Rapid City Hack Box Chicks

[Donna]

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/rapid-city-peregrines#id8568831 Cute

The goal of our project is the collection, relocation and reintroduction of young peregrines in western South Dakota. Our 2012 reintroduction project kicks off with the first arrival of 4 birds on June 9, 2012. A total of 20 young birds will be released in downtown Rapid City from the Top of the Black Hills Power corporate offices.

This broadcast is intended to introduce people to the peregrine falcon, known to be the fastest animal on the planet. You will observe them eating, learning how to use their wings, how they "socialize" with each other, and watch as we record their development into juvenille free flyers.

[Kris G.]

We love SD and have spent some time in Rapid City and the Black Hills!  Hope they do well! Thanks for posting!

[Kris G.]

http://http://rapidcityfalcons.blogspot.com/

[Donna]

http://http://rapidcityfalcons.blogspot.com/

Wow, that's a lot of juvies in the sky!! Fare well little flappers!

[Kris G.]

From their FB page:

The third year of peregrine falcon reintroduction is underway atop the Black Hills Corporation building in downtown Rapid City. The South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks sponsored effort is an attempt to restore a missing part of Black Hills ecology. Peregrine falcons once nested in two western counties of South Dakota, but no known nests have occurred for more than 50 years. The use of the pesticide DDT, illegal shooting, extermination of the passenger pigeon, and habitat loss all contributed to the near extinction of this speedy and rare falcon.

 Today the fastest animal in the world has a new future in South Dakota where reintroduction efforts in the urban area suit the cliff and ledge loving falcon just fine. This bird eating falcon preys on pigeons and ducks from high above, diving at speeds of over 200 mph! Fascinating biology from a 2 pound bird of prey!

Young falcons are purchased from captive breeders across the country and are flown in at about 30 days of age. The young falcons are then banded, weighed and placed into special release boxes atop the Black Hills Corp building. This important site will serve as their home from which they will learn to fly and hunt. Come fall these young birds will migrate to Central and South America where they will remain for 2 years, until they reach sexual maturity. The rational is that the peregrine falcon will return to breed, to the place from which they learned to fly.

 Currently 7 falcons are free flying with 2 more in the release box scheduled for a weekend release. Other new falcons are arriving by airline later this week.

 Should you find a grounded falcon wearing a red leg band on one leg and a silver band on the other leg, please help to recover it and call the project coordinator Janie Fink at (208) 582 0797. Often these young inexperienced flyers get into trouble before they learn to fly well and then to hunt and it is often the public who report these incidencences.