For the first time since 2016 peregrine falcon chicks are living at the State Capitol building. Joel Jorgensen is the nongame bird program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and says it has been several years since falcons have nested on the 18th floor of the Capitol.
“We had a long time pair that produced 23 chicks from 2005-2016, and then just didn’t have an established pair that were successful for quite some time,” Jorgensen tells KLIN News says. The two female and one male chick from the nest box near the top of the Nebraska Capitol building in Lincoln were banded and given a checkup June 12.
“The banding went very well and all three chicks appear to be in very good shape,” Jorgensen says. “The young falcons have everything they need to be successful.” On Wednesday the trio of received ankle bands that will assist in identification and tracking.
Jorgensen says the public can get an up close view of the birds and watch them grow over the next few weeks, through a live stream camera set up in the falcon nest box — available below.
“It is an up close view of the natural world that people don’t often get to see,” Jorgensen tells KLIN News. “It is real life for these birds, it’s survival, they have to deal with the elements up their on the 18th floor of the Capitol and it’s not a storybook ending all the time.”
There is currently a Name the Chicks contest underway. Participants may submit suggestions through June 20 at OutdoorNebraska.gov search for “Name the Chicks.” From the submissions as many as six finalists will be selected and anyone can vote for a favorite through a poll live June 21-30. The winner will be announced July 1.
(Photo; Nebraska Game and Parks)