Peregrine falcons exploring nest box at Madison power plant
Species was one of the successes cited in recent national ‘State of the Birds’ report
MADISON – The sighting last week of two peregrine falcons investigating a nesting box mounted on the roof of the Madison Gas and Electric Blount Generating Station reflects one of the success stories cited in a recent national report on the state of bird populations in the United States.
The U.S. Department of Interior this week released the first ever comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States. The State of the Birds [www.stateofthebirds.org] (exit DNR) report found that nearly a third of the nation’s 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline due to habitat loss, invasive species, and other threats.
At the same time, the report highlights examples, including the ongoing recovery of peregrine falcons, where habitat restoration and conservation have reversed or are working to reverse population declines.
Sumner Matteson, an avian ecologist with the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Endangered Resources, investigated a reported sighting of a peregrine at the MGE plant last week, and observed two birds at a nest box at the plant.
“One was an adult banded male and the other a brown female, which because of her color, we estimate is a 1-year-old,” Matteson said. “We witnessed a prey exchange at the box, with both birds disappearing into the box a few times during the time we watched.”
Matteson met with MGE officials and learned that a plant employee had received nest box plans 10 years ago from Greg Septon, who at the time was the Director of the Peregrine Falcon Recovery Program at the Milwaukee Public Museum. The employee and his son built the box for a school class project and received company approval for placing it on the building.
The nest box can be seen easily from the Isthmus bike path, a segment of the Capitol City Trail, and one of the most heavily travelled bike routes in the state.
“The preliminary signs indicate that this pair may stick to this site,” Matteson said, adding “but there's never a guarantee with a young unbanded female peregrine.”
The American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is renowned for its ability to hunt from the wing or from a high perch. It spots prey with keen eyes and begins its stoop, a streamlined dive with tail and wings folded and feet lying back. During a stoop, peregrines may reach speeds of 200 miles per hour. The falcon hits its prey with its foot, stunning or killing it, then swoops back around to catch it in mid-air.
Although never abundant in the state, at least 24 peregrine nest sites were active in Wisconsin until the mid-1950s. Over the next 20 years, due to the use of organochlorine pesticides like DDT, peregrines disappeared from Wisconsin. The peregrine falcon was one of the first species protected under the Endangered Species Act. It was officially declared recovered and removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999. It is still listed as a state endangered species in Wisconsin.
In 1987, the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources started a peregrine falcon reintroduction program and began releases of captive raised peregrines. In 2008 there were nearly 30 active nest sites located on buildings, smokestacks and cliffs on the Lake Michigan shore and along the Mississippi River.
Like many efforts to restore and protect species and unique habitat in Wisconsin, the peregrine falcon recovery efforts have benefited from a combination of public and private funding, as well as both corporate and volunteer efforts. One way all state residents can support these types of efforts, is through contributions to the Endangered Resources Fund through the checkoff on state income tax forms.
Residents who haven’t yet filed state income taxes are being reminded to “Look for the Loon” to help support the protection of Wisconsin’s endangered resources, said Signe Holtz, director of the Endangered Resources program in the Department of Natural Resources.
“For the past 26 years, these tax donations have helped to protect more than 200 endangered and threatened animals and plants in our state,” Holtz said.
“Your gift to the Endangered Resources Fund helps to conserve wildlife and their habitats while it is still cost-effective to protect them,” Holtz noted, adding that each dollar donated to the Endangered Resources Tax Checkoff is matched by state funds, “making your gifts twice as important.
“Every contribution, big or small, adds up to make a huge impact on Wisconsin’s quality of resources and quality of life. It is a vital investment in the health and well-being of the environment, economy and quality of life. These are benefits everyone can appreciate and enjoy, now and for generations to come,” Holtz said.
Look for the loon on the state income tax form or send a check directly to the Endangered Resources Fund, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, or donate online through the DNR Web site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Sumner Matteson – - (608) 266-1571 or Pat Manthey, DNR endangered resources biologist, La Crosse (608) 789-5651
