A Peregrine Mission
On August 26, 2010, the Edmonton Fire Rescue’s Technical Rescue Team rappelled down the High Level Bridge to install housing nests for a pair of nesting peregrine falcons. Gordon Court, a Wildlife Biologist with the Government of Alberta, asked the Technical Rescue Team to help give the falcon’s a safe, clean, dry environment to raise their young.
Firefighters often rescue animals that end up in dangerous situations—this is part of Fire Rescue’s mission to protect life, property and the environment in our city. Installing these nests and working with Gordon, though, was a first for the fire department’s technical rescue team, and a completely different exercise than your average animal rescue.
Gordon has worked as a biologist with the Province of Alberta for over 15 years and has worked overseas in places like New Zealand and Antarctica. He is Alberta’s voting member on the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, and runs the process for the province to identify both threatened and endangered species.
Gordon encourages Edmontonians to take advantage of the opportunity to experience urban wildlife. In Spring 2011, there will likely be baby peregrine falcons hanging out in the nesting boxes on the High Level Bridge. The best places to view the birds are from the LRT when it crosses beside the bridge, and on River Road and 109 Street.
Check out the 2 videos below. The first video is about the peregrine falcons and the firefighters installing the nesting boxes. The second video features Gordon and what he enjoys about working in Edmonton.
