University of California scientists on Monday will put identification tags on four baby falcons nesting atop a high-rise building ledge in downtown San Francisco.
The falcons are perched on the 33rd floor of the PG&E building at 77 Beale St.
Scientists from the UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group will place one band on each of the birds’ legs: one with a phone number to call if found, the other a visual identification that can be read from afar with binoculars, according to PG&E.
The bands are used to learn about how the population of the endangered peregrine falcon is recovering. The birds are an endangered species in California. There are an estimated 250 nesting pairs left in the state.
Scientists credit the partial recovery of the birds to the banning of the pesticide DDT.
To view the UC Santa Cruz “falcon cam,” visit http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/nestcamSF.htm. The banding will take place at noon Monday.
