OAKLAND, Pa. -- Oakland's resident birds of prey got a visit Thursday from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Veterinarians placed tracking bands on the four peregrine falcon chicks that live atop the Cathedral of Learning.

Much to conservationists' relief, the falcons are making a comeback in nature.

That wasn't always the case, though, as they were recently removed from the endangered species list.

"The population declined so much because of people and the spray and the poisoning and everything like that," said wildlife officer Beth Fife. "Now that we've cleaned up our act, they're coming back. It's a bird that's necessary in nature."

The bands attached to the falcons' legs will serve as monitoring devices to follow the chicks once they leave the nest.

The babies were also given general physical exams, but they put up a struggle the entire time.

In March, the father of the chicks was involved in a bloody 20-minute battle with another falcon that was searching for a mate.

If all goes according to plan, the chicks, now 27 days old, will leave the nest within the next two weeks.

To check out the falcons' live through an Internet Web camera, visit www.PAconserve.org.

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