Falcon that hit Richmond building to lose eye

WAYNESBORO, Va. (AP) — The Wildlife Center of Virginia says a young peregrine falcon that flew into a building in downtown Richmond will undergo surgery to remove its left eye.

The center in Waynesboro says the female falcon’s eye has atrophied.

The falcon won’t be released after it recovers from the surgery scheduled Tuesday. The center says the bird will be trained to be educational ambassador.

The falcon is one of two female peregrine falcons that were hatched in downtown Richmond on May 1. The birds took their first flight on June 17. The injured falcon flew into a building two days later.

The center says the end of the falcon’s beak was fractured. The beak’s keratin is expected to grow back within two to three months.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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