Soaring once again: We Energies helps save peregrine falcon

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- They used to proudly soar above Wisconsin, but in the 1950s and 1960s peregrine falcons became endangered throughout the state due to the heavy use of pesticides.

"This bird was virtually extinct and it took a concerted effort to bring the bird back and We Energies is really proud to be a part of that," said We Energies Spokesperson Cathy Schulze.

It was in the late 1980s when We Energies began putting artificial nesting boxes on its power plants.

This would attract birds to the area and provide them with a safe place to live and reproduce.

"Our power plants afford a very similar type of nesting environment being very high and open and it really gives them protection from a lot of different predators," said We Energies Environmental Consultant Mike Grisar.

Through the years, the birds kept coming back.

We Energies officials have been tracking the success of the program by banding the falcons.

"This year we`re expecting to have our 200th falcon naturally produced on our sites, which is almost 20 percent of the entire peregrine falcon population," said Grisar.



This year there have been eggs laid in the nests of all 6 power plants.

We Energies placed cameras in the nests to monitor the chicks, and through modern technology the utility is now able to live stream this video online for everyone to enjoy.

"It`s a way that all of us at home can stay connected with what`s going on in these nest boxes and follow the chicks from the time they hatch to the time they take flight for the first time," said Schulze.

Watching the growth of a population we almost lost.

If you're interested in watching the live stream of the peregrine falcons, CLICK HERE.