Resident pair of peregrines, 09/BS and 85/AK, nesting on the 15th floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building in HBG, PA. Account run by @PennsylvaniaDEP
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Joined February 2010
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Peregrine falcons don’t just move fast — they see fast.
Their eyes process over 120 images per second, nearly double a human’s.
So when they dive at 200+ mph, the world doesn’t blur.
To them, the dive feels much slower and totally controllable — giving them the precision to hit prey mid‑air.
Nature’s fastest animal… with slow‑motion vision. 🦅💨
#DYK A peregrine falcon’s heart can beat over 600 times per minute during a high‑speed dive—fueling the fastest recorded movement of any animal on Earth.
Hitting prey at 200+ mph would rip a falcon’s legs off.
So when a Peregrine falcon stoops, it doesn't grab—it punches.
It balls its feet into a tight fist and knocks birds right out of the sky. If the collision doesn't kill them, a specialized notch on its beak called a "tomial tooth" instantly severs the prey's spinal cord.
Nature’s original kinetic missile. 🦅💥
🦅 Did you know?
Peregrine falcons can dive at speeds of more than 200 mph—making them one of the fastest animals on Earth.
And here in Pennsylvania, they’ve made a remarkable comeback. After disappearing from the state for nearly 30 years, peregrines were removed from Pennsylvania’s threatened species list in 2021.
That’s conservation in action!
Did you know female peregrines molt their flight feathers during incubation, dropping matching left & right feathers simultaneously to maintain balance in flight? 🦅
09/BS (not pictured) has officially finished her 4-5 month molt and is looking sleek!
After six weeks recovering from a wing injury and learn how to hunt at Red Creek Wildlife Center, Green was released yesterday at Middle Creek.
He came out flying and made straight for the sky.
Green will find prey in his new environment and will honing his hunting skills through the summer.
Many thanks to Red Creek Wildlife Center for the dedication to giving all injured wildlife, including Harrisburg's peregrine falcons, a second chance.
And to @PAGameComm for facilitating Green's release at Middle Creek.
Watch Green fly to freedom here: facebook.com/share/v/1BfPofs…
It was a busy weekend for the Rachel Carson falcons!
One juvie was rescued and is recovering, while the others took big steps in building their flight skills, including a successful first flight for Blue!
Now that all have fledged, the adults are kicking off “flight school.”
Check out the full update on our website for all the details! bit.ly/3DC85rF
The first fledge of 2026 occurred on June 10 at 7:45 pm, when the green-banded (Green) juvenile took to the skies and flew to the church steeple nearby.
Find out what happened 👉 pa.gov/agencies/dep/resident…
And tune in to the FOX43 Morning Show today to learn more about Falcon Watch & Rescue!
Tune in TODAY for the live stream of our Falcon Banding!
May 28 | 10–11:30 AM | on Facebook @PennsylvaniaDEP
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@pagamecomm
@padcnr
ALT Hands wearing red gloves put a band on a baby falcon's leg.
Falcon Chatter retweeted
Today we celebrate Rachel Carson's birthday! Her groundbreaking work still guides environmental action in 2026.
And her book "Silent Spring" helped expose how pesticides like DDT were devastating birds of prey - especially peregrine falcons - and her influence is a big reason these birds have made such a strong comeback. 💪
That recovery is especially close to home at the Rachel Carson State Office Building (our Central Office) where a dedicated falcon family has been nesting for years. This is the perfect nod to Carson’s legacy: the wildlife she fought to protect now thriving right above the building named for her.
And tomorrow, the next chapter continues with this year’s falcon banding! A sweet milestone, as the newest nestlings get their IDs and prepare for their own journeys. And this year we have our 100th bird! 🪺
Happy birthday, Rachel. Your impact lives in our conservation efforts, in our communities, and every year in the little falcons born in Harrisburg.
Tune in 👉 May 28 | 10–11:30 AM | facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDEP…
ALT PA Game Commission handler working with a young falcon.
ALT Rachel Carson's headshot
Falcon Chatter retweeted
Tune in THIS Thursday for the live stream of our Falcon Banding!
May 28 | 10–11:30 AM | on Facebook
facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDEP
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@pagamecomm @padcnr
ALT Man in foreground holding baby falcon; people in background taking photos of them with their phones.
🦅 The baby falcons are growing super fast and flapping their tiny wings around the nest!
Dad is delivering food up to 8 times a day while the hungry eyases compete for every bite as they get stronger for flight. 😴 After all that eating and growing, they love taking naps.
Watch them live on the PA Falcon Cam: bit.ly/DEP-FalconCams
Falcon Chatter retweeted
Do you love watching the baby falcons on the falcon cam? 🪺👀
Do you want to watch them even closer?
We’re looking for Falcon Watch & Rescue volunteers in Harrisburg!
Dates: June 6-24
Times: Shifts between 5:30 AM – 9 PM
Free training provided.
Volunteers watch the young falcons as they learn to fly and hunt.
If needed, select, trained volunteers help fledglings return to their nest box.
Interested adults, please email: [email protected]
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@DCNRnews
@PAGameComm
ALT Falcon perched on ledge of building.
You may have seen the Rachel Carson building falcons referred to as the most productive nest in PA. And for good reason. These falcons have successfully hatched and fledged young every year since 2000. In fact this year's 4th hatch, on Saturday, was the 100th hatch from this nest!
In 27 nesting seasons, 6 different pairs have produced 117 eggs, of which 100 have hatched, and 91 have fledged. 7 offspring from this nest have been identified as nesting adults in 5 states, with four known grandchildren also identified as nesting adults in PA and OH.
Congrats on the 100th hatch!
We have four strong and apparently healthy eyases.
The fourth-hatched chick is noticeably smaller than the older three, but it is successfully claiming its share at feeding.
Keep up with updates daily at bit.ly/DEP-FalconCams
Falcon Chatter retweeted
Egg-citing update: 🐣Our newest residents to the Rachel Carson building have arrived. They're arriving so fast we can't keep up.
Our first hatch of the 2026 season arrived today at 11:20 AM and our second hatch arrived around 1:00 PM. And a third hatch is possible, too!
The brand new eyases appear to be in good condition and began to snuggle up against unhatched siblings in the shelter of Mom's warmth.
Keep an eye out to see who else enters the chat! bit.ly/DEP-FalconCams
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@DCNRnews @PAGameComm @FalconChatter
ALT Mother falcon warming her eggs and new babies in their nest.