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From Facebook. Posted by Red Creek Wildlife Center.
By Amy Marchiano / RepublicHerald
A female peregrine falcon that nests on the ledge of the Rachel Carson State Office Building in downtown Harrisburg is recuperating at Red Creek Wildlife Center after an injury. Peggy Hentz, founder and director of the center, said a vet told her Wednesday that the falcon’s prognosis of flying again “is guarded.”
Hentz said it’ unlikely the falcon will fly but “there is still hope.”
It’s not known how the 12-year-old falcon, banded as 48/AE in a joint effort by the state Department of Environmental Protection and Game Commission, was hurt.
Dr. Len Donato of Radnor Veterinary Hospital in Wayne, Delaware County, examined and X-rayed the bird Wednesday.
He diagnosed her with a dislocated left shoulder with torn tendons and ligaments. Hentz said a dislocated shoulder prevents birds from gaining lift to fly.
The falcon is to rest in a cage for three weeks but will be seen again next week and then later in the month. “We will give her all the time she needs to heal,” Hentz said. “Soft tissue injuries take almost twice as long to heal.”
When staff members at the center in Wayne Twp. think the falcon is ready, they will take her to the flight cage to see if she can fly.
Call leads to rescueBert Myers, director of environmental education with DEP, called Hentz on Monday about the falcon.
Hentz said 48/AE had been on the Harrisburg Transportation Center building since Saturday and was seeking shade near a chimney on the hot roof.
“She obviously appeared injured,” Hentz said.
Myers said that he called Hentz about the situation after a group, Falcon Watch and Rescue, noticed 48/AE not moving from the roof. The group had been monitoring the bird since Saturday. The falcon had been seen over the weekend in a scuffle with turkey vultures at the nest site, which currently has two fledglings. Myers said he doesn’t know how 48/AE sustained her injuries.
The nest had four fledglings earlier in the year, but one, named Blue, died. Another one, Red, is also at Red Creek due to dehydration and could be returned to the nest this week. The other two, Green and Yellow, are at the nest along with 85/AK, an older male that has been on the nest for two years.
“He’s stepped up,” Hentz said. “He’s taking care of them. He’s been seen on the camera delivering food frequently,”
The female falcon eventually attempted to fly to the Carson building but glided to the street, where Hentz and a volunteer from the rescue group caught her. The falcon was briefly examined and then transported to Red Creek.
When captured, it was trying to defend itself, Hentz said. The car ride to Schuylkill County was a quiet one. “It was very calm, which is not typical for this bird,” she said.
Upon arrival at the center, the “extremely dehydrated” falcon was given fluids and cream for burns on the feet from being on the hot roof.
Myers said that he is holding out hope for 48/AE’s return to the nest, which has been there since 1996. Baby falcons, called eyas, made their first appearance in 2000, Myers said.
The female falcon is the fourth one to call the nest home. The male falcon is the third. If needed, Myers said a new female can use the nest. However, he said it’s unlikely another would anytime soon because they have their own nesting sites.
To learn more about peregrine falcons, visit www.pgc.pa.gov or www.dep.pa.gov. Hentz said the center has spent about $300 this year on medical care and associated costs for the falcons.
To donate, visit redcreekwildlifecenter.com or Red Creek Wildlife Center on Facebook. 
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