2006 - Midwest Peregrine Falcon Restoration Project

MIDWEST PEREGRINE FALCON 

RESTORATION 

2006 ANNUAL REPORT 

midwestperegrine.org

ii 

COVER PHOTO 

Four-year old Liberty b/g 0/*T is shown with her young in the nest box mounted on the chimney at 

We Energies Valley Power Plant (VAPP) in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she was 

photographed by Greg Septon. We Energies hosts nesting peregrines at four of their Wisconsin power 

plants which can be viewed via web cam at:

Contents 

iii 

Midwest Peregrine Falcon Website, Background 1 

Introduction 3 

Territorial Pairs 1998 – 2006 3 

Peregrine Population Growth and Productivity in the Midwest, 1981-2006 4 

Productivity of Individual Adults 5 

Summary of Peregrine Nesting in 2006 6 

2006 Population Status 6 

-North Dakota 7 

-Minnesota 7 

-Wisconsin 15 

-Michigan 19 

-South Dakota 20 

-Nebraska 20 

-Iowa 21 

-Illinois 22 

-Indiana 23 

-Ohio 26 

-Kansas 29 

-Missouri 29 

-Kentucky 30 

-Ontario 32 

-Manitoba 35 

Peregrine Releases in 2006 35 

Blood Samples 36 

Plans for the Future 36 

Acknowledgments 36 

Wild Peregrines Banded in Midwest, 2006, alphabetical by state 38 

Hacked Peregrines Banded in the Midwest, 2006 47 

Figures Summarizing Status of Peregrines in Midwest, 2006 48 

Special Article: Reading Peregrine Falcon Color Bands at Long Range 56

1 

March 9, 2007 

MIDWEST PEREGRINE FALCON RESTORATION, 2006 REPORT 

Patrick T. Redig,* John S. Castrale** and Jane A. Goggin* 

*Raptor Center **Indiana Div. Fish & Wildlife 

Univ. of Minnesota 562 DNR Road 

1920 Fitch Ave. Mitchell IN 47446 

St. Paul MN 55108 (812)849-4586 

(612)624-9790 

redig001@umn.edu jcastrale@dnr.in.gov 

goggi001@umn.edu 

MIDWEST PEREGRINE FALCON WEBSITE 

A peregrine website for the Midwest is open at the University of Minnesota 

. Richard Peifer, Mark Decker, Bruce Fall, and Kyle Hammond from 

the University’s Biology Program developed the web site. Peifer designed the website, Decker and 

Hammond adapted the database to the website and made it searchable, and Fall designed the database 

at its start in 1992. In addition to general information about the peregrine program, the site presents 

the Midwest peregrine database in a searchable format, making it useful for research as well as for 

locating specific records or groups of records. 

Many features were added to the database during 2006. The additional refinement and 

programming was done by the partnership of Rick Peifer and Kyle Hammond, IT specialist for the 

Biology Program. The first new element was a temporary database that can be accessed by 

authorized individuals allowing them to submit data. When fully tested and operational, this feature 

will permit direct data entry. Once the entire dataset for a season has been collected, it will be 

checked for errors, and then added permanently to the main database. The second element was 

addition of exact GPS lat/long coordinates for each site, a work still in progress. This function in the 

database has been linked to Google Maps, allowing operators to obtain actual 3D views of peregrine 

nest sites. The third element is a section of the database where detailed reports submitted by state and 

area coordinators will be posted in toto as received. In these are contained more detailed information 

than what is summarized in this report along with many excellent photographs taken at the various 

sites. 

BACKGROUND 

Redig assumed the role of overall coordinator of Midwest peregrine work in 2006, 

coordinating the maintenance of the database, and preparing the annual report, including the narrative 

and Tables 1 and 2. Portions of the report accounts were provided by individual state coordinators 

and were edited by Tordoff and he also updated the lists of most productive females and males. Jane 

Goggin and Richard Goggin prepared Tables 3 and 4, handled the distribution of bands, banding 

reports from the field, and blood sampling supplies, and, with Redig and Peifer managed printing and 

circulation of this report. John Castrale prepared Figures 1 through 15, based on his separate 

database, and performed meticulous editing of the script and error-checking of the data. Jim 

Fitzpatrick, Carpenter Nature Center, holds the master federal banding permit under which we work.

2 

All peregrines banded in the U.S. Midwest (ND, MN, WI, MI, SD, NE, IA, IL, IN, OH, KS, 

MO, KY) in 2006 wear a bicolored project band, black over green on the left leg. Wild-produced 

birds have a purple anodized USFWS band on the right leg; hacked birds have a gold anodized 

USFWS band on the right leg. In Canada (SE MB, NW ON), hacked birds receive a red band and 

wild-produced birds get a black band, in addition to a silver USFWS band. Project bands are 

intended to be readable in the field, given the right circumstances and appropriate optics (see article 

by Tordoff included in this report). 

Many of the black/green and black/red bands (from earlier years) have the upper or lower 

character (or both) tipped to the left on its side; these we show by using a star (*) to indicate the 

tipped-over letter or number, for example, *2/E or H/*4. It is essential to include the star because all 

combinations are in use (H/4, *H/4, H/*4, *H/*4 for example). It is also important to put all bands 

on right side up, to make them easier to read in the field. To avoid confusion, numerals take 

precedence over letters; that is, numerals 1 and 0 are used on the project color bands, letters I and O 

are not used. 

We cannot change names of localities in the peregrine database when the names of buildings 

or companies change. The original names are entered in the database in too many places. Incomplete 

corrections would confuse searches for data. The same goes for individual birds—once named and 

entered, the name sticks. 

Authorized users may download the contents of the database into an Excel spreadsheet. This 

is accomplished by clicking on the “submit data” link, then at the top of the banding information 

table, click on “Output birds for FileMaker "Peremain" import.” This will generate a transition file, 

which you should save. Then open this file with Excel, and select the delimited with comma’s 

option, click “finish”, and you will have the file in a spreadsheet format.

3 

INTRODUCTION 

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) egg-laying began in March in the southern Midwest and 

progressively later to the north. Known territorial pairs were reported at 210 compared to 197 in 

2005, however, several sites, especially on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were not reported on 

this year owing to access issues. Production of young was 435 compared to 421 in 2005. Table 1 is a 

nesting summary for nine years by state and province (sequence here and in the main list below is 

north tier of states first, west to east; second tier, etc., then NW Ontario and SE Manitoba). 

Table 1 

TERRITORIAL PAIRS / YOUNG FLEDGED, 2006 

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 

N. Dakota -- -- 1/0 1/3 1/0 1/4 1/2 1/4 1/4 

Minnesota 24/52 28/54 33/56 29/69 32/60 36/67 38/84 43/83 51/112 

Wisconsin 11/33 13/36 15/39 19/53 19/50 20/63 20/55 27/59 27/65 

Michigan 9/10 10/16 9/10 10/13 11/14 15/23 16/26 17/33 17/29 

S. Dakota 1/0 1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 

Nebraska 1/5 1/5 1/0 1/3 1/3 2/2 2/3 2/2 2/8 

Iowa 2/6 3/6 3/10 5/8 5/10 6/16 8/13 10/20 11/11 

Illinois 5/13 8/11 9/23 9/21 11/19 10/23 14/32 13/29 11/30 

Indiana 9/15 9/24 9/23 11/20 11/27 11/33 12/30 12/29 13/30 

Ohio 11/17 12/13 16/27 14/36 15/34 16/31 16/54 22/57 21/60 

Kansas 1/0 1/0 0/0 0/0 1/0 1/0 1/0 1/0 1/0 

Missouri 4/11 4/11 4/5 5/7 6/9 6/13 6/11 3/8 5/9* 

Kentucky 1/1 2/3 3/5 3/4 4/7 4/7 4/12 4/11 8/8 

Manitoba 3/4 2/5 2/4 2/1 2/1 2/0 2/4 3/7 4/5 

Ontario 17/38 13/30 24/41 24/52 25/50 33/70 31/50 39/79 39/66** 

Totals 99/205 107/214 129/243 133/290 144/284 163/352 171/376 197/421 210/435*** 

*Does not include four hacked birds 

**Minimum count as some nest sites not visited a second time to confirm breeding success 

*** 65 unbanded birds included in this tally 

We point out again that yearly changes depend in part on arbitrary decisions about what 

constitutes a countable pair. Production of young per territorial pair was 2.0 in 2002, 2.2 in 2003, 2.2 

in 2004, 2.1 in 2005, and 2.0 this year.

4 

Year 

Hacked 

Young 

Table 2 

PEREGRINE POPULATION GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY 

IN THE MIDWEST, 1981-2006 

Terr. 

Pairs 

Nest. 

Pairs 

Succ. 

Pairs 

Young 

Fledged 

Young/ 

Terr. 

Pair 

Young/ 

Nest. 

Pair 

Young/ 

Success. 

Pair 

1981-6 130 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 

1987 78 6 4 1 3 0.5 .75 3.0 

1988 90 13 8 6 16 1.2 2.0 2.7 

1989 129 16 12 9 22 1.4 1.8 2.4 

1990 113 23 16 13 33 1.4 2.1 2.5 

1991 147 30 22 17 36 1.2 1.6 2.1 

1992 112 37 32 23 68 1.8 2.1 3.0 

1993 41 53 43 33 87 1.6 2.0 2.6 

1994 67 62 51 41 116 1.9 2.3 2.8 

1995 58 67 53 43 118 1.8 2.2 2.7 

1996 26 77 58 48 127 1.6 2.2 2.6 

1997 36 90 69 58 167 1.9 2.4 2.9 

1998 55 99 84 74 205 2.1 2.4 2.7 

1999 63 107 89 76 214 2.0 2.4 2.8 

2000 32 129 101 83 243 1.9 2.4 2.9 

2001 24 133 119 102 290 2.2 2.4 2.8 

2002 19 144 128 106 284 2.0 2.2 2.7 

2003 16 163 144 125 352 2.2 2.4 2.8 

2004 7 171 153 133 376 2.2 2.5 2.8 

2005 6 197 169 149 421 2.1 2.5 2.8 

2006 4 210 172 153 437 2.0 2.5 2.8 

Total 1253 1831 1529 1293 3615 2.0 2.4 2.8 

Note: “Young fledged” includes all young surviving to first flight from nest. Falcons hacked in 

Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas are excluded on geographic grounds. Some totals for 

earlier years shown here differ from previous editions of this table as new information has 

become available.

5 

PRODUCTIVITY OF INDIVIDUAL ADULTS 

Here are the ten most productive females, four still alive (augmented young omitted). 

• ^Meg 12R (North Central Life, St. Paul MN), 43 young, 16 seasons, 2.7/season (hacked = h) 

• ^Sibella 20V (Firstar, Milwaukee WI), 39 young, 15 seasons, 2.6/season (h) 

• Camilla E/B (Monticello MN), 37 young, 11 seasons, 3.4/season (wild-produced = w) 

• Freedom U/*8 (One Summit Square, Fort Wayne IN), 36 young, 11 seasons, 3.3/season (h) 

• ^Mae 31V (NSP King, Bayport MN), 34 young, 14 seasons, 2.4/season (w) 

• b/r 7/*1 (NSP Prairie Island, Goodhue Co., MN), 34 young, 10 seasons, 3.4/season (h) 

• ^Liberty b/r E/*D (WPL Edgewater, Sheboygan WI), 33 young, 9 seasons, 3.7/year. 

• Raynie A/*H (Froedtert Malt, Milwaukee WI), 32 young, 9 seasons, 3.5/season (w) 

• ^Zenith 23W (Terminal Tower, Cleveland OH), 31 young., 9 seasons, 3.4/season (w) 

• ^Atlanta L/*C (WEPCO Oak Creek, Milwaukee WI), 29 young, eight seasons, 3.6/season (w) 

^ = known or presumed dead 

Here are the ten most productive males, again four still alive (augmented young omitted). 

• ^Kato 31T (Colonnade, Minneapolis MN), 43 young, 14 seasons, 3.1/season (w) 

• Kinney 7/*3 (Market Tower, Indianapolis IN), 42 young, 12 seasons, 3.5/season (h) 

• ^Hubert 987-20710 (125 S. Wacker, Chicago IL), 37 young, 13 seasons, 2.8/season (h) 

• ^Will 04Y (Multifoods Tower, Minneapolis MN), 37 young, 14 seasons, 2.6/season (h) 

• Mercury 21X (Lazarus, Dayton OH), 37 young, 14 seasons, 2.6/season (h) 

• ^64X (Firstar Bank, Cedar Rapids IA), 36 young, 12 seasons, 3.0/season (h) 

• Leopold C/D (Froedtert Malt, Milwaukee WI), 36 young, 13 seasons, 2.8/season (h) 

• ^Bill 74T (Firstar, Milwaukee WI), 34 young, 11 seasons, 3.1/season (h)

6 

• Roosevelt R/*4 (One Summit Square, Fort Wayne IN), 34 young, 9 seasons, 3.4/season (w) 

• ^Marty 53Z (Cline Avenue, East Chicago IN), 30 young, 11 seasons, 2.5/season (w) 

^ = known or presumed dead 

SUMMARY OF PEREGRINE NESTING IN 2006 

In the Midwestern United States, southeastern Manitoba, and the Lake Superior basin of Ontario in 

2006, 211 pairs were known to be on territories (although we are lacking information on several sites 

reported on in previous years), 172 pairs (90%) laid eggs, 153 pairs (89% of the nesting pairs) were 

successful in fledging 435 young, 2.84 young per successful pair, 2.53 per nesting pair, 2.0 per 

territorial pair. Of the 172 pairs that laid eggs, 79 (54%) were on buildings, 28 (20%) were on 

smokestacks, 17 (12%) on bridges, and 48 (28%) on cliffs. 

Comparing this year with 2005, the total number of known pairs was larger (210 vs. 197 in 2005), 

however, with some sites not visited or unreported, it is not an entirely informed comparison; 

percentage-wise, more nested (90% vs. 86%), and percentage of successful nesting pairs was the 

same (89% this year vs. 89% in 2005). Four more pairs fledged young this year than last (153 vs. 

149) resulting in more young fledged (435 vs. 421). 

In addition to the 435 young known to have fledged in the wild in the Midwest this year, 

four young were hacked in Missouri. 

TOTALS FOR REGION: 

2006 POPULATION STATUS 

153 known successful pairs fledged 435 young (SP in list below), of which 65 were not 

banded 

19 pairs laid eggs but failed to fledge young (LE) 

38 pairs, non-breeding (NB) 

210 territorial pairs (SP, LE, NB) 

For each state, province, or area, successful pairs (SP) are listed first, followed by pairs 

laying eggs (LE), then non-breeding pairs (NB).

7 

NORTH DAKOTA 

1. SP-Community First Bank, Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota. Wick Corwin reports that 

five-year-old female Frieda b/g 24/A, here for the fifth year, paired again with nine-year-old male 

Dakota Ace b/r *H/D, here for the seventh year. Four eggs were laid in the box, all hatched, and four 

young fledged, three males and one female. Two of the young were killed shortly after fledging, in 

separate situations. One, Maris b/g W/37 flew into a window. Another, Prairie Rose b/g *H/*W was 

found dead along railroad tracks on July 3 rd a short distance from the nest site. First year nesting 

attempted: 2000; total young produced: 17. 

MINNESOTA 

2. SP-Colonnade, Hwy. 100 and I-394, Golden Valley, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Bud 

Tordoff and Mischelle Johnson report that a new male, six-year-old Malik b/g 5/*9 (seen in early 

April at the Xcel Energy Riverside site by Bob Anderson), fledged in 2000 from North Central Life 

in St. Paul, paired with three-year-old Loree b/g 49/E (NSP Monticello 2003), here for the second 

year. Four eggs were laid in an open gravel tray, all hatched and four young fledged, three males and 

one female. Malik had previously nested for three seasons at the NSP Riverside Plant in 

Minneapolis. Malik replaced 16 year-old Kato 31T, who nested here for 14 seasons and sired 43 

young, perhaps the most fledged young yet recorded for a wild male peregrine. Kato fledged wild in 

St. Paul, MN, and was found severely injured in Minneapolis on November 29, 2005 and was 

euthanized. First year nesting attempted: 1991; total young produced: 47. 

3. SP-Multifoods Tower (aka City Center), Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The 

male here for his second season is three-year-old Younger b/g 04/N, fledged in 2003 at Maiden Rock, 

Wisconsin, the second male from this cliff site to nest at Multifoods Tower. The female at this site is 

once again an unbanded female, most likely the same female here since 2003 from photograph 

identification. Four eggs were laid and four young fledged, all males. One young male died after 

colliding with a building shortly after fledging. First year nesting attempted: 1987; total young 

produced: 39 

4. SP-City Hall, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. An adult female peregrine 

wearing only a silver USFWS band on her left leg (1807-348), origin unknown, was first reported at 

this site in 2000. She once again was paired with three-year-old Bor b/g 03/N, fledged in 2003 at 

NSP Monticello, Minnesota. The pair, closely watched by Barbara Hendrickson, nested again in a 

cubbyhole on the east side of the 5th Street Tower of the century old City Hall. Four eggs were laid, 

one hatched and one female fledged. First year nesting attempted: 2000; total young produced: 7. 

5. SP-Riverside Plaza/I-94 Mississippi River Bridge, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, 

Minnesota. Twelve-year-old Phoebe, after nesting six years on the river bridge, moved in 2004 a 

mile to a box at Riverside Plaza, where she first attempted to nest in 1997. She paired for the third 

year with six-year-old Rocket b/g L/M. Three eggs were laid, all hatched, and three young fledged, 

two males and a female. Phoebe is an escaped falconry bird from Kansas in 1994 and is still 

identifiable by her breeder band and leather anklet. Rocket fledged in 2000 from a smokestack at 

NSP Riverside, Minneapolis, Minnesota. A male fledgling from the Riverside nest was found dead 

in a new nest box installed at a plant in Elk River MN in mid-September. Riverside is one of seven 

sites monitored in the state as part of the federal monitoring program for Peregrine Falcons. First 

year nesting attempted: 1997; total young produced: 11.

