Peregrine falcons have been known to nest at the Nebraska state Capitol, but the birds have seldom been seen guarding their post lately.
As a result, uninvited guests have found their way into the building.
The last known pair, 19K and Ally, appears to have been replaced by a younger peregrine falcon, according to Joel Jorgensen, the nongame bird program manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Jorgensen presumes that 19K died after he stopped appearing at the Capitol.
"He was close to 20 years old, and that's very old for a wild peregrine," Jorgensen said.Â
On the other hand, Ally is at the Raptor Conservation Alliance in Elmwood after being found with a broken leg.
People are also reading…
Betsy Finch, director of the alliance, said the bird was found last fall outside of Valparaiso.Â
"Someone found her down and brought her in," Finch said. "We knew who she was because she was banded, and she came to us with a broken leg."
Ally's leg has since healed, but Finch said she isn't willing to fly. Because of that, Finch said it's unlikely she'll be released into the wild.
"She is comfortable here, eating and doing well," Finch said. "We'll have to determine what her future will be, but release isn't in the picture."
The lack of falcons at the Capitol has allowed pesky intruders to find their way into the building, according to Brett Daugherty, the facility maintenance manager. One of the most recent intruders, a pigeon, made it into the legislative chamber while senators were in session earlier this month.
Daugherty, whom  account dubbed the “bird whisperer,†was called upon to capture and free the pigeon.
“For about 15 minutes, I followed him because he was in the chamber, which is a fairly big room and has balconies and stuff, so he was flying around in there, and I just tried to catch him with a makeshift net,†Daugherty said. “He actually flew into a spot where he went under a chair, and I just kind of trapped him under the chair and grabbed him.â€
Several state senators quoted the State Patrol tweet and noted the unique nature of the encounter.Â
"We all made a new friend on Friday!" Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln tweeted.Â
"Every place of work needs a bird whisperer," wrote Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln.
Daugherty, who has worked at the Capitol for 22 years, said peregrine falcons have been around since before he started working in the building. He hopes another peregrine joins the lone falcon residing at the Capitol or another pair takes over.Â
Jorgensen said he's surprised a new pair hasn't taken the perch toward the top of Lincoln's tallest building.
"As the population of peregrine falcons has increased over time, some of these niche sites are pretty competitive," Jorgensen said. "We haven't seen more adult birds or battles going on there."
Peregrine falcons suffered severe population declines in the U.S. from the 1940s to the 1970s because of pesticides, according to the National Audubon Society. Their numbers have steadily rebounded during the following decades.
A banded peregrine falcon started frequenting the Capitol in the summer of 1990, according to Game and Parks. Pairs were present through 2002 before 19K and Ally took up residence at the building. The pair had their first documented successful nesting in 2005 with one offspring.
Daugherty said because of the falcons, he usually didn't have to worry about birds entering the Capitol. However, three have made their way in so far this spring.
“It's one of those things you don't do very often, but we do it,†Daugherty said. “I'm looking forward to see if another falcon joins or a new pair takes over."