Eight Peregrine falcons released on Wednesday
June 6, 2007
by Kate Krivanek
WVNS
Organizations are working together to restore what was once considered an endangered species in West Virginia.
The Peregrine falcon was listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and taken off the list in 1999, but to this day, they're still a minority in the eastern US.
The Peregrine Falcon is the rarest bird in the state.
The National Park Service is working with the Division of Natural Resources and Three Rivers Avian Center to restore their population.
On May 18, they continued what's called the Peregrine falcon "hacking" program.
They place young falcons in boxes located on cliffs of the New River Gorge and care for them with a minimal amount of human contact until the birds are mature enough to fly.
On Wednesday, eight birds were added to the group of 16 other falcons.
The entire group will be released by the end of the summer.
The eventual goal is for released birds to return to the New River Gorge cliffs to nest there once they're mature enough to breed.
The agencies plan to continue releasing falcons until 2010.
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