Young falcons banded at Elk River

The three young falcons residing in Great River Energy’s peregrine falcon nesting box at Elk River were recently banded. Representatives from the Raptor Resource Project conducted the banding and examined the young falcons. The two males and one female were deemed healthy.

The band numbers assigned to each falcon are recorded in the Midwest Peregrine Society database, used to track the young in their travels and their future nesting sites.

Two of the falcons were named after long-time helpers of Great River Energy’s peregrine falcon efforts. Grant Hess, line technician, and Mark Royseth, building and security technician/electrician foreperson, have each been a part of the “falcon team” for 15 years.

Hess has helped to safely transport the young falcons to and from the nest box during each of the banding sessions. Royseth has been a great support behind the scenes in keeping the birdcam technology up and running.

Falcon names and band information:

• LeAnn – Black/Blue P68
• Grant – Black/Blue Y68
• Mark – Black/Blue Y69

You can watch the falcons on our peregrine falcon birdcam until they fledge from the nesting box in July.