DULUTH, MN (KDAL) – Three peregrine falcon chicks were hatched at the Minnesota Power Hibbard Renewal Energy Center in Duluth about 22 days ago.
Two of the 3 chicks have now been banded by Minnesota Power volunteers and experts from the Raptor Resource Project in Iowa.
To reach the nesting site, the team needed to climb a catwalk about 120 feet above the roof of the Hibbard facility.
The banding helps researchers to gather information on mortality rates, migrations and the social structure of the birds.
Since 2008, more than 45 chicks have been hatched at nest boxes at the Hibbard site and the Boswell Energy Center in Cohasset. There were no eggs laid at the Boswell nest this spring.
Peregrine falcons have made a remarkable comeback after use of DDT nearly wiped out the population in the 1970’s.
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