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Experts: Peregrine Falcon Chick Developing Slowly, Hope Recent Progress Continues

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A peregrine falcon chick hatched just over 2 weeks ago in Oakland and has received a lot of attention.

Many, who have been watching the bird on a live camera, have been worried that something was wrong because the bird seemed clumsy.

Today, the chick received an exam from both a veterinarian and the Game Commission and there's some good news.

The little chick hatched in a nest on the ledge of the Cathedral of Learning's 40th floor just 19 days ago.

There are some signs that the bird is behind developmentally, but health-wise, it appears to be in okay shape.

"From what I've seen, I'm encouraged. The bird has made progress, a lot of progress just in the last several days," University of Pittsburgh Veterinarian Dr. Robert Wagner said.

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(Photo Credit: Jeff Roupe/KDKA)

Dr. Wagner is hoping that progress continues. He thoroughly examined the chick after officials with the Game Commission brought the bird inside.

"So, we definitely have a weaker, slower-developing bird with a lot of parasite damage," Dr. Wagner said.

The bird was treated for the parasites using a powder and other medication.

There is some feather damage and the bird is weaker and weighs less than it should at nearly three weeks old, but overall, officials with the Game Commission decided to leave it in the wild for now.

"We didn't find any deformities and so in our professional opinion, we thought it had a very good chance, not a perfect chance, but it did have a reasonable chance of continuing to develop," F. Arthur McMorris, of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, said.

The bird was also banded for tracking purposes before being returned to the ledge.

It will take about two weeks for the results of the bloodwork and other tests to come back.

At that point, the Game Commission will re-evaluate what is best for the bird.

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