OAK CREEK, Wis. — The first two peregrine falcon eggs of the season were recently laid in one of the We Energies' nest boxes at the Oak Creek Power Plant.
According to We Energies, parents Michael and Essity are taking turns incubating their eggs. The two have been nesting together for four years.
The first chicks are expected to hatch in a little over a month, We Energies says.
Since the peregrine falcon program began in 1992, a total of 433 chicks have been born at We Energies and WPS power plants in Wisconsin and Michigan.
"That means 20% of all peregrine falcons born in the wild in Wisconsin during that time hatched at We Energies or WPS facilities, helping the endangered bird escape possible extinction," We Energies said in a statement Monday.
You can watch the live nest box cameras on We Energies' website. More eggs will be laid over the next few weeks.
We Energies peregrine falcon chicks have flown the coop
Madison Goldbeck, June 7, 2022
OAK CREEK, Wis. — Two of the peregrine falcon chicks born at the Oak Creek Power Plant took their first flights on Tuesday.
Mario, named after the 1992 debut of Super Mario Kart, was the first chick to race out of the We Energies nest. His sister Whitney, named in honor of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," was the second to leave the coop.
According to We Energies, siblings Mae (named after astronaut Mae Jemison) and Favre (named after Packers quarter Brett Favre) are likely to spread their wings soon.
The chicks were born this spring and were given 1992-themed names in honor of the 30th anniversary of We Energies' peregrine-falcon program.
Watch Mario race out of the nest:
Watch Whitney take her first flight:
We Energies says the chicks will spend the next few weeks learning how to hunt prey and master their flying skills. Then the four will head off in separate directions to lead their own lives.
There are other chicks at the Port Washington Generating Station and Milwaukee's Valley Power Plant, but they are younger and will stay for another week or two. Chicks began to hatch just last week over at the Weston Power Plant. You can check out the action on the We Energies' live nest box cameras.
Since recovery efforts began, there is now a total of 433 peregrines hatched, named and banded at We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service power plants.
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