Peregrine falcon population making comeback in Alberta

Four peregrine falcon chicks were temporarily removed from their nests for identification banding on Thursday as their worried parents shrieked and circled the health sciences building at the University of Alberta.

The identification bands help demonstrate the birthing trends of the birds and how they migrate, wildlife officials in Edmonton said.

"It also helps when the birds get on the ground that people will report, we have this bird with this number on its leg … and [we] put it back on the roof or get it to a wildlife rehab facility," said Gordon Court provincial wildlife status biologist.

The chicks screeched and clawed as the bands were put in place.

The six peregrine falcons are part of a peregrine population in Edmonton that has increased considerably over the past five years.

In 1970, there was only one pair of peregrine falcons in all of Alberta, which resulted in the birds being placed on the endangered species list.

That has since been downgraded to threatened species, said Court.

With up to 60 pairs of peregrine falcons throughout the province, the birds could be taken off that list as well within ten years, he said.

As of 2008, there were eight pairs of the birds in Edmonton.

A movement away from the use of pesticides such as DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and the re-introduction of peregrines bred in captivity has helped turn the peregrine falcon population around, Court said.

The falcons are monitored by three webcams as part of a project to preserve and appreciate urban wildlife species.