Peregrine falcons hatch, are banded in Elk River

The pair of peregrine falcons residing in Great River Energy’s nesting box, Brooklyn and Breezy, successfully hatched four eyasses (young falcons) in late April. Representatives from the Raptor Resource Project recently visited Great River Energy’s Elk River campus to band the young peregrine falcons.

Using a Great River Energy bucket truck to reach the nesting box, the eyasses were carefully retrieved from the box and brought to ground level. Once on the ground, Amy Ries of the Raptor Resource Project applied bands to each of the birds and assessed their well-being. Each of the young were declared healthy and returned to their nest. Ries identified three male eyasses — named JR, Ace and Linas — and one female named MJ.

The eyasses will remain in the nesting box until they begin to fledge at five or six weeks old. Viewers can still catch sight of them on Great River Energy’s birdcam.