An experiment started more than 20 years ago to reintroduce peregrine falcons to Indiana is paying off with impressive numbers this spring. Sixteen nesting attempts have been observed and seven of those sites so far have hatched chicks, including two from Indiana’s most prolific peregrine-Kinney. The 16 attempts are three more than in any previous year and an increase of four from last year.
Kinney, a 19-year-old male first released in Kentucky, continues to set up nesting operations at Market Tower in Indianapolis, has produced 59 chicks in his lifetime and is now raising two more.
“Only one other Midwestern peregrine has bred at 19 years of age, and the longevity record for a peregrine is 19 years, 6 months,” said John Castrale, nongame bird biologist for the DNR Fish & Wildlife division.
Kinney has partnered the last 11 years with KathyQ, a wild-produced peregrine from Wisconsin, and their brood could expand with one more egg still in their nest.
Although three to four eggs generally are laid by peregrines, clutches of five eggs were noted at three sites this year. More than 50 eggs have been observed overall, and 16 have hatched so far.
One new nest site was discovered this year at the Indianapolis Power and Light plant along the White River near Petersburg. A nest box has been there since 2004.
