Peregrine Falcons Caring for Our Wildlife
2005 marks the sixth consecutive year that a nesting pair of peregrine falcons have started a family on a smokestack, 400 feet above ground, at Duke Energy’s Miami Fort Power Plant Station. In mid-April, resident female Mary Ellen successfully hatched three of the five eggs that were produced in early March. The babies grow rapidly and by early June, they will have the appearance of an adult with the ability to fly and hunt on their own.
On May 10th, representatives from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources came to the power plant, banded the babies and took blood samples. One band contains a national serial number used for tracking purposes. A second two-color band is used to easily identify the falcon from a distance. The blood samples are used for genetic identification and research.
The project to attract peregrine falcons to Miami Fort Station began in 1993 when employees built and installed a nesting box on the eastside of the Unit 8 stack. At that time, peregrine falcons were still on the Federal Endangered Species List. Though they have been taken off the endangered species list, many Midwestern states, including Ohio, still consider the falcons endangered because their statewide numbers are relatively low. Since 1997, 33 eggs have been laid and 22 have hatched through Duke Energy’s nesting project at Miami Fort Station.
Video of Falcon Banding
View a video clip [1] of the banding of the baby falcons by Ohio Department of Natural Resources representatives and students from a local middle school.
[1] Requires Window Media Player to view.
Recent Images
Mary Ellen up Close
Mary Ellen in Flight
Father up Close
Mary Ellen Perched on box
First Hatchling at Banding
Second Hatchling at Banding
Third Hatchling at Banding
Feather of Banded Hatchling