Falcon Released to Wild in Charleston
Falcon Released to Wild in Charleston Save Email Print
Posted: 9:37 PM Dec 2, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:37 PM Dec 2, 2008
 Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A bird of prey raised by people was returned to the wild Tuesday morning.

The falcon was let go at the State Capitol Complex. Keepers with Three Rivers Avian Center have been taking care of the bird since it was rescued from a bridge near the Pennsylvania//New Jersey border in May.

Handlers think the falcon may join up with a couple of other falcons hanging out near Oakwood Road. The release was part of a five-year bird rescue operation that's taking place in West Virginia's New River Gorge.
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Posted by: Wendy Perrone on Dec 3, 2008 at 11:42 AM
The young peregrine falcon is part of an ongoing peregrine restoration project, a collaborative effort between Three Rivers Avian Center, the WV Department of Natural Resources, the New River Gorge National Park Service, the College of William & Mary, and wildlife officials from PA & NJ. He was hatched in late April on the Walt Whitman Bridge in PA, where he sustained an injury to his left back toe which took several months to heal properly. Since these birds have long migrations(sometimes circling the globe in less than a year)it really does not matter if we let him go in the wilderness or at the Capitol. The Capitol was chosen because there is plenty of his natural prey available at the River (pigeons, ducks, etc) and because there are two other falcons from the Project who are seen in the immediate vicinity on a regular basis. Visit our web page for more information on the project: www.tracwv.org. -Wendy Perrone Three Rivers Avian Center Peregrine Restoration Project Coordinator
Posted by: Brian on Dec 3, 2008 at 09:11 AM
That's a beautiful site to see one of those awesome little birds of prey survive an incident and get released.
Posted by: Ummm... on Dec 3, 2008 at 08:16 AM
Wow Glenn, how much have you had to drink? I can't understand a thing that you were trying to say.... Anyways, I know that there are several of these birds living in the Parkersburg area and they are doing fine. I agree that the place of release is a bit strange, but I assume it was more of a symbolistic idea.
Posted by: glenn on Dec 3, 2008 at 01:23 AM
we live in the land that the anamals live in wonderin and they must live and ill bet you eat meat and thats all they are doing..
Posted by: Wes on Dec 2, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Released to the wild? From the state capital grounds? Yes sir, that's some wild territory there....why he'll have a boundless feast of cigarette butts, semi domesticated squirrels, and dropped items of food from the many capital workers half eaten lunches. Ah, nature. Seriously, why didn't they drive across the river and release him into Kanawha State Forest? I kid, I kid...I'm sure the bird is smart enough to go where he needs to go. Still...the wilds of the capital grounds. That's some funny stuff.
Posted by: Wonderin' on Dec 2, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Wonder if this is the same bird that was seen swooping up squirrels off of the Court House grounds?? That was pretty gross. Imagine walking along, minding your own business and all of a sudden a squirrel head falls at your feet and you see a massive bird flying away with the remains. Definately a waker-upper!!!
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