SALT LAKE CITY – The famous Peregrine Falcons that have nested in downtown Salt Lake since 1984 have taken flight for the first time this year.
According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the falcons are using a nesting box located on the Joseph Smith Memorial Building at South Temple and Main Street.
By popular vote, the newly hatched birds have been named Hunter, Skye and Ace.
Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, said he and a rescue team were ready for the falcons take those harrowing first flights.
Use this video player or click here to watch the falcons live:
“You never know where young falcons will end up,” Walters said. “We’ve had them land in the middle of the busy downtown streets and crash into the sides of buildings.”
Walters said even if the birds did fall prematurely, instinct would kick in and they should be able to safely land on the ground.
“But wherever the birds land, we’ll be there to pick them up,” he said.
“The idea is to rescue and release each young bird until the birds develop the confidence and competence needed to sustain themselves in flight,” he said.
