SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) - One of the falcon chicks perched on San Jose City Hall is taking flight for the first time this week. Unfortunately, the young bird had a few mishaps its first time out.
The male baby falcon flew from the top of City Hall and landed without any problems in a pine tree at San Jose State University.
However, the return flight was a different story altogether.
The baby falcon missed his landing spot and smacked into the building, fluttering down to the ground. "Fortunately, we had a volunteer, ran from the top of the fourth story garage, found him in the street, picked him, put him in the box and we decided that he would stay in the City Attorney's office overnight," explains a city worker.
The baby bird was returned to his nest the next day.
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Falcon experts say this type of behavior is not at all uncommon among young falcons, who are usually better at flying and a little less equipped to manage their landings. "His feathers are still growing so his feathers are maybe 3/8 in. longer every day, so we're trying to just have a happy ending here," offered Glenn Stewart with the Predatory Bird Research Group.
Meanwhile, the city has announced the winners of the falcon naming contest. The male baby falcon has been named Mercury, and his two sisters were named Cielo and Mayye.
KCBS' Matt Bigler reports
