Photo: Courtesy of Norwood Conservation Commission
NORWOOD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Peregrine falcons are making the top Norwood Memorial Municipal Building, also known as the Carillon Tower, their very own home... and you can watch.
The Norwood Conservation Commission installed a peregrine falcon nesting box on top of the building after Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game officials alerted the commission that the birds were seen perched on the tower. The birds are thought to have made the tall building their home since it mimics their natural habitat.
"Peregrine falcons like rocky cliffs. As the state has urbanized they have adapted very well to using tall buildings," Conservation Agent Holly Jones told WBZ's Chris Fama.
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DFG gave the town of Norwood the nesting box to give the birds a safe place to nest while they could be observed. There is a camera attached to the box for easy public observation.
Photo: Getty Images
"Many people in Norwood have gotten excited about this, it's just genuinely cool, but it's also just a great learning opportunity for kids as well as adults," said Jones.
In the 1940s, the pesticide DDT posed a threat to the falcons. Since then, conservation efforts took place and young falcons were released in downtown Boston in 1984 and 1985, leading to the first modern Massachusetts nest in 1987, according to DFG.
Putting the box on the tall building posed a challenge. Fortunately, there was already a crane on site used to take the fire bell down just two weeks prior.
The town now watches to see what the falcons think of their new home.
WBZ's Chris Fama (CFamaWBZ) reports:
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