When the Idaho state quarter premiered with the image of a peregrine falcon, some people thought it should have had a more appropriate icon, like a potato.

Not Bob Young. He's the organizer of the volunteer team unofficially called Fledge Watch, which is monitoring three fledgling peregrine falcons roosting on the top floor of the northwest corner of One Capitol Center, a white, 14-story building at 999 Main St. in Downtown Boise.

"Our objective is to keep up with the birds and keep them out of harm's way," Young said. "With all the people and the cars and the wires and buildings, Downtown can be a dangerous place for a young falcon."

There are two female fledglings and one male. The females, Columbia and Madge Ellen, were named after the explorers Columbus and Magellan. The male, Wall-E, was so named because of his apparent affection for walls, Young said.

"Even when he's out learning to fly, he sticks near the wall," Young said.

Should something go wrong, Young and his team, which includes his wife, Robin, are on hand to contact Idaho Fish and Game.

Already, Columbia has flown into a wall, and Wall-E hit a window. Each time, the falcons were collected by Fish and Game and checked out. Neither sustained serious injuries.

"We don't personally come into contact with any of the falcons," Young said. "We call Idaho Fish and Game so they can send a trained falconer out to decide whether or not the falcon needs attention."

Bruce Haak, regional wildlife biologist for Fish and Game, is such a falconer.

"If anybody finds a falcon Downtown, they should leave it alone and not pick it up," Haak said. "It's not safe for them or the falcon. That's why we have volunteers watching and ready to call us."

Haak said peregrines develop slowly and need to be fed by their parents for a couple of months. After they've grown large enough and sprouted enough feathers, they "fledge," or fly out of the nest for the first time. The parents lead by example, coaxing their offspring out of the nest to practice aerial maneuvers.

"With falcons, nature kicks in pretty quick," Haak said. "When they first start flying, they instinctively chase each other around in the sky. Then they start chasing flying insects and the like, until eventually they start chasing actual prey so they can feed themselves."

The falcons hunt pigeons and other small birds, in preference to rodents. Peregrines are noted for their ability to dive at speeds of nearly 200 mph in its pursuit of prey.

Once the falcons can look after themselves, they usually hang around the nest site until fall, when their prey heads south and the weather cools.

"Nature lets the falcons know when it's time to move on," Haak said.

Until then, Young's group plans to keep track of the fledglings while they learn and grow.

"We welcome new volunteers," Young said. "We try to keep at least three people watching the birds between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. You don't need any special training. You just need the ambition to learn about the birds."

Nate Knife: 672-6742