2023 falcon updates
July: The falcons have successfully fledged from their nest box.
June: The four young falcons were banded at Great River Energy’s Elk River location by representatives from the Raptor Resource Project. Three males and one female were named (Jesse, Samuel, Talon and Janeen, respectively) and given band identification.
May: All four eggs have successfully hatched. The young eyasses will be banded by the Raptor Resource Project later this month.
April: Breezy and Brooklyn have produced 4 eggs! The projected hatch dates are May 5-7.
March: Our long-term falcon residents have returned to the Elk River nest box. Brooklyn, the male, has returned for his 9th year and Breezy, the female, has returned for a 6th year.
Great River Energy’s Elk River nesting box falcons
Great River Energy hosts a peregrine falcon nesting box on its Elk River, Minn. campus. This is a perfect site for a nesting box because it is located in 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.
Great River Energy, with the help of an Eagle Scout and the Raptor Resource Project, first installed the nesting box in 2006. Since then, 50 young falcons have fledged from the Elk River location. A few of those falcons have been spotted around Minnesota.
A note for our birdcam viewers:
This is live video of wild birds in the natural process of raising their young. Great River Energy will not, nor do we condone, any interference with this nest while it is occupied. However, we do work with the Raptor Resource Project to band any young peregrines at the appropriate time.