Downtown Atlanta’s Other Falcons
We talk about the Falcons plenty around these parts, but not every falcon comes with a jersey and makes its home in the Dome. Officials at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have recently examined and banded four young peregrine falcons found in a nest on the 51st floor of the SunTrust Plaza building in the heart of downtown Atlanta.
According to those working in the office on the other side of the glass, two peregrine falcons had been nesting there for the past five years, so the four new babies are a welcome addition to a downtown family.
Peregrines are possibly the world’s fastest animal, diving at more than 200 mph to nab pigeons, ducks and other birds in mid-air. The nest at SunTrust Plaza is one of only two confirmed in Georgia. The other is in midtown Atlanta. (Georgia Department of Natural Resources)
The falcons were only fairly recently removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. However, the state of Georgia still lists the birds as rare. In fact, peregrine falcons were absent in the state for quite a long time due to the effects of DDT.
The Department of Natural Resources offered a web camera view of the nest (located just outside the law firm of McKenna, Long & Aldridge, thanks to the firm and private grants. After a much-needed upgrade, there are plans to re-establish the cam at some point in 2012.
So next time you're walking through downtown and see something streaking through the sky, you might not be seeing things. Believe your eyes, and say hello to the fastest ATLiens, our other falcons!
