Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. and a coalition of environmental, business and community groups in the Lehigh Valley have launched a project to bring the endangered peregrine falcon to Downtown Allentown.

At least three peregrine falcon hatchlings will be nested this summer on the outside parapet of the 23rd floor of PP&L's Tower Building at Ninth and Hamilton streets in Allentown.

"The Lehigh Valley Peregrine Project is a community effort to bring these magnificent birds of prey to Allentown and to help the ongoing efforts in Pennsylvania to re-establish the peregrine," said Jeff Luzenski, PP&L's coordinator of the peregrine falcon project.

The project is a joint effort that began with the participation of PP&L, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Wildlands Conservancy, the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, the North American Falconers Association, the Pennsylvania Falconers & Hawk Trust, the Downtown Allentown Improvement District Authority (DIDA) and the Allentown Hilton. Organizers have been seeking the involvement of other community groups and businesses, and participation has been growing, Luzenski said.

"We hope to get widespread community involvement in this effort to give the people of Allentown and the Lehigh Valley the rare chance to see a peregrine falcon in flight," said Robin Turner, executive director of DIDA. "We are working with the Wildlands Conservancy to have information meetings and educational sessions for school students, residents and downtown employees."

In recent years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has been working to re-establish the peregrine falcon in Pennsylvania. The commission has been involved in similar projects in Harrisburg, Reading and Williamsport.

Throughout the country, community groups, state agencies and businesses have undertaken projects to release the birds on buildings in urban areas.

Prior to its near extinction, the peregrine falcon historically nested on natural cliffs and rock faces. Today, because of their cliff-like appearance and protection from predators, tall buildings are being utilized.

"It's very rare to see a peregrine falcon in the Lehigh Valley area, and what is exciting about this project is that so many people will have the potential to see these birds," said Cynthia Lenhart, executive director of Hawk Mountain. "We're fortunate that PP&L and the other groups have joined together to make this possible. With its height and tiered architecture, the PP&L building should be the ideal location for the birds."

The peregrine falcon is a small bird, averaging about 15 to 20 inches in length, but it's the fastest creature in nature, reaching speeds of up to 200 miles-per-hour in flight. The falcons are raptors, meaning birds of prey.

At least three hatchlings will be brought to Allentown sometime in June when they are about 35 days old. The birds will be flown into Lehigh Valley International Airport by Northwest Airlines from the Raptor Resource Project, a nonprofit organization in Minnesota dedicated to the re-establishment of the endangered species, which raises the falcons.

The birds will be raised in a "hack" box on the ledge of the 23rd floor until they are mature enough to fly at about 45 days old. At that time, the hack box will be opened and the birds will be released. Food will continue to be supplied for at least one month after the birds' release, at which time the young falcons should be able to adequately feed themselves.

Throughout the duration of their time on the Tower Building, the falcons will be tended to by PP&L volunteers and local licensed falconers Jonathan Bortz, Merek Plater and Dan Smith.

A Falcon Hotline has been established, where people can call to leave questions or comments on the project and, eventually, to report peregrine falcon sightings. The number is 1-800-354-8383.

"Peregrines are migratory birds and could leave the area once they are old enough to fly," said Luzenski. "Our hope is that, if they do leave, they will return to the area and mate. There are plans under way to expand the project throughout the Lehigh Valley during the next several years."