Peregrine falcon nesting program helped fuel raptors’ return to Wisconsin

When Greg Septon began working with peregrine falcons, there have been none in Wisconsin. The widespread use of the pesticide DDT had worn out the inhabitants.

“Peregrines had been gone east of the Mississippi River,” Septon stated.

Thirty years in the past, Septon started work with We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, creating nesting bins excessive atop Wisconsin energy vegetation and putting younger birds that had been born in captivity into them, to see if they may make a go of it. It labored, and over time this system has expanded to 4 energy vegetation and quite a few different websites throughout the state, together with bridges and skyscrapers.

On Monday, Septon utilized leg-bands to the 2 newest successes of the mission. The peregrine chicks Dream and Scrunchie hatched about three weeks in the past within the nest on the prime of the Weston Energy Plant. They’re nonetheless lined in grey down, however they’re sufficiently old to be vocally offended about having been taken from the nest. For the 5 minutes or so it took Septon to use their bands, they made a ruckus. The bands will assist researchers observe their actions and measure the success of the nesting program.

In coming weeks, Dream and Scrunchie will go away the nest and set out on their very own. Hopefully, they’re going to discover their very own perch on a excessive cliff someplace. The once-endangered species right this moment has a reasonably secure inhabitants in Wisconsin of about 40 nesting pairs.

Regardless of the expansion of the peregrine falcon inhabitants, Septon stated the raptors nonetheless want greater than slightly assist from human-maintained websites just like the one on the Weston Energy Plant.

“Till we have got on this state at the very least a few dozen birds nesting efficiently on cliffs once more like they did traditionally, the lion’s share of birds in Wisconsin are nonetheless coming from city websites,” Septon stated.

Earlier than the pandemic, the annual banding of the falcon chicks was a neighborhood occasion with an viewers of WPS staff. Up to now, the utility has introduced in class teams as nicely. Extra lately, pandemic precautions have restricted in-person viewings, however this yr, WPS held a web-based vote for the chicks’ names, on the theme “1992.” 

The peregrine falcon is the quickest animal on earth. Its most well-liked searching mode is to circle excessive above prey like blue jays and pigeons, then dive-bomb them at speeds as much as 200 mph. The smaller birds most likely by no means know what hit them. 

To remain secure from their pure predators similar to eagles or nice horned owls, the raptors desire to construct their nests extraordinarily excessive up.

Mike Grisar is environmental staff chief for the utility firm. He stated the corporate’s falcon webcams draw an viewers yearly, permitting viewers on the web to drop in on the progress of nesting websites at 4 Wisconsin energy vegetation. They plan to proceed this system for so long as the raptors require.

“If it weren’t for these artifical constructions, there wouldn’t be a sustainable inhabitants” of peregrine falcons, Grisar stated. “I see us being concerned for so long as that is wanted.”

Septon stated the banding has allowed scientists to be taught extra about simply how far peregrine falcons migrate. One chook from Wisconsin was discovered wintering in Venezuela. And he stated increasingly more nesting pairs are discovering spots in Wisconsin’s pure panorama. There are pairs on the Wisconsin River and at Satan’s Lake, on Washington Island in Door County and extra.

“Peregrines have tailored to nesting on human constructions like the ability plant right here,” Septon stated. “However they’re additionally coming again to their historic websites on the Mississippi River cliffs.”