The first set of peregrine falcons being raised this summer at the Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. building in downtown Allentown have left their nest, and another set of birds will arrive this week.
The four young peregrines that arrived in Allentown at the end of June now are learning to fly and are exploring the skyscape of the downtown area.
"All four birds are healthy and have been testing their wings and taking flights around the PP&L building," said Jeff Luzenski, a PP&L employee and coordinator of the Lehigh Valley Peregrine Project. "This is the time when people downtown can watch the sky around the PP&L building and see the falcons."
As the falcons mature and can feed on their own, they are likely to fly beyond the downtown area, Luzenski said. "If people don't get to see this set of birds, there will be another chance with the two more birds coming in this week," he said.
The birds are raised by a breeder in the Midwest and flown to Allentown by Northwest Airlines.
The program is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Peregrine Project, a partnership of area businesses and community and environmental groups that was formed by PP&L to help the Pennsylvania Game Commission's efforts to re-establish the birds in the state. This is the third summer since 1995 that young falcons have been raised on the building.
The young peregrines live in a nest box on the parapet of the 23rd floor of the PP&L building in Downtown Allentown until they are about 45 days old.
"We hope that by releasing the falcons in Allentown, the birds will make their home in the Lehigh Valley or somewhere else in Pennsylvania," Luzenski said. "PP&L happens to have a perfect building for releasing falcons and a strong corporate commitment to the environment. It's the right match."
Peregrine falcons are an endangered bird in Pennsylvania. In recent years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has been working throughout the state to release peregrines in an attempt to build the peregrine population in the state.
The PP&L building, because of its height and multi-tiered architecture, makes a good substitute home for the falcons, which nest on cliffs and rockfaces in the wild to avoid predators.
"PP&L and all the partners of the Lehigh Valley Peregrine Project realize that the environment — and all those that live in it — benefit when the natural balance of nature exists," Luzenski said.
"That's why a commitment was made to work hard to restore these majestic birds to Pennsylvania, and hopefully, the Lehigh Valley."
Food and water are supplied for at least one month after the birds' release, at which time the young falcons can feed themselves.
Since the inception of the program, PP&L has developed numerous information sources for falcon communications.
The Lehigh Valley Peregrine Project is a community effort that began with the participation of PP&L, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Wildlands Conservancy, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, the Downtown Allentown Improvement District Authority and Northwest Airlines. The group has added additional sponsors for this year's program.