Peregrine Falcon Chicks Banded In Nest Atop UMass Amherst Library

June 10, 2008

Contact:

Richard Nathhorst 413/545-6497

AMHERST Mass. – Three peregrine falcon chicks in a nest box on the roof of the 26-floor W.E.B. Du Bois Library at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are the first to be banded in the Connecticut Valley this year, according to state wildlife officials.

Ralph Taylor, MassWildlife’s Connecticut Valley District manager, and district wildlife biologist David Fuller examined and banded the chicks on June 5. The brood consists of one female and two males, who were hatched six to seven weeks ago.

“They’re doing great,” said Taylor. “They’ll be almost fully feathered in two weeks and fledged in three weeks.”

According to Taylor, there is another nesting pair of peregrines with chicks on Mount Sugarloaf in South Deerfield, though the birds have not been banded. Another pair in known to be nesting on Mount Tom in Holyoke, but MassWildlife officials have not confirmed any nestlings. Another pair of falcons is known to be in the Springfield area, but their nest site has not been found, said Taylor.

Richard Nathhorst, capital project manager with the facilities planning division at UMass Amherst, said this is the sixth time peregrines have nested on the Du Bois Library. Nathhorst manages the joint nesting project with MassWildlife.


Photo should be credited to Mary Schneider, UMass Amherst.

Cutline: Ralph Taylor of MassWildlife holds a peregrine falcon chick after it was banded June 5 at UMass Amherst.

#328-08

E-mail story to a friend Printer-friendly version