A match made in high places: Favorite falcon duo returns

The onset of spring at Great River Energy’s Elk River campus is marked by the arrival of a pair of peregrine falcons at the onsite nesting box. The male, Brooklyn, has returned for his 12th consecutive year while the female, Breezy, is now in her ninth year at the site. Breeding pairs tend to be monogamous throughout their lifespan and return to the same nesting location year after year.

The pair of falcons arrived in late February, engaged in courtship and bonding throughout March then produced four eggs in late March. Both male and female falcons will share incubation duties during the 33-day incubation period. The eggs should begin hatching in early May.

With help from an Eagle Scout and the Raptor Resource Project, Great River Energy installed a nesting box in 2006 at the former Elk River Energy Recovery Station. It was moved in 2020 to a platform above the prairie on the Elk River campus, and a new box built by another Eagle Scout was installed in late 2025. Since 2006, 61 young falcons have fledged from the site.

The Elk River location is a great spot for a nesting box because it is within a peregrine falcon migratory flyway. The site, beside the Mississippi River, is also a draw because the birds prefer to nest in high locations near water.

What to expect

Brooklyn and Breezy can be observed via Great River Energy’s peregrine falcon cam. Here is a general timeline of what you may see in the coming months:

• April: A 33-day incubation period in which both male and female share incubation duties.
• May: Eggs will hatch followed by the adults feeding the eyasses (i.e., baby falcons).
• June: Eyasses are banded at 18-22 days old by the Raptor Resource Project. The band numbers are recorded in the Midwest Peregrine Society database, used for tracking and future nesting information. Fledging can take place from June to early July.
• July through October: The adult falcons will remain at the nest box until migration in October. The young usually remain in the area during this time, perfecting their flying and hunting skills.