Endangered Falcons Released In New Mexico

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (AP) – Eleven captive-bred aplomado falcon chicks got a first glimpse of their new home on the edge of White Sands Missile Range. But it was only a glimpse.

Biologists had planned to set the birds in boxes several feet above the desert floor so they could begin to get acclimated to their new home. But two days of rain resulted in a swarm of harvester ants that were looking for high ground. And that meant the boxes.

Biologists didn’t want to take a chance with the young birds. A Peregine Fund biologist will monitor the ants to determine when he can put the birds in their boxes.

He said that could be a day or two.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-NY-07-06-07 1915EDT