The following information came from:
ohn S. Castrale,Nongame Bird Biologist, Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife,
562 DNR Road
Mitchell, IN 47446
NOTE: VARIOUS CHARTS THAT WERE SENT WITH THIS REPORT COULD NOT BE COPIED FOR SOME REASON TO THIS DOCUMENT.
The Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife is funded by fishing and hunting license revenue, as well as, through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs. These programs collect excise taxes on shooting, archery, and fishing equipment and motor boat fuel. This user-pay, everyone-benefits system has resulted in millions of acres of habitat saved and near-miraculous population increases in many species of fish and wildlife over the last 75 years. For more information on Fish and Wildlife Management in Indiana visit: wildlife.IN.gov.
Indiana Peregrine Falcon Nesting 2012 – 07/31/12 (final?)
The 2012 breeding season is at a close and it was a record breaking year with many highs and a few lows. Twenty peregrine territories were known in the state and 18 pairs were documented laying eggs. Fourteen were successful in raising at least one chick for a total of 38 surviving to fledge. All but two chicks were banded in the state. Fourteen unhatched eggs were collected. For a comparison to previous years, I have put together the following table.
Four nest sites were new this year; two along the Lake Michigan shoreline and two (Petersburg, Lawrenceburg) in the southern part of the state. The latter two sites are at power plants where nest boxes have been present for several years. Four pairs laid five eggs and one pair was able to hatch and raise all five. Of the 38 chicks banded, two died before taking their first flight. At this time, no deaths of fledglings have been reported.
Of the 41 adults noted in the 20 territories, seven were unbanded, 25 were identified by their leg bands, and nine were not observed well enough to identify. Identified adults had origins in eight different states: Kentucky (5), Illinois (5), Indiana (4), Wisconsin (3), Missouri (3), Ohio (1), Michigan (1), and Iowa (1). Two of the banded adults had been captured and first banded at their Indiana breeding sites in a previous year. One pair consists of full siblings from Waukegan, Illinois. Only five hacked adults were present this year and by the end of the season, only two remained. Nineteen year-old Kinney, the oldest peregrine in the Midwest, returned and raised two chicks (a record of 61 over his lifetime), before being found dead in mid-July on a ledge of the Market Tower building where he nested. The amazing Zephyr (13 years old) who turned up in South Bend during 2011 missing a foot, returned and helped raise a single chick before he died in a collision with a light pole in late June. Freedom (hacked in Evansville), our oldest female at 18 years, nested in Fort Wayne until 2007, but hasn’t laid eggs since that time. She disappeared by late March and was replaced by a juvenile from Canton, Ohio, who is paired with a new male from Michigan.
Nest sites can be categorized several ways. Of the 20 nest sites, five are in downtown urban areas (four on office buildings, one on a bridge) and the remainder are in industrial areas: power plants (7), steel mills (6), an oil refinery (1), and a lime plant (1). All but three nests were associated with a falcon nest box. Fourteen nests were on buildings, five on smokestacks, and one under a bridge. The Cline Avenue bridge site in East Chicago was demolished this summer. It was the first used in 1989 and 56 chicks were raised here, although no birds have been present since 2009.
Nesting results are presented in tabular form below and site accounts follow. I appreciate the many folks who helped monitor or allowed access to falcon nests in the state.
Falcon cams can be viewed at:
(downtown Indianapolis)
http://www.iplpower.com/ipl/index?(IPL plant on south side of Indianapolis)
http://www.nisource.com/enviro/falcon.asp (Wheatfield, NIPSCO Schahfer Plant) – not active yet
http://www.southbendin.gov/falcam/ (South Bend; streaming video)
http://www.aep.com/go/FalconCam (Fort Wayne)
Information about the Midwest peregrines (including a searchable database) can be found at
http://www.midwestperegrine.org/ *new site.
SUCCESSFUL NESTING ATTEMPTS
Whiting, BP Amoco refinery – 2004-08, 2011-12; 15 chicks fledged (2.1/attempt)
female – Nancy (b/g 5/*4) – 8th year; wild-produced in Waukegan, IL in 2002
male – Hughes (b/g E/09) – 1st year; wild-produced in Waukegan, IL in 2006
Steve Hopman reported a pair near the smokestack nest box in February where they nested last year. This box was then closed due to planned construction in the area; a second box is available nearby and has been used in past years. An attempt to check this box on 3/27 failed due to attacks by the female. A nest box check on 4/19 revealed both adults at the box with 4 eggs. Two chicks and no eggs on 5/7. Two chicks (1m,1f) banded on 5/21.
East Chicago - Mittal Steel - Indiana Harbor West (BOF building) – 2004-06, 2008, 2011-12; 11 chicks fledged (1.8/attempt)
female – Freedom (b/r 44/E) – 1st year; wild-produced in Green Bay, WI, 2009
male – unidentified
Two eggs and 2 recently hatched chicks in east nest box on 4/26. Three female chicks banded and one cracked egg collected on 5/22. Thanks to Simonne Benoit and Robert Page for access.
