In 1995, PPL began releasing young peregrine falcons from the Tower building in downtown Allentown, Pa.

The goal was to have a pair of peregrines return to the area to nest. After 13 years of waiting, the peregrine falcons that have made the Tower building their home base produced their first egg in 2008.

Jeff Luzenski, senior environmental professional, who was instrumental in bringing peregrine falcons back to the Lehigh Valley, watches over the nests and provides updates.

04/14/2008 Just checking in I managed to get in this morning and sneak a peek through the peep hole just as mom was rearranging the eggs and getting ready to start incubating. I could only see three eggs in front of her breast as she started to do her little shimmy to get them and her feathers all lined up. Luckily, things weren't quite where she wanted them so she stood up one more time to get things in place. When she did so she revealed the total of four eggs. Another shimmy or two and down she went to continue incubation duties. Looks like we will not see a fifth egg in Allentown this year. Considering three eggs are common with first year clutches, we are extremely lucky to have the four. Of course, after 10 years of waiting, I would have been just as happy with one egg. I'll definitely start increasing updates in early May when we'll hopefully start seeing some hatchlings arriving.

04/11/2008 Four-egg Friday! I was out of the office yesterday, as was Bob, my back up for checking on our friends and their growing family on the 23rd floor. Needless to say, I was quite anxious this morning to find out if there was any additional good news. Mom was comfortably asleep on the eggs, and it didn’t look like she had any intentions of moving any time soon so I went back down to my office. Shortly after I returned from my meeting, a co-worker reported he received an email from our friends on the 21st floor that the falcons were flying around. So off I went, back up the stairs to 23! Dad was in the nest standing next to four eggs! You have to love a four-egg Friday! Okay, so I'm not exactly certain the fourth egg did indeed arrive today, but it sure sounds a lot better than a "four-egg sometime between Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning." I watched the male hanging out over the eggs for a few minutes. His occasional screeching made me wonder. As I looked around, sure enough, mom was perched on the parapet to the south of the nest. When I looked back, dad was gone. And then, just as quickly as he was gone, I heard the pair screeching. I looked back to the south and there they were … let's just say they were working on a fifth egg. So as of today, the peregrines at PPL are up to a dozen eggs with four eggs each at Allentown, Martins Creek and Montour.

04/08/2008 And now there are three! With this morning's climb to the 23rd floor, I found mom sleeping on her eggs. She eventually awoke and shortly afterward started to screech. I knew dad must be around somewhere. Sure enough, within a minute or so he appeared. Mom got up from the nest site, revealing there are now three eggs! The male brought her breakfast, then came over to turn and incubate the eggs.

04/04/2008 A second surprise Saturday evening the female was seen incubating the nest. The male flew in around sunset and both flew off, likely for an evening meal. The male returned shortly before dark to continue incubating the single egg. Sunday evening I again observed the female on the nest. She was sleeping and did not appear to be in any hurry to give me a view of what was underneath her. When I returned a little later, the male had replaced the female. After a short while he stood up to stretch, revealing a second egg! I'm not sure if it was the pending sunset or hunger calling, but he eventually flew off. He returned a few minutes later, landing on the parapet to the south of the nest box.

04/04/2008 13-year wait pays off! Way back in 1995 an idea became reality as we began releasing young peregrine falcons from the PPL building in Allentown, a process known as hacking. One of the main goals of this effort was to have a pair of peregrines return to the Lehigh Valley to nest. I returned to the office this morning to find our first peregrine egg arrived this morning! It's been a very long time since the Lehigh Valley has had one of these, likely more than 50 years ago! Thanks to all who have supported and shown interest in this project. There will be a lot more interesting things happening in the days and weeks to come.

04/02/2008 Posing for the camera, high above the city of Allentown When I checked the hack box this morning, the male was inside. At one point he looked to the southeast corner and started screeching. Sure enough the female was perched on a parapet just in view. Below her "breakfast" was laid out on the wall. He wandered around the hack box, working his way over to one of the depressions in the stones. He spent some time preening himself and chirping at the female. He kind of looked like an expectant father pacing around at times and looking at his mate. Eventually, the female flew off, quickly followed by the male. Later this morning I saw the male circling over the Plaza building. I then saw the female stoop off the tower down Hamilton Street, with the male quickly following in pursuit. They both went over some buildings on the northeast corner of Seventh and Hamilton streets, then, flying low between the buildings, they quickly made their way back up Linden Street to the Plaza Building. A few circles, then back down Hamilton over some buildings and then out of site down around the Art Museum.

03/05/2008 An old friend returns ... Was just able to confirm the same female from last year is back in Allentown! She was sitting outside the nest box, same as she always did last year. I was able to catch a glimpse of the band. She flew off and sure enough, the male was at the hack box (no band). She is looking a little more mature this year. Still a little more tan/brown in her plumage than the male. Let's hope she's ready for a family this year.