Energy Biz - September/October 2008 - (Page 126) » Final take Falcons roost at Xcel PEREgRiNES POWER PLANT PROgRAM SUCCEEdS By BOB ANdERSON The peregrine-utility program began 20 years ago when an employee of Northern States Power, now an operating subsidiary of Xcel Energy, reported a peregrine falcon at the Alan S. King Plant in Oak Park Heights, Minn. The peregrine falcon species was highly endangered at the time and I initially thought that particular bird was probably a Cooper’s hawk, another species commonly mistaken for the peregrine falcon. To put the peregrine’s status into perspective, last year more than 300 young falcons fledged from 110 sites in the central United States and Canada. But in 1988, just 12 falcons fledged from only five sites. Twenty years ago, the future of the species was still much in doubt and it seemed unlikely that a peregrine falcon had turned up in Oak Park Heights. (Guest OpiniOn) The King plant in Minnesota was the first plant to install a nest box for falcons. However, a photograph taken by employee John Migler confirmed that the mystery bird was, in fact, a peregrine falcon. Elated by the news, we watched her for several days to determine her favorite perches. She displayed a clear affinity for the handrail of the catwalk on the 400-foot level of the 800-foot stack. The Raptor Resource Project arranged a meeting with thenplant manager Tom Thompsen and plant engineer Mike Miser, who both agreed to let us install a nest box. The peregrine-utility program had begun. The following spring, observers witnessed two falcons at the nest. The female was Mae, a daughter Nora, a nesting falcon, is one of the beneficiaries of a coordinated recovery effort. PhOTOs cOurTEsy OF xcEL EnErgy 126 E n E rgyB i z September/October 2008
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