Baby Falcon Rescued from Bay

Thanks to the San Francisco Fire Department and a Good Samaritan, a baby Falcon was rescued over the weekend.

On Friday, May 21, Rachel, the 6 week old chick, was found in the Bay and brought to the San Francisco Fire Department for help.

Rachel was taken to the Bay Area Raptor Rescue, and thankfully, SFFD announced on Twitter that she has a clean bill of health and she was released back to her nesting area, which is on top of the PG&E headquarters in San Francisco.

You can follow the adventures of Rachel and other falcons on top of the PG&E building (they have their own webcam!) from Jim Dikel and Falcon Watch & Chat (Alison).

According to PG&E, California’s peregrine falcon population were was once near extinction. Between World War II and the 1970s, the peregrine falcon population nearly disappeared due to toxic chemicals. But thanks to the Endangered Species Act and the good work of groups such as the PBRG, there are now about 300 pairs of peregrine falcons in California.

Falcons have been nesting on PG&E’s 77 Beale Street headquarters most years since 2004, producing more than 45 falcon chicks in the last decade alone.

Last night #SFFDFS35 got an unexpected visitor. This “months old” baby Falcon was rescued by a Good Samaritan out of the bay water and delivered to us.
We just heard from Bay Area Raptor Rescue the Falcon has a clean bill of health and will be released to its nesting area. pic.twitter.com/CyDj0wfNTm

— SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) May 22, 2021

PG&E Falcons update: Yesterday, Rachel had fledged, she was on nearby buildings, but later on it was reported that she was rescued by the Fire dept from water at Embarcadero, under the bay bridge. She was taken to ‘Wildcare’ for a check up & was then returned to the nest. pic.twitter.com/3743QSgmVZ

— Falcon Watch & Chat (Alison) (@Falconwatch_) May 23, 2021