Three young peregrine falcons were successfully released back into the wild in Brussels over the weekend after a fall from their nest disrupted their early development.
The birds, which had not yet learned to fly, were discovered at the Infrabel railway site in Haren after falling from a nesting site located beneath the Haren viaduct.
The rescue operation was coordinated by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, who transported the vulnerable chicks to the Anderlecht bird sanctuary for rehabilitation.
Over a three-week period, the young raptors were nursed back to health under the care of wildlife specialists at the sanctuary. Once deemed strong enough, the decision was made to release them just a few metres from their original nest, on the rooftop of a building at the Infrabel site.
According to a statement from Infrabel, the release was carried out discreetly and with minimal disturbance to ensure the least amount of stress on the birds.
“We wanted to give them the best chance to reconnect with their parents and begin their first flight naturally,” the railway operator explained.
The nest’s location under the Haren viaduct is part of a broader trend in urban wildlife resurgence. Brussels is now home to 15 peregrine falcon pairs—a remarkable figure for a species that was once on the brink of extinction.
Known as the “king of the sky” for their extraordinary speed and aerial hunting abilities, peregrine falcons are not just admired for their majesty but also valued for their ecological role. Ornithologists consider them crucial indicators of a healthy urban ecosystem.
In the latter half of the 20th century, the species faced severe threats from habitat loss and pesticide use, leading to dramatic population declines across Europe and North America.
Conservation measures, including habitat protection and reintroduction programs, have since helped the species make a notable recovery.
The successful release of the young birds not only signifies a second chance for the trio but also serves as a hopeful sign of ongoing efforts to sustain and grow the peregrine falcon population in Brussels.
Wildlife organisations and government agencies continue to monitor the city’s falcon population, and their presence is celebrated as a testament to urban biodiversity and effective conservation.
The falcons are expected to take their first flights in the coming days, watched from above by their parents and by the conservationists who helped give them a second chance.
