Leave No Chick Behind: Rescuers Save a Life

For Dan Haas, it started with just a glimpse of two peregrine falcons circling near the Severn River Bridge. Ever since, he has had a compulsive need to return to the bridge, camping out along the base in the morning and after work to admire and worry about the rare birds.

Since bird-watchers and wildlife officials discovered the family nesting at the bridge, the falcons have won many local fans, perhaps none as infatuated as Haas. He has documented the birds' adventures in extensive detail and posted pictures on his Web site.

He and others have been particularly attentive to the family's fledgling chick, eventually named Charlotte, who made herself all the more endearing after falling and being rescued twice from the river.

Until 1999, falcons were listed by the federal government as an endangered species. They are still relatively rare, both in Maryland and elsewhere. Craig Koppie, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, said he and state officials are monitoring about 20 pairs, mostly in coastal plain areas away from cities.

Officials first heard of a peregrine falcon sighting near the Severn River Bridge last year but found nothing conclusive. Then in June, following reports from Haas and others about a pair of falcons circling the span, Koppie went out with others to determine if they had nested and whether any chicks had hatched.

Stepping onto the metal walkway underneath the bridge, Koppie searched for signs of a falcon nest and eggshell fragments. Near the bridge's highest point, he found an area that the falcons had fashioned into a nest using sand that had been spread on the icy road surface last winter. There were no pieces of eggshells, however.

"I checked every little cubbyhole possible, but no sign of chicks, just that one nesting area," he said.

Just as Koppie was getting ready to leave, the crew working with him on the river below spotted a little falcon on the cement footer at the base of the bridge. The chick had apparently tried to fly for the first time that morning, Koppie said, and became stranded.

Peregrines typically nest high on cliffs, where their young can glide and coast on winds while they learn to fly. Being stuck on low ground spelled trouble for the fledgling, which could drown or be eaten by predators such as dogs, cats and raccoons.

As Koppie and others tried to capture her, the fledgling fell into the water. They fished the chick out and returned her to the nest.

A few days later, as Haas was watching the chick hopping on the bridge, she flew down again, this time becoming stranded on a nearby pier. Haas, an Annapolis musician who also works for an education supply company, raced to a friend's house and together they rushed to the pier by boat, only to find the chick floating on the water.

Haas, 35, dived into the river and heaved the bird into the boat.

"I think the poor bird tried to perch on one of those yellow floaty things on the river and sank," Haas said. "It was the most unbelievable experience ever. I had no idea if she would bite me or what."

Haas called Koppie for advice, and Koppie arrived a little later. They set the fledgling on the ground and watched for a few hours as she hopped around while her parents circled overhead and screamed. Eventually, the chick flew about 150 yards to rocks just beneath the bridge.

"That just took a lot of pressure off everybody because now we knew the fledgling would be okay, that it would be able to fly back up," Koppie said.

In recent days, the fledgling has been flying considerably better, and in coming months the birds probably will be migrating from the area, Koppie said. Still, Koppie plans to install a nesting box on the bridge to make it a little safer for the falcons as they often return to the same spot.

Meanwhile, Haas said he's already rescheduling his vacation plans next year to make time for bird-watching in case the falcons return.

"I'm hoping to get some funding together to add a little nest video cam, too, so people can check in on them from time to time," he said. "I'm telling you, the next little chick they have is going to be a celebrity."