The Anderlecht bird sanctuary has released three young peregrine falcons back into the wild after they fell from their nests at the Infrabel site in Haren.
Rescued by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, the young birds of prey, which were not yet able to fly, spent three weeks recuperating at the Anderlecht bird sanctuary.
They were released this weekend from the roof of a building on the Infrabel site, a few metres from their nest. This was done discreetly to avoid stress for the young birds and to do everything possible to ensure they could be reunited with their parents as quickly as possible for their first flight, the railway operator explained in a statement.
With the nest located under the Haren viaduct, the number of peregrine falcon pairs in Brussels now stands at 15.
The peregrine falcon, also known by ornithologists as the "king of the sky," contributes crucially to biodiversity in the city and is considered an important indicator of ecosystem health.
The species was threatened with extinction in the second half of the 20th century but is now showing encouraging signs of repopulation.
