2025’s Peregrine Falcon Chicks Receive their Bands
The female falcon chick (Red) in the process of being banded by DWR biologists. Photo credit: Meghan Marchetti/DWR
Tuesday, May 27th marked an important milestone for the three peregrine falcon chicks downtown as they received both their federal and field-readable auxiliary bands. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources biologists accessed the nest box at approximately 11:00 am where they captured the chicks and transported them inside the building for banding.
Peregrine falcon chicks can be accurately sexed at this age based on their size considering females are roughly 30% larger than males. After being weighed and having leg measurements taken, the trio was determined to be made up of one female (Red), and two male chicks (Blue and White). These color-based ‘names’ refer to the color tape that each chick had affixed to the band on the right leg. This tape is applied each year during banding and is used to help biologists keep track of the birds after they fledge — it will fall off naturally within a few weeks.
The chicks were alert and judged to be in good health based on their appearance and overall behavior throughout the process. Following all data collection and banding, the chicks were returned to the nest box and secured inside the pen which is installed each year to prevent the chicks from fledging early. Considering this is the fifth year that the adults have successfully raised chicks within the pen, we don’t anticipate any issues with feeding but will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure the chicks are still receiving meals. When they are old enough to fledge, staff will open the pen door at which point the chicks will be free to disperse from the nest box and pen at their leisure. Be on the lookout for a future post which will announce the anticipated Fledgewatch dates for 2025.
These banding and monitoring efforts are incredibly important as they allow biologists to track the movements, lineages, reproductive history, and longevity of individual birds. This is especially important in small falcon populations that are still recovering, as is the case in Virginia. Finally, we also want to extend a special thanks to the VIP guests that joined us today including staff from the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources office, staff from the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, our friends at Triple Crossing Brewery, and our lucky 2025 raffle winners.