MGE Peregrine Falcons

Falcon chicks named and banded

Jun
03
2021

The three peregrine falcons that hatched in the nesting box on top of our downtown Madison Blount Generating Station in May have been named and banded! With the emphasis this past year on staying close to home, the chicks' names reflect the neighborhood our falcons call home.

Our falcons have hatched!

May
24
2021

Thanks to a small peephole that was installed in the latest design of our falcon box, we were able to determine that our falcons have hatched! After consultation with our falcon expert, we’ve concluded that they hatched around May 14.

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."