“The view from the window was definitely a little vertigo-inducing …”
High above London, in the rooftop garden of the city’s tallest residential building, the concierge team was going about a normal evening shift. The sun was setting, the view stretched across the city and everything seemed calm — until an unexpected visitor appeared 75 stories up.
A young peregrine falcon had somehow flown into the rooftop area. At first, it may have looked as though she had simply stopped to rest, but it quickly became clear that something was wrong. The falcon could not figure out how to leave.
Confused by the glass surrounding the space, she kept trying to escape by moving toward the windows. Instead, she repeatedly bumped into them, becoming more stressed each time.
Worried that the bird might seriously hurt herself, the concierge team contacted South Essex Wildlife Hospital for help.
Rescuers arrived at the building and found the young falcon still trapped and distressed. The scene was unusual even for experienced wildlife workers: a frightened bird, a rooftop garden high above London and an incredible view all around them.
The team understood how the falcon had become confused. Birds often struggle to recognize glass as a barrier, and from that height, the reflections and open-looking view likely made it even harder for her to understand why she could not fly away.
Luckily, the hospital’s lead vet, Tom, was able to safely catch the falcon without much difficulty. After securing her, the rescuers took her back to the hospital for a full checkup.
At the wildlife hospital, staff found that she had a few small cuts on her wings from hitting the windows. Thankfully, those injuries were minor, and the falcon was otherwise healthy.
After a little more than a week of care and rest, the young bird was strong enough to return to the wild. Rescuers released her back into the London skies, where she could fly freely again.
Everyone involved was relieved that the falcon’s rooftop adventure had a happy ending. What may have started as a quick stop to rest — or admire the view — turned into a rescue, but thanks to the fast response of the concierge team and wildlife hospital, she made a full recovery.