SDOT's Peregrine Falcons

Updated May 25, 2006

The Ballard and West Seattle Bridges have become home to the newest members of Seattle’s peregrine falcon community.

In Ballard, a female chick hatched earlier this week. She is a third generation Seattleite according to Falcon Research Group volunteers who monitor the raptors. The Group reports that the chick’s ancestors resided on the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge, and on the Washington Mutual Tower. This is the first year that a chick has been born to falcons nesting on the Ballard Bridge.

Four female chicks were born earlier this spring from peregrine falcons nesting under the high level West Seattle Bridge. Although falcons have resided on the West Seattle Bridge for six years, chicks have only been born there during the last two years.

Falcon Research Group volunteers track the movements of the birds by reading ID bands they have fastened on the legs of the falcons.

The Ballard Bridge and West Seattle Bridge falcon chicks are not visible from the street but you can see them here.

Click on each image to view a larger version.

Photos by Martin Muller of the Falcon Research Group.