UM-Flint has unofficial mascot in 'Maize'
Peregrine falcon family at the new nest site on top of the North Bank Center.
Lynne Ihrig, a systems administrator intermediate for Information Technology Services (ITS) at UM-Flint, was looking out her window on the fifth floor of the North Bank Center at the Durant building, which is kitty-corner to her. She noticed a pair of peregrine falcons and what looked like a possible nest. Ihrig was concerned for the falcons, which have been in the Flint area for quite sometime due to the ongoing construction at the Durant.
“I saw the mother and it looked like she was sitting on a nest,” Ihrig said. “I called the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and they asked me a lot of questions - I passed their test so they sent someone out.”
At first the crews working on the Durant thought they could put off construction as long as young Maize was still in the nest. But they soon realized that time was of the essence to continue with their project, so it was decided that the peregrine falcon’s nest would be moved the 300 feet to the 12th floor of the North Bank Center.
The day of the move came and a unique relationship between the mother, whose name is Majestic, and Ihrig came into play.
“Sometimes, I can sit by the window on the 12th floor, and she will fly over and sit next to the window.” Ihrig said, “She sits there and makes little noises at me, not screeching and not threatening - we just sit.”
When the nest was first moved, it took the mother two hours to finally come over to the nest. So Ihrig thought she would try what normally worked to get Majestic to fly over - she sat at the window. Moments later, Majestic was at the nest with her baby.
Ihrig also was given the honor of naming the baby, since she was the one who first discovered the nest. “They (DNR) allowed me to watch them band her, and then I named her 'Maize.'”
These birds are banded because there are so few in this area. The parents, seven-year-old Majestic was born in Toronto, Canada and 8-year-old Barry was born in Ohio. The peregrine falcon is still on the endangered species list, with only 10 mating pairs in the state of Michigan. The peregrine falcon mates for life, which also makes them unique.
