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Young falcon found dead on Meridian

July 8, 2006

By Aldrich M. Tan
aldrich.tan@indystar.com

One of the three peregrine falcons hatched this year in a nest atop Market Tower was found dead Friday, apparently hit by a car as she swooped down for a pigeon on Meridian Street.

"She was a beautiful bird," falcon watcher Laura James-Reim said. "She was big, dark-colored and had feisty eyes."

Richard Kinnett knew the call Friday could only mean bad news.

An official with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources was on the line. The agency had received an anonymous tip that a falcon had been run over.

Kinnett, who reported on the falcons for IndyStar.com's Falcon Blog along with James-Reim, found Alexa in the 1400 block of Meridian Street. He knew it was her because of her identification band, M/62. A dead pigeon lay a foot away.

"I assume she was chasing that pigeon when the vehicle hit her," Kinnett said.

Mortality during falcons' first year of life is higher than 50 percent, said DNR biologist John Castrale. "They're still inexperienced," he said. "It's not unusual for birds to run into trouble or get hit by cars."

Alexa was born in April in a nest box the DNR set up on the 31st floor of the Market Tower building at Market and Illinois streets. She was the last falcon to leave, James-Reim said. "We used to joke that she would hang a sign saying 'Alexa's Place' because she didn't want to leave."

Alexa's siblings, Tetsuko and Morley, and her parents, Kinney and Kathy Q, have left the Downtown nest, and their whereabouts are unknown, James-Reim said.

Alexa's remains are with Kinnett, who is waiting for further instructions from Castrale.

If the carcass is in good shape, the agency will donate it to a museum, Castrale said. If not, the falcon will be buried.