School children met Fort Wayne's newest Peregrine falcons atop the Indiana-Michigan Power building Friday, as biologists banded the birds by placing a small cuff with a tracking number on their legs.
Pam Whitacre, a volunteer with Soarin' Hawk Raptor Rehabilitation Center, says its goal is to protect the birds from endangerment.
“We’re passionate about birds,” says Whitacre, “and we want to get the education out there to let people know how important raptors are to the environment.”
In the state of Indiana, there are about 15 Peregrine nests and 50-60 falcons are banded every year. Banding helps conservationists track the birds in case of injury.
Indiana Michigan Power and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources invite school children to watch the banding every year, says communications representative Tracy Warner.
“They actually get to see the falcons up-close,” says Indiana-Michigan Power communications representative Tracy Warner. “They get to see the parents swarming up there and the relationship and the bonding between the parents and the chicks, it’s just an all around good program we think.”
The three chicks were born early April and will stay in their box nest for the next couple weeks until they learn to fly.
Prior to the event, the children vote on names for the chicks. Zazu, Mist and Thunder are this year’s birds. Student Israel Mondragon eagerly watched the banding from the front row.
“This was the best day of my life,” says Mondragon. “I’ve never got to see a falcon.”