Peregrine falcon nestlings get banded

Harrisburg, Pa. — Peregrine falcon nestlings atop a state office building in Harrisburg were banded during a livestream event last week, allowing wildlife biologists all over the world to track the birds.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) hosted the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s (PGC) banding of the 2024 Rachel Carson State Office Building peregrine falcon nestlings on Friday.

The video is available on the PAcast website .

“For more than two decades, peregrine falcons have nested on the Rachel Carson State Office Building in downtown Harrisburg — the longest active nest site in Pennsylvania,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “It is a fitting tribute to Rachel Carson that so many falcons have been born and raised on the building that bears her name.”

Patti Barber, endangered bird specialist with PGC, led the team in bringing the nestlings in from the 15th floor ledge. Barber weighed them, inspected their health, and put light metal bands around their legs for identification. This year there are five nestlings that were banded.

Falcon banding helps wildlife biologists to track the birds and allows birdwatchers from all over the world an opportunity to learn more about the peregrine’s flight patterns and where they establish new nesting sites.

Falcons born on the ledge at the Rachel Carson State Office Building have been identified up and down the Atlantic coast, from Florida to Canada. Birdwatchers can report bands they see to ReportBand.gov. The peregrine falcon was removed from the federal Endangered Species List in 1999 and the Pennsylvania Threatened List in 2021 but remains federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code.

In the coming weeks, the young falcons will begin learning to fly. Volunteers with the Falcon Watch and Rescue monitor the falcons and recover them as they land near the Rachel Carson State Office Building.

Anyone interested in joining the Falcon Watch and Rescue volunteers should contact Sue Hannon at hbgfalconwatch@gmail.com. Since 2002, a total of 87 eggs have hatched, making the Rachel Carson State Office Building nest site the longest, continuously successful nest site in the Commonwealth.

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