Young peregrine falcons across Ohio have fledged, marking the end of the 2011 nesting season. There were
39 sites with territorial pairs, of which 34 nests produced eggs. There were an additional five sites
with single peregrines present.
In Wood County, the four baby falcons may have left the nest, but at least three haven’t gotten far from
home.
Earlier this summer, all four eggs hatched from the peregrine falcon pair living in the clock tower of
the Wood County Courthouse. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources staff banded the babies, all four
which were female.
The babies are now quite capable of flying, but most of them haven’t flown too far from the coup. Darcy
Wilhelm, of the county commissioners office, said Aug. 5 that earlier in the week she had seen three of
the young falcons roosting on top of the old jail next to the courthouse.
"We’re seeing less and less of them," she said.
But occasionally, the youngsters can be seen perched on the courthouse clock face or one of the lights.

"They kind of have their favorite spots," Wilhelm said.
The offspring are getting so large that it is sometimes hard to differentiate between the parents and
their babies, she added.
Throughout Ohio this year there were 34 nest sites where an estimated 111 eggs were produced; 26 of those
nests hatched young falcons and 24 sites fledged 67 juveniles successfully. The 2011 hatch rate was 70
percent, up slightly from 2010 (67 percent). Additionally, there were two new sites with territorial
pairs across the state this year from the 37 pairs in 2010.
The first pair of peregrines nested in Ohio in 1988 at the Commodore Perry Hotel in Toledo. From
1989-1993, along with several other Midwestern states, the Ohio Division of Wildlife tracked 46 birds
throughout the state. Peregrine falcons were delisted as a federal endangered species in 1999, and
down-listed in Ohio to state threatened in 2008. Peregrines remain on the state threatened list and the
Division of Wildlife continues to monitor the population.
Ohio’s peregrine falcon program is supported by the state income tax check-off program, donations to the
Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species Fund, and sales of the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp, and the
cardinal license plate. Individuals wanting to donate can also make an online contribution at
wildohio.com.
Matching federal funds are provided through the State Wildlife Grant Program for this project and other
wildlife diversity efforts of the Division of Wildlife that target species of greatest conservation
need.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources web site can be visited at www.ohiodnr.com.