Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife assistant director Thomas French attaches bands to one of three peregrine falcons Image by Ken Yuszkus/Eagle-Tribune
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife assistant director Thomas French attaches bands to one of three peregrine falcons.

06/09/2016
Eagle-Tribune

Since 2007, a pair of peregrine falcons has lived atop UMass Lowell's 18-story Fox Hall, the tallest building in Lowell. 

The university and the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife built a nest box to provide the birds with shelter and installed a webcam, available at www.uml.edu/Falcons, which lets viewers watch the falcons in their urban habitat. Peregrine falcons are an endangered species in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife assistant director Thomas French attaches bands to one of three peregrine falcons. Image by Ken Yuszkus/Eagle-Tribune
Over the past eight years, at least 20 peregrine falcons have been born at the university. Each year, state wildlife officials attach identification bands to the fledglings, so they can be tracked throughout their lives.

This year, three chicks were born about a month ago. Wednesday, state wildlife officials checked on the chicks and attached their leg bands. Veteran photographer Ken Yuszkus was on hand to capture the event.

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