Young Peregrine Falcons Safely Venture from Downtown Nest

Contact: Michael Keckler Two peregrine falcon fledglings have taken to the skies over downtown Boise just days after one of the birds was found stranded on a downtown park bench. "They are doing fine, flying around and they should be all right as long as they don't run into any windows or wires downtown," said Bruce Haak, southwest regional nongame biologist for Idaho Fish and Game. Haak rescued the stranded falcon on Sunday after someone spotted it on the ground and phoned Fish and Game. Two days later he returned it to its nest high atop the One Capital Center. The young peregrines are now flying back and forth from their nest to the Key Bank Building, a couple of blocks away. While their lessons in flight seem to be going better, people are still urged to look out for the young birds and call Fish and Game immediately if they see one on the ground.