HIGH IN THE SKIES ABOVE GRANDFATHER 

     One of the most majestic of all birds is now circling in the bright blue skies above Grandfather Mountain here in Western North Ccarolina.  And this Summer, a pair of peregine falcoms have successfully raised two young chicks, deep in the backcountry of that mile-high mountain.  This is the first time in the five years the peregines have been documented on Grandfather that they've been able to raise young chicks, to the point where they could survive on their own.

     The peregrine falcons were RE-introduced at Grandfather in 1984...and since then, four successful nests have been discovered in the area, although it is likely there have been others that have remained undiscovered.

     Peregrines were first placed on the "endangered lists" in 1970, when there were only 100 known peregrines living in the wild in the whole Eastern United States.

     So, with this Summer's successful "raising" of the chicks, visitors to the "mile-high swinging bridge" atop Grandfather may soon be lucky  enough to see this truly regal and powerful bird gliding gracefully above mile-high mountains and woods...again, in Western North Carolina. 

     Many other types of wild birds, once very common in Western North Carolina, are now being seen less and less...wild birds like the ringneck pheasant, grouse, the bob white quail...some are even concerned about the future of wild turkeys in our region. 

     But at least for now, glorious Grandfather Mountain is home again...to some very young and promising peregrine falcon chicks.

     BOB WHITE QUAIL, GROUSE, PHEASANT, WILD TURKEYS 

By Larry Freeman