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GREAT RIVER ENERGY Birdcam About the Birdcam Great River Energy's Birdcam will return mid-March, just in time for a new pair of peregrines to call our nest box home. |
Birdcam news
2010 was a great uneventful year for the Elk River Energy Recovery Station’s peregrine falcons. We mounted a new nest box this year that was constructed by a local boy as a 4-H project. The box was installed more than 100 feet high. We had four healthy eyasses hatch and fledge this year. Local students from the Journey Home School Coop followed the peregrine falcon family this year via the Birdcam; they also attended the banding on June 7th, 2010 and helped choose names for the eyasses. There were three female eyasses; Falco, Journey, Brooke, and one male named Henry. The young falcons may remain in the area improving their flying and hunting skills until they migrate this fall.
Since 2007, thirteen peregrines have been fledged from the Elk River Energy Recovery Station. We should see the adult falcons return again next year sometime in the beginning of March at which time the Birdcam live video will again be available.
Timeline
First eyeass to leave the nest box.
The eyasses were taken from the nest box and brought down for the banding. The students from the Journey Home School Coop attended the banding and helped choose names for the eyasses. There were three females; Falco, Journey, and Brooke, one male; Henry.
The fourth eyass hatched. . The adults will be working hard to protect and feed the four eyasses during the coming weeks.
Three of the eyasses hatched.
The fourth egg was laid.
The third egg was laid.
The second egg was laid.
The first egg was laid.
The male peregrine falcon returned to the nest box and the courting took place.
The female peregrine falcon returned to the nest box.
This is the fourth consecutive year that two peregrine falcons have made their home in a nesting box located atop the plant near the banks of the Mississippi River.
Great River Energy’s Elk River Energy Recovery Station is a perfect site for a nesting box because it is located in a peregrine falcon migratory flyway. The site, beside the Mississippi River, is also a draw because the birds prefer to nest in high locations near water. In recent history, power plants have had the best peregrine production rates in the Midwest.
Photos of our 2009 peregrine family »
