Keep an Eye on the Skies: Peregrine Falcons Nesting in Downtown Tucson

Left: Courtesy of Lynn Huggins, Marketing Manager of Bourn Companies. A mother Pelegrine Falcon sitting atop of 2 E Congress. Right: Stock image. Before fledglings take their first flights, Peregrine Falcon parents spend weeks feeding, protecting, and caring for their young in the nest.

A new generation may be taking flight in Downtown Tucson!

Congress Street is making room for a new resident of the avian variety! Perched high above downtown on top of 2 E Congress, a Peregrine Falcon has made Tucson its home for another nesting season. This feathered friend has been spotted watching over her territory from above. And if timing is right, she may not be alone for much longer!

Stock image. Young Peregrine Falcon fledglings often retain fluffy white down feathers after leaving the nest, giving them a scruffier appearance than their adult counterparts.

June is typically when young Peregrine Falcons begin leaving the nest for the first time, meaning downtown visitors could soon spot a few fledglings taking their first steps (and flights) into the world! Before you start imagining graceful aerial acrobatics, it is worth noting that young fledglings are a little less polished than their parents. Newly fledged birds often look a bit scruffy with patches of white down still clinging to their feathers. Their wings can appear a bit oversized, their tails may seem just a hair too short, and they often spend time hopping, balancing, and figuring out how this whole “flying” thing works. In other words, they are still learning! This learning process sometimes means a fledgling may be spotted on a sidewalk, balcony, rooftop, or other unexpected downtown location. While the instinct to help these fluffy friends out can be strong, wildlife experts urge the public not to intervene.

Peregrine Falcons are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and in Arizona they are recognized as protected birds of prey. It is illegal to handle a fledgling, remove it from the area, feed it, collect its feathers, or disturb the nesting site. Most importantly, if a young falcon appears to be alone, chances are that mom is not too far behind!

If you encounter a young falcon that appears injured or is in immediate danger, contact Arizona Game & Fish at 602-236-7201 or Tucson Wildlife Center at 520-290-9453 rather than attempting to help yourself.

The best thing you can do is give these remarkable birds plenty of space and enjoy the rare opportunity to witness a little bit of wild Arizona unfolding right in the heart of downtown Tucson. After all, not every downtown neighborhood comes with its own resident falcon family!