Donald Sweig asked me to post this message about Montgomery County peregrines.

----- Original Message ----- 

I noticed the other day that the Maryland Highway Department was about to begin long-term maintenance on the American Legion Bridge.  As I had been keeping track of the two adult peregrines that have been hanging around that bridge for months, and hoping to soon see them nest there, I was alarmed that the bridge work would disturb the falcons.  I contacted the Maryland Department of Natural Resources ( the bridge is in Maryland).  I was quickly reassured that the DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had been under the bridge last Tuesday  with the contractor  and that the peregrines were not as of then on eggs. So the bridge work will proceed and they hope to have a special nesting box installed under the bridge for the peregrines to use for next year's breeding season.  It is quite reassuring that the MD. DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are on top of this issue and looking out for the peregrines. Not to worry, the matter is under control.
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Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.