WI / Pleasant Prairie - 2009-14

[The Peregrine Chick]

2014 NESTING SEASON

From Greg at WE Energies ...

Peregrines have been present all winter with a banded adult male and an unbanded adult female with a prominent tawny colored breast and nape. Last winter, a different female was at this nest site, but she was displaced when Thilmany (b/g) N/44 returned on Feb. 24. Thilmany has nested at this site for the past five years but doesn’t appear to overwinter, so in her absence, other female peregrines have spent time here during the winter.

After the battle in the nest box last year, it will be interesting to see what female ends up nesting here this year. Although Thilmany has been a very successful breeder, this new unbanded adult female seems to be in control of things for now.  The first egg was laid was here on March 28 last year.

[The Peregrine Chick]

2013 NESTING SEASON

From Greg Septon:

On June 6, a battle occurred in the nest box between Thilmany and an intruding falcon. Two young were killed during the battle and another died a day later. After the battle, Thilmany was absent for a day, and PBR remained at the nest box during her absence. Only one young – Pefour (b/r) 84/P – survived the ordeal and fledged successfully.  The chicks that died were named Vern (m), Razor (m) and Falco (m).

Found this story later and thought I would add it here ...

Battle between falcons claims peregrine chicks at Pleasant Prairie power plant
John Krerowicz / Kenosha News / 15 October 2013

A battle between falcons at the We Energies power plant in Pleasant Prairie ended in the death of three of four chicks at the site.  The attack was mentioned in the Wisconsin Falconwatch 2013 Nesting Season Report issued last week and produced by peregrine researcher Greg Septon, a We Energies contract worker.  A female peregrine attacked the chicks’ mother in their nest box on the power plant’s emissions stack on June 6, Septon wrote in the report. Two chicks died during the battle and a third succumbed the next day. They had been bystanders in the fracas.  Septon had banded the four male chicks in May in front of an audience of Vernon Elementary School students, who chose names for the birds.

Raging hormones

Septon said the intruder apparently wanted to take over the nest box.  “In spring, like with all animals, peregrines are programmed to reproduce, and they go out and look for a mate,” he said. “The battle was not a great thing to have happened, and it makes you sad, but it’s part of nature. Nature isn’t always pretty.”  One consolation, Septon added, was that “the stronger of the two falcons survived to pass on her genes.”

The rest of the story can be found here: Kenosha News - Battle Between Falcons Claims Peregrine Chicks at Pleasant Prairie Power Plant

[The Peregrine Chick]

2012 NESTING SEASON

New pairing at this site ... Thilmany is still the resident female but this year's mate is PBR from the Milwaukee Miller Brewery site in 2009.  According to the records, PBR is the offsprint of Herbert from the WE Energies' Milwaukee Valley Plant and an unidentified female.   Thilmany & PBR laid four eggs the beginning of April but only three hatched a month later.  The three male chicks were named Rico, Lightning and Sky.

[The Peregrine Chick]

2011 NESTING SEASON



Fight in the nestbox this spring didn't stop a successful nesting at this site this year.  The resident pair of Thilmany and Dave produced four eggs laid early in April, three hatched in mid-May and the three male chicks were banded in June.  The were named Reliable, Zap & Filament.  Unfortunately, Zap was found dead on July 4th and the cause of his death is unknown, though given the date, likely a fledging-related death.

[kittenface]

Are there 4 chicks now?  

Yes I have a picture from a few days ago that you can really see them good I'll find it and post

[Kinderchick]

Are there 4 chicks now?

[kittenface]

[Alison]

Two chicks for Thilmany and her mate:

 

[kittenface]

There are 4 eggs and they were laid on 4/5- 4/8 -4/10- 4/12
So its soon

[Kinderchick]

Are there any eggs at this site? 

[Alison]

The female here is Thilmany, black/green band 44/N, born in 2007 at the Thilmany Mill in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. The male is not yet identified.

[Alison]

One on the ledge ... then both ...

 

[Alison]

The falcons are spending more and more time at the nest box. One, probably the female, was there early this morning when it was still dark, and may have spent the night in the nest.

Both falcons are in the first pic, the second one only visible as a shadow:

 

[Alison]

The Pleasant Prairie peregrine pair at the nest today  ...  then one returned later ...

 

[Alison]

A couple of visits to the nest today: