Bird Cams Around the World

IPL Power Plant Cam


Their Story
IPL has been involved with Peregrine Falcons since 1991 when the company sponsored falcon releases in Indianapolis. Since this breed is attracted to tall structures with minimal human activity, a nesting box was installed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) of Indiana in August 1999 at IPL's Harding Street Station.

One male (Orion-raised in Fort Wayne) and one female (Star-origin unknown) nested in the Harding Street box, fledging four chicks in 2002 and another four in 2003. Star was captured and banded in 2002, but has since disappeared with no word on what happened to her. In 2004 the nest box was removed for construction, and the birds were sighted trying to nest nearby at a landfill. In 2006, the nest box was returned.

In March 2006 a pair of peregrine falcons re-established residence in the Harding Street box. The adult male was Orion, the same falcon who roosted here in the past as determined by his identification band. The female was unbanded and therefore unknown. They laid four eggs. In late May, three eggs hatched and two chicks survived; one male and one female.

In the spring of 2008 a pair of falcons successfully hatched five chicks and footage of the falcon family was included in a WFYI [PBS] program called "The Natural Heritage of Indiana."

“It’s nice to have a stable place for the falcons and the Harding Street location is an easy access area to check and monitor,” said John Castrale, who helps maintain the structure through DNR.

IPL people keep an eye on the falcons. “The employees like to see the falcons out flying around,” said Dave Murphy, Harding Street Station’s environmental compliance coordinator. “The falcons perch on the stack where the blinking lights are and from that vantage point they can still see their box, while staying visible to those down below.”

2011 UPDATE In 2011 a new male appeared with bands reading 67/B. It was determined that this bird hatched from this very nest in 2008.
He is unofficially named Flash 67.
The resident female is unbanded so we do not know if this is the same female from previous years.
She is unofficially known as Lady IPL.

Dutch Eagle Fan provided these pictures of box location.

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Aerial Photo of IPL Harding Street Power Plant