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What connects two young falcons and Acea?

Rome, 1999. A phone rings in a room in the Acea building.
"Hello?"
“Hello, my name is Giacomo Dell'Omo, president of Ornis Italica, an association of volunteers and researchers who have been involved in birds conservation for years. I wanted to propose an initiative: placing nest boxes on top of high voltage pylons."
That is how the cooperation between Acea and the Ornis Italica Association began, with the goal of protecting and safeguarding the peregrine falcon and other wild birds.

The initial project focused on the nesting of the Kestrel, a small falcon found in the countryside and in our towns where it has had considerable success, judging by the rapid increase in the population nesting in Rome and the surrounding area.
A few years later, Acea hit on an idea for an even more challenging objective for environmental protection: to encourage the Peregrine Falcon to nest.

The project wanted to exploit the above ground, water storage tanks scattered throughout Rome, to position some nesting boxes. Peregrine Falcons prefer high, inaccessible places with a clear view of the horizon; therefore, it was likely that these water tanks, rising 90 meters above the level of the surrounding countryside, would be the perfect place for the Peregrine Falcon to nest.

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus, 1771) is a raptor from the Falconidae family, widespread throughout the world: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Oceania.

It takes the scientific name "peregrinus" from the plumage on its head, which looks like the dark hoods worn by the pilgrims in the Middle Ages. It is well-known above all for its high speed. In fact, it is believed it can dive at a maximum speed of 385 km/h, which makes the Peregrine Falcon the fastest animal in the world. Despite its wing spread (usually no more than 110 centimetres), it is a large bird of prey. It also manages to feed on medium sized birds, such as town pigeons, and is fundamental for maintaining the biodiversity of many places.

Courtship begins in January and the female falcons, which are much larger than the males, lay between 2 and 4 eggs. The incubation period lasts between 35-37 days. The young will then be cared for by both parents for approximately 40 days and will finally fly away at the end of June.

For ten years I spent all my winters searching for that restless brilliance, for the sudden passion and violence that peregrines flush from the sky. For ten years I have been looking upward for that cloud-biting anchor shape, that crossbow flinging through the air.

J.A. Baker, The Peregrine

First nesting attempts

The first attempt to encourage the nesting of the Peregrine Falcon was made on the surge tank of the sources in Acqua Vergine on the Salone estate, a green area to the east of the city of Rome. In January 2010, a nesting box was placed at a height of approximately 80 metres above ground level. Ornis researchers were surprised and delighted that after only a few days, the box was occupied by a young couple of Peregrine Falcons, which had been flying around the area for some time and found the nesting box a comfortable, protected place. Thus began the beautiful story of Alex and Vergine, followed by thousands of people all over the world via www.birdcam.it: a webcam giving intriguing details of their daily life filmed inside the nest. And one moment in particular, when the eggs were laid.

The birth of the hawk chicks

The chicks of Acea’s two Peregrine Falcons

Falcons lay their eggs in February and the incubation period lasts until they hatch, usually in April. In 2020, three baby falcons were born and the aficionados following their growth named them Jenny, Zefiro and Nereo.

The birth of Peregrine Falcon chicks is an extraordinary event, which is accompanied each time by a very special event: ringing, an essential practice usually carried out after approximately 30/40 days from birth to enable the falcons to be recognised over time, even during future migrations.

To follow this moment close up, Acea organised an event inside the captation plant of Acqua Vergine to raise environmental awareness among young children, school pupils and naturalist associations. To do this, Acea relied on the competency and communication skills of the Ornis Italica operators, who told interesting stories about their work to help the environment and answered numerous questions from those attending.

Over the years, many Peregrine Falcons have been born in Rome, which has helped repopulate the city, no longer hostile towards their wild lifestyle. And others have come from afar. Another couple of falcons, Annia and Valerio, actually nested on the drinking water tank, which Acea had constructed in the 80s in EUR to the south of Rome in Vigna Murata.

Image of Acea’s piezometer, where the Peregrine Falcons have nested

The falcons chose the two towers of this imposing steel structure as a strategic point, from which to scan their surroundings in search of possible prey, especially pigeons and starlings.

The rise in the number of Peregrine Falcon nests recorded by scholars is a formidable indicator for the city of Rome: after coming close to zero for many years, in 2019, their number has now reached 10-12 couples and represents the most important, urban nesting area for the species in Italy and probably in Europe.
A significant piece of information which, together with the story of the Salone nest, teaches everyone how sustainable technological development and progress can live side by side with nature.

The falcons' glossary

Ringing: this practice enables a tiny, plastic or aluminium ring to be placed around the wild bird's foot, in order to be able to identify it later on.

Hatchling: "helpless young", i.e. the newly hatched chicks, which need their parents to look after them for several days before they can fly.

Ornitology: a branch of zoology that studies birds.