LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Two peregrine falcons, a bird of prey almost extinct in the wild this side of the Mississippi River in the early 1970s because of pesticides, will be calling Rock City home for the next couple of weeks as they are prepared for their release from atop Lookout Mountain.
The release will be the third since 2006 on Lookout Mountain by Save Our American Raptors, an organization that partners with Rock City and conducts shows there with captive birds of prey.
“We just feel like this is an obligation of ours as ongoing stewards of preservation and conservation to really try to make an impact where an impact is needed,” said Andrew Kean, president of See Rock City Inc. “This is something we hope to continue to do over time.”
The other two falcon releases resulted in the peregrines living up to their name – “peregrine” means “wanderer.” The three falcons from the previous releases left the region.
“Since we have a void in the Chattanooga area of nesting pairs, we’re hoping that one of these two will make it and come back in a couple of years and nest in this general area,” said John Stokes, vice president of the raptors group.