Biologists rescue young falcon that fell from nest at San Jose City Hall

In a mix of incidents described by animal rescuers as rare, two young peregrine falcons fell from their nests within the Bay Area this week – and were each reunited with their families.

A falcon named Lucia, a part of a Family that plays the important role on San Jose City Hall's popular hawk cam, fell from an 18th-floor ledge near his nest.

The young bird of prey, who’s near with the ability to fly, was present in an alcove at City Hall on Friday by volunteers who were tracking the progress of him and his three sisters, Alma, Zoe and Luna, toward flight, in response to a city Facebook page. The 4 falcons hatched in May and Females typically begin to fly just over six weeks after hatching.

“She will need to stay there, cover herself for the night, and be fed by a parent for a few more days so the wing feathers can grow an additional 1/4 inch each day for optimal flight AND a little fluttering to keep the wings strong,” a post on the town's website said. San Jose City Hall Falcons Page.

Late Saturday morning, the page was updated to report that Lucia was getting “a little nervous.”

Earlier this week, one other hawk that might not yet fly from a lesser-known family somewhere in San Mateo County fell from a 100-foot-high nest on Caltrans property, the Peninsula Humane Society reported. A biologist brought the bird to the Humane Society, where staff found it was dehydrated. “Fluids were administered,” the Humane Society said in an emailed statement. After the hawk was stabilized, UC Santa Cruz biologists and Caltrans staff reunited the bird with its family.

“It looks like these babies caught spring fever and are trying to leave the nest a little early,” said Colleen Crowley, spokeswoman for the Peninsula Humane Society.

Peregrine falcons are considered the fastest birds on the planet and might Speeds of virtually 200 miles per hour while diving. The species was nearly worn out, together with bald eagles and brown pelicans, by the now-banned pesticide DDT, which thinned eggshells. All three species have recovered. Peregrine falcons were faraway from the endangered species list in 1999.

Webcams of peregrine falcon nests are very talked-about, including those on the Campanile Tower at UC Berkeley and, since May, on Alcatraz Island.