East Chicago, Inland Steel lime plant (Mittal Steel, Indiana Harbor East) – 2006-09, 2011-12; 12 chicks (2.0/attempt)
female – Sloopy (b/r 06/E) – 2nd year, wild-produced in Irving Park, Chicago, IL, 2009.
male – unbanded
Raul Dominguez checked the nest box on 3/26. Banded adult present in box but no eggs observed. Four eggs on 4/20 and 4/26. Adult still incubating on 5/2. Two chicks and one egg reported on 5/6. At least 3 chicks (probably 4) on 5/9. Four chicks (3f,1m) banded on 5/22. Fledged by mid-June.
Gary, Carmeuse Lime Plant – NEW
female – Aurora (b/r 95/E), wild-produced at Dow Chemical, Jefferson Co., KY in 2009
male – unidentified
Falconer Matt Kirkwood was called to this site on 5/15 to remove aggressive “red-tails” and discovered a falcon nest with three 18-day old chicks. The nest is a small recess covered in lime dust. Three chicks (2f,1m) banded on 5/21.
Gary, US Steel (sinter plant) – 1990-2007, 2009-10, 2012; 51 chicks fledged (2.4/year)
female – Crystal (b/r X/*K) - 12th year; hacked in Labadie, MO, in 1999
male – unidentified
West nest box had female incubating 3 eggs on 4/19. Still incubating on 5/3 and 5/10. Female on 5 eggs on 5/22. One recently hatched chick and at least 3 eggs on 6/1. One female chick banded and two eggs collected on 6/21; adult female present. The chick was last noted in the box by John Leopold on 7/3.
Gary, US Steel (pre-carb/coke plant) – 2006-12; 12 chicks fledged (1.7/year)
female – b/g 65/A – 5th year; wild-produced in Clayton, MO, 2005
male –b/r 07/N – banded as adult at this site in 2011
Don Przybylinski noted an incubating adult nesting in a site away from the nest box on 3/27. Female still incubating on 4/19. At least one chick on 5/3 with adult male photographed. A second chick noted later. Adult female confirmed on 5/22. The two chicks could not be banded due to safety concerns. Both still present on 6/1. Both chicks reported fledged by mid-June. Both adults and strongly flying juvenile observed on 6/21. John Leopold provided access and made observations.
Porter, NIPSCO Bailly Plant – 1996, 1998-99, 2002, 2006, 2010-12; 24 chicks fledged (3.0/year)
female – unbanded
male – unbanded
Jeff Neumeier checked the box on 4/4 and noted five eggs and an unbanded adult. Four recently-hatched chicks and 1 egg on 4/27. Five chicks (3f,2m) banded on 5/21.
Michigan City, NIPSCO Plant – 1996-2012; 35 chicks fledged (2.1/year)
female – unbanded
male - b/g W/55 – 4th year; wild-produced in South Bend, IN, 2007.
Jeff Neumeier identified the adults on 4/3 and noted 5 eggs in the box. Still 5 eggs on 4/24. Two chicks and 3 eggs on 4/30. Three chicks and 2 eggs on 5/4. Three chicks (1f,2m) banded and 1 egg collected on 5/21.
South Bend, City-County/Tower Building – 2003-12; 27 chicks fledged (2.7/year)
female – Guinevere (b/g 79/E) - 9th year; wild-produced, origin unknown, likely from 2001.
male – Zephyr (b/r *9/*A) - 9th year; hacked at powerplant in Muscatine, IA, in 1999.
The falcon cam revealed that the first egg was laid on 3/26 about 8:00 AM; second by 9:00 AM on 3/28; third on 3/30 by 4:32 PM; fourth by 4/3. Hatching occurred on 5/3 around 6:00PM (1 chick) and 5/4 (second by 10AM; third by noon). Fourth chick noticed on 5/14 but disappeared soon thereafter. Two female chicks banded on 5/29. Earlier that day the third chick was found dead on the fifth floor roof below the box; likely due to storms the night before. Chick 56/U was found dead in the same location on 6/11; again high winds may be responsible. The third chick fledged on 6/17 or 6/18. Male Zephyr was found injured on 6/19 from apparent head trauma; he died later that day. Carole Riewe keeps close tabs on this site.
Wheatfield, NIPSCO Schahfer Plant – 1998-2012; 40 chicks fledged (2.7/year)
female – Latesha (b/g Z/K) - 11th year, wild-produced in Genoa, WI, 1999
male – unidentified
The falcon cam view on 3/23 revealed a female incubating eggs in the nest box. At least 3 eggs were noted on 3/27. Three chicks and one egg on 4/23. Three chicks (2f,1m) banded and 1 one egg collected on 4/17. Three chicks still in box on 5/29. Fledging of at least one chick took place on 6/1. Adults and all three chicks noted in flight on 6/15. Cathy Ortiz, Chris Hensel, and Tony DiPaolo contributed to this account.
