Peregrine Falcons released at New River Gorge National Park, WV

A project of The Center for Conservation Biology in conjunction with the partners and sponsors detailed below.

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Peregrine Falcons released at New River Gorge National Park, WV
NameSpeciesLife StageRelease DateLast LocationDays Transmitted
HarrisonPeregrine FalconJuvenile2007-07-212008-03-10233
UpshurPeregrine FalconSub-adult2007-07-212009-05-10605
RossPeregrine FalconSub-adult2007-07-212010-08-231129
Sea IslePeregrine FalconSub-adult2007-08-042008-12-27515
NorrisPeregrine FalconJuvenile2007-07-212008-06-27342
BenPeregrine FalconJuvenile2007-07-212008-02-03197

Click on an animal's name for maps and more information.

Introduction

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Peregrine Falcon chicks from urban nest sites on bridges are commonly hit by cars or drown in the waters below the nest. In and effort to give these falcon chicks a chance to fledge safely, each year state biologists from Virginia and New Jersey move urban chicks to the mountains of West Virginia. The chicks are released in the New River Gorge, an area with abundant updrafts to aid in learning to fly. The shear cliffs surrounding the New River provide many ledges for the falcons to establish a nest (also called an eyrie) when they reach maturity.

Since their release in summer 2007, the falcons have roamed the Appalachian Mountains, Great Lakes, and Gulf Coast but continue to return to the New River Gorge each year. We are hopeful this means one or more will settle down and nest in the Gorge in spring 2009.

Project Partners

This falcon telemetry project is a partnership between the Center for Conservation Biology, National Park Service, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.