6. SP-Lock and Dam 1/Ford Parkway Bridge, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. 

Six-year-old male Scotty b/g P/T and six year-old female Amelia b/g 0/*G, both here for their fifth 

season, nested in the nest box installed in 2003 by Mike DeRusha, Jim Ryan, Nate Johnson, and 

others of the Lock and Dam 1 staff on a man-altered cliff at the west end of Lock and Dam 1, about 

250 yards downstream from the bridge. Four eggs were laid in the box, two hatched and two young 

fledged, one male and one female. This site offers some of the best public viewing of a peregrine 

nest and post-fledging behavior from the observation platform. First year nesting attempted: 2000; 

total young produced: 21 

7. SP-Norwest Financial Center (aka Wells Fargo), Xerxes and I-494, Bloomington, 

Hennepin County, Minnesota. For the tenth year, a pair nested in an open tray on the east side of the 

building. Throughout the winter, Jackie Fallon observed a pair of peregrines, three-year-old female 

Barbara b/g 51/B and seven-year-old male Nero b/g V/D, here for his sixth season. However, on 

April 4, it was discovered that a new female had taken up residence, nine-year-old Mendota b/r *4/C. 

A territorial fight was seen on April 4. The two females took to the sky, grappling and vocalizing, 

and the larger Mendota proceeded to chase the second female, presumed to be Barbara, to the west. 

The pair was out of view for nearly 30 minutes. Mendota returned to the building and was soon 

joined by the male, Nero, and the pair copulated within minutes. The pair laid four eggs, four 

hatched, and two male and two females fledged in late June. Mendota, nested at the Colonnade 

building for six years and was observed in the spring in 2005 at both the Multifoods Tower, 

Minneapolis, and Norwest Financial for short periods of time. Female Barbara b/g 51/B has not 

been seen after the April 4 th territorial battle. First year nesting attempted: 1997; total young 

produced: 27. 

8. SP-Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota. Ted Bartel and Tom Behrens 

report that a pair of peregrines nested successfully here for the second year, with seven unproductive 

years between 1997 and 2004. An unbanded adult male and an unbanded adult female produced four 

eggs and fledged four young, two males and two females. As in the past, the entire banding process 

was televised throughout the world-renowned clinic. The pair and young were filmed through the 

season for patients, visitors, and staff to view in the lobby of the clinic, offering all a unique view of 

peregrine behavior. One of the young males was found a few weeks after fledging with a spinal 

injury requiring euthanasia a few days later. First year nesting attempted: 1991; total young 

produced: 23. 

9. SP-NSP Black Dog Plant, Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota (aka Xcel Energy Blackdog 

Plant). Bob Anderson reports that ten-year-old female Nora b/r G/*V, here for at least the sixth year, 

paired with an unidentified male. Four eggs were laid, four hatched, but two of the chicks died for 

unknown reasons. Two young, one male and one female, fledged. First year nesting attempted: 1993; 

total young produced: 35. 

10. SP-NSP King Plant, Bayport, Washington County, Minnesota (aka: Xcel Energy King 

Plant, Oak Park Heights, Washington County MN). Occupied since 1990. Bob Anderson reports 

that 7-year-old female Belinda b/g W/E, here for the third year, paired with 11-year-old male Doug 

b/r 0/*L, first identified here in 2003. Five eggs were laid, three hatched, three young fledged, two 

females, one male. First year nesting attempted: 1990; total young produced: 41. 

11. SP-NSP Prairie Island, Goodhue County, Minnesota (aka Xcel Energy Prairie Island 

Plant, Goodhue County, MN). Bob Anderson reports that 13-year-old female b/r 7/1, nesting here 

since 1997, and an unidentified male, fledged three young, two males and one female. First year 

nesting attempted: 1997; total young produced: 31. 

8

12. SP-NSP Sherco Plant, Becker, Sherburne County, Minnesota (aka Xcel Energy Plant 

Becker, Sherburne County, MN). Dan Orr, NSP biologist, and Bob Anderson report that seven-yearold 

Seminoe b/r W/A, fifth year at this site paired with an unidentified male. Four eggs were laid, 

four hatched, four young fledged, two males and two females. First year nesting attempted: 1992; 


13. SP-NSP Monticello Plant, Monticello, Wright County, Minnesota (aka Xcel Energy 

Monticello Plant Wright County, MN). Dan Orr (NSP) and Bob Anderson report that 12-year-old 

female Camilla b/r E/B, here for the eleventh year, paired with an unidentified adult male, laid four 

eggs, hatched one, and fledged one female. First year nesting attempted: 1995; total young produced: 

40. 

14. SP-Minnesota Power and Light Boswell Energy Center, Cohasset, Itasca County, 

Minnesota. A pair of unidentified adults, female unbanded and male banded b/g, laid four eggs, 

hatched and fledged four young, three females and a male. First year nesting attempted: 1993; total 

young produced: 44. 

15. SP-Cargill Elevator, Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota (aka Red Wing Grain Stack 

House Red Wing, Goodhue County, MN). Bob Anderson reports that eight-year-old female Husker 

b/r *M/D, here for at least the sixth year, paired with eight-year-old male Prescott b/r *3/*2. One 

young female fledged. First year nesting attempted: 2001; total young produced: 16. 

16. SP-State Prison/University Bridge, St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota. For the fifth 

year, a pair of peregrines nested in a box on the water tower at the state prison. The female is fiveyear-old 

b/g 1/*W, fledged in 2001 at Norwest Financial, Bloomington, Minnesota, and the male is 

five-year-old Rocky b/g 84/H, fledged in 2001 at NSP King, Bayport, Minnesota. Four young 

fledged, unbanded, three males and a female. This site is one of seven sites monitored in the state as 

part of the federal monitoring program for peregrine falcons. First year nesting attempted: 1994; total 

young produced: 14. 

17. SP-Champion International Paper Mill, Sartell, Stearns County, Minnesota. For four 

years, Rick Fern, plant safety supervisor, has watched this site. This year the pair nested in a new 

box that was installed on the east side of the mill stack in winter 2005-6. Returning for the second 

year was five-year-old female Copper b/g *7/C, fledged in 2001 at Fargo, North Dakota, and her halfbrother, 

three-year-old Dakotah b/g 78/P, fledged at Fargo in 2003. On May 30, three young were 

banded, two males and a female. The young female b/g W/22 was found in the nearby Mississippi 

River on June 28, 2006, about a week after fledging. The adult female at this site is extremely 

defensive and was involved with strikes at pedestrians on a bridge about three blocks from the box. 

Signs were posted to inform the public about this behavior, which lasted for about two weeks. First 

year nesting attempted: 1999; total young produced: 6. 

18. SP-Queens Bluff, Great River Bluffs State Park, Winona County, Minnesota. An 

unbanded adult female and two-year-old male Cranberry b/g 17/N, fledged in 2004 at Dairyland 

Cooperative, Genoa, Wisconsin, nested in a cave eyrie that has been used since 2000. Four young 

were banded, two male and two females, and all four fledged successfully. Jim Mussell and Joel 

Sniewolski climbed the cliff here. State park resource biologist Shawn Fletcher observed the banding 

and assisted the banding crew on May 22. First year nesting attempted: 2000; total young produced: 

19. 

19. SP-Great Spirit Bluff, La Crescent, Houston County, Minnesota. First used in 2005. Bob 

Anderson and his crew report that three-year-old female Katrina b/g 59/E, fledged at Dairyland 

Cooperative, Alma, Wisconsin, in 2003, paired with a b/g banded male. Four eggs laid, three young 

9

10 

hatched and fledged, one female and two males. First year nesting attempted: 2005; total young 

produced: 7. 

20. SP-Blatnik Bridge, Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota / Superior, Douglas County, 

Wisconsin. Dave Evans reports that an unbanded adult male was paired with a new female, black 

*B/8, fledged in 2004 from Mount McRae, Ontario. The pair fledged 3 young, unbanded due to 

traffic safety considerations. First year nesting attempted: 1995; total young produced: 6. 

21. SP-Greysolon Plaza (aka Duluth Hotel), Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota. Rob 

MacIntyre and Amy Ries scored a home run when they captured the unbanded adult female here, 

who is now known as Amy b/g 82/C; the male is still unbanded. They laid four eggs, hatched and 

fledged four young, two of each sex. First year nesting attempted: 2003; total young produced: 10. 

22. SP-Bong Bridge, Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin / Duluth, St. Louis County, 

Minnesota. Dave Evans reported that that eleven-year-old male Trevor b/r K/*A, fledged in 1995 

from a cliff at Kennedy Creek, Minnesota was paired with three-year-old female black *Y/6, fledged 

in 2003 from Caribou Island, Ontario. This pair nested in a new location closer to land on the 

Minnesota section of land, on a beam of the bridge. Two young males were banded when they were 

found to have landed below the bridge at about 30-35 days of age. The pair was believed to have 

failed, but had actually just moved locations from the usual tub located in the center of the bridge 

over water to the new location. One of the young was found dead on the bridge July 9th by Dave 

Evans. First year nesting attempted: 1994; Total young produced: 8. 

Each year, Minnesota North Shore peregrines are banded with the essential and much 

appreciated help of expert climbers from the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, 

Finland, Minnesota. This year the climbers and others that helped at North Shore sites were 

(alphabetically): John Arent, Gail Buhl, Dave Evans, Dave Graf, Brice Hansen, Peter Harris, 

Brad Johnson, Jim Mussell, Peter Smerud, Joel Sneiwolski, Mike Steffes, Joe Walewski, and 

Lori Walewski. 

23. SP-Superior Shores, Rocky Point, Two Harbors, Lake County, Minnesota. New Site. 

Dave Evans reported nesting activity at this site. An adult unbanded male was present with threeyear-old 

female Phoenix b/g 96/E, fledged in 2003 from North Shore Mining, Silver Bay, 

Minnesota. The pair failed in late May, but was observed to have re-nested in an old raven nest 

by June 11 with three eggs. On July 31, Adam Barnett climbed to the nest; two female chicks 

were safely banded and fledged from the site in late August. First year nesting attempted: 2006; 


24. SP-Crow Creek, Lake County, Minnesota. This site was occupied regularly by the 

pre-DDT peregrines and now since 2003. Six-year-old Wally b/g P/R, fledged at Palisade Head 

in 2000, paired with an unbanded female. Two young females were banded on June 8, and 

fledged successfully by the end of the month. Dave Evans identified male Wally b/g P/R in 2002 

at Silver Cliff, about two miles from Crow Creek. First year nesting attempted: 2003; total young 

produced: 6. 

25. SP-Castle Cliff, Castle Danger, Lake County, Minnesota. Mike Steffes and Dave 

Evans reported on this pair for the fifth season. As in previous years, the female was unbanded. 

The male was banded b/g, but remained too secretive to further identify him. Four eggs were 

laid, four hatched, and four young were banded, three females and one male. The three young 

females were found to have died or were missing from the eyrie before fledging age, leaving a

single male to fledge successfully. Mike Steffes sent graphic pictures of a dead young that had 

fallen to rocks below the nest ledge. First year nesting attempted: 2001; total young produced: 

20. 

26. SP-North Shore Mining, Silver Bay, Lake County, Minnesota. Dave Evans and 

Warren Lind report that a pair of unbanded adults nested here for the eighth year. As in 2004 and 

2005, the nest was on a beam under an enclosed conveyor. Three young fledged, two males and 

one female. A nest box was installed in late winter, 2006, to allow easier access to the chicks at 

banding time, but went unused by the peregrines this season. This site is one of seven sites 

monitored in the state as part of the federal monitoring program for peregrine falcons. First year 


27. SP-Pink Cove, Beaver Bay, Lake County, Minnesota. Dave Evans reported an 

unbanded adult female and male Jean b/g 7/*L, 2001 fledge from Corundum Point. Four eggs 

were laid, three young were banded, two males and one female, on June 20. Joe and Lori 

Walewski climbed at this challenging site. First year nesting attempted: 1996; total young 

produced: 12. 

28. SP-Kennedy Creek cliff, Lake County, Minnesota. Dave Evans, Peter Harris, and Sue 

and Gary Prebil helped keep track of this site. This year the pair moved around the point to a cliff 

face closer to the creek to the west. The male is five-year-old Chris b/g P/V, fledged in 2001 at 

Castle Cliff, Castle Danger, Minnesota, here for his third year, and an unbanded adult female. 

Four eggs were laid, and three male and one female young were banded on June 20. Four young 

fledged in early July. First year nesting attempted: 1995; total young produced: 11. 

29. SP-Palisade Head cliff, Tettegouche State Park, Lake County, Minnesota. A pair of 

adults, most likely the same pair as in 2005, nested on a cliff south of the tower at the parking lot. 

The male is banded with a silver USFWS band only and the adult female was unbanded. 

According to Dave Evans, four eggs were laid, four young hatched and two male and two female 

young were banded and known to have fledged. First year nesting attempted: 1988; total young 

produced: 52. 

30. SP-Manitou cliff, northeast of Little Marais, Lake County, Minnesota. Dave Evans 

reports that adult female believed to be Susan b/g 9/*2, who fledged in 2002 at Corundum Point, 

is paired with an unknown adult male. For the first time since birds were discovered nesting at 

the site in 1999, access was allowed by the new property owners. Two young were banded, one 

male and one female. John Arent climbed here on June 11. First year nesting attempted: 1999; 

total young produced: 14+. 

31. SP-Corundum Point cliff, Split Rock State Park, Lake County, Minnesota. As in 

former years, the adults are very cautious, usually soaring high above when disturbed. The male 

may be twelve-year-old Dudley, b/r 8/*D, 1994 fledge from Palisade Head, who was confirmed 

nesting here in 1997, and the female is an unknown adult. Brad Johnson and Dave Evans were 

able to locate the nest location from the lake, and on June 8 the banding crew was able to band 

two young female chicks. This site is one of seven sites monitored in the state as part of the 

federal monitoring program for peregrine falcons. First year nesting attempted: 1997; total young 

produced: 20. 

32. SP-Birch Bay, Lake County, Minnesota. New Site. Peter Harris reported a new pair 

of birds nesting on a cliff in a raven nest. The male was black band *5/4, a 2002 fledge from 

Squaw Bay, Ontario, and the female was black band *X/7, 2003 fledge also from Squaw Bay, 

Ontario. Three young males were discovered at the nest site, but determined to be too old to band 

safely on banding day. This site was a late discovery in the season due to the belief that this pair 

11

was the same pair of birds on territory at Kennedy Creek, located just ¾ mile up shore from this 

site. We are looking forward to banding at this site in the future. First year nesting attempted: 

2006; total young produced: 3. 

33. SP-Hat Point cliff, northeast of Grand Portage, Cook County, Minnesota. Dave Evans 

reports that an adult bird with a juvenile was observed in August. No further information is 

currently available on the identification of the adults or other possible young produced. First year 


34. SP-NSP High Bridge, St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota (aka: Xcel Energy 

Highbridge Plant). Bob Anderson, Raptor Resource Project, reports that three-year-old female 

Athena b/g 01/D, paired with an unbanded male. They laid four eggs, hatched and fledged four 

young, two males and two females. First year nesting attempted: 2000; total young produced: 18. 

35. SP-Cargill Elevator, Lake City, Wabasha County, Minnesota (aka: Horizon Milling, 

Lake City). Bob Anderson reports that peregrines nested here for the fifth year. Six-year-old 

male Gretch K/U, back for the fifth year, paired with five-year-old female Lolo 29/A, here for the 

fourth year. After an unsuccessful last year owing to injury of the female in mid-incubation, the 

pair this year laid four eggs, hatched and fledged four young, two males and two females. First 


36. SP-Mendota Bridge, Fort Snelling State Park, Dakota County, Minnesota. Jackie 

Fallon reported that nine-year-old female P.W. b/r*5/V fledged in 1997 from the Ford Parkway 

bridge, Minneapolis, here for eighth year, over wintered with an unbanded male. Near the end of 

March, this male was displaced by two-year-old Survivor b/g 42/N, a 2004 fledge from Dairyland 

Cooperative, Alma, Wisconsin. Survivor was observed to copulate with P.W and be at the site 

for about a month. Ultimately, he was replaced by three-year-old Matrix b/g 74/P, fledged from 

the Colonnade building, Minneapolis, in 2003, here for his second year. It was believed that the 

pair had not produced young, but in late July, three chicks were found on a new ledge of the 

bridge, about 1/3 mile west of the historic arch area, by Mark Cleveland, MN DNR. One male 

chick was found below the nest at about 35 days of age and was taken to The Raptor Center when 

it was determined at banding to have injuries that would require medical care. The injuries were 

too severe and the juvenile was euthanized several weeks later, when it was discovered that the 

chick had also contracted West Nile virus. The other two chicks were observed to have 

successfully fledged within two weeks of discovery of the eyrie. Greg Mikkelson, Mike Gabriel, 

and Mark Cleveland assisted with observations at this site. First year nesting attempted: 1996; 


37. SP-Faith Bluff, John Latsch State Park, Winona County, Minnesota. An adult male of 

undetermined banding status and an unbanded adult female were successful in the box on the cliff 

face. Four young were successfully banded, three females and one male. All four young fledged 

successfully later in the month. State park manager Brent Anderson observed the banding for the 

first time and assisted the banding crew on June 12. Peregrines have nested in the box at this 

southern-most bluff of the three in the park in 2000, 2002, and 2004 successfully. The box was 

installed in 1988. John Arent and Joel Sniewolski climbed the cliff here. First year nesting 

attempted: 1986; total young produced: 13. 

