Information sought on fatal shooting of peregrine falcon

Indiana DNR Release:

DNR Law Enforcement seeks information on the fatal shooting of a peregrine falcon that was found injured in Floyd County near the I-64 bridge in New Albany on Dec. 22 of last year.

The bird, which was found to be a captive-bred injured female, was brought to the Hardy Lake Raptor Rehabilitation Center that night by Indiana Conservation Officer Gary Pennington. The center’s personnel took the falcon to a local veterinarian, whose X-ray determined the bird had been shot. The falcon died Dec. 31.

According to John Castrale, the DNR’s nongame bird biologist, the falcon, which he banded and released in Evansville in 1994, had not been reported since 1995. The bird was named Phoenix, and may have been nesting in the New Albany/Louisville area where pairs breed on tall buildings and under bridges. Most peregrine falcons are banded as nestlings and later identification can be made if individuals can be approached. The biologist said the bird was relatively old for the species. The oldest he’s aware of in the Midwest lived to age 19.

Peregrine falcons were removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999 but remain a state endangered species in Indiana.

Anyone with information about this shooting should call 1-800-TIP-IDNR (847-4367) or go online to TIP.IN.gov.

Lt. Mark Farmer, public information officer for DNR Law Enforcement, said combined federal and state penalties for a conviction could result in a fine of $15,000, six months incarceration and loss of equipment.

Information about the Midwest peregrines (including a searchable database) can be found at http://www.midwestperegrine.org/