Wisconsin's Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project

What started as a small conservation effort is now a growing legacy, still lifting off in new ways today. We're talking about peregrine falcons. Christina Van Zels explains how one man helped to restore the species in Wisconsin and to reshape the skies above. Forty years ago, Greg Septon scoured the lakefront. I thought we could form a population along the lakefront. That was my goal. Noting any and every tall structure from the Illinois state line to Door County. These human-built cliffs are filling in the voids. Lake Michigan's shoreline is a major migration route for all birds. His focus, the peregrine falcon. When I was a kid in high school, we'd never know peregrines in the state. They'd been gone for quite a few years and I'd always dreamed of seeing peregrines nesting and had some weird ideas of how to make it happen. Peregrine falcons are native to Wisconsin, but almost became extinct in the 60s because of the pesticide DDT, now banned because of its toxicity. We were all realizing that there's no way we're going to get these birds back if we don't prime the pump. We need to bring captive-produced birds back and get them to survive long enough to nest on their own, and that takes time. In 1986, Septon founded Wisconsin's Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project. From 1987 to 1992, he released captive-bred falcons into the wild. Here we are 40 years later, with 40 interesting enough, 40 pairs last year, producing 103 young. A big part of that journey is WeEnergy's and Wisconsin Public Service. The nest box is up on the southeast corner of the power plant building. Septon partnered with the utility companies to install nesting boxes on the power plants across the state. Every spring, he bans every falcon chick that hatