Almost 3 weeks after they were hatched, the first set of Peregrine chicks, or eyas, hatched at the Nebraska State Capitol since 2016 were banded in the 14th floor Memorial Chamber on June 12, 2024. Office of the Capitol Commission staff provided support and protection for Nebraska Game and Parks Nongame Bird Program Manager, Joel Jorgensen as he gathered the eyas for banding and a quick health check. The nest box atop the Capitol had finally attracted a new pair of Peregrines hatched in Kansas City. Peregrines had been absent from the Capitol since the last pair became too old the produce eyas and the nest box was abandoned. The new pair successfully produced eggs in mid-May and the falcon, female, incubated the eggs while the male, tercel, provided food. Now that the eyas have hatched, the falcon and tercel are busy providing food for the eyas who are growing quickly. Visitors to the Nebraska State Capitol’s 14th floor observation decks occasionally find the remains of the Peregrines’ meals, the feathers, heads, wings and feet of the birds they hunt and bring back to the Capitol.
Before the team gathered the eyas, Joel Jorgensen explained to those assembled the banding process. Two color coded bands are placed on the eyas legs, one has a nine-digit number to identify the Peregrines in a national registry, and the other uses different colors and an easily seen letter and number combination to identify location fledged and sex. Eyas are generally banded at 3 weeks, old enough to endure handling, but too young to try and fly away. The Peregrine eyas were collected and held in a box for easy handling and control.
Elsa Forsberg, Game and Parks biologist, holds an eyas as Jorgensen prepares a band. Holding the leg, and avoiding the sharp claws, Jorgensen places the band securely on the leg. As he worked Jorgensen explained Peregrines have been known to remove their bands with their strong beaks.
After they were banded, Betsy Finch with the Raptor Conservation Alliance checked the health of the eyas and sprayed them with an insecticide to rid them of pests that could cause disease and inhibit their successful growth.
During the banding process, the eyas vocally expressed their displeasure. Inside the Memorial Chamber the cries of the protective Peregrine parents flying around the tower could be heard in response. The three Peregrines, two females and a male, were presented to the media in attendance before they were quickly returned to the nest box. You can watch their progress on the Game and Parks Outdoor Nebraska website and take part in the “Name the Chicks” contest.
