Falcon eggs at four power plants

Falcon incubates at Valley Power Plant.

Activity is really picking up at our power plant nest boxes. Peregrine falcon nesting season is in full swing with eggs present at four of our sites. If all of them hatch, we’ll see 14 chicks in about three to four weeks. That would put our We Energies falcon total at nearly 240 over the past 20 years.

Greg Septon, our peregrine manager, gave us a rundown on activity at each of our sites:

Four eggs at Valley Power Plant.

Valley Power Plant – Dad, “Hercules,” and mom, an unbanded female, are incubating four eggs. They’re expected to hatch between April 26 and 28.

Oak Creek Power Plant – Dad, “Scott,” and mom, “Eclipse,” are incubating four eggs. They’re expected to hatch between April 29 and May1. 

Port Washington Generating Station – Dad, “Ives,” and mom, banded as 91/P, are incubating three eggs. Estimated hatch dates: April 27 to 29. Septon is keeping a close eye on this site because he noticed the eggs were left unattended recently. This could mean the adults were trying to drive away an intruding falcon. Depending on how long the eggs were left unattended, they may be in jeopardy.

A territorial battle occurred at Pleasant Prairie 

Power Plant on March 12.

Pleasant Prairie Power Plant – Dad, “PBR,” and mom, an unbanded female who’s new to this site, are incubating three eggs. They’re expected to hatch between May 8 and 10. Septon captured this image through our nest box camera, showing a territorial battle between two female peregrines at the site on March 12. The unbanded female drove away “T. Swift,” produced in 2015 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

Presque Isle Power Plant – There aren’t any eggs yet at this site. The same female is back for her sixth year, along with an unbanded male.