38. SP-Milwaukee Railroad Bridge/Hastings Cliff, Hastings, Dakota County, Minnesota. 

For the first year, success was made at this site by five-year-old Penny b/g 27/A, fledged in 2001 

from NSP Sherco, Becker, Minnesota and three-year-old Charlie b/g 64/P, fledged in 2003 from 

the Cargill Elevator, Red Wing, Minnesota. A single female young was fledged from the site on 

July 1 and banded when she landed on the ground. This site is unique, as discovered by Tordoff, 

12

in that the nest and chick were on the counterweight that travels vertically some 30 feet when the 

bridge rises and falls for boat and train traffic. This site is one of seven sites monitored in the 

state as part of the federal monitoring program for peregrine falcons. First year nesting attempted: 

2001; total young produced: 5. 

39. SP-Railroad Bridge, Prescott-Dakota County, Minnesota/ St. Croix County, 

Wisconsin. (Jackie is working on the name for this one 1/9/07) New Site. Jen Veith reported 

that a pair of peregrines was observed in the area. Todd Haarstick and Tordoff confirmed the 

presence of the pair on the west end (Minnesota) of the bridge. The adult female is unbanded and 

the male is two-year-old Butler b/g 19/N, a 2004 fledge from the Cargill Elevator, Red Wing. 

Three young fledged in July, not banded because of no access to the site. First year nesting 

attempted: 2006; total young produced: 3. 

40. SP-3M Water Tower, Arcade and East 7th Street, St. Paul, Ramsey County, 

Minnesota. Russ Edmonds assisted with observations at this site throughout the season. On 

April 1, Tordoff observed four-year-old Jill, b/g 50/B, fledged in 2002 from a cliff at Castle Rock, 

Wisconsin, to be paired with twelve-year-old Sota b/r 8/*E. This pair was previously observed at 

the Bremer building (formerly the North Central Life building, site #45) in March, nesting for two 

years at that site. The pair laid four eggs in the box on the water tower that was installed in the 

fall 2004. Two young hatched, and two young fledged, one male and one female. Jim Mussell 

and Dr. Luiz Cruz, DVM a post-doctoral assistant at The Raptor Center, climbed the 170’ to the 

nest box, with the female entering the box while the chicks were removed for banding. 

Approximately 40 3M staff and other viewers observed the banding below the tower for this site’s 

first successful nesting. The male chick was found dead on 7/13/06 near 6th and Wabasha in 

downtown St. Paul with injuries consistent with colliding with a building. First year nesting 

attempted: 2006; total young produced: 2. 

41. SP-I-494 Bridge (Wakota Bridge), South St. Paul, Washington County, Minnesota. 

(aka Dakota Bridge) In 2003, four eggs were laid on this bridge that was then undergoing heavy 

reconstruction, but none hatched. Last season, 2005, a pair was present, male MNDOT b/r *D/C, 

fledged in 1997 Mendota Bridge in Ft. Snelling State Park and an unbanded one-year-old female, 

but no nesting occurred. This year, the same male was again present and a new female, fouryear-old 

Trudy b/g 41/B, 2002 fledge from NSP Monticello, Monticello. The pair nested on a 

center beam over the river, where a piece of plywood had been left behind. A single female chick 

was banded on June 9, with the considerable assistance from Mark Pribula and Bill Wald of MN 

DOT and their crews doing the reconstruction and demolition of the old bridge. The young 

female fledged successfully in late June. It is not known at this time if the bridge will remain for 

another year or not, due to financial costs of the bridgework. First year nesting attempted: 2003; 


42. LE-Finn Church, two miles northeast of Tofte, Cook County, Minnesota. Fallon 

reports that a pair of birds was observed at the site in late April. The pair nested here for the 

second consecutive year. The adult female is an unbanded bird, and the male is three-year-old 

Chuck b/g 81/P, fledged in 2003 from North Shore Mining, Silver Bay, and here for the second 

year. Two eggs were observed in mid May, but by June 1, it was discovered that the cliff face 

had fallen into Lake Superior, which has happens frequently at this site. The pair remained on 

territory through the summer. Student naturalist Tiffany Smith from Wolf Ridge ELC assisted 

with observations at this site. First year nesting attempted: 1993; total young produced: 17. 

43. LE-Midwest Plaza, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Jackie Fallon 

discovered that eight-year-old adult female b/r *E/X, fledged in 1998 in Des Moines, Iowa was 

13

paired bigamously with three-year-old adult male Younger b/g 04/N, simultaneously the breeding 

male at the Multifoods Tower (site #3), just one block to the northwest of this site. This behavior 

was confirmed on several occasions during incubation when Younger was seen leaving the box 

on the SE corner of the 50th floor of the Multifoods Tower and arriving at the tray on the 22nd 

floor on the south side of the Midwest Plaza building. Food deliveries were also observed by this 

male to both females at the two separate sites. Eight eggs were laid by *E/X, none of which 

hatched. This site is 38 floors lower and 100 yards south and west of the nest box on the 

Multifoods Tower. Observations of the bigamous behavior were made possible by access to the 

adjoining Medical Arts roof where observations could be done of both sites simultaneously. First 


44. LE-Space Tower, State Fairgrounds, St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Donnelle 

Burlingame discovered a pair of peregrines using the nest box atop the Space Tower ride in late 

March. The male was identified by Mark Martell to be five-year-old Gold b/g 90/H, a 2001 

fledge from the NSP High Bridge, St. Paul. He previously was paired with the current female at 

the Minneapolis City Hall site in 2004, producing 2 young that year. The Space Tower female 

this year was banded b/g, but no further ID could be made. Three eggs were laid but did not 

hatch. In 1998 a pair of birds produced eggs here that failed to hatch, and in 2000 a pair was 

present at the site without any known egg production. This site has not produced any live young 

to date, but appears to be somewhat attractive to peregrines. First year nesting attempted: 1998; 


45. NB-Interchange Building, I-394 and Hwy. 169, Golden Valley, Hennepin County, 

Minnesota. New to the site was male Mike b/g D/22, a 2004 fledge from Lock and Dam 1, 

Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the female was an unbanded adult, believed from photos to be the 

same female as in 2005 as reported by Jackie Fallon. The female disappeared from the site in mid 

April. A nest box was installed by Dean Lerch and his staff with a camera shortly before the 

female disappeared, but no nesting occurred. The male was observed throughout the summer 

using the building. First year nesting attempted: 2005; total young produced: 0. 

46. NB-North Central Life (aka Bremer Building), St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. 

Throughout the winter, four-year-old Jill b/g 50/B, fledged in 2002 at a cliff at Castle Rock, 

Wisconsin, and here for the third year, paired with twelve-year-old four-toed Sota b/r 8/*E, here 

for the ninth year. They were observed on territory, even making a fresh scrape in the nest box by 

April 5. However, within a week of the scrape, the pair left this site and moved two miles to the 

northeast to the 3M Water Tower (site #39) and set up nesting at the water tower site. It is not 

known if the pair left the box due to disturbances in 2005 during incubation and hatching to the 

building or parasite infestation. No other birds were observed through the summer or fall at this 

site. It will be interesting to see if peregrines will utilize this site in the future, as they have since 

1988. First year nesting attempted: 1989; total young produced: 46. 

47. NB-Homer Cliff, Homer, Winona County, Minnesota. For the second year, Bob 

Anderson observed falcons defending this cliff. No evidence of nesting was observed. In 2005, a 

single female wearing a gold band was seen at this site. 

48. NB-NSP Riverside Plant, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Bob Anderson 

reports the same unfortunate scenario as has played out now for the fourth year in a row, wherein 

female Speedy b /g / is displaced by a non-reproductive unbanded female, after a fierce fight. 

Six-year-old male Malik b/g 5/*9 is but a bystander. 

49. NB-Lock and Dam #9, Lynxville, Crawford County, Wisconsin. New Site. Bob 

Anderson and Neil Rettig found a one-year-old female, banding status undetermined, paired with 

14

15 

an unbanded adult male. Neil reported seeing one of the pair chasing a bald eagle away from the 

cliff face. The pair was present until the end of June. 

50. NB-Mankato Concrete Plant, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. In December 2006, it was 

reported to Jackie Fallon by a reliable Mankato resident that a pair of peregrines had been on 

territory throughout the summer, but no young were observed. However, during the multiple trips 

that Fallon took during the spring and early summer, she was only able to observe an unbanded 

adult female in the area. The banding status of the male is unknown. 

51. NB-Taconite Harbor, Cook County, Minnesota. A pair of adult peregrines was known 

to be in the area this season. No positive identification was made on either bird and it is not known 

for sure if they successfully produced any young. First year nesting attempted: 2004; total young 

produced: 5. 

52. NB-Agate Bay Ore Docks, Two Harbors, Lake County, Minnesota. Dave Evans 

reports that a pair of adult peregrines was seen at this site this spring and observed copulating on 

April 20. Unfortunately, access to the site is limited and we have no further information at this 

time about any young produced. 

[Bovey Mine, Bovey, Itasca County, Minnesota. No information was available on the identification 

of the adults or of possible young produced.] 

[Hull Rust Mine, Hibbing, St. Louis County, Minnesota. No information was obtained regarding 

activity at this site in 2006.] 

WISCONSIN 

In 2006 in Wisconsin there were 22 nesting attempts, 21 of which were known successful peregrine 

nests and produced a total of 65 young (3.09 yg./successful nest). Eleven nests were located along the 

Lake Michigan shoreline, eight along the Mississippi River (four on cliffs), two inland nests and one 

site in the Fox Valley. Once again power plants comprised nearly half (48%) of the successful nests 

and produced over half (51%) of the young. 

53. SP-Miller Brewery, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. An unbanded adult 

female was present here once again with a new adult male. The new male was identified by Greg 

Septon as Herbert (b/g) 80/N produced at the WE Energies Valley Power Plant in Milwaukee in 

2004. Four eggs were laid and two young of each sex were banded on June 12, 2006. 

54. SP-Froedtert Malt, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Greg Septon reported that 

the adult male here appeared to be fourteen-year-old Leopold b/r C/D, a captive-produced peregrine 

released at Pleasant Prairie, WI in 1992, and present here since 1994. The adult female was Raynie 

b/r A/*H, a 1995 wpr female from Chicago. This was Raynie’s 9th year at this site. From four eggs 

laid, two young were produced. They were banded, a male and female on June 7, 2006. 

55. SP-WEPCO Oak Creek Power Plant, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Greg 

Septon & Rose Dehli report ten-year-old Atlanta b/r L/*C was here for her 8th year. “Griffin” b/r 

5/*D her former mate was replaced by a new adult male identified as six-year-old Scott b/g M/Y. 

Scott was produced at Milwaukee’s Froedtert Malt Complex in 2000. Scott had nested at the Racine 

County Courthouse since 2002 but as indicated below (#57) has now been replaced. Four eggs were

laid, one disappeared, two of the remaining three hatched. One chick died on day one after hatching 

and the other, a male, was banded on June 7, 2006. 

56. SP-WEPCO Valley Power Plant, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Greg 

Septon, Bill Holton and Bob Meidl report that the adult female here was once again four-year-old 

Liberty b/g 0/*T, nesting here for her third year. The adult male was not identified. They laid and 

hatched four eggs, and two males and two females were banded on May 30, 2006. 

57. SP-WEPCO Port Washington Power Plant, Port Washington, Ozaukee County, 

Wisconsin. The adult female, Whitney 6/*E was lost to an accident at the end of the 2005 season. 

Greg Septon reported an adult pair of falcons was present here until mid-April when an immature 

female arrived and displaced the adult female. This immature female laid a single egg on April 24th. 

On May 3rd, a new banded adult female was on site. Now paired with eight-year-old male Flaps b/r 

8/*T, this new female laid her first of three eggs on May 11th in the nest box next to the previously 

laid egg. She was identified on June 2nd as Icon b/g 50/D produced at the LTV Steel site in 

Cleveland, OH in ’04. Two young hatched and two young were banded, one each sex, on July 12. 

The single egg from the immature female did not hatch. 

58. SP-WPL Edgewater Generating Station, Sheboygan, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Greg 

Septon and Joe McClurg report the adult female here was Liberty b/r E/*D. This was ten-year-old 

Liberty’s 9th year at Edgewater. The adult male was not identified, but he wears a b/g band. Six eggs 

were laid between March 31 – April 8, five hatched and four young were banded on June 2, 2006, 

two males and two females. On June 22, Liberty was found dead in the switchyard at this site. She 

nested at Edgewater since 1998 producing a total of 33 young (3.7/year). 

59. SP-Busch Agricultural Resources Complex, Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. 

Greg Septon and Rise’ Sieben reported the adult female here was five-year-old b/g 7/*U produced in 

2001 at the New Center in Detroit, MI. This was her second year at this site. The adult male has not 

been identified. Five eggs were laid, four hatched and four young, one male and three females were 

banded on May 25th, 2006. 

60. SP-WPS Pulliam Power Plant, Green Bay, Brown County, Wisconsin. Greg Septon 

reported that the adult female here was three-year-old Beth b/g 25/B. She was produced in 2003 at 

the Midwest Generation Power Plant in Waukegan, IL. The adult male remains unidentified. Four 

eggs were laid, three hatched, and two males were banded on May 25, 2006. 

61. SP-WEPCO Pleasant Prairie Power Plant, Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. 

Greg Septon and Bob Reske reported that the adult female here was eight-year-old Breezer b/r *R/*2 

produced in 1998 at the U.S. Steel site in Gary, IN. This was Breezer’s 8th year at P4. Greg Septon 

finally identified the adult male as Duke b/r 1/*P produced in 1998 at Milwaukee’s Landmark on the 

Lake apartment building. The nest box on the old chimney was closed off in January when the nest 

box inside the new chimney was finished. By March, the pair had located and occupied their new 

box. Five eggs were laid and five male young were banded on May 25, 2006. Female Breezer laid 

two eggs at age one, four her second year, five in 2001, 2002, 2003, four in 2004, five in 2005, and 

five again in 2006. 

62. SP-Racine County Courthouse, Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin. Greg Septon reported 

that the adult female here was once again five-year-old Lily b/g 56/A hatched in 2001 at the Firstar 

Bank in Cedar Rapids, IA. Scott b/g M/Y, who was at this site since 2002, was replaced by a new 

unidentified adult male. Scott is now paired with Atlanta at the Oak Creek Power Plant. They laid 

four eggs and four males were banded on June 7, 2006. 

63. SP-Cargill Malt Complex, Jefferson County, Jefferson, Wisconsin. Greg Septon and Pete 

Dempsey reported that an adult pair of falcons was nesting once again at this site. The female was 

16

three-year-old Smokey b/g 82/Awho was produced at the Edgewater Generating Station in 

Sheboygan, WI in 2003 and was nesting here for the third year. The adult male is banded b/g. Five 

eggs were laid, four hatched, and four young were banded on June 12, 2006, three males and one 

female. 

64. SP-Rothschild-WPS Weston Power Plant. New Site. Greg Septon and Tom McLean 

reported an unbanded female paired with a b/g adult male. Four eggs were laid and four young were, 

two males and two females, were banded on May 31, 2006. 

65. SP-NSP-Dairyland Genoa Power Plant, Genoa, Vernon County, Wisconsin (aka: 

Dairyland Power Cooperative, Genoa, WI). Bob Anderson and John Thiel reported that ten-year-old 

female Scooter b/r U/W, here for the ninth year, paired with six-year-old male Rich b/g 21/H, his 

third year here. Four eggs were laid and four young were banded, three females and one male, the 

same sex ratio as last year. 

66. SP-Maiden Rock, Pepin County, Wisconsin. Bob Anderson reported that seven-year-old 

male Gunnar, hacked at Effigy Mounds National Monument in 1999 and identified here in October 

2004, paired with an unbanded adult female. They fledged two female young. 

67. SP-Castle Rock, Buffalo County, Wisconsin (aka: Castle Rock cliff Trempealeau County, 

WI). Bob Anderson reported that an unidentified pair fledged three female young. They utilized a 

nest box and this was the fifth year of nesting here. 

68. SP-Lynxville Cliff, Lynxville, Crawford County, Wisconsin. This was the fourth year this 

site has been active. Bob Anderson reported that four-year old male Les b/g 64/K, fledged at Lake 

City, Minnesota in 2002, paired with three-year-old Jackie 51/E, daughter of Gunner at Maiden Rock. 

They fledged one male and one female. Maggie Jones and David Linton helped keep track of falcon 

activity at this site. Dan Berger reminds us that peregrines were fledged here in 1952 and adult 

falcons were here in 1953, 1954, and 1956. 

69. SP-Nelson Dewey Power Plant, Cassville, Grant County, Wisconsin (aka: Alliant Energy 

Nelson Dewey Plant). Bob Anderson, Brett Mandernack, and Dave Kester reported that seven-yearold 

male G/V was here for his sixth year at this site. His mate was observed to be banded but was not 

completely identified (4/E). Two female and one male young were banded. This pair was 

confirmed at the nest site on 2/28/06. 

70. SP-Kenosha Memorial Hospital, Kenosha County, Kenosha. (aka: United Hospital 

System, Kenosha Medical Center). Greg Septon, Bob Springer & Jeff Woller reported that four-yearold 

Aaron b/g 80/H, fledged in 2002 at Froedtert Malt, Milwaukee, Wisconsin paired with an 

unbanded female, presumed to be the same bird as in 2005. She was caught and banded by Greg 

Septon on banding day and is now known as “Maggie b/g M/14”. After failing in 2005, they laid 

and hatched four eggs; three males and one female were banded on June 2, 2006. 

71. SP-Dairyland Power Cooperative, Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. John Thiel and Bob 

Anderson reported that five-year-old female R/A, here for the fourth year, paired with male Mark b/g 

23/M, a 2002 fledge from Castle Rock, Trempealeau county, WI. This year, they moved back to 

the nest box on the stack, laid four eggs and fledged four young, three males, and one female. 

