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Bird Cam

Thank you for visiting our Peregrine falcon Bird Cam

The 2011 Peregrine falcon season has come to a close, with the chicks fledged and the adults following their seasonal migrations. Season summary: As of summer 2011, 80 falcon chicks have fledged from Dairyland-related nesting sites. Three falcons (one male and two females) hatched this spring at our Genoa Site nesting box, and were banded in late May on-site. Regrettably, one of the falcon chicks perished due to disease.

At our Alma Site, the adult Peregrines again chose to nest on 12 Mile Bluff across from Dairyland's generating station, instead of using the power plant nesting box. This wild nesting yielded four healthy female Peregrine falcon chicks, all of which were banded in June. About banding: In addition to Dairyland Environmental staff, Bob Anderson from the Raptor Resource Project and his assistants work together to apply the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) bands, which help enable accurate tracking of the raptors. Banding of the birds on the bluff is a little tricky; volunteers rappel down the bluff face to the eyrie to access the falcons!

Come back to the Bird Cam in 2012!

Cameras are installed at both Dairyland's Genoa and Alma power plant locations to document “real time” bird activity at the nesting boxes. A link to the Bird Cam allows for virtual birdwatching during the falcons nesting season. Typically, the Bird Cam is operational from late February to mid-summer. The bird cam at the Genoa Site, which was damaged by lightning, has been repaired and will be all set to document the 2012 season. In the meantime, don't forget to check out the Dairyland-sponsored exhibit on the raptors at the Myrick Hixon EcoPark in La Crosse.

Did you know?

The Raptor Resource Project is a non-profit group based in Decorah, Iowa, working to restore the Midwest population of Peregrine falcons and other raptors. Bob Anderson, founder of the Raptor Resource Project and partner in the Dairyland Peregrine Falcon Restoration Program, is the architect of the phenomenally popular Decorah Eagle Cam. See it all online at www.raptorresource.org.