Catch up on past FalconCam seasons!
2025 season recap
The 2025 season began in March when two adult falcons were observed using the nest box. They were identified by the Midwest Peregrine Society as the same pair who used it last year, a 12-year-old female and a 16-year-old male. This female falcon fledged from St. Cloud, Minnesota and has nested in this box since 2016. The male fledged from Gary, Indiana and this is his second year paired with this female.
They began their courtship, resulting in a clutch of four eggs. All chicks hatched over Mother’s Day weekend (May 10-11), but only three successfully fledged. The fourth chick perished over the weekend of May 31-June 1 and the mother removed the carcass from the nest.
The remaining three peregrine chicks were banded on June 2 by the Midwest Peregrine Society, with DNR staff in attendance. Two of the chicks were male and one was female. The identification bands of the chicks are:
USGS silver band: 2447-09952, field readable black over blue band: 49/AB, male.
USGS silver band: 2447-09954, field readable black over blue band: 51/AB, female.
USGS silver band: 2447-09953, field readable black over blue band: 50/AB, male.
The parents continued to care for the chicks and all three successfully fledged at the end of June.
Above, from left: Midwest Peregrine Society and DNR staff preparing for the banding; Eyass (peregrine falcon chick) receiving a health check; Eyass with an identification band.
2024 season recap
The two adult falcons that used the nest box were identified by the Midwest Peregrine Society as an 11-year-old female, the same one who has nested in this box since 2016, and a 15-year-old male. This male, banded as a chick in Indiana, was a new partner for the female.
Four eggs were laid and three chicks hatched. The parents began their brooding duties, but one chick struggled to compete with their more developed siblings during feedings and unfortunately perished.
The other two chicks thrived and both were identified as male by the Midwest Peregrine Society (MPS) when they banded them. The older chick’s band numbers are 1947-56893 and W12, and the younger chick’s band numbers are 1947-56892 and W13.
The chicks successfully fledged in early July.
Above, from left: Banding supplies ready to go; Eyasses (peregrine falcon chicks) taken from next box; Eyass weighed, Eyasses returned to the nest box after getting banded.