72. SP-U.S. Bank, La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. After two seasons of nonbreeding 

by falcons in 2004 and 2005, Bob Anderson and Fred Lesher reported that the two falcons 

identified in 2005 as then one-year-old female Majestic b/g 43/C, fledged from Colonnade, 

Minneapolis, Minnesota, and one-year-old male Lucas b/g 40/N, fledged from Dairyland 

Cooperative, Alma, Wisconsin, nested and produced three young, 1 male and two females. 

17

18 

73. LE-Maassen Bluff, two miles south of Nelson, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. This site was 

occupied by an adult male and a one-year-old female, both unidentified. They produced one egg and 

it failed to hatch. 

74. LE-StoraEnso Kimberly Mill, Outagamie County, Wisconsin. Greg Septon and Bob 

Vanthiel reported that four-year-old Louise b/g V/U hatched in 2002 at the Ameren UE Labadie 

Power Station in St. Louis, MO and three-year-old Darrel b/g 44/M, a falcon produced in 2003 at the 

Busch Agricultural Resources site in Manitowoc, WI were here for their second year in 2006. Four 

eggs were laid, three hatched. Unfortunately, all chicks were lost when a May 11th storm flooded the 

nest ledge. A new nest box has been installed at this site which will eliminate any future flooding 

problems. 

75. NB-Kaukauna- Thilmany Mill – New site -An adult male and an immature female were 

on site here this spring although no eggs were laid. Greg Schuh, an employee at the Thilmany site 

was able to get a few great shots of the female as well as her bands. She is Nora b/g P/76 wpr 

produced in 2005 at the Greysolon Plaza in Duluth, MN, as reported by Greg Septon. 

76. NB-Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant, Kewaunee, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin. Greg 

Septon reports that falcons were present at this site in 2006, but there is no additional information. 

77. NB-WE-Energies Minergy Glass Aggregate Plant, Neenah, Winnebago County, 

Wisconsin. Greg Septon and Jan & Ed Schmidt reported a turnover of falcons at this site where 

young were produced last year and a new immature female was present for some time this spring. 

However, last year’s female Karla b/g 4/*5 returned paired with a new adult male named Thor b/g 

76/N who was produced at the Busch Agricultural Resources site in Manitowoc, WI in 2004. Thor 

replaces Riot b/g 55/H who nested here last year. Unfortunately with the territorial skirmishes and 

turnover of falcons late into the nesting season, eggs were never laid here this year. An unbanded 

immature falcon has been seen at this site recently. 

78. NB-Fountain City cliffs, Fountain City, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. Doug Wood 

got permission for a box to be mounted by Bob Anderson and his crew on the largest cliff here on 

June 15, 2005; two falcons were seen defending the next box in 2006, but no nesting occurred. 

79. NB-Alma Marina Cliff, Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. Bob Anderson reported that 

falcons were seen at this site. 

[Firstar Center, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Greg Septon reports that this site has 

remained unproductive since Sibella (20V) ended her 15-year presence here in ‘03. Peregrines have 

been observed here regularly but no nesting attempt was made in ‘06. Once again, it may be that the 

Liberty (b/g) O/*T (who is very aggressive) who is nesting at the nearby Valley Power Plant is 

commanding a much larger territory than other falcons in the past and preventing another nesting 

from occurring at the nearby US Bank.] 

[Hoan Bridge, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. This site, discovered in 1999 after the 

young had just fledged, has not been occupied since.] 

[West Bluff, Pepin County, Wisconsin. After successful nesting in 2005, this site was unoccupied in 

2006.]

19 

MICHIGAN 

Information for Michigan was reported by Tim Payne and Ray Rustem 

80. SP-New Center / Fisher Building, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Tim Payne reports 

three young, two males and one female, were banded on June 1, 2006. Names of the adults were 

given as Mauma and Alpha (possibly a 2001 fledge from Columbus, Ohio). 

81. SP-Consumers Energy Campbell Plant, Port Sheldon, Ottawa County, Michigan. Third 

year for this site. Four young, one male and three females were banded on June 7, 2006. No 

information on adult identities given. 

82. SP-Consumers Energy B. C. Cobb Plant, Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan. Three 

young, two males and one female, were banded on June 7, 2006. No information on adult identities 

given. 

83. SP-Grand Haven Board of Light and Power, Sims Plant, Grand Haven, Ottawa County, 

Michigan. Three young were fledged from this site. Two females and one male. All three were 

banded as reported by Ray Rustem. 

84. SP-Detroit Edison Power Plant, Raisin River, Monroe, Monroe County, Michigan. Ray 

Rustem reports that three young were hatched with one male found dead on 5/25. The remaining two 

females were banded. One adult was identified as eleven-year-old Leopold, a 1995 fledge from 

Columbus; the other is unknown. 

85. SP-Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan. Second year for this site. 

Three young, one male and two females were banded on June 8, 2006. Male has been identified as 

Dubya hatched and reared in Manitowoc, WI. Female is Tonga hatched Mississauga, Ontario in 

2003, according to Ray Rustem. Both adults were three years old. 

86. SP-Whittier Apartments, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Three-year-old Miriam bl 

89/H, fledged in 2003 at Toronto, Ontario, paired with seven-year-old male Allegro V/G had a clutch 

of three eggs and produced two female young. They were banded on May 25, 2006. 

87. SP-Book / Ameritech / SBC, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Ray Rustem reports that 

two young were fledged here this year. The female parent was again eight-year-old Sara *3/Y. The 

male peregrine is seven-year-old Gregory who fledged from Jackson State Prison in Chicago. 

88. SP-University of Detroit Mercy, Bell Tower, Detroit, Michigan. As reported in 2005, 

Ray Rustem reported that in 2006, three young were found after fledging. They were not banded 

and their parents were not identified. 

89. SP-Spartan Stadium, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan. 

No activity was reported at this site, although Dr. James Sikarskie reports seeing a young peregrine 

on the Crop and Soil Science building in August. We will continue to evaluate this site. 

90. SP-National Steel, River Rouge, Wayne County, Michigan. Ray Rustem reported that 

three young were verified as fledging from this site. Two males, one female. They were not 

accessible for banding. 

91. LE-Board of Water and Light power plant / Michigan National Bank / State Capitol, 

Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan. Ray Rustem reports that nine-year-old female Stelco bl 4/S and 

six-year-old male Alimak G/C nested at the Board of Water and Light Power plant. Five eggs were 

laid. The nest failed.

20 

92. LE-Macomb County Building, Mt. Clements, Macomb County, Michigan. Ray Rustem 

reports that four eggs laid none of which hatched. 

93. NB- Bell Tower, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co. New Site. A pair 

of peregrines established a territory at this site. Breeding activity was observed but no eggs were 

laid. Female is banded, potentially from the Toledo area. 

94. NB-Federal Center building, Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan. Ray Rustem 

provided information that two birds were reported in downtown but no nests were found. Female is 

banded and male is unbanded. 

95. NB-Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to John Will, a pair of adult birds was present in 

downtown Grand Rapids for virtually all of 2006 -- possibly the same pair as '04 and '05 but 

unconfirmed. Based on their behavior they very likely nested twice -- in March and May, both 

unsuccessfully -- though nest sites were unconfirmed. Their lack of success was, once 

again, probably due to the absence of a reasonably well located nest box. Last fall, a new nest box 

was put in place atop the McKay Tower in the same location as our hacking box in the mid-'80.! 

Hopefully, the nest box first put up by the State Office Building a year ago has now been moved to a 

more favorable location atop that building to provide 2 well located nest boxes. The birds continue to 

be present and use our entire downtown for roosting. 

96. NB-Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, five miles west of Silver City, 

Ontonagon County, Michigan. In six visits, Joe Rogers and Barb Rogers observed courtship and it is 

thought a pair may be nesting to the west of the original site, according to information relayed by Ray 

Rustem. 

No information was available for the following Michigan sites in 2006. 

[Mackinaw Bridge, linking Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Michigan] 

[Kewaunee Peninsula, Kewaunee County, Michigan] 

[Trap Hills, Ontonagon County, Michigan] 

[Grand Portal cliff, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Alger County, Michigan] 

[Au Train Island, Alger County, Michigan] 

[Grand Island, Alger County, Michigan] 

SOUTH DAKOTA 

[Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota. No report of any peregrine activity in 2006.] 

NEBRASKA 

97. SP-Woodmen Tower, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. Kari Andresen and Joel 

Jorgensen, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, report that twelve-year-old male Zeus X/R 

fledged in Rochester NY in 1994, here for the eleventh year, paired again with an unbanded female. 

They fledged two male and three female young.

21 

98. SP-State Capitol Building, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. After failed nesting 

attempts in 2003 and 2004, followed by success in 2005, a pair successfully nested again this year. 

The male is five-year-old b/g 19/K, fledged in Des Moines, Iowa in 2001 and also here in 2003 and 

probably in 2004, and the female was two-year-old bl A/*Y, fledged at Radisson /Delta Winnipeg 

Hotel, Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 2004. One male and two females fledged as reported by Kari 

Andresen. 

IOWA 

99. SP-Firstar Bank (US Bank), Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. Jodeane Cancilla, 

Macbride Raptor Project, Pat Schlarbaum, and Bruce Ehresman, Iowa DNR, report that eight-yearold 

female *S/*5, nesting here for the seventh year, and three-year-old male 78/E, here nesting for 

year two, produced four eggs, hatched all four, and fledged four young, three males and a female. 

Young hatched around May 8 th and fledged between the 12th and 15th of June 2006. 

100. SP-MidAmerican Energy Corporate Headquarters, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. 

(one of three sites in the Quad Cities). Dave Sebben reports that two seven-year-olds, female 8/*E, 

fledged at Muncie, Indiana, in 1999, paired with male P/D, fledged at Dubuque, Iowa, in 1999, and 

produced two young. 

101. SP-MEC Louisa, Louisa County, Iowa. Jim Haack, MidAmerica Energy, reports that 

an unidentified female and an unidentified male, both banded, fledged three young, one male and two 

females. One “much younger” male was found dead in the nest box at banding time. This is the fifth 

year of successful nesting at this site. 

102. SP-Alliant Energy Plant, Chillicothe, Wapello County, Iowa (aka Ottumwa). Judi 

Johnson reports that seven-year-old female Z/V and an unidentified male fledged one young. 

103. SP-Mississippi bridge, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. Local birder, Hal 

Geren, reports seeing and hearing two adults and one young peregrine flying in the vicinity of the 

bridge throughout July. 

104. LE-Waukon Junction Cliff, Waukon Junction, Allamakee County, Iowa. This was the 

third year this cliff site was occupied by the same pair. On March 23, Bob Anderson identified both 

adults, now three-year-old female Lora 48/E and four-year-old Brady 19/M. Occupying the same 

cliff, but a different ledge than in 2005, hatching was observed, however, the nest was lost to 

predation, presumably by raccoons. 

105. LE-Alliant Energy Lansing / Lansing cliff, Lansing, Allamakee County, Iowa. In 

2005, this site was occupied by an unidentified adult female with a b/r band paired with eight-yearold 

male Alpha *T/M, nesting here for the seventh year. In 2006, the pair (not identified) attempted 

to nest on the stack, but was disturbed by construction work. They moved over to the nearby cliff 

which had been unsuccessful in previous years. Bob Anderson and associates conducted a nest 

inspection on May 17th and found evidence of probable raccoon predation. 

106. LE-I-280 Bridge Quad Cities, Scott County, Iowa. Local Birder Kelly McKay 

reported a pair of falcons on the west pier (Iowa side) of the bridge. Two eggs on concrete were 

discovered and placed in a nest tray with pea gravel. There was no further activity reported at this 

site. 

107. LE-American Republic, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. Bruce Ehresman and Pat 

Schlarbaum, Iowa DNR, report that an unidentified female laid four eggs on a bare, cold concrete 

ledge. Pea gravel was added under them, but the eggs failed to hatch.

22 

108. NB-I-80 Bridge, Quad Cities, Scott County, Iowa. Pat Schlarbaum reports peregrine 

activity at this site in 2006. Adult pair on site defending, but no young were found. This bridge is 12 

miles upstream from Centennial Bridge. 

[State Capitol, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. Pat Schlarbaum reports that this site was not active 

in 2006 and has not been active since 2004.] 

ILLINOIS 

Mary Hennen notes that this completes the 21st year of peregrine restoration in the 

Chicago area. Lincoln Park Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and SOAR 

have provided help in monitoring sites, banding young, taking blood samples, and care for 

injured birds. Web cams at the Midwest Generation Plant and Evanston Public Library were 

great successes this year as well as the expedition website. 

109. SP-Jackson Street Prison, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. This is the ninth year for a 

nest here, again in an inaccessible area. Both adults were identified this year, the male being sixyear-old 

b/g 5/*E from Milwaukee (2000) and the female nine-year-old Hercules b/r*D/W from 

Minneapolis (1997).All four young were grounded at fledging allowing recovery for banding. 

Female young K/42 was grounded a second time and contracted aspergillosis, a fungal disease of the 

respiratory system; she was euthanized. Male E/34 was also retained at SOAR and ultimately 

released on July 28, 2006 at Lockport. Another adult female that had been present at the site in 2004 

was identified from photographs as b/r 4/*K, according to Mary Hennen. 

110. SP-Uptown Theatre, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Sixth year for this site. Mary 

Hennen reported that five-year-old male b/g G/G, here for the fourth year, paired with nine-year-old 

female Zoom *4/H, also here for the fourth year. They nested in a box on a fire escape, laid four 

eggs, hatched two, and fledged two males, both banded. An infertile egg was collected at banding 

time. 

111. SP-Midwest Generation, Waukegon, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Mary Hennen 

reported that seven-year-old female Fran b/g 5/*X, fledged in 1999 at Hoan Bridge, Milwaukee, 

Wisconsin, and nesting here since 2001 (although band not read in 2004), paired with an unidentified 

male. They produced four eggs, hatched all four, and fledged four young, two of each sex. This is 

the sixth year for this building site. 

112. SP-5821 Broadway, Irving Park, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Mary Hennen 

reported that seven-year-old female Auntie Em b/g 5/*P, here in 2004 and probably 2003, paired with 

nine-year-old Tracy b/r *P/M, fledged here in 1997 and also here at 5821 Broadway in 2004 (not 

male L/N, erroneously reported in the 2004 report). Five eggs were laid, four were banded on June 9, 

2006 and fledged, two males and two females. 

113. SP-Pilson Park, Throop Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Fifth year for this site. 

Mary Hennen reports that six-year-old male b/g L/N and an unidentified female b/g 0/, produced 

four eggs. Three, hatched and three young, two males and one female were banded. Male K/31 

(banded as a female, though found later to be a male), was recovered with a broken leg and was 

undergoing rehabilitation at SOAR. 

114. SP-Evanston Library, Evanston, Cook County, Illinois. Mary Hennen reports that the 

unidentified male, paired with a female, two-year-old b/g 64/D, fledged in 2004 at Firstar Bank,

23 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, here for her second year. Four eggs were laid; three hatched and three fledged, 

two males and one female. They were banded on June 12, 2006. Two of the three were grounded 

and replaced shortly after fledging. 

115. SP-St. Michael’s, Old Town neighborhood, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Second 

year for this site. Adult female two-year-old Sadie b/g 75/E, fledged in 2003 at IPL Stout Plant, 

Indianapolis, Indiana, who died on Feb 10, 2006 from an apparent skirmish with another new female, 

was replaced by the victor two – year- old Kelliwatt 60/D from Aberdeen OH (2004) She paired 

with three-year-old male Hops 58/M, fledged in 2003 at Miller Brewery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

They laid four eggs and hatched four, two of each sex. Three of the young were accessible for 

banding, the fourth E/31 grounded at fledging and was then banded. 

116. SP-125 S. Wacker, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. After being unoccupied in 2005, 

following the death of both adults in 2004, a pair was present in 2006. The female is five-year-old 

Rahn b/g 01/A from Sheboygan WI and the male is four-year-old Etienne from Etobicoke Canada. 

They laid eggs and hatched four young, three males and a female. They were banded on May 31, 

2006. Three of the four young were grounded during fledging and returned. E/23 repeatedly 

grounded, and after a brief sojourn at SOAR was released at Lockport on July 28, 2006. 

117. LE-Lawndale, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Third year for this site. Mary Hennen 

reported that two adults, male Dave b/g 14/K and female Nitz b/g s/*Y, both five-years-old were 

present and seen copulating in April. An infertile egg was collected on May 24th 

118. LE-University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Eighth year for 

this site. Nine-year-old female Rosie b/r *6/D and an unidentified male. They laid four eggs, two of 

which were rolled off the nest ledge by the adults. The other two apparently did not hatch, according 

to Mary Hennen. 

119. NB-Lakeview, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Mary Hennen reports that a pair of 

peregrines was seen here periodically in spring and throughout the season. No nesting was 

attempted. 

[96th Street and Skyway Bridge, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Mary Hennen reports that workers 

at Execelon Corporation observed two immature birds at this site. No information about the adults.] 

[Hyde Park, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Mary Hennen reports that there was no nesting activity 

here in 2006, following two failed nesting attempts in 2005 by Magnolia black 22R and male b/g S/T, 

a mother and son pairing. A single unidentified bird was seen here periodically during the summer 

season.] 

[“River Birds” Various sites near Execu-Stay Marriot / Allerton Hotel / Palmolive Building / 225 

West Wacker, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Mary Hennen reports that though birds were seen in 

the neighborhood utilized in 2005 early in the year, no birds were present past February 2006. The 

female at this site in 2005, Rahn b/g 01/A was identified as the female at the Wacker site.] 

