Home / Environment / UMass Lowell's Falcon Chicks Get ID Bands: A Conservation Success
UMass Lowell's Falcon Chicks Get ID Bands: A Conservation Success
2 Jun
Summary
- Five peregrine falcon chicks were banded at UMass Lowell.
- The chicks are UMass Lowell's mascot, the 'river hawks'.
- Peregrine falcons were once endangered but are now 'of special concern'.
At the University of Massachusetts Lowell, five precious peregrine falcon chicks, affectionately known as the school's 'river hawks,' received identification bands this past Monday. These one-month-old birds, named for the university's athletic teams, are the focus of a conservation effort.
Wildlife biologists from MassWildLife banded the chicks atop Fox Hall, UMass Lowell's tallest building. This annual tradition helps monitor the health of these federally protected birds, which were once endangered. In Massachusetts, they are now classified as 'of special concern.'
A pair of peregrine falcons has resided at Fox Hall since at least 2007. Over the past 18 years, 49 chicks have been successfully raised there, with many going on to establish nests across New Hampshire and New Jersey.
