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Peregrine Falcon Nox Healed and Flying Free

UC Berkeley-Born and 嘿嘿视频-Healed, a Beloved Falcon Returns to the Wild

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Julie Cotton extends hand as peregrine falcon Nox flies away from box toward fields and water of California's East Bay
Julie Cotton of 嘿嘿视频 releases peregrine falcon Nox to the wild on October 18, 2024, in California's East Bay following surgery and rehabilitation with the 嘿嘿视频 School of Veterinary Medicine and its California Raptor Center. Nox was snacking on quail before his release, and clutches it in his talons as he flies away. (Trina Wood, 嘿嘿视频)

UPDATE: Oct 24: We are deeply saddened to report that Equinox (Nox) passed away last night, Oct. 23. A post-mortem exam is being conducted to determine the cause of death. Further information will be shared on the 嘿嘿视频

UPDATE, Oct. 23: Equinox, or Nox, the peregrine falcon, is recovering at the 嘿嘿视频 Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital following recapture on Oct. 21 after his Oct. 18 return to the wild. Upon re-rescue, he presented with acute emaciation. He received a blood transfusion on Oct. 22 from Phoenix, an peregrine falcon. Nox is eating and currently stable, though the reasons for his emaciation remain unknown. 

鈥淗e looks much better than he did when he came in,鈥 said Michelle Hawkins, director of the California Raptor Center at 嘿嘿视频. 鈥淏ut he鈥檚 not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination.鈥 

Further updates will be made available on the

UPDATE, Oct. 22: Nox was recaptured Oct. 21, just hours after yesterday's news release of his Oct. 18 return to the wild. He has no broken bones but remains in care. More updates will be provided soon.

Equinox (Nox), a peregrine falcon whose life has been chronicled on a popular web cam feed, was released to the wild Friday, Oct. 18, after suffering a broken wing in July. His release within the East Bay Regional Parks occurred roughly three months after his surgery and recovery at the , a program of the 嘿嘿视频 School of Veterinary Medicine. 

Nox is among the peregrine falcons born to parents Annie and Archie, who nest atop UC Berkeley鈥檚 Campanile beneath that has been livestreaming the family to millions of bird-lovers since 2019. 

 

鈥淓verything went well,鈥 said Michelle Hawkins, director of the California Raptor Center and a professor in the 嘿嘿视频 School of Veterinary Medicine. 鈥淭he bird can fly beautifully, and it can hunt and eat its kill. To us, it doesn鈥檛 matter how famous they are or not. Every bird to us is as important as every other bird. But it鈥檚 so great to be at that point where you see them flying away.鈥

Young Nox was found in distress at the Berkeley Marina on July 3. He was retrieved from the water by , transported to  in San Rafael and transported July 5 to , where he underwent surgery to repair fractures in his right wing.

After surgery, he spent more than two months recovering at the California Raptor Center, receiving care from its raptor specialists and pre-flight conditioning from falconer and former California Raptor Center Director Bill Ferrier.

Peregrine falcon Equinox (Nox) perches with right wing wrapped in blue bandage
A bandaged Equinox (Nox) heals from a broken wing at the California Raptor Center at 嘿嘿视频. Born at UC Berkeley, he was released to the wild Oct. 18, 2024. (Billy Thein, California Raptor Center)

While the cause of Nox鈥檚 injury remains unknown, center staff note that veterinarians would have needed to euthanize a bird with this kind of wing injury 20 years ago. But technology and advances in veterinary medicine have made it possible for birds like Nox to fly free in the wild again. 

Peregrine falcon Nox looks toward Julie Cotton in blue 嘿嘿视频 from a black box outdoors with tree behind
Peregrine falcon Nox looks toward Julie Cotton of 嘿嘿视频' California Raptor Center shortly before his release in California's East Bay. (Michael Bannasch, 嘿嘿视频) 
peregrine falcon Nox flies into pale blue sky over tree canopy
Nox flies away. (Michael Bannasch, 嘿嘿视频)

鈥淥rthopedic materials have made it possible to put together tiny little bones like what鈥檚 in your pinky finger. That gave the bones the structure that was necessary for Nox鈥檚 healing,鈥 Hawkins said. 鈥淭his bird is the bird that keeps giving. He has a satellite transmitter on now, and there weren鈥檛 any placed on Campanile fledglings before. We can鈥檛 wait to see where he goes as he begins to define his own adult territory.鈥

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