INDIANA 

John Castrale, IN DNR, collected the Indiana peregrine information. Thirteen sites were active 

in 2006, with the addition of new nests at Mittal Steel West (East Chicago) and US Steel (Gary) and 

inactivity at one of the bridge sites at Cline Avenue (East Chicago). Banding of 23 chicks occurred at

24 

9 sites and 30 checks fledged from 12 sites. Comparatively, during 2005, 12 sites were active in 

Indiana and 9 sites were successful in producing 29 young falcons; 25 chicks were banded. The 

Wheatfield site had 5 chicks (one eventually died prior to fledging), only the third time an Indiana 

pair has attempted to raise this many chicks. Falcon cams can be viewed at: 

http://www.aep.com/go/FalconCam (Fort Wayne), http://blogs.indystar.com/falconblog/ 

(Indianapolis) and http://www.nisource.com/enviro/falcon.asp (Wheatfield). 

121. SP-One Summit Square, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. Twelve-year-old female 

Freedom U/*8, eleventh year nesting at this site, paired again with eleven-year-old male Roosevelt 

R/*4, his tenth year here. Egg laying commenced on March 16th and four were laid. Two chicks 

hatched on March 25th and 26th. Two females were banded on May 19th; the desiccated remains of 

one (M/65) was later found on July 12th. 

122. SP-Market Tower, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. John Castrale, Richard 

Kinnett, and Laura James-Reim, reported that thirteen-year-old male Kinney 7/*3, here for the 

twelfth year, paired for the fifth year with eight-year-old Chantal *B/*C (aka KathyQ). This site is 

under camera surveillance. Four eggs were laid beginning on March 11th. They endured heavy 

snow in the box on March 21 and three eggs hatched beginning on April 18th. Three young, 1 male 

and two females were banded on May 12th and the unhatched egg was collected. One of the females 

was retrieved from the street on 6/3 and returned to the 31st floor. She was found dead after being hit 

by a vehicle on 7/7. Over the 12 years of nesting here, 42 young have fledged, a remarkable 3.5 per 

year, all sired by Kinney 7/*3. 

123. SP-Cline Avenue at Lake Michigan, East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana. Eighteenth 

year for this site. This site, the first in Indiana, has produced 53 young peregrines in 18 years, 2.79 

per year. It is a very long overland bridge. In 2004, it was finally determined that birds were nesting 

simultaneously in the original recess under the elevated expressway, as well as in an expansion joint 

about 400 yards from the original site. During 2004 and 2005, two females (both with bands) and 

never more than one unbanded male were observed at this location. Eight-year-old female *U/3, 

nesting here since 2002 but not identified in 2003 was found dead at nearby Inland Steel on 

November 8, 2005. Remaining female was eleven-year-old female Laurie b/r E/*H, nesting for her 

seventh year, two of which were at Wheatfield in 1998 and 1999 and unaccounted for in 2002, but 

possibly at Cline Avenue, paired with an unbanded male, as reported by Skip Gehring. Access to the 

site was attempted on May 30th by John Castrale, but the two nearly fledged chicks could not be 

reached. The second nest site showed no sign of recent use. 

124. SP-NIPSCO Schahfer Plant, Wheatfield, Jasper County, Indiana. This is the ninth 

year of occupancy for this site. John Castrale and Tony DiPaolo reported that seven-year-old female 

Latesha Z/K, here for the sixth year, paired again with ten-year-old male Rollin K/*8, here for the 

ninth year. Five eggs were produced by April 11th, the first of which was seen by nest camera on 

March 21st. Five chicks hatched and were banded, three females and two males on May 23rd. On 

June 1, one bird was recovered with facial injury and subsequently died. Another was recovered with 

minor soft tissue injury and was released on June 13th. On July 24, 2006, another young, M/72, was 

found dead from head injuries according to John Castrale. 

125. SP-NIPSCO Plant, Michigan City, LaPorte County, Indiana. This is the eleventh year 

for this site. John Castrale and Jeff Neumeier reported that eight-year-old female Cloud Dancer 

*B/*G fledged in Green Bay, here for the seventh year, and eleven-year-old Uncle Billy 3/*B fledged 

in Milwaukee, his eleventh year here, fledged one of each in early June. An unhatched egg was also 

collected at banding time on May 22nd.

126. SP-Tower Building, South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana. Carole Riewe and John 

Castrale reported that female Guinevere 79/E, banded here in 2003 as an adult, paired with sevenyear-old 

male Zephyr b/r *9/*A, here since 2003. Four eggs were laid between March 20th and 

March 27th. Three chicks, two males and one female, were banded on May 22nd. M/67 was 

retrieved post-fledging with a fractured wing tip on June 12th; rehabilitated and released on July 

23rd; prone to injury or perhaps just bad luck, he was found injured in NW Ohio (Williams Co.) on 

August 6th, he entered training by a falconer and was released around November 1st. On July 27, 

2006, another young, E/71, was recovered in South Bend with a fractured ulna and sent to a 

rehabilitation facility according to John Castrale. 

127. SP-U.S. Steel (sinter plant), Gary, Lake County, Indiana. Seven-year-old female 

Crystal X/*K, here for the sixth year, paired with three-year-old Brook b/g 47/H, fledged in 2003 at 

Monroe, Michigan and here for his second year after replacing his grandfather, Vulcan in what may 

have been a hostile takeover in 2005. Mark Happer observed the pair (female bands read) on 3/17 at 

one of the empty nest boxes. Four eggs were in the box on 4/10 and 5/3. Ted Weitzel noted at least 

2 chicks on 5/8. Four eggs hatched. Only 3 chicks were in the box on 5/23. They were banded 5/30, 

two males and one female, all of whom fledged. 

128. SP-NIPSCO Bailly Plant / Mittal Bethlehem Steel / Cargill, Porter, Porter County, 

Indiana. This is the eleventh year for this site. After switching among five sites at three locations in 

the past ten years, this pair moved back to a smokestack at the Bailly Plant after nesting at Mittall’s 

Bethlehem Steel plant the previous two years. Eleven-year-old Barb b/r E/*L, her ninth year, paired 

with thirteen-year-old Bailly, b/r 4/9, his eleventh year here. On 4/24, Jeff Neumeier approached the 

nest box at the Bailly plant and was greeted by an aggressive pair. Four eggs were observed in that 

box on 4/26. Three eggs and one recently hatched egg were found on 5/22. The female chick was 

banded and one was egg retrieved on 6/12. 

129. SP-BP Amoco, Whiting, Lake County, Indiana. This is the third year for this site. 

John Castrale and Steve Hopman report that four-year-old female Nancy b/g 5/*4 wild-produced in 

Waukegon, IL in 2002, paired with male g/b B/18, the closest they’ve come yet to identifying the 

male. Steve Hopman reported both birds in nest box on 3/23 with no eggs and four eggs by 4/4. The 

female was observed in the box with 4 eggs on 4/17. Three chicks and 1 egg were noted on May 

4th. Two chicks were banded on 5/30 and the adult male's band briefly noted. The female was 

captured. One chick (E/81) was found dead on July 3rd with burnt feet. 

130. SP-Southside Landfill / IPL Stout (Harding St.) Plant, Indianapolis, Marion County, 

Indiana. This is the fifth year for this site. An unbanded one-year-old female paired with ten-yearold 

Orion b/r L/*8 here for at least his fourth year. On March 8th, an adult was perched near the nest 

site at the Southside Landfill where nesting took place last year. On the same day, no signs of 

peregrines were observed at the Stout Plant where a new nest box was placed last fall. On March 

19th, Richard Kinnett saw the pair at the box at the Stout Plant and no birds at the Southside landfill. 

Both adults (b/r L/ band was observed) were present on March 22nd at the Stout plant and the empty 

nest box had evidence of a scrape. On March 30th and April 5th, no birds were observed at the Stout 

plant, but the female spent most of her time at the nesting tube at the Southside landfill with the male 

(unbanded) perched nearby. Access to the Southside Landfill was denied after April 5th, when the 

building was being demolished. On April 20 and April 21, a pair was seen at the Stout Plant nest 

box. The nest box at Stout Plant was checked on May 12 and contained four eggs, likely a renesting 

attempt after disruption at the Southside Landfill. Three chicks (one runt) were observed on June 5. 

Two chicks were banded on June 19th, 1 male and 1 female; one unhatched egg was collected. 

25

26 

131. SP-Inland Steel (aka Mittal Steel – Indiana Harbor East), East Chicago, Lake County, 

Indiana. This site has been active for at least 12 years, but monitoring is difficult because the nest 

box cannot be accessed due to safety concerns and the adults are always quite distant. The adults 

(left b/g on one, right b/g on the other) are likely here for the second year. Robert Page noted adults 

entering the nest box as early as March 22nd. John Castrale observed two banded males interacting 

aggressively on May 9th. Finally, on June 12th, three 5-week old chicks were perched at the nest box 

with an adult nearby and likely fledged within the next week. 

132. SP- Mittal Steel - Indiana Harbor West, East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana – New 

Site (3rd year in use, but first report – two chicks reported fledged each in 2004 and 2005). Adults - 

unidentified but at least one with a green band. At the end of the summer, John Castrale received a 

call about possible solutions for falcons attacking workers at this steel plant. Although he had not yet 

visited the site, descriptions by John Zellers convinced him that peregrines were nesting on an I-beam 

on the BOF (Basic Oxygen Furnace) and three chicks fledged in 2006. Young unbanded falcons 

have been retrieved in this area in previous years, but they were attributed to birds from nearby nest 

sites at Cline Avenue and Inland Steel. A nest box will be installed during the winter. 

133. LE- US Steel (pre-carb plant), Gary, Lake County, Indiana. New Site. Neither adult 

was identified or even determined to be banded at this site. A pair and nest (3 eggs) in a soot-filled 

gutter was first reported by Mark Happer on April 20th, 1 mile east of the nest at the sinter plant. The 

nest abandoned by May 15th. Eggs were still present on May 23rd and both adults were observed 

from a distance. A nest box was erected nearby in the fall. 

[Kokomo Gas and Power, Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana. After the gas tower, where a 

pair nested from 2001 to 2003, was imploded in the fall of 2003, a nest box was placed at the nearby 

Daimler-Chrysler Plant. On June 5 th , 2006 various sites were checked but no sign of peregrines were 

observed. A nest box at the Chrysler-Daimler plant was removed last year, according to John 

Castrale.]. 

OHIO 

Dave Scott, Ohio DNR, collected the Ohio peregrine information. In summary: 

-Division of Wildlife staff and volunteers identified 20 pairs around the state, including a 

new pair on the I-480 Bridge in southern Cuyahoga County 

-Eighteen territorial pair nested (pairs in Lorain & at the I-480 Bridge were not known 

to have nested this year) 

-Nineteen nesting attempts were made by these 18 pairs (the 1 st nest by the Youngstown 

pair failed; their 2 nd nest attempt was successful) 

-Approximately 72 eggs were produced in 2006 (this is an estimate since we did not have 

complete counts for two nesting attempts) 

-Sixty-three eggs hatched 

-Sixty-one chicks lived to three weeks of age and were banded

27 

-Sixty chicks fledged successfully (two of these are currently in rehabilitation and four 

are known dead) 

-Ohio peregrines fledged 3.33 chicks per successful nest in 2006 

134. SP-Commodore Perry Motor Inn, Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. Dave Scott and Bill 

Roshak, Ohio Division of Wildlife, report that five-year-old female Striker 7/*5, a 2001 fledge from 

Cleveland, Ohio, replaced *7/X in April 2006 here for the first year, paired with five-year-old male 

Angus bl 6/3, here for the third year. Three eggs were laid in mid-April; one hatched and one was 

banded as a male on June 9, 2006. The young male fledged in early July 2006. 

135. SP-Terminal Tower, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Dave Scott and Tom Henry, 

Ohio Division of Wildlife, report that seven-year-old female b/r S/*W, here for the fifth year, paired 

again with ten-year-old male Buckeye b/r *R/K, here for the seventh year. They produced four eggs 

in mid-March, hatched all four, and fledged one male and three females by May 30th. 

136. SP-LTV Steel, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Dave Scott and Tom Henry 

report that four-year-old female b/r *K/*A, fourth year at this site, paired again with an unbanded 

male. They produced four eggs and fledged one male and three females that were banded on May 25, 

2006. 

137. SP-Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Dave Scott and Tom Henry 

report that male Flash b/r *3/*H and female Liberty C/W, both seven years old and both here for the 

fifth year, hatched four eggs and fledged two males and two females that were banded on May 16, 


138. SP-Bohn Building, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Kate b/g 61/C, banded as an 

adult last year, paired with an unbanded male. The pair produced three eggs in early April and 

fledged three young, two females and a male. They were banded on June 1, 2006. 

139. SP-Cuyahoga River I-90 Bridge, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Seventh year 

for this site. Five-year-old female Newton b/r 18/A, paired again with three-year-old Bolt b/g 18/P. 

Two males and one female were banded on May 25, 2006 and fledged around June 9th. The Ohio 

Department of Transportation again provided equipment to reach the nest under the bridge. 

140. SP-Hilliard Road Bridge, Lakewood, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Dave Scott and Tom 

Henry report that for the fourth year an unbanded female paired with thirteen-year-old male Buckeye 

b/r 3/1, his ninth year at this bridge. They produced four eggs, fledged one of each sex; banding was 

on May 21, 2006. The Ohio Department of Transportation again assisted with the banding by 

providing specialized equipment to reach the nest site. 

141. SP-Miami Fort Station, Cinergy, Cleves, Hamilton County, Ohio. Peregrines nested at 

this power plant, 20 miles west of Cincinnati, for the tenth year. For the fourth year, an unbanded 

male paired with eight-year-old female Mary Ellen *B/*B, her seventh year here. Five eggs were 

produced again this year for the fifth year in a row; all five hatched, and five young were banded; 

three males and one female fledged. The other young male died due to a fall from the nest box prior 

to fledging. 

142. SP-AT&T Building, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. Dave Scott and Rick Jasper, 

Ohio Division of Wildlife, report that sixteen-year-old male Mercury 21X paired for the fifth year 

with six-year-old female Snowball 3/*B. Four eggs were laid and two of each sex were banded on 

May 17, 2006 – all reported as fledged. 

143. SP-First Merit Tower (actually the Landmark Building across the street), Akron, 

Summit County, Ohio. Eight-year-old female Chesapeake b/r *P/*S, here for the sixth year, and

eleven-year-old male Bandit b/r 3/*P, here for the tenth year, produced four eggs and hatched four 

young, three males and one female. They were banded on May 24, 2006, and fledged in mid-June. 

144. SP-Ironton/Russell Bridge, Lawrence County, Ohio/Greenup County, Kentucky. Both 

adults were replaced at this site in 2006. The male sports a b/g band and the female a green band on 

the right leg that Dave Scott reports looks like an anodized USFWS band, neither further identified. 

They laid four eggs, and fledged three male young in late June. Banding took place on May 31, 


145. SP-Bank One, Canton, Stark County, Ohio. Tom Henry reports that six-year-old male 

Maverick b/g R/R, here for the fourth year, paired again with Priscilla b/g 74/C, trapped and banded 

as an adult in 2005. Their four eggs all hatched around May 10 and four young fledged, two males 

and two females, around June 15, 2006. 

146. SP-J.M. Stuart Power Plant, Aberdeen, Brown County, Ohio. Fifth year for this site. 

Dave Scott and Diana Malas report that again an unbanded male paired with Pinkie 73/E. They 

produced four eggs and fledged four young by June 1st, 1 male and 3 females. Banding occurred on 

May 11, 2006. 

147. SP-Bank One Building (next door to First National Bank), Lima, Allen County, Ohio. 

Four-year-old female Majesty 2/*A paired with three-year-old male 76/E. They produced four eggs, 

and fledged two of each sex in late June with banding occurring on May 25, 2006. 

148. SP-PNC Bank/Chemed Center, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. Dave Scott and 

Rick Jasper report that eight-year-old female Princess b/r *B/*S, fledged in 1998 at Manitowoc, 

Wisconsin, and most likely here since 2003 when the female was seen to have a black/red band, 

paired male Powerhouse 31/K. They produced four eggs, hatched three, and fledged three females. 

Banding took place on May 23, 2006. 

149. SP-Office Tower, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Dave Scott and Donna Daniel, 

Ohio Division of Wildlife, report that three-year-old male Orville 12/P, here for the third year paired 

with four-year-old female Victory 2/*1, here for the fourth year (injured in September, fractured ulna, 

pinned at OWC, release being contemplated after Jan 1, 2007; new female present at site off and on – 

according to Donna Daniel, December 28, 2006). They produced four eggs and fledged one male and 

three females that were banded on May 19, 2006, and fledged in early June. 

150. SP-Stambaugh Building, Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio. This is the second 

year for this site. Three-year-old female Stellar b/g 26/E, fledged from LTV Steel, Cleveland, Ohio, 

in 2003 paired with three-year-old male b/g *4/*W, fledged in 2003 from the University of Pittsburgh 

Cathedral nest site in Pennsylvania (2206-24698). The first nest failed and incubation of the second 

clutch of two eggs began in mid-June. One male was banded on August 4, 2006, and fledged in late 

August. 

151. SP-Eastlake Power Plant, Eastlake, Lake County, Ohio. This is the second for this 

site. Three-year-old female Starbright b/g 19/E, fledged at Miami Fort Station, Cleves, Ohio, paired 

with and unidentified male (new male) at this smokestack site. Four eggs were laid by April 11, all 

four hatched, two of each sex was banded on June 8, 2006 with fledging occurring in late June. 

152. NB-Edgewater Power Plant, Lorain, Lorain County, Ohio. An unbanded female and 

two-year-old male Titan b/g 97/P, fledged at Bank One, Canton, Ohio, were present through the 

season near a nest box provided on a power plant building but did not nest. 

