Three squalling babies on a two-hour, round-the-clock feeding schedule would be a tribulation for any mom and dad.

        Fortunately, these parents can move at speeds of up to 200 mph when they have to get food to those hungry mouths.

A female peregrine falcon carries a dead pigeon to the 27th floor of the Chemed Building downtown Wednesday. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        They're peregrine falcons — the world's fastest bird. The baby food they fetch is fresh, warm pigeon.

        Their nest is on the 27th floor of the Chemed Center at Fifth and Sycamore streets downtown — a building that has had peregrines as tenants in the past.

        The employees of CSC Consulting have a great view from their windows — and are enjoying every minute of it, said office manager Lisa Witterstaetter.

        The Wildlife Division of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has been monitoring the nest since February, said Rick Jasper, assistant wildlife management supervisor. The division set up a video camera to keep an eye on the birds.

        The 2-week-old peregrines are a big deal because these falcons are still considered endangered in Ohio. So far this year, 11 nests have been spotted in the state. The falcons were removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999.

        Peregrines can hit 60 mph in level flight and can go into a 200 mph dive when they spot prey.

        The species was poisoned by DDT beginning in the 1940s, which led to its near-demise by 1975 — when there were no breeding pairs east of the Mississippi River.

        Since peregrines like to nest on tall buildings, which are similar to their natural cliff-side habitat, some were introduced to downtown Cincinnati in the early '90s.

        CSC Consulting employees will name two of the babies, while the third will be named by state wildlife officials. The baby birds will be banded May 23.
       

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