The African pygmy falcon chicks that hatched at the Franklin Park Zoo.
Credit: Zoo New England
To ensure their survival, staff at the Franklin Park Zoo have been raising two of the facility’s newest residents: a pair of African pygmy falcon chicks.
Officials from the Franklin Park Zoo said their facility is one of only a few in North America that currently successfully breeds African pygmy falcons.
The zoo said it prefers to have baby animals raised by their mothers. However, because the chicks’ parents are first-time parents, and their incubation behavior was determined unskilled for successful hatching, the staff at the zoo removed the eggs and decided to hand-rear the chicks.
The chicks hatched on Feb. 3 and Feb. 8. African pygmy falcons are among the smallest of the falcon species and weigh up to 90 grams full grown, the zoo said. The small raptors are native to eastern and southern Africa.
The African pygmy falcon chicks that hatched at the Franklin Park Zoo.
Credit: Zoo New England
“It takes a very dedicated effort to raise these tiny falcons,” Zoo New England General Curator Fred Beall said in a statement. “We have had great success with this species at Franklin Park Zoo and are one of only a few zoos in North America that is successfully breeding African pygmy falcons. These hatches are a real reason to celebrate.”
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