West Michigan Feathers Peregrine Falcon Nests

In 2001, a pair of Peregrine Falcons made an unprecedented stop in Grand Haven, Mich. The nesting couple chose the Board of Light and Power J.B.Sims Plant tower to raise their family. West Michigan awaits the falcons' 11th annual return. From the Latin for "traveler; sojourner," Peregrine Falcons are aptly named.

For the last 10 years, the Grand Haven BLP has played happy host to the two Peregrine Falcons. Their nests have been lovingly protected. Residents, especially those like myself and my family who have lived here since their first visit, eagerly await our feathered friends' annual return.

Each year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources bands the birds' offspring. Representatives scale the 360 foot BLP power plant tower (well, about 240 feet of it) to the Peregrine Falcon nest. The Peregrine couple lays two to four eggs annually.

In late May 2010, MDNR officials reported that of the three Peregrine Falcon eggs laid two "eyas" (chicks) hatched successfully, a male and a female. The chicks were about 24 days old. The egg that did not hatch will be analyzed at DNR laboratories. The birds "fledge" (leave the nest and begin flying) at about four weeks old.

Grand Haven BLP is not the only site in Michigan's lower peninsula to boast a Peregrine Falcon nest. It is the oldest recorded and regularly used nest however. The BLP maintains a Live Falcon Cam on their website where bird-watchers can observe the birds. It is turned off until the 2011 nesting season which will begin soon. Here is a link for Grand Haven and other bird cams.

The falcons seem to prefer lakeshore power plant towers for nesting. There is a Peregrine Falcon nest at the B.C.Cobb plant further north on Lake Michigan, in Muskegon. Another nest exists south of Grand Haven at J.H.Campbell power plant in Port Sheldon.

There is a Peregrine Falcon nest downtown Grand Rapids at the Kent County Courthouse. The GR falcons have been spotted earlier this year at the MSU/Secchia Building (the birds like the building letters), VanAndel Institute, McKay Towers, Amway Grand Towers and Plaza Towers. No nest activity has been reported as yet, but West Michigan looks forward to it soon.

Want to try your hand at Peregrine Falcon spotting? Here's a bird descriptor from GRCC. "Adults have white fronts with horizontal dark gray barring. Their backs are a dark blue/gray. Juveniles have beige/tan fronts with heavy vertical brown streaks. Their backs have a brownish gray color."

Visit the Canadian Peregrine Foundation to see pictures of peregrines at different ages and stages.

A life-long resident of "Pure Michigan", Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes for the Yahoo! Contributor Network about people and policies, education and economy, culture and natural resources in Michigan.