Indianapolis, Market Tower – 1995-2012; 61 chicks fledged (3.4/year)
female - KathyQ (b/r *B/*C, aka Chantal) - 11th year; wild-produced in Milwaukee, WI, 1998
male - Kinney (b/r 7/*3) - 18th year; hacked in Lexington, KY, 1993
Nest box was visited on 2/22 to service nest box. Both adults and a nice scrape were present and Kinney identified. KathyQ has been identified from camera views. The falcon cam recorded the following timing of egg laying – first egg on 3/20 (6:10 AM), second on 3/22 (1:47 PM), third on 3/25 (6:35 AM). One egg hatched on 4/29 at 9:23AM; second by 7:09PM on 4/30. Two chicks (2m) banded on 5/24. First flights on 6-7 June. Kinney was found dead on the 19th floor of Market Tower on 7/20. Laura James-Reim writes a blog on this site and organizes volunteers to keep watch on the young falcons.
Indianapolis, IPL Stout Plant / Southside Landfill - 2002-03, 2005-06, 2008-12; 29 chicks fledged (3.2/attempt)
female – unbanded
male – unidentified
Nest box empty on 3/15. Falcon cam revealed timing of egg laying: first egg on 3/21 (7:45-9:15 AM), second on 3/23 (5:39 PM), third on 3/26 (early morning or overnight); fourth on 3/28; fifth on 3/30 at 3:45 PM. Hatching first noted on 5/1 at 6:52AM, second around 3:00PM, and four present by 9:00AM on 5/2. Four chicks banded and one egg collected on 5/24. Birds out of the nest box by 5/30, but one found dead. At least two birds still in the nest box on 6/4. Dave Murphy provided access to this site.
Terre Haute, Indiana State University Business Building – 2010, 2012; 3 fledged (1.5/nesting attempt)
female – b/g S/34 – 3rd year, wild-produced in St. Louis, MO, 2009
male – b/g N/83 – 1st year; wild-produced in Indianapolis (IPL plant) in 2008
Steve Lima reported 2 adults all winter and into the spring. Adult female observed on 3/2. A maintenance person checked the nest box on 4/4 and observed 3 eggs and was harassed by the female. Adult in nest box with 3 eggs on 4/13, 4/23, and 4/30. Two chicks and one egg first noted on 5/4 by 9:00AM. Female with b/g band. Three chicks on 5/11. Three chicks (1f,2m) banded on 5/31. One chick (35/M) retrieved from the ground and placed back on the roof on 6/5. The other male was retrieved and returned on 6/6. All three chicks noted on 6/17.
Milton, KY/Madison, IN bridge – 2002-09, 2011-12; 29 chicks fledged (2.9/attempt)
female - b/g *R/*A; wild produced in Bedford, KY, 2008
male – Asa Crane (b/r *D/D); 7th year; hacked at Ghent Station, KY, 1997
The nest box on the Kentucky side of the bridge was relocated to the Indiana side in 2011 and remained there in 2012 due to construction on the bridge. Kate Heyden (Kentucky Fish and Wildlife) reported that an adult was incubating on 3/19 with hatching expected 16-20 April. Still apparently incubating on 4/11. Appeared to have hatched prior to 4/23. Demolition of a nearby pier occurred on 4/25 and the female did not leave the nest box. Three chicks (2f, 1m) banded on 5/10; female identified. Male had gold federal band. Bill Poindexter noted all three chicks on pier near box on 5/27.
FAILED NESTING ATTEMPTS
Gary, US Steel (Steel Producing) – NEW
female – Erica (b/g *U/*C) – 1st year; wild produced at IPL plant, Indianapolis in 2009
male – Cara (b/r 00/E; banded as female) – 1st year; wild produced in Waukegan, IL in 2009
Steel workers report aggressive falcons on 35’ high ledge of building on 5/14. Visit on 5/22 revealed identity of adults. Female was tending one egg on ledge with little substrate present. No birds observed on 6/1. Adult female perched above nest site on 6/21.
Burns Harbor, Mittal (Bethlehem) Steel Coal Injection – 1997, 2000-01, 2004-05, 2008, 2010, 2012; 16 chicks fledged (1.8/year)
female – Jo-an (b/r 00/X) – 1st year; wild-produced in Waukegan, IL, 2010
male – unidentified
Dave Linn reported adults at the site until the end of March. Adult female identified in nest box with 3 eggs on 4/18. Three eggs (one apart from the others) on 5/1 with no adults observed. The same thing noted on 5/9. Eggs cold but one adult was perched at the box earlier that day. Three cold eggs collected on 5/21.
Petersburg, IPL Power plant – NEW
female – b/g, purple band
male - unidentified
A plant worker checked a nest box (installed in fall 2004) on 3/24 and flushed an adult off three eggs. On 4/2, three eggs were unattended with an adult male perched on a nearby smokestack. Still 3 eggs on 4/9 with both adults observed away from box. Three cold eggs collected from nest on 4/24; no adults observed. Distant camera revealed multiple daily visits by the adults to the nest box through mid-May. Jim Verley monitored and provided access to this site.
New Albany, Gallagher Power Plant – 2011-12; 3 chicks fledged (1.5/year)
female – Isis (b/r 21/H) – 2nd year; wild-produced in Jefferson Co., KY in 2009
male – left b/g
Nest box checked on 3/15 and female identified; male perched nearby. Nest box had nice scrape. Bill Chanley reported aggressive pair present but no eggs on 3/27. One egg in box on 4/4. Still one egg in the box on 4/10 with the female in aggressive flight nearby. Three eggs on 4/25, 5/2, 5/11, and 5/14 with both adults present. Still eggs on 5/25, 5/30, and 6/5 with defensive behavior from the female. Eggs retrieved on 6/8. Jeff Kling allowed access and helped monitor this site.
TERRITORIAL PAIRS
Fort Wayne, One Summit Center – 2003-07; 38 chicks fledged (3.2/year)
female – Moxie (b/r 99/E) – 1st year; wild-produced in Canton, OH, 2011
Freedom (b/r U/*8) - 14th year; hacked in Evansville, 1994
male - Jamie (b/r 92/D) – 1st year; wild-produced in Port Sheldon, MI, 2010
This site is monitored by a camera with banded adults noted at nest box in March. The new male was first identified on 3/30. Freedom was last identified on 3/18 and the new female was first noted on 4/11 with both birds observed in the nest box courting on 4/13. Female making a scrape on 4/16. Female in box on 5/14; no eggs. Pair photographed copulating on 6/11. John Meyer and John Winebrenner help monitor this site.
Lawrenceburg, AES Tanners Creek Power Plant
A pair of birds was first noted in mid-April. Two unbanded adults (mildly aggressive) present at nest box on 5/18.
SINGLE BIRDS OR NON-TERRITORIAL PAIRS
East Chicago, Inland Steel (Mittal Steel, Indiana Harbor East) – 1996-2007; 19 chicks fledged (1.6/attempt)
female - unidentified
male - unidentifed
Adult perched at PCI building across from nest box (inaccessible) on 4/26. No birds observed in brief visit on 5/22 and 6/1. Adult female flew in on 6/21 and was harassed by three American kestrels. Flew in the direction of the lime plant. Robert Page accompanied me to this site.
Gary, US Steel (Tin Plant)
An adult peregrine was first sighted and photographed at a nest box on 11/9/11. Craig Leach reported two adults hanging out at the nest box during the first half of March.
Cayuga, Duke Energy Power Plant
An adult peregrine was photographed at this power plant on 3/2 and remained until at least 3/8. A nest box has been at this site for several years.
NO ADULTS REPORTED
Gary, US Steel (#1 BOP plant) – 2010; 3 chicks fledged (3.0/year)
Andy Seibel had not seen any birds in the area by late March. This pair may have moved to nearby Steel Producing building at US Steel.
East Chicago, Cline Avenue (2 sites) – 1989-2006, 2008-2009; 56 chicks fledged (2.5/22 attempts)
No evidence of falcons was seen on 1/18. Demolition of this bridge continues in 2012. No adults observed on 4/7 or 4/18. Most of nest site area demolished by 5/22.
Porter, Mittal (Bethlehem) Steel #2 (D Stockhouse) – 2008-2009; 4 chicks (2.0/year).
No adults reported from this site since 2009.
Porter, Cargill – 2003, 2007, 2009; 4 chicks (1.3/year)
No adults reported at this site and nest box empty on 4/18.
Florence, Belterra Casino – 2009; 0 chicks
Nest box empty on 4/25. No reports of peregrines this spring.
Mauckport/Brandenburg, KY bridge
No signs of falcons on 5/9.
NO INFORMATION
Gary, NIPSCO Dean Mitchell Plant
Pair seen here in previous years is likely nesting at the nearby Carmeuse Lime Plant.
OTHER BIRDS
Female Mindy (b/g S/26; Mittal Steel, Cleveland, OH, 2008) was found with a fresh wing injury on 1/29 near downtown Whiting (Lake County). She was treated and released on 3/8.
Female IndyFroona (b/g *V/*Y, Market Tower, Indianapolis, 2009) is again nesting in Port Washington, WI.
Female Spitz (b/r 17/Y; Wheatfield, IN, 2011) was found dead in downtown LaPorte, IN, on 7/9/12.