A new springtime tradition that has blossomed in Atlanta over the last decade continues this year as a pair of peregrine falcons tend their nest atop a downtown skyscraper. Log onto www.georgiawildlife.com and click on “Nongame Animals & Plants” to get a “birds eye view” of a local peregrine falcon family courtesy of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), The Garden Club of Georgia and McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. The live web cam shows a peregrine falcon nest located on the balcony of a high-rise building in downtown Atlanta. The web cam is viewable from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Images are updated every 10 seconds.

Peregrine falcons, which were recently taken off the federal endangered species list but are still listed as endangered by the State of Georgia, normally nest on remote cliffs. However, recovering populations have found a suitable substitute for rocky cliffs – massive manmade structures such as tall buildings and bridges. A significant portion of all peregrine nests are now found on structures such as the one visible on the web cam.

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is well known for being possibly the fastest animal in the world, capable of attaining speeds in excess of 200 mph in a dive. This speed is put to use pursuing and capturing in flight the birds that comprise the peregrine’s diet, including pigeons, shorebirds, various songbirds, and occasionally waterfowl.

“By logging onto our website and viewing the images on a regular basis, you will be able to monitor the growth and development of the young birds once they hatch and observe the parental behavior of the adults,” said Jim Ozier, WRD senior biologist and raptor specialist.

The male of this pair can be identified by his leg band as one of three juvenile falcons released from the Georgia Power Building in Atlanta in 1989 in an effort to help restore this species to Georgia. Other falcons were released at sites in the North Georgia mountains from 1987 up to 1998. The female of this pair is apparently a wild falcon.

This pair of peregrine falcons has nested in Atlanta every spring since at least 1996. There are four eggs in the nest and they should begin hatching in early April. The young birds will leave the nest about six weeks after hatching.

“Our firm is pleased to lend support to DNR's efforts to sustain this beautiful and majestic animal,” said Clay Long of McKenna, Long & Aldridge LLP. “It is a great treat for us and our clients to watch the young falcons learn to fly and hunt before they leave the nest.”

This web camera is made possible in part by a donation from The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. Founded in 1928, The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. (GCG) promotes beautification, conservation, and education. A nonprofit organization, this statewide group has 15,000 members and 550 member clubs. GCG provides annual scholarships for Georgia students pursuing environmentally related fields of study. Youth environmental education efforts are a strong focus for GCG, as well as many conservation outreach projects. For more information about the Garden Club of Georgia, please visit their web site at: www.uga.edu/gardenclub.

McKenna Long & Aldridge is a full-service law firm of 350 lawyers and public policy advisors with offices in Atlanta, Brussels, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The firm provides business solutions in the areas of corporate law, government contracts, intellectual property and technology, complex litigation, public policy and regulatory affairs, international law, real estate, environmental, energy and finance. To learn more about the firm and its services, log onto www.mckennalong.com .

Georgians can support various nongame conservation, education and recreation projects for endangered and other nongame wildlife by purchasing a wildlife license plate for their vehicles, or by donating to the “Give Wildlife a Chance” State Income Tax Checkoff. The primary source of funding for the WRD Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Section, the specialty license plate depicts a bald eagle in front of an American flag.

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