Peregrines Making a Comeback in Pennsylvania

Peregrines Making a Comeback in Pennsylvania

Energy company provides habitat for endangered falcons; video footage available

ALLENTOWN, Pa., June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Four fuzzy, white chicks are making history high atop PPL Corporation's headquarters in downtown Allentown, Pa. -- they are Lehigh County's first nesting pair of peregrine falcons in at least 50 years.

The chicks, which hatched shortly after Mother's Day, should be ready to fly around Father's Day.

In the wild, falcons nest on high cliffs. In city settings, tall buildings make a suitable alternative, so in 1995, PPL's environmental management team began raising young peregrine falcons from the top of the 322-foot building in the hopes that the falcons would come back to the area.

Last year, a pair of falcons took up residence in a nesting box on a parapet outside the 23rd floor of the building, and this year they welcomed their first chicks.

Peregrine falcons are endangered in Pennsylvania. PPL dedicates resources to enhance habitat for threatened or endangered wildlife and works with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and other conservationists to monitor their progress.

In 2000, there were only 10 active nest sites in Pennsylvania. By 2007, the number of active nest sites had increased to 24 -- four of which are at PPL facilities.

   PPL has made b-roll footage of the young falcons available on Pathfire.   1. In the DMG Content Provider Panel, select News, Video News Feeds, VNF      Provider A.   2. Select the "Peregrine Falcons make history" tab.   3. Double-click on the Slug to preview the package contents.     Peregrine falcon facts:   -- In Pennsylvania, peregrines typically return to their nesting sites and      begin mating around Valentine's Day.   -- The eggs begin hatching around Mother's Day and the chicks are ready to      fly just in time for Father's Day.   -- Peregrine falcons are the world's fastest bird, reaching speeds of more      than 200 mph when they dive for their prey.   -- Peregrine falcons feed chiefly on hundreds of different kinds of birds,      but their favorite prey is the feral pigeon. This is one reason why      peregrines often nest in cities.    

For more information about peregrine falcons, go to www.birdsofpreyatppl.com.

PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL) , headquartered in Allentown, Pa., controls more than 11,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to about 4 million customers in Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom. More information is available at www.pplweb.com.

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Source: PPL Corporation

CONTACT: Lissette Santana of PPL Corporation, +1-610-774-5997, or Fax
+1-610-774-5281

Web site: http://www.pplweb.com/
http://www.birdsofpreyatppl.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Visit PPL's media Web site at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news and background about the corporation and its subsidiaries.

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