A rare peregrine falcon that nests every year on the railroad bridge beneath Chickamauga Dam is apparently alive after all.

For two weeks area birdwatchers had presumed that the male peregrine they call "Roi" was dead since he had not been sighted since May 20, and he should be helping feed his chick.

This is a picture taken of Roi in the summer of 2006, feeding one of his young in mid-air. Photo by Charles Dean

Tuesday however it was learned that on May 20th an injured peregrine falcon was taken to the Chattanooga Zoo after flying into a home near Chattanooga's Engel Stadium. Zoo officials took the bird on to the Clinch River Rehabilitation Center near Knoxville.

Today Bob Hatcher, a retired TWRA biologist and now-consultant to the American Eagle Foundation provides an update on Roi's condition after he spoke with officials at the Clinch River Rehab Center.

"The adult peregrine male (Roi) had some broken bone(s) near the end of its wing," said Hatcher. "The University of Tennessee Vet School has pinned the broken bone(s) and have the wing secured externally. I understand the bird is still at the vet school."

It apparently takes 4 - 6 weeks before the pins can be removed and about another 4 weeks for it to recover after that. During recovery, it needs approximately a 100-foot long flight pen, in which to fly and exercise its wing, but they don't have such a large flight pen at the Clinch River facility.

It's not clear yet if Roi will be returned to Chattanooga to be released or not (assuming he is able).

The peregrine is already considered very old according to biologists. His band indicates that he was part of a restoration program conducted in Chattanooga in 1993. That means he is at least 14 years old.

Hatcher said, "If Roi is already 14 years old, it is already well past the normal maximum age of peregrine falcons. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the longevity record for North American Peregrine Falcons is almost 17 years, but few wild Peregrine Falcons live that long."

Veterinarians and biologists with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will likely be consulting on Roi's future.

Meanwhile the female peregrine birdwatchers call "Dreama" continues to care for the single chick in the nest site beneath Chickamauga Dam. A railroad worker climbed the railroad trestle early last week confirming there is one peregrine chick this year. This is only one of two known peregrine falcon nests in the State of Tennessee.

Photo by Dave Browning