SPCA ARCHIVES: Statler Tower Juvenile Peregrine Cared for at SPCA, Released to Nest

Because there was more activity May 25, 2011 concerning the falcons at the Statler Building in downtown Buffalo, NY, we thought it would be interesting to share a 2010 story from the SPCA Serving Erie County's Wildlife Department regarding the same nest of falcons! Read the entire story, below, and check out this video...the second of two being posted! Video #1 is also available here on this YouTube channel ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8IAjD-2Jn0 )! In the meantime, here's the story, taken from https://www.yourspca.org/Page.aspx?pid=428 :

"Monday, June 14, 2010 was another exciting day in our Wildlife Department...we admitted one of the juvenile Peregrine Falcons from the Statler Towers in Buffalo, NY.

People throughout the world have watched this particular falcon family for years by visiting Buffalo Audubon's online "Falcon Cam" (not currently running due to the status of the Towers).

This young bird was found on the ground in Niagara Square on Monday and was transferred to us. There was no question in the minds of local rehabilitators and DEC representatives: it was a juvenile from the Statler.

SPCA Wildlife Department Supervisor Joel Thomas speculates on what the falcon was doing on the ground: "Juvenile peregrines, before a certain age, cannot take off from ground level. We're not certain of the reason for that...could be flight ability, length of wings, or for any number of other reason. This guy was on the ground...we're not sure why. He may have started hunting on his own, perhaps crows chased him out, but as he was falling he couldn't catch himself on any structure and ended up at ground level. We're guessing he's at the cusp of being completely independent of his parents...he's just not quite there yet."

When the bird was admitted on Monday, he was examined, X-rayed, evaluated, and stayed overnight for further observation and care.

On Tuesday, the decision was made to bring him back to the city, as close as we could get to the Statler Towers, and see if he'd make it back to the Towers on his own (current Statler management will not allow us, the Department of Environmental Conservation, nor any rehabilitators access to the nest, although we all had access for several years).

These videos you can view on the SPCA's Facebook Wall were taken by SPCA volunteer Sue Heighling on June 15, 2010, at the top of Buffalo's City Hall.

Sue joined SPCA Wildlife Department staff in attempting to reunite the juvenile with his parents in the nest. The amazing thing our representatives witnessed but couldn't catch on camera...dad and mom flying back to the nest mere moments after the juvenile flew over there!"

Have a wildlife question or concern? Contact the SPCA's Wildlife Department: 716-629-3528 . Be sure to check out Video #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8IAjD-2Jn0 .

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