Missouri conservation staff tracking peregrine falcons in Kansas City
Peregrine falcons could become a more common sight in the Kansas City area and elsewhere statewide as the conservation department's peregrine falcon nesting program takes flight.
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Kansas City was included in the nesting program in 2019, and this month, the department has been providing updates as it works to grow the population of peregrine falcons in the state, a species labeled a 'conservation concern.'
Earlier this month, conservation department staff and a representative from the U.S. Department of Agriculture met up on the rooftop of the Shook, Hardy and Bacon law firm building in Kansas City to place leg bands on three peregrine falcon chicks living in a nesting box. The department shared on Facebook recently that they offer the nesting boxes as a safer alternative for falcons that have historically built their nests on cliffs and ledges.
Leg bands have been placed on several young falcons this month, the department said, in an effort to keep track of where the birds go once they leave the nest. The leg bands are large enough to fit the birds as they grow into adults and included identification numbers, the department said.
This week, the department included an update that staff members added leg bands to three more chicks, this time at Evergy's Hawthorn station in Kansas City.
'MDC staff recently banded peregrine falcon chicks at EVERGY's Hawthorn Generating Station in Kansas City,' the department posted on Facebook Wednesday. 'There were 2 males and 1 female, all in excellent health. EVERGY staff hold their newest family members with great pride.'
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Here are some facts about peregrine falcons, provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Cornell Lab:
One of the world's fastest birds, peregrine falcons can reach speeds of 200 mph as they dive toward their prey from a high-up location.
The species was nearly eradicated because of side-effects of DDT and other pesticides in the middle of the 20th century.
They hunt starlings, pigeons and other smaller birds seen in the city.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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