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After a day-long detour and health check-up, one of the three remaining peregrine falcon chicks that made a recess in OCBC Centre their home took flight once more on Wednesday (April 8), according to the National Parks Board (NParks).<\/p>\n
The fledgling, tagged as “G00” by NParks via a green tag around its leg, was found by the public at South Bridge Road a day prior.<\/p>\n
NParks shared with the media that falcon G00 was found on Tuesday evening and promptly picked up by NParks contractors who then brought it to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
The bird was responsive to food, which is “always a good sign”, said Dr Malcom Soh, the principal researcher for Wildlife Management Research at NParks.<\/p>\n
“Just this morning, when they checked it, it was still active and doing well,” Dr Soh told the media on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“That’s why we’re able to release it today.”<\/p>\n
Before they let the bird go, however, NParks placed a Bluetooth tracker on the falcon’s tail feathers.<\/p>\n
This tracker is not a permanent addition, Dr Soh assured, explaining that the object weighs around two grams and will drop off as the bird ages and moults.<\/p>\n
Information on the bird’s location and flight patterns will be collected so that NParks can learn more about them, Soh added.<\/p>\n
“It gives us very good information on the natal dispersal of the bird,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We don’t know anything about how far these juveniles disperse from their nesting site, so that sort of information will be very useful to better this particular species.”<\/p>\n
Last Saturday (April 4), a peregrine falcon chick was found dead in the Central Business District<\/a>.<\/p>\n The chick was part of a full clutch of four which hatched on Feb 20 and 22. One was seen on a 24\/7 live stream taking its maiden flight on April 3.<\/p>\n “As the rest of the fledglings continue to embark on test flights, they may accidentally find themselves on the ground,” said Dr Soh.<\/p>\n Should members of the public see any falcon fledglings on the ground, they are urged to contact NParks’ Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.<\/p>\n [[nid:730929]]<\/p>\n