Onlookers cheer, wipe away tears as injured peregrine falcon, now recovered, is released at...

[Omaha Steve]

Our house is ten minutes away from the Fontenelle Forest’s Raptor Recovery: http://www.fontenelleforest.org/raptor-recovery

By Joe Duggan / World-Herald Bureau Updated 1 hr ago

LINCOLN — A peregrine falcon found injured about four months ago took wing today to perfect blue skies above the Nebraska State Capitol.

Volunteers and staff with Fontenelle Forest’s Raptor Recovery released the male peregrine known as 19/K outside the 14th floor of the state’s most iconic building. Onlookers, some wiping away tears, cheered as the bird took flight and soared to the north of the Capitol tower.

Raptor Recovery nursed the 15-year-old bird after it was found with a dislocated left wing, most likely injured in a hunting mishap. Surgery, rest and rehab returned the “celebrity falcon” to health, said Betsy Finch, director of the organization.

The falcon has sired close to two dozen chicks from a nesting box on the Capitol Building with a female peregrine called Ally. The female was able to successfully fledge the one chick the pair had hatched this year.

FULL story: http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/onlookers-cheer-wipe-away-tears-as-injured-peregrine-falcon-now/article_94e99868-ab98-5f4d-bfb0-6e2a2b3eafdd.html

[TXCritter]

1. It's an awesome experience