GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — A young peregrine falcon was released back to his nest Monday morning after making a full recovery at a wildlife rehabilitation center.
Earlier this month, the injured falcon was found on the ground in Downtown Grand Rapids. He was taken in by the Wildlife Rehab Center in Grand Rapids, and later transferred to Wildside Rehab in Eaton Rapids.
The falcon called a bird box on top of the GVSU Eberhard Center home. The box was put there around 2012 as a way to restore the endangered species. There is also a falcon box on top of the Kent County Courthouse.
"It just stayed there for a second or two," said Nik Kalejs, the wildlife biologist for the Michigan DNR that cares for the box. "Did just what it was supposed to do: flew out of there very strong and well. Looks like this one won’t have any more trouble, at least we hope."
The bird appeared to have hit a building when flying, which caused its injuries. That can sometimes happen to the birds as they learn to fly. This injured falcon was hatched at the end of May, one of four offspring at the GVSU site.
"Slowly but surely, the ones that were released had offspring and started to return to these areas," Kalejs said. "Some of the artificial nest structures, like the one on top of the GVSU Eberhard center, have really facilitated that because they like high places. They’re naturally a cliff nesting bird. There aren’t any cliffs here in Grand Rapids, but there’s plenty of tall buildings."
RELATED VIDEO: Peregrine Falcon rescue
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.