MDC staff bands peregrine falcons from nests in KC area

Kansas City, Mo. – Peregrine falcons are nearing the end of another successful nesting season in the Kansas-City area. Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) biologists, with the aid of USDA Wildlife Services, recently banded 13 chicks (seven males and six females) hatched and reared at four nests. The identification bands will aid in tracking the falcons' movements and survival.

"All chicks appeared to be extremely healthy and vigorous," said Joe DeBold, MDC urban wildlife biologist. "Fledging should take place in the next three weeks."

Until the chicks fledge, which is when they fly from the nest, some are viewable online via streaming video. Web cameras are mounted at nests at the KCP&L Iatan Power Plant north of Weston, new.livestream.com/accounts/8268653/events/3883686, and the American Century Investments building near the Country Club Plaza, ustream.tv/channel/kansas-city-plaza-falcon-cam.

Peregrine chicks also hatched at KCP&L's Hawthorn Power Plant and Sibley Power Plant. The nests are located in high elevation locations, as falcons originally nested on cliffs. The falcons, agile flyers and capable of diving at high speeds, are endangered in Missouri.

A longtime nest site at Commerce Tower in Kansas City's downtown area was inactive this year. But DeBold expects falcon pairs to utilize the ledge there again in future years because it is a prime nest site.

Biologists are investigating a falcon pair with a nest near Main Street and Grand Boulevard in Kansas City.

For more information on peregrine falcons in Missouri, and for other wildlife cameras, visit mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-cameras.