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WI / Milwaukee - County Power - 2009-14

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Alison:
Madame X has now been released!

Wounded peregrine falcon off to a flying start after recovery
by Paul A. Smith
June 28, 2014

 

Horicon — In late June, Wisconsin is full of birds itching to fly.

Never before, though, has one been more ready than the 11/2-pound feathered rocket held by Scott Diehl.

"You're a feisty one, Madame X," Diehl says, rotating his gloved hands to avoid the bird's sharp beak. "If you cooperate, you'll be off in a minute."

This is no ordinary bird, and no typical flight.

The bird at hand is a peregrine falcon, an endangered species in Wisconsin. Peregrines are the fighter jets of the avian world, capable of dives of more than 175 mph.

To see one held at close range is both awe-inspiring and unsettling. It's akin to Aaron Rodgers in a straitjacket. Lionel Messi with his feet taped together. Ella Fitzgerald with a wired jaw.

This bird deserves to stretch her wings, to run, to vocalize, to fly. Free.

Diehl, a wildlife rehabilitator with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at the Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee, couldn't agree more. Until just weeks ago, though, it didn't appear likely.

Madame X is the moniker given to the bird after it was found Feb. 27 near a bar in West Allis. The bird had been shot and was unable to fly.

The bird had been struck by at least seven shotgun pellets. Among her injuries was a shattered coracoid bone. The bone, similar to a human collar bone, is critical to flight in birds.

But unlike many other bones, it can't be surgically repaired. Madame X was given low odds of ever flying again. Due to an illegal, senseless act, this elite athlete of the natural world was facing a lifetime of sitting in cages and on posts as an education bird.

Diehl and the staff at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center utilized the latest developments in treating Madame X, however. Wildlife rehabilitation is only about 40 years old, Diehl said, and research and practical experience is greatly improving outcomes for sick and injured animals.

The "old school" treatment would have been to wrap Madame X's wing in a cast for several weeks. While the coracoid would have "reassembled," the tendons would have tightened and the bird would likely never been able to stretch her wing enough to fly.

In consultation with The Raptor Center in St. Paul, Minn., the staff at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center immobilized Madame X's wing but removed the splint every few days to stretch the tendons and muscles.

The bird was then moved to a larger enclosure which allowed it to move her wings but not fly. As it healed more, the bird was placed in an exercise room to flap and take short flights. Throughout her treatment, the bird fed heartily on frozen quail. We Energies donated $2,500 to help pay costs of Madame X's care.

Her prognosis for release changed from "guarded" to "fair." Then, in late May, the decision was made to take Madame X to Doyne Park in Milwaukee for an exercise flight on a creance, or tether.

"She peeled off 100 feet of line the first time," Diehl said. "The next time, 200 feet. Then we had to start limiting her."

Madame X was exceeding all expectations. It wasn't the first time.

In 2013, the female peregrine was the first to successfully raise a brood at a We Energies facility near the Medical College of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa.

The Peregrine Chick:
Falcon shot, injured; authorities search for suspects - 2nd peregrine falcon found dead
WE Energies News / 11 March 2014

We are sad to report that a peregrine falcon that has nested at one of our power plant nest boxes has been shot. The adult female falcon from our Milwaukee County Power Plant was found injured recently in West Allis. The bird was unable to fly and in obvious distress. The falcon, named Madame X, was taken to the Wisconsin Humane Society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (WRC) where she is receiving around the clock care.  Madame X has suffered extensive injuries. She has several shotgun pellets lodged in her body. She also has a broken coracoid (collar bone) and likely will not fly again. But she is showing signs of improvement, and the staff at the rehabilitation center is impressed by her feistiness and hearty appetite.

Authorities believe Madame X was purposely shot and are asking for the public’s help in making an arrest. The falcon was found at 2 p.m. on Feb. 27 in a yard outside the Cocktails & Dreams tavern at 55th and Grant in West Allis. Anyone who heard or saw anything unusual in this timeframe is asked to call the West Allis Crime Stoppers at 414-476-CASH (2274). Callers may request confidentiality.  A $5,000 reward is being offered by the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the responsible party. In addition, the We Energies Foundation is contributing $2,500 to the WRC for Madame X’s continued care and recovery.

Peregrine falcons are listed as an endangered species in Wisconsin. They also are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act. Shooting a peregrine falcon is a serious crime, punishable by jail time and fines. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is the lead investigative agency in this case.  

We have been involved in Wisconsin’s peregrine falcon recovery effort since the early 1990s. We sponsored the release of captive-produced peregrines and then installed nest boxes at six power plant sites. To date, nearly 200 peregrines have been produced at our facilities. Last year, peregrines nesting at our power plants accounted for 20 percent of Wisconsin’s total state production.  The loss of Madame X from our Milwaukee County site is especially sad because she was the first falcon to successfully nest at that site. Last spring, she produced three young – Abigail, Vita and Stella. This was the first successful nest at Milwaukee County Power Plant since the plant’s nest box was installed in 2007. A successful nest for the 2014 nesting season at the site now is in jeopardy.

We also are sad to report that Swede, the adult male from our Valley Power Plant, was found dead recently. The bird suffered severe head trauma, although it’s unclear exactly what happened. Swede was 15 years old and had been a mainstay at Valley Power Plant for several nesting seasons. With Swede gone, a successful nest also is in jeopardy at this site.

We remain optimistic that new falcons will move into our Milwaukee County and Valley Power Plant sites as the nesting season is just getting underway. Once again, the public will be able to follow the activity via our live webcams, which will be available soon at we-energies.com/falcons.  We also remain optimistic that Madame X will continue to recover. We’re hoping she’ll eventually move to a new home at a nature center, where she can help in educational efforts. She can still live a long and healthy life, helping educate others about the importance of saving this endangered species.


Reward doubled in falcon shooting: $10,000 reward
Michele McCormack / WDJT 58 / 13 Mar 2014

WEST ALLIS - The reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who riddled an endangered falcon with shotgun pellets had now been increased to $10,000.  The Waterford based Global Conservation group pledged the $5,000 Wednesday, matching the same amount announced by the U.S. Humane Society the day before.  The wounded bird was found February 27th near 55th and Grant in West Allis. She was part of a reintroduction program by WE Energies and had been nesting atop the Wauwatosa Power Plant.  The bird will probably never fly again.

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers at 414-476-CASH or 2274.

The Peregrine Chick:
2014 NESTING SEASON

From Greg at WE Energies ...

After a snowfall on Dec. 26, 2013, peregrine tracks were visible from one end of the deck to the other, and everything was looking like the adult pair had settled in for the winter. However, on Feb. 27, I received word that the female that nested here last year (b/r) 47/X was found injured. A radiograph showed a broken coracoid so this falcon likely will not be released.

Last year was the first successful nesting at this site, and we were hopeful for a repeat performance this spring. But with the loss of 47/X, its anyone’s guess what will happen here this year.  The first egg was laid here on April 16 last year.

Cooper:
2013 NESTING SEASON

Adult female doesn't have a name but her band number is 47/X, male is named Polyo and it is both their first year on-site and with each other.  It is also the first year there has been a nest at this location.  

Four eggs laid, three hatched, three female chicks hatched and fledged.  The chicks were named Vita, Abigail and Stella.  Vita's body was found in September on the Plant's grounds.  Her body was too decayed to determine cause of death but likely a fledge death.

Alison:

--- Quote from: allikat on March 17, 2010, 22:54 ---Wow...when was this nestbox installed?

--- End quote ---

The nest box was installed in 2007.

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