153. NB-Peavey Grain, Huron, Erie County, Ohio. An unbanded male was reported here 

throughout much of the nesting season in 2006. A nest box was provided for the pair on the roof of 

this large grain processing facility early in the nesting season but nesting did not occur. 

28

29 

154. NB-I-480 Bridge over the Cuyahoga River, southern Cuyahoga County – two adult 

falcons verified to be using this area; no known nest, according to Dave Scott. 

[Ohio River Bridges, Aberdeen, Brown County, Ohio. No report of activity in 2006] 

[BP Refinery, Oregon, Lucas County, Ohio. No report of activity in 2006.] 

Other Sightings & Information: 

► Downtown area, Xenia = single bird reported since early March. 

► Ohio State University campus, Columbus = single bird reported near the stadium in early March. 

► Downtown area, Chillicothe = single bird reported during March. 

► Reliant Energy Plant, Avon Lake = unbanded adult female seen occasionally in March. 

► Republic Steel, Lorain = unbanded female seen here, possibly the same bird seen at Avon Lake. 

► Downtown Warren = unbanded female seen frequently during January - March. 

KANSAS 

155. LE-Kansas Power and Light (Westar Energy), Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas. 

Brad Loveless reported that in 2006 we had the same male and female renest on the top of the Westar 

Building in downtown Topeka. As in the past 2 years, the male broke the eggs shortly after 

incubation was initiated. On the second clutch this spring, Westar and a local rehabilitator got 

USF&WS permission to replace the peregrine eggs with wooden, dummy eggs and incubate the live 

ones with the intent of replacing the chicks in the nest shortly after hatching. Unfortunately, none of 

the incubated eggs were viable, so no chicks were produced in 2006. Anyone with suggestions that 

might help can reach him at 

MISSOURI 

156. SP-Commerce Tower, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. Debra Burns, 

Missouri Department of Conservation, reports on Commerce Tower, Kansas City, MO. Three 

chicks were hatched the week of May 8 to the Kansas City pair. The adult male is unbanded. The 

adult female appears to be unbanded, and probably the same female as previous years. The site is 

inaccessible so no chicks were banded. All 3 chicks fledged sometime during the week of June 5. 

Size wise one looked like a female and one looked like a male. The third bird was always hidden 

behind the other two, but looked to be similar size as the male. 

157. SP- Kansas City Power and Light, Hawthorn Plant, Kansas City, Jackson County. 

Adult birds were seen around a nest box and a juvenile bird in late summer 2006. The box is on a 

smoke stack and due to the lack of safety equipment, “we couldn't get up there to check”, reported 

Deb Burns. 

158. SP-Interco Building,, St. Louis County, Missouri. Mike Cooke reported that female 

R/*A, here for eight, possibly nine years, was replaced by juvenile female M/27, a 2005 hacked bird 

from New Madrid Power Plant, paired with an unbanded male. Four eggs were laid, one hatched 

and was banded. 

159. SP-AmerenUE, Labadie Power Station, St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri. Mike 

Cooke reported that, for the fifth year, a pair nested in a box on a catwalk 450 feet up on a 

smokestack. Neither adult was identified. Three young fledged, two males and one female.

30 

160. SP-Hwy 255 Jefferson Barracks Bridge. Mehlville, St. Louis County. One female 

near fledgling found by bridge painters on June 23, 2006, according to Mike Cooke. 

[Plaza/Regency Apartment, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. Debra Burns reports again no 

peregrine activity at this site in 2006. This site has now been vacant for two years after three years of 

use] 

[Chase Park Plaza, St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri. No information from this site this year.] 

[Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri. No information from this site 

this year.] 

[McKinley Bridge, St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri / East St. Louis, Madison County, Illinois. 

Mike Cooke reports that he has no information about peregrine activity at this site this year.] 

[St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis County, Missouri. No information from this site this year.] 

[Southwestern Bell, St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri. No information from this site this year.] 

KENTUCKY 

161. SP-Kentucky Utilities Ghent Station, Ghent, Carroll County, Kentucky. Shawchyi 

Vorisek and Adam Smith report that new female six-year-old T.C. b/g 7/*8 paired with five-year-old 

male Oliver b/g 14/H both fledged from the LG&E Plant in Bedford, Kentucky, and produced two 

young, one of each sex. They hatched on April 21, 2006 and fledged at the end of May. Both were 

banded. 

162. SP-Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E), Bedford, Trimble County, 

Kentucky. Shawchyi Vorisek and Adam Smith report that nine-year-old Natasha b/r *6/Y, fledged in 

1997 in Toledo, Ohio, her seventh year at this site, paired again with nine-year-old male Greyfire b/r 

*K/V, fledged in 1997 in Calloway County, Missouri, eight years at this site. They laid four eggs and 

fledged four young, two of each sex. All young were banded. On August 5th, adult female Natasha 

b/r *6/Y, the breeding female at the T.C. Plant since 2000, was found dead near the base of the 

smokestack that holds the nest box. 

163. SP-U.S. 421 Milton-Madison Bridge, Ohio River, Milton, Trimble County, Kentucky. 

Shawchyi Vorisek and Adam Smith report that male Asa Crane b/r *D/D, a nine-year-old hacked bird 

from the Ghent, KY power plant, paired with an unbanded female. Four young were produced, but 

only two female young were fledged and banded, both after they had fledged and were captured on 

the ground. Both young were treated for trichomoniasis at the time of banding. 

164. LE-Louisville Bridges (Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky) This pair encountered 

numerous problems in 2006. The male (unbanded) is likely the same individual as 2005; however, 

the female (Asha, b/g 18/D) was a sub-adult that fledged from Ghent in 2005. Early in the breeding 

season, they showed a strong affinity to the Big 4 Railroad Bridge. On April 4th, the pair was 

observed using the Kennedy Bridge for the first time, and by April 12th, the pair appeared to be 

incubating, On May 5th, Brian Smith and I met Bob Meade, Tom Wright, and Mike Baase at the 

Kennedy Bridge, and they accompanied us to the nest. We found the female incubating on the 

catwalk, but did not disturb her. Beginning in early May, crews started removing the rigging used for 

painting that was attached to the KY side of the Kennedy Bridge. On May 19th, neither falcon was 

observed incubating and nest failure was suspected. One wet, cold egg was recovered from the 

scrape on May 26th. By mid-June, neither falcon was spending significant time around the Big 4 or 

Kennedy Bridges.

165. LE-Combs-Hehl/I-275 Bridge (Highland Heights, Campbell Co., Kentucky) New 

Site. They were first spotted on January 30th by local resident and birder, Jeff Winkler. Both falcons 

are banded, but have yet to be identified; the male has an injured left leg with a silver band on it, and 

the female is a sub-adult bird banded in 2005. This pair began incubation inside the top beam of the 

westbound bridge between April 18th and 20th, putting the hatch date between May 21st and 23rd. 

On May 31st, both adult falcons were observed feeding the nestlings, but the young were not visible. 

On June 13th, one 20d nestling (est.) was observed at the entrance to the eyrie. On June 22 nd , again, 

one 30d nestling (est.) was observed at the entrance to the eyrie. No fledglings were observed on or 

around the I-275 Bridge on July 3rd; at the time, the river was flooded and fireworks remnants were 

found not far from bridge. Again, on July 13th and July 25th, the site was observed, but no 

fledglings were found; mortality was likely. 

166. NB-Spurlock Power Plant (Maysville, Mason Co., Kentucky) New Site. The pair was 

first spotted in January by plant employees. On March 29 th and April 11 th , a banded adult male and a 

banded sub-adult female were spotted hunting around the plant and loafing on the smokestacks. On 

April 14 th , the sub-adult female (Anne, 19/D B/G ), who fledged from the Milton-Madison Bridge, was 

recovered and taken to Raptor Rehab of Louisville with a broken wing and internal bleeding. A new 

sub-adult female, this one unbanded, was observed at the power plant on April 26, less than two 

weeks after the other female had be injured. On May 11, a nest box was installed on a catwalk half 

way up the middle smokestack. Attempts were also made to capture the birds, but failed. On May 

25 th , the male, along with another new female, this one an adult, were spotted using the nest box for 

loafing. The female spent significant time inside the box, but did not seem to be nesting. On June 

12 th , male A.J. b/g 48/P, a Ft. Miami Power Plant in Hamilton Co., Ohio in 2004 fledge, was 

identified. Female Cootes b/b 92/H fledged from the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel in Hamilton, Ontario 

in 2004. This pair has created some scrapes in the nest box, but did not nest. 

167. NB-Mill Creek Power Plant (Kosmosdale, Jefferson Co., Kentucky). New Site. This 

plant was first investigated on April 25 th , but no peregrine falcons were observed. On June 20 th , a 

banded adult male (O’Trey b/g 22/P) was found dead along the entrance road leading into the power 

plant. On June 30 th , while investigating the plant after finding a dead falcon, a banded male (purple 

federal band and black/green color band) and an unbanded sub-adult female were spotted loafing on 

the smokestacks. This pair appeared to be territorial, but did not seem to have a nest or fledglings. 

On July 10 th , a meeting was conducted with Mike Kirkland, Doug Chin, and Oz Haeberlin. It was 

determined that the staff of the plant would construct a nest box and place it in the 1&2 Unit 

Smokestack. On August 10 th , the completed nest box was filled with gravel and opened, and the two 

falcons were observed at the tops of the smokestacks. By providing some food (dead pigeons) on the 

nest box entrance, the falcons began some limited usage of the nest box by the second week of 

September. 

168. NB-Matthew E. Welsh Bridge (Brandenburg, Meade Co., Kentucky/Mauckport, 

Harrison Co., Indiana) New Site. The pair was first observed on April 25 th . The male (Fabian b/g 

53/P) fledged from the PNC Bank Building of Cincinnati, OH in 2004, while the female was 

unbanded. This bridge is one of the few structures across the Ohio River between Louisville and 

Hawesville. However, the bridge itself lacks any quality nesting sites, which may be keeping this 

pair from establishing a nest. Nonetheless, this pair is strongly territorial. 

31

32 

ONTARIO 

Brian Ratcliff, Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, Reported on the activities around the Lake 

Superior Basin. In 2006, Project Peregrine continued its eleventh year of intensive monitoring 

of peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) within the Lake Superior Basin, and west to Atikokan. 

Forty-four territories were confirmed, which is the highest number ever recorded by Project 

Peregrine. Of the 44 territories, there were 34 territorial pairs, and 6 single birds on territory. 

The 34 territorial pairs consisted of 28 breeding pairs, 26 successful breeding pairs, and 66 

chicks were assumed to have fledged. The number of chicks fledged is lower than reported in 

2005 (79) as a result of some of the nest sites were not visited a second time to confirm the 

breeding success. The banding team only banded at the western end of Lake Superior this year, 

and 35 chicks were banded at 11 nests. The eleven year banding program has now banded 354 

chicks, all at cliff nesting sites. A mild spring resulted in the earliest start to the banding 

program (June 17), and the banding was completed for the first time before July. 

169. SP-Pie Island, Turtle Head, Ontario. On June 16, two chicks about 24 days old were 

observed from the helicopter. The nest site has moved about 750 meters to the southwest on the next 

cliff face. 

170. SP-Pie Island, Le Pate, Ontario. Three chicks about 14-16 days old were located on 

the same ledge as 2005 during the helicopter flight of June 10. 

171. SP-Squaw Bay, Ontario. Brian Ratcliff banded three young here on June 24, 2006, 

two males and one female. One dead male chick about 23 days old collected from the nest ledge and 

sent to CWS for analysis. The adult male was wearing a black band. 

172. SP-Squaretop Mountain, Ontario. Four young were banded on June 17, three females 

and one male. The adult female here is not banded, according to Brian Ratcliff. 

173. SP-Dorion Tower, Ontario. Fifth year for this site. Brian Ratcliff and crew banded 

three young, one male and two females, here on June 23. No information on the identity of the adults 

this year. 

174. SP-Cape Victoria, Ontario. Second year for this site. The adult female was noted to be 

unbanded; no information on the male. One male young was banded on June 26, 2006; a dead male 

chick was found on the rock slope below the nest and sent to CWS for analysis. 

175. SP- Kama Bay, Ontario. The pair was first reported by Ray Tyhuis on April 10, 2006. 

No nest site was located but on July 17, Mary Swainson observed the pair and one fledged young. 

No information on adult identity. 

176. SP-Old Woman Bay, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario. On July 28, 2006, there 

were two young observed flying at the site by Bob Elliott. 

177. SP-Pukaskwa Depot, 5 km south of Richardson Harbor, Pukaskwa National Park, 

Ontario. Carol Dersch and Joel Cooper observed two fledged young on July 15, 2006. 

178. SP-Otter Island, Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario. On June 3, Carol Dersch and Joel 

Cooper saw at least one very small young on the same ledge as the 2005 nest site. 

179. SP-Copper Cliff Road West, Ontario. Four male young were banded on June 19, 

2006. No information on adult identity. 

180. SP-Flatland Harbor, Ontario Three chicks about 12 days old were observed from the 

helicopter on June 9. Same nest ledge as previous years. This site is on private property and no access 

is permitted.

181. SP-Thunder Cape, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario. During the second week 

of August, John Woodcock at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory reports that the pair and two chicks 

have been flying around the Cape, chasing ring-billed gulls and double-crested cormorants. 

182. SP-South Gillies, Hwy 595, SW of Microwave Tower. Two males and one female 

were banded here on June 21, 2006. The adult female is not banded; no information about the adult 

male. 

183. SP-Mt. McRae, about three km from Mt. McKay, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Four 

females were banded on June 22, 2006. The adult female is reported as unbanded and no information 

is available for the male. 

184. SP-Arrow Lake (West End). Four males were banded on June 18, 2006. Adult female 

was partially identified as black *G/. The adult male has a black band. 

185. SP-Montreal River North of Railway Bridge. Steve Tice who runs a lodge near the 

cliff face reports 3 birds during the summer. Several guests have witnessed midair kills by the 

falcons. I am assuming with three birds there that one was a chick. 

186. SP-, Nipigon River Mouth, Ontario. The adult male here has a black color band. His 

mate is not banded. Brian Ratcliff and crew banded four young, two males and two females, on June 

25, 2006. 

187. SP-Devil’s Warehouse Island, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario. On June 25, 

2006, Carol Dersch and Joel Cooper confirm that there are 4 chicks on and above the nest ledge. 

There has been a change in the adult males as Red 1/9, 816-81148 a 1990 Five Islands, Nova Scotia 

hacked bird is no longer present after 15 years at this site. 

188. SP-Small lake south of Sturgeon Bay Road, Ontario. Second year for this site. The 

nest (same ledge as 2005) with two chicks about 8-10 days old and one egg was located from the 

helicopter on June 10, 2006. 

189. SP-Caribou Island, Ontario. Four chicks, two males and two females were banded on 

June 24, 2006. Neither adult is banded. 

190. SP-Beaver Rock, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario. A pair of birds was 

reported here on April 16, 2006, and the nest site was confirmed on July 2 with 3 chicks about 28-30 

days old. The nest site has moved further to the east about 250 metres from the above coordinates. 

191. SP-NW Mount Mollie, Ontario. At least three chicks about seven days old were 

observed from the helicopter on June 9th, 2006. 

192. SP-Cliff Three Kilometers Northwest of Jackpine, Highway 593, Ontario. This is the 

first year that nesting has been confirmed at this site. On June 9, 2006, one chick about 12 days old 

was observed from the helicopter. In 2005, a very aggressive territorial pair was present. 

193. SP-Oliver Creek Road, Ontario. Second year birds present at this site. A single 

female chick was banded. An unbanded female and a black banded male were present. In 2005, a 

pair was observed on April 24, defending a territory. The landowner who lives in front of the cliff 

face said the birds were present also in 2004 and maybe in 2003. 

194. SP-Undercliff Island, Lake Nigigon – 1 fledged 

195. LE-Pukaskwa Point, South of Pukaskwa National Park. The female with a silver band 

on right leg was observed sitting on the nest on June 3, 2006 by Carol Dersch and Joel Cooper. The 

adult male is black banded. 

196. LE-East of Matson Lake, Ontario. There are three cliff faces east of Matson Lake and 

the birds have used each cliff face over the past 5 years. The nest was again on the northern most cliff 

face, and same nest ledge as 2005. On the June 9, 2006 helicopter flight, the adult female was 

observed sitting tight on the nest. 

33

34 

197. NB-International Bridge, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. As in 2005 birds were present. 

Three adult birds were observed in May 2006 with two engaged in talon locking. Two birds then flew 

to International Bridge and one inland. 

198. NB-Theano Point, Alona Bay, Ontario. During the first week of May, there was a 

report of a single bird. At least two peregrines were observed on July 21, 2006. 

199. NB-Cape Chaillion, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario. Carol Dersch reports a 

pair of birds here on April 30, 2006. On July 7, adults were heard and what sounded like young birds 

calling from the cliff face. 

200. NB-Robertson Lake, Ontario. A pair of birds was reported here by Neil Ray early in 

the spring. 

201. NB-Pie Island, Greenstone Point, Ontario. On the June 10, 2006 helicopter flight, 

there was no sign of young on the nest ledge that has been used for the past number of years. The 

adults were observed at the extreme south end of the cliff face and no sign of a nest. 

202. NB-Cavers Bay, Ontario. Second year for this site. On April 26, both adults were 

observed doing aerial displays. A return visit on June 25 located one adult sitting in a tree on top of 

the cliff, but no confirmation of young. 

203. NB-Red Sucker Cove, Marathon, Ontario. Kayaker friends of Carol Dersch observed 

two birds on territory on June 22 or 23. 

204. NB-Wawa, near Michipicoten River Village, Ontario. There were several sightings of 

adults near Michipicoten River and Sandy Beach. As in past years, it is uncertain where these birds 

may be nesting. 

205. NB-Armour Island 

206. NB-Atikokan, Steep Rock Mine 

207. NB-Mink Bay 

[Point Isacor, Ontario. A single adult was observed going to what appeared to be the nest ledge on 

June 3. A single adult was also observed on July 13 by Carol Dersch and Joel Cooper. This has been 

an active nesting site for a number of years.] 

[Pie Island, East Side, Ontario. No activity reported in 2006.] 

[Arrow Lake Provincial Park. No activity reported for this site in 2006.] 

[Mt. McKay, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Not active in 2006.] 

[Whitefish Lake, Ontario. A single adult was observed from the helicopter on June 9, 2006. There 

was no nest observed.] 

[Jessie Lake, Nipigon River, Ontario. Rosemary Hartley reports that friends heard one bird calling 

on June 1. A single adult was also observed by Sue Bryan on August 19.] 

[International Bridge, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. As in 2005 birds were present. Three adult birds 

were observed in May 2006 with two engaged in talon locking. Two birds then flew to International 

Bridge and one inland.] 

[Michipicoten Island. Jim MacMeekin reported seeing an adult bird at Quebec Harbour. There was 

also a report from Roger Audet, that he saw a pair of peregrines eating a gull near West End Light in 

2004.] 

[Haviland Bay, north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. A single bird was reported in the area by Teri 

Winter]

35 

MANITOBA 

Tracy Maconachie, Manitoba Wildlife Branch, supplied the following information on 

Manitoba falcons. 

208. SP-Radisson Hotel / Delta Winnipeg Hotel, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Tracy Maconachie 

reported that four-year-old female Princess, fledged in 2002 at NSP Riverside, Minneapolis, 

Minnesota, and her third year at this site paired again with ten-year-old male Trey bl 2/8, fledged at 

this site in Winnipeg in 1996. A new ledge on the building was used that was difficult to find and 

observe. Three chicks were produced and banded on June 19 th with the help of a crane. A webcam 

was placed. One of the males (Bandit) was killed in a collision with a building shortly after fledging. 

209. SP-McKenzie Seed Building, Brandon, Manitoba. Eleven-year-old male Zeus black 

*7/9, fledged in Brandon in 1995, was here for the fifth year, paired with for the third year with thirdyear-old 

female Holly 31/B, fledged in 2003 at Community First Bank, Fargo, North Dakota. The 

pair produced two eggs, hatched and fledged two young, both females, by mid-July, according to 

Tracy Maconachie. 

210. NB-Water Tower, Brandon Mental Health Centre, Brandon, Manitoba. Tracy 

Maconachie reports that for the third year a pair of unidentified adults was here but did not nest. 

211. NB-Condominium block in southwest Winnipeg. Possible new site. Tracy 

Maconachie reported that a pair of birds in juvenile plumage was in residence for the entire summer. 

They were Lucy black *7/M, a 2005 fledge from the Radisson, and Obi-Wan Kenobi black B /*Y, a 

2005 fledge from McKenzie Seeds. No sign of nesting activity was observed. Six CWS-produced 

peregrines were hacked at this site in 1991. 

Missouri 

PEREGRINE RELEASES IN 2006 

Hack Site: New Madrid Power Plant, New Madrid, Missouri. This is the third year of 

hacking birds at this site. David A. Childers, Materials Management Supervisor for the Associated 

Electric Coop, Inc., reported on their project to hack peregrine falcons. Four birds were obtained 

from Bruce Haak in Eagle, Idaho. Female Cherokee b/g N/93 was reported to be of Peales stock, the 

other three, two males and a female were derived from tundrius stock. Placed in the hack box on 

June 2, they were released on June 15, 2006. One male, C/30 was found dead the next day when it 

had become entrapped inside the power plant’s bunker room and succumbed overnight to the heat. 

In sum for 2006, 435 young were fledged by wild pairs and four young were released 

from captive pairs, for a total of 439, up from 427 in 2005.

36 

BLOOD SAMPLES 

We continued collecting blood in 2006 from all wild young banded in the U.S., and from 

whatever wild breeders were handled. The goal is to provide the research base for measuring 

inbreeding, outbreeding, genetic variation, changes in occupancy of territories, dispersal of adults and 

young, success of the different genetic stocks introduced, development of genetic structure in the new 

Midwestern population, and other topics yet to be determined. 

The peregrine blood samples collected over the years uniquely represent the history of the 

Midwest population. Only a handful of eggs, study skins and skeletons, acquired randomly, have 

been preserved, in contrast to the nearly full coverage of blood samples saved. Sophisticated as 

current techniques of blood analysis may seem today, they will be considered primitive in a few 

years. The blood specimens are in the permanent tissue collections at the Bell Museum of Natural 

History, University of Minnesota, where they are available for study now and in the future. 

We need to continue to try to: 

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 

-Identify all breeders. 

-Band all wild young produced 

-Collect blood from all young and any adults handled 

-Appropriately manage pairs nesting on man-made structures 

-Maintain good working relationships with building owners and personnel responsible for public 

structures used as nest site 

-Monitor the newly-established peregrines on the river cliffs and on suitable cliffs elsewhere in the 

region 

-Collect, coordinate, and circulate information among Midwest peregrine workers through reports 

and regular informal contacts 

-Develop permanent names and obtain accurate lat/long information for each nesting site 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The Midwest Peregrine Project is a cooperative effort involving many people and 

organizations. The University of Minnesota provides the overall coordination of the project through 

Pat Redig and Jane Goggin of The Raptor Center with continuing advice, encouragement and 

unbounded enthusiasm from Bud Tordoff of the Bell Museum of Natural History and the Department 

of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. We are able to maintain our database on peregrines, which is 

the basis of the various reports you receive, through the enthusiastic cooperation of people interested 

in peregrines in the 13 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in our area. The database is available 

online to anyone interested at Richard Peifer, Kyle Hammond, 

and Bruce Fall make the online database possible. We thank all of you who have sent us information. 

We are grateful to those who read parts of an early draft of this report for help in detecting errors and 

omissions. Please let us know about mistakes that were missed.

37 

Support for the Minnesota part of the effort is provided by: 

3M 

BCED Minnesota 

CB Richard Ellis 

City Center Building Management 

Colonnade Building Management 

Farm Credit Leasing 

Lock and Dam 1 Management and Staff 

Mayo Clinic 

Mayo Clinic Volunteer Organization 

Midwest Plaza Building Management 

Minneapolis City Hall Staff 

Minnesota DNR Nongame Wildlife Program 

Minnesota DNR Parks and Recreation 

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN DOT) 

Minnesota Falconers Association 

Minnesota Power and Light Company 

North Central Life (recently re-named Bremer building) Building Management 

Northern States Power Company (Xcel Energy) 

Northwest Airlines 

Norwest Financial Center Building Management (now Wells Fargo) 

Raptor Resource Project 

Riverside Plaza Building Management 

St. Paul Department of Public Works 

The Raptor Center, University of Minnesota 

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

U. S. Forest Service 

Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center 

Each cooperating state or province has, in addition, its own list of cooperators. 

BREEDERS SUPPLYING PEREGRINES FOR 2006 RELEASES 

Bruce Haak provided four birds for release at New Madrid Power Plant, Missouri.

38 

Table 3. Wild Peregrines Banded in the Midwest, 2006, Alphabetical by State. (U.S. 

birds, purple USFWS band, black/green color band. Canadian birds, silver USFWS 

band, black color band). 

SITE BAND NO. COLOR BAND SEX 

Illinois 

125 S. Wacker, Chicago 1687-02025 K/36 f 

5821 N. Broadway, Irving Park, Chicago 1687-02027 K/38 f 

5821 N. Broadway, Irving Park, Chicago 2206-72298 E/28 m 

5821 N. Broadway, Irving Park, Chicago 2206-72361 E/30 m 

5821 N. Broadway, Irving Park, Chicago 1687-02026 K/37 f 

Evanston Library, Evanston 2206-72400 E/33 m 

Evanston Library, Evanston 1687-02028 K/39 f 

Evanston Library, Evanston 2206-72300 E/32 m 

Jackson Street Prison, Chicago 1687-02030 K/41 f 

Jackson Street Prison, Chicago 2206-72364 E/34 m 



Midwest Generation, Waukegan 2206-49472 E/11 f 

Midwest Generation, Waukegan 2206-49471 E/09 f 

Midwest Generation, Waukegan 1687-02022 K/33 f 

Midwest Generation, Waukegan 1687-02021 K/32 f 

Pilson Park, Throop Street, Chicago 1687-02018 K/30 f 

Pilson Park, Throop Street, Chicago 2206-49470 E/29 m 

Pilson Park, Throop Street, Chicago 2206-72365 K/31 m 

St. Michael's, Old Town, Chicago 2206-49473 E/15 m 

St. Michael's, Old Town, Chicago 1687-02023 K/34 f 

St. Michael's, Old Town, Chicago 1687-02024 K/35 f 

St. Michael's, Old Town, Chicago 2206-72299 E/31 m 

Uptown Theatre, Chicago 2206-72362 E/27 m 

Uptown Theatre, Chicago 2206-72363 E/26 m 

Wacker and Michigan, Chicago 2206-49474 E/23 m 



Indiana 

BP Amoco, Whiting 2206-72276 E/81 m 

BP Amoco, Whiting 2206-72277 E/82 m 

IPL Stout Plant, Indianapolis 2206-72278 E/83 m 

IPL Stout Plant, Indianapolis 1687-01688 M/78 f 

Market Tower, Indianapolis 1687-01661 M/62 f 

Market Tower, Indianapolis 1687-01662 M/63 f 

Market Tower, Indianapolis 2206-62887 E/70 m 

NIPSCO Bailly/Bethlehem Steel/Cargill, Burns 1687-01687 M/77 f


Indiana 

NIPSCO Power Plant, Michigan City 1687-01666 M/70 f 

NIPSCO Power Plant, Michigan City 2206-72272 E/73 m 

NIPSCO Schahfer Plant, Wheatfield 1687-01683 M/73 f 

NIPSCO Schahfer Plant, Wheatfield 2206-72274 E/80 m 



NIPSCO Schahfer Plant, Wheatfield 2206-72273 M/71 m 

One Summit Square, Fort Wayne 1687-01664 M/65 f 

One Summit Square, Fort Wayne 1687-01663 M/64 f 

Tower Building, South Bend 2206-72271 E/72 m 

Tower Building, South Bend 1687-01665 M/67 f 

Tower Building, South Bend 2206-62888 E/71 m 

U.S. Steel, Gary 1687-01685 M/75 f 

U.S. Steel, Gary 2206-72275 E/74 m 

U.S. Steel, Gary 1687-01686 M/76 f 

Iowa 

Alliant Energy Plant, Chillicothe 2206-84546 H/76 m 

Cedar Rapids 2206-84541 H/85 m 

Cedar Rapids 2206-84540 H/84 m 

Cedar Rapids 1687-02069 M/37 f 

MEC Louisa 1687-02070 M/38 f 

MEC Louisa 1687-02071 M/39 f 

MEC Louisa 2206-84542 H/87 m 

MidAmerican Energy, Quad Cities 1687-02075 M/31 f 

MidAmerican Energy, Quad Cities 2206-84545 H/75 m 

Kentucky 

Ghent 1687-01906 76/C f 

Ghent 2206-72261 C/24 f 

LG&E Plant, Bedford 2206-62721 K/*4 f 

LG&E Plant, Bedford 1807-62143 P/*L f 

LG&E Plant, Bedford 1687-01905 75/C f 

LG&E Plant, Bedford 2206-72075 C/23 f 

U.S. 421 Bridge, Ohio River, Milton 1687-01908 P/38 f 

U.S. 421 Bridge, Ohio River, Milton 1687-01907 R/*L f 

Manitoba 

McKenzie Seeds, Brandon 1387-13822 *H/4 f 

McKenzie Seeds, Brandon 1387-13823 *T/2 f 

Radisson Hotel / Delta Winnipeg, Winnipeg 0816-82968 *8/R m 

Radisson Hotel / Delta Winnipeg, Winnipeg 1387-13824 *R/7 f 

Michigan 

39


Michigan 

Blue Water Bridge 0987-40198 32/C f 



Consumers Energy B.C. Cobb Plant, Muskegon 0987-40271 35/C m 

Consumers Energy B.C. Cobb Plant, Muskegon 0816-38669 D/20 m 

Consumers Energy B.C. Cobb Plant, Muskegon 0816-38670 C/34 m 

Detroit Edison Power Plant, Monroe 0987-40150 32/B f 

Detroit Edison Power Plant, Monroe 0987-40149 34/B f 

Grand Haven P & L, Sims Plant, Grand Haven 0987-40160 P/67 f 

Grand Haven P & L, Sims Plant, Grand Haven 2206-69856 C/33 m 

Grand Haven P & L, Sims Plant, Grand Haven 0987-40199 P/68 f 

New Center, Detroit 1807-97964 27/C f 

New Center, Detroit 2206-47675 09/M m 

New Center, Detroit 2206-47676 10/M m 

Port Sheldon JH Power Plant 2206-69857 C/35 m 

Port Sheldon JH Power Plant 0987-40158 P/69 f 

Port Sheldon JH Power Plant 0987-40159 36/C f 

Port Sheldon JH Power Plant 0987-40157 P/70 m 

Whittier Apartments, Detroit 0987-40137 29/C f 

Whittier Apartments, Detroit 0987-40138 30/C f 

Minnesota 

3M Water Tower, 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 1687-01993 W/21 f 

3M Water Tower, 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 2206-72305 K/16 m 

Black Dog Plant Eagan 2206-69890 D/96 f 

Black Dog Plant Eagan 1807-91986 84/C f 

Bong Bridge Duluth 2206-72336 W/51 f 

Bong Bridge Duluth 2206-72335 W/45 f 

Cargill Elevator Lake City 1687-01942 M/51 f 

Cargill Elevator Lake City 1687-01941 M/50 f 

Cargill Elevator Lake City 2206-69887 D/56 m 

Cargill Elevator Lake City 2206-69886 D/55 m 

Castle Cliff Castle Danger 1687-01769 *K/*U f 

Castle Cliff Castle Danger 2206-72325 W/41 m 

Castle Cliff Castle Danger 1687-01764 *D/*W f 

Castle Cliff Castle Danger 1687-01768 *E/*V f 

City Center Minneapolis 2206-72311 K/24 m 


City Center Minneapolis 2206-72309 W/27 m 


City Hall Minneapolis 1687-01994 W/20 f 

40


Minnesota 

Colonnade Golden Valley 2206-72314 W/30 m 



Colonnade Golden Valley 1687-01947 W/14 f 

Corundum Point 1687-01755 W/03 f 

Corundum Point 1687-01756 W/02 f 

Crow Creek 1687-01754 W/04 f 

Crow Creek 1687-01753 W/05 f 

Faith Bluff 1687-01760 *H/*Y f 

Faith Bluff 1687-01761 *E/*Y f 

Faith Bluff 2206-72321 W/36 m 

Faith Bluff 1687-01762 *K/*W f 

Financial Center Xerxes & I-94 Bloomington 1687-01751 W/12 f 

Financial Center Xerxes & I-94 Bloomington 1687-01750 W/13 f 

Financial Center Xerxes & I-94 Bloomington 2206-72316 W/32 m 

Financial Center Xerxes & I-94 Bloomington 2206-72315 W/31 m 

Great Spirit Bluff 1687-01722 87/C f 

Great Spirit Bluff 2206-72216 27/M m 

Great Spirit Bluff 2206-72217 28/M m 

Greysolon Plaza Duluth 2206-72023 D/99 m 

Greysolon Plaza Duluth 1687-01732 P/12 f 

Greysolon Plaza Duluth 2206-72024 C/87 m 

Greysolon Plaza Duluth 1687-01733 P/13 f 

High Bridge Plant St. Paul 1687-01721 86/C f 

High Bridge Plant St. Paul 1687-01720 85/C f 

High Bridge Plant St. Paul 2206-72214 25/M m 

High Bridge Plant St. Paul 2206-72215 26/M m 

Highway 61 Bridge Hastings 1687-01772 *E/*U f 

I-494 Bridge South St. Paul 1687-01758 *K/*Y f 

Kennedy Creek 2206-72329 W/75 m 


Kennedy Creek 1687-01771 *D/*U f 


King Plant Bayport 1687-01749 83/C f 

King Plant Bayport 2206-72096 C/96 m 

King Plant Bayport 2206-72095 C/97 m 

Lock and Dam 1 Minneapolis 2206-72303 K/13 m 

Lock and Dam 1 Minneapolis 1687-01966 W/24 f 

Manitou Cliff 1687-01759 *D/*Y f 

Manitou Cliff 2206-72320 W/35 m 

41


Minnesota 

Mayo Clinic Rochester 1687-01995 W/17 f 

Mayo Clinic Rochester 2206-72307 K/18 m 

Mayo Clinic Rochester 1687-01996 W/15 f 

Mayo Clinic Rochester 2206-72306 K/17 m 

Mendota Bridge Minneapolis 2206-72337 W/52 m 

Minnesota Power and Light 1687-01945 77/C f 


Minnesota Power and Light 2206-72097 C/95 m 


Monticello Plant Monticello 1687-01956 M/55 f 

NorthShore Mining Silver Bay 2206-72332 W/48 m 

NorthShore Mining Silver Bay 1687-01765 *K/*V f 

NorthShore Mining Silver Bay 2206-72331 W/47 m 

Palisade Head 2206-72333 W/49 m 

Palisade Head 1687-01767 *H/*V f 

Palisade Head 2206-72334 W/50 m 

Palisade Head 1687-01766 *D/*V f 

Paper Mill Sartell 1687-01991 W/23 f 

Paper Mill Sartell 2206-72304 K/15 m 

Paper Mill Sartell 1687-01992 W/22 f 

Pink Cove Beaver Bay 1687-01770 *H/*U f 

Pink Cove Beaver Bay 2206-72326 W/42 m 

Pink Cove Beaver Bay 2206-72327 W/43 m 

Prairie Island Plant 1807-91987 P/94 f 

Prairie Island Plant 2206-69889 D/97 f 

Prairie Island Plant 2206-69888 D/98 m 

Queens Bluff 1687-01964 W/26 f 

Queens Bluff 2206-72302 99/P m 

Queens Bluff 1687-01965 W/25 f 

Queens Bluff 2206-72301 D/08 m 

Red Wing Grain Stack House 1807-91988 M/53 f 

Riverside Plaza/I-94 Mississippi River Bridge 2206-72318 W/34 m 

Riverside Plaza/I-94 Mississippi River Bridge 2206-72317 W/33 m 

Riverside Plaza/I-94 Mississippi River Bridge 1687-01752 W/07 f 

Sherco Plant Becker 2206-72088 10/N m 

Sherco Plant Becker 2206-72087 09/N m 

Sherco Plant Becker 1687-01955 M/54 f 

Sherco Plant Becker 1687-01954 M/52 f 

Superior Shores/Rocky Point 1687-01774 *K/*S f 

Superior Shores/Rocky Point 1687-01773 *H/*S f 

42


Nebraska 

State Capitol, Lincoln 1687-01829 P/50 f 

State Capitol, Lincoln 1687-01828 P/49 f 

State Capitol, Lincoln 2206-84558 C/09 m 

Woodmen Tower, Omaha 1687-01835 P/48 f 


Woodmen Tower, Omaha 2206-84560 C/07 m 


Woodmen Tower, Omaha 2206-84559 C/08 m 

North Dakota 

Community First Bank, Fargo 2206-72323 W/39 m 



Community First Bank, Fargo 1687-01763 *H/*W f 

Ohio 

AT&T Building, Dayton 1687-02008 K/82 f 

AT&T Building, Dayton 1687-02009 K/83 f 

AT&T Building, Dayton 2206-72063 B/01 m 

AT&T Building, Dayton 2206-72064 B/02 m 

Bank One, Canton 1687-02091 N/75 f 

Bank One, Canton 2206-84506 B/46 m 

Bank One, Canton 1687-02092 N/76 f 

Bank One, Canton 2206-84507 B/47 m 

Bohn Building, Cleveland 2206-72281 B/20 m 

Bohn Building, Cleveland 1687-01659 K/98 f 

Bohn Building, Cleveland 1687-01660 K/99 f 

Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 2206-72249 B/11 m 

Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 0987-40134 K/90 f 

Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 0987-40268 K/91 f 

Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 2206-72250 B/12 m 

Commodore Perry Motor Inn, Toledo 2206-72234 B/10 m 

Eastlake Power Plant, Eastlake OH 2206-84509 B/49 m 

Eastlake Power Plant, Eastlake OH 2206-84508 B/48 m 

Eastlake Power Plant, Eastlake OH 1687-02094 N/79 f 

Eastlake Power Plant, Eastlake OH 1687-02093 N/77 f 

First National Bank, Lima 1687-02081 M/40 f 

First National Bank, Lima 1687-02082 M/41 f 

First National Bank, Lima 2206-72066 B/04 m 

First National Bank, Lima 2206-72067 B/05 m 

Hilliard Road Bridge, Lakewood 0987-40269 K/92 f 

Hilliard Road Bridge, Lakewood 2206-72251 B/13 m 

43


Ohio 

I-90 Bridge, Cuyahoga River, Cleveland 1687-01658 K/97 f 

I-90 Bridge, Cuyahoga River, Cleveland 2206-72258 B/19 m 

I-90 Bridge, Cuyahoga River, Cleveland 2206-72259 B/18 f 

Ironton/Russell Bridge, Ironton 2206-72069 B/08 m 



J.M. Stuart Power Plant, Aberdeen 2206-72061 E/79 m 

J.M. Stuart Power Plant, Aberdeen 1687-02002 K/26 f 



Landmark Building 2206-72254 B/16 m 

Landmark Building 0987-40270 K/93 f 



LTV Steel, Cleveland 1687-01657 K/96 f 



Miami Fort Station, Cleves 2206-72058 E/76 m 


Miami Fort Station, Cleves 1687-02001 K/25 f 



PNC Bank, Cincinnati 1687-02014 K/88 f 

PNC Bank, Cincinnati 0987-40133 K/89 f 

PNC Bank, Cincinnati 1687-02013 k/87 f 

Rhodes State Office Tower, Columbus 2206-72065 B/03 m 

Rhodes State Office Tower, Columbus 1687-02010 K/84 f 



Stambaugh Building, Youngstown 2206-84510 B/50 m 

Terminal Tower, Cleveland 1687-02006 K/80 f 

Terminal Tower, Cleveland 1687-02007 K/81 f 

Terminal Tower, Cleveland 1687-02005 K/29 f 

Terminal Tower, Cleveland 2206-72062 B/00 m 

Ontario 

Arrow Lake West End 2206-12500 36/V m 




Cape Victoria 1126-04915 51/V m 

44


Ontario 

Caribou Island 1126-04910 46/V m 

Caribou Island 1126-04909 45/V m 

Caribou Island 1807-18291 64/K f 

Caribou Island 1807-18290 63/K f 

Copper Cliff Road West 1126-04903 39/V m 




Dorion Tower 1807-18288 61/K f 

Dorion Tower 1807-18289 62/K f 

Dorion Tower 1126-04908 44/V m 

Mount McRae 1807-18287 60/K f 




Nipigon River Mouth 1126-04914 50/V m 

Nipigon River Mouth 1126-04913 49/V m 

Nipigon River Mouth 1807-18294 35/W f 

Nipigon River Mouth 1807-18293 34/W f 

South Gillies, SW of Microwave Tower, Hwy 595 1126-04907 43/V m 

South Gillies, SW of Microwave Tower, Hwy 595 1807-18283 56/K m 

South Gillies, SW of Microwave Tower, Hwy 595 1126-04906 42/V m 

Squaretop Mountain 1807-18280 53/K f 



Squaretop Mountain 2206-12497 33/V m 

Squaw Bay 1807-18292 33/W f 

Squaw Bay 1126-04912 48/V m 

Squaw Bay 1126-04911 47/V m 

Wisconsin 

Alliant Energy Nelson Dewey, Cassville 1807-91979 48/B f 

Alliant Energy Nelson Dewey, Cassville 1807-91980 49/B f 

Alliant Energy Nelson Dewey, Cassville 2206-47685 22/M m 

Busch Agricultural Complex, Manitowoc 1687-01703 M/04 f 



Busch Agricultural Complex, Manitowoc 2206-72289 E/08 m 

Cargill Malt Complex, Jefferson 2206-84531 B/34 m 


Cargill Malt Complex, Jefferson 1687-01805 N/23 f 

45


Wisconsin 


Castle Rock 1687-01728 92/C f 



Dairyland Cooperative, Alma 2206-72220 31/M m 

Dairyland Cooperative, Alma 2206-72219 30/M m 

Dairyland Cooperative, Alma 1687-01726 P/11 f 

Dairyland Cooperative, Genoa 2206-69885 D/91 m 

Dairyland Cooperative, Genoa 1687-01953 P/93 f 



Froedtert Malt, Milwaukee 2206-84523 B/26 m 

Froedtert Malt, Milwaukee 1687-01712 M/21 f 

Kenosha Memorial Hospital, Kenosha 2206-84520 B/22 m 

Kenosha Memorial Hospital, Kenosha 2206-84519 B/21 m 

Kenosha Memorial Hospital, Kenosha 0816-38667 E/18 m 

Kenosha Memorial Hospital, Kenosha 1687-01709 M/15 f 

Kenosha Memorial Hospital, Kenosha 1687-01708 M/14 f 

La Crosse 1687-01730 94/C f 

La Crosse 1687-01731 95/C f 

La Crosse 2206-47688 D/92 m 

Lynxville Cliff, Lynxville 2206-72218 29/M m 

Lynxville Cliff, Lynxville 1687-01723 88/C f 

Maiden Rock 1687-01724 89/C f 

Maiden Rock 1687-01725 90/C f 

Miller Brewery, Milwaukee 1687-01808 M/22 f 

Miller Brewery, Milwaukee 2206-84529 B/32 m 

Miller Brewery, Milwaukee 2206-84528 B/31 m 

Miller Brewery, Milwaukee 1687-01713 M/23 f 

Racine County Courthouse, Racine 2206-84524 B/27 m 




WEPCO Oak Creek Power Plant, Oak Creek 2206-84522 B/25 m 

WEPCO Pleasant Prairie Power Plant, Pleasant 2206-72284 E/03 m 





WEPCO Port Washington Power Plant, Port 2206-84532 B/36 m 

46

47 


Wisconsin 

WEPCO Port Washington Power Plant, Port 1687-01714 N/24 f 

WEPCO Valley Power Plant, Milwaukee 0816-38664 E/14 m 

WEPCO Valley Power Plant, Milwaukee 1687-01704 M/05 f 

WEPCO Valley Power Plant, Milwaukee 1687-01705 M/07 f 

WEPCO Valley Power Plant, Milwaukee 2206-72292 E/13 m 

WPL Edgewater Generating Station, Sheboygan 2206-84538 B/24 m 

WPL Edgewater Generating Station, Sheboygan 1867-01711 M/20 f 

WPL Edgewater Generating Station, Sheboygan 2206-84521 B/23 m 

WPL Edgewater Generating Station, Sheboygan 1867-01710 M/17 f 

WPS Pulliam Power Plant, Green Bay 2206-72291 E/12 m 

WPS Pulliam Power Plant, Green Bay 2206-72290 E/10 m 

WPS Weston Power Plant, Rothschild, WI 0816-33666 E/17 m 

WPS Weston Power Plant, Rothschild, WI 0816-38665 E/16 m 

WPS Weston Power Plant, Rothschild, WI 1687-01707 M/13 f 

WPS Weston Power Plant, Rothschild, WI 1687-01706 M/12 f 

Table 4. Hacked Peregrines Banded in the Midwest, 2006. (Gold USFWS bands, 

black/green color bands). 


Missouri 

New Madrid Power Plant 2206-84564 C/30 m 

New Madrid Power Plant 1687-01841 N/94 f 

New Madrid Power Plant 2206-84561 C/31 m 

New Madrid Power Plant 1687-01838 N/93 f

48 

Figure 1. Symbols depict non-breeding pairs (open circles) and nest on buildings (closed circles), 

smokestacks (crosses), bridges (triangles), and cliffs (squares).

49 

Figure 2 

180 

160 

140 

120 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

Peregrine Falcon nesting attempts in the 

Midwest 

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 

Year 

Figure 3 

180 

160 

140 

120 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

Peregrine Falcon nesting attempts in the 


Canada 

United States 

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 

Year

50 

Figure 4 

500 

450 

400 

350 

300 

250 

200 

150 

100 

50 

0 

Peregrine Falcons produced in the Midwest 

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 

Year 

Figure 5 

Peregrine Falcons released and produced in the 


500 

450 

400 

350 

Wild-produced 

Released 

300 

250 

200 

150 

100 

50 

0 

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 

Year

51 

Figure 6 

Successful nests (%) 

100 

90 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

Nesting success of Peregrine Falcons in the 


86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 

Year 

Figure 7 

Productivity of Peregrine Falcons in the Midwest 

Fledglings / nest attempt 

3.00 

2.50 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.00 

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 

Year

52 

Fledglings / successful 

nest 

Figure 8 

Productivity of successful Peregrine Falcon nests in 

the Midwest 

3.5 

3.0 

2.5 

2.0 

1.5 

1.0 

0.5 

0.0 

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 

Year 

100 

80 

Figure 9 

Origin of identified Peregrine Falcons nesting in the 


Hacked Wild 

Percent 

60 

40 

20 

0 

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 

Year

53 

Figure 10 

7 

Age of nesting Peregrine Falcons in the Midwest 

Mean age (years) 

6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 

Year 

Figure 11 

7 

Age of nesting Peregrine Falcons in the Midwest 

Mean age (years) 

6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

Female 

Male 

0 

88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 

Year

54 

Percent of sex class 

18 

16 

14 

12 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

Figure 12 

Age distribution of nesting Peregrine Falcons in the 

Midwest, 1987-2006 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

Age (year) 

Female 

Male 

Perecent of sex class 

Figure 13 

Age distribution of nesting Peregrine Falcons in the 

Midwest, 2006 

20 

18 

16 

14 

12 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

Age (years) 

Female 

Male

55 

Figure 14 

Nesting sites (n =172) of Peregrine Falcons 

in the Midwest, 2006 

Cliff 

28% 

Bridge 

10% 

Building 

46% 

Smokestack 

16% 

Figure 15 

Nesting sites (n = 142) of Peregrine Falcons 

in the Midwestern U.S., 2006 

Bridge 

12% 

Cliff 

14% 

Smokestack 

20% 

Building 

54%

56 

SPECIAL ARTICLE 

READING PEREGRINE FALCON COLOR BANDS AT LONG RANGE 

HARRISON B. TORDOFF 

The equipment for reading color bands on Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) is easy to 

describe: a good telescope, young eyes, and patience. Lacking young eyes these days, I have been 

forced to try other things. Specifically, recording the image coming through the telescope by digital 

camera makes it possible by computer to enlarge, enhance, or otherwise improve image readability. 

A side benefit is that digital recording of the image provides a permanent record. By comparison, 

“young-eyeball-only” images are neither permanent nor re-checkable. 

Here I try to sum up my experience reading peregrine color bands in the field, in hope of 

helping others spend their field time more efficiently. First, I have been assured by camera experts 

that the combination of a good telescope and a camera provides more potential power than a camera 

alone, even with its own telescopic lenses. My telescope is a Leica APO-Televid 77. It has a zoom 

eyepiece, 20X to 60X. The zoom eyepiece is essential for speed in locating birds and for subsequent 

zooming in for a closer look. My camera is a Nikon 8400. Higher resolution digital cameras are now 

available, but I have not yet found a better camera with a lens that fits inside the eyecup of the scope. 

This is a key to my attachment of scope to camera. Instead of any of the elaborate mounts available 

for purchase, I simply use an elastic cloth band, three fourths of an inch wide, about 24 inches long, 

with Velcro strips on about six inches of both ends. The elastic band slips over the scope in front of 

the scope/tripod fitting. With the camera lens inserted into the extended scope eyecup, the elastic 

band needs only to be pulled around the camera body. Experience will quickly show how long to 

make the closed band in order to exert the appropriate amount of support of the camera. My camera

57 

lens when extended fits inside the scope eyecup a bit loosely. To make the fit more snugly, I put a 

strip of thin leather four inches long and a quarter inch wide inside the eyecup as a bushing for the 

camera lens 

A sturdy tripod is essential and a remote shutter release is almost as essential. Any movement 

of the camera during exposure is likely to ruin the image. 

Given this equipment (and I eagerly await suggestions from anyone for equipment 

improvements), how is it best used in the field First, the camera (my Nikon 8400, that is) should be 

set on shutter control, which automatically opens autofocus. Then zoom it to its 3.5X optical limit to 

avoid “vignetting”, an automatic framing of the scope image as viewed on the camera monitor at 

lower camera magnifications. The zoom range of my telescope is 20X to 60X. For years I thought 

that 40X to 50X produced the best result, usually a compromise between image size and image 

readability. Recently, I have experimented with 60X, at the suggestion of Jackie Fallon, and find that 

this works fine if the focus is precise. How precise With an image in clear focus at 60X on my 

scope, moving the fine focus adjustment wheel either way less than a millimeter destroys the focus. 

Focus the scope directly on the bird and then mount the camera, delicately. At 3.5X camera zoom 

and 40X scope zoom, the net result is an image enlarged 140 times; at 3.5X and 60X, 210 times. 

To minimize blurring by falcon or camera movements, shutter speed should be as fast as 

provides a reasonably lighted image. With my equipment, shutter speeds of 1/125 th or 1/250 th second 

seem to work best. Poor light may call for slower shutter speeds, enhancing the value of the remote 

shutter release to avoid camera movement. 

Given good light, patience, and a cooperative falcon that exposes its banded leg at least 

occasionally, how far away should an image enlarged 140X or 210X be readable I tested the ability 

of several people with good eyesight to read peregrine black/green bands in outdoor Minnesota

58 

December light, with no optical aids beyond ordinary prescription eyeglasses. Results were fairly 

consistent. Everyone could read the bands at 6 feet, most could read them at 8 feet, fewer at 10 feet, 

and no one could read them at 12 feet. Accepting 8 feet as the maximum readable distance, I 

calculate that images of comparable size and readability might be produced at 373 yards at 140X and 

560 yards at 210X, given perfect light and a wholly visible band. However, a colleague points out 

that this calculation ignores the realities of field work, where the band is on the often tucked-up leg of 

a falcon that is heavily feathered, mobile, and often perched in bad light. 

In an earlier draft, before venturing to calculate a theoretical maximum distance for reading 

bands under different magnifications, I made a guess based on previous field experience: “What is 

the maximum range possible with this equipment I do not know, but guess that it may be around 

250, perhaps even 300, yards.” Now I think that my first guess is a much more realistic guide under 

field conditions than the theoretical calculation. However, once one has the equipment, digital shots 

are essentially free. Why not also shoot at longer ranges and hope, if you can’t get any closer 

Please tell me, anyone, of any successful peregrine band reading at a quarter of a mile or more. 

tordoff@umn.edu 

612-624-6787 

James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History and Department of Ecology, Evolution, and 

Behavior, University of Minnesota, December 15, 2006

2006 - Midwest Peregrine Falcon Restoration Project

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