Name (LA): 
Admission Date: 
June 1, 2016
Release Date: 
June 3, 2016
Location of Rescue: 
Prince William County, Virginia
Cause of Admission / Condition: 
Blown out of nest?
Prognosis: 
Outcome: 
Patient Status: 
Patient Archive
Released

On May 31, a juvenile Peregrine Falcon was found down on the ground at Possum Point in Prince William County, Virginia. A biologist with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) picked up the bird, and a volunteer transported the young falcon to the Wildlife Center the following day.

Dr. Helen examined the falcon when she arrived and did not find any significant injuries; there was some bruising on the underside of the bird’s wing, but no fractures were found. Blood work was within normal limits. It’s likely that the young falcon was very nearly ready to fledge, but just not quite prepared to leave the nest.

After the bird was given a clean bill of health, VDGIF and officials at the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) conferred and decided that the best option would be to include the young falcon in a “hack”. The CCB regularly removes pre-fledgling falcons from high-risk nest sites places them in an artificial “nest” for a controlled release; it’s been a very useful tool for the reintroduction of peregrines and many other species to the wild. The falcons typically spend days to weeks in the hack box, where they get used to their surroundings. Once the box is opened, biologists monitor the young birds and provide back-up feeding as necessary. Learn more information here.

On June 3, the young Peregrine Falcon was picked up and driven to the hack site at Shenandoah National Park. The intern who transported the falcon and placed her in the hack box reported that the falcon settled in well, and quickly ate the quail offered to her!

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