MGE Peregrine Falcons

Final Fledge

Jul
02
2020

At 8:55 this morning, April fledged, the fourth and final peregrine falcon chick to take flight this year. We're grateful for another successful season at MGE's Blount Station nesting box!

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Falcons Take Flight

Jun
29
2020

Our falcon chicks are starting to leave their nest! Check out this video of Nelson fledging (flying for the first time) on Sunday. Verde was the first–and it shouldn't take long for the remaining falcons to follow suit.

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Peregrine falcons are one of the world's fastest birds, being able to reach 200 miles per hour while diving from great heights to strike prey.

In 2019, a known total of 110 falcon chicks hatched at 37 nest sites in Wisconsin. 28% of those chicks were hatched at power plants which have dedicated nesting boxes.

Peregrine falcons are on Wisconsin's endangered species list. Historically the use of DDT pesticides resulted in the rapid decline in the falcon population. Falcons were nearly extinct in the 1960s.

Peregrine falcons can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

Falcon females can be 20% bigger than males

Female falcons can be up to 20% larger than male falcons.

Peregrine falcons feed on a variety of birds including pigeons, ducks and songbirds as well as bats. They can catch their prey in mid-air.

Peregrine falcons get their name from the Latin word peregrinus, meaning "to wander."