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For more information
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Mark Nixon :
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Four peregrine eggs hatched so far
at BWL’s Eckert Power Station
Four of five peregrine falcon eggs have hatched in a nest atop the Lansing Board of Water & Light's Eckert Power Station.
The eggs hatched throughout the day, Thursday May 29, and were remotely recorded by the BWL's new FalconCam. The FalconCam is a set of two Web cameras that allow anyone with Internet access to view these endangered birds.
To access the FalconCam, visit the BWL Website, www.lbwl.com and click on the FalconCam icon. FalconCam photos are refreshed every 15 minutes.
The FalconCam is a joint project of the BWL and schoolchildren from Moores Park Elementary School in Lansing .
In September of 2007, Moores Park students collected coins to buy the Web cameras. BWL employees also contributed money for the FalconCam, and BWL technical crews installed the cameras and other equipment. The FalconCam went online in April.
In a few weeks, staffers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources plan to band the young peregrines. Moores Park students will then have the opportunity to name the fledglings.
A pair of adult peregrines have been nesting at Eckert for several months. They are Lansing 's only known pair of peregrine falcons.
Peregrines are birds of prey that can live up to 17 years. They are considered the fastest raptors on Earth. In a dive they can reach speeds of more than 186 miles an hour.
In the wild, peregrines nest on the edge of high cliffs. In urban settings, they often will nest in tall office buildings – or power plants.
The FalconCam serves as an interactive tool for children and adults to learn more about protecting endangered wildlife. Peregrine falcons remain on Michigan 's endangered species list. They had been on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's endangered species list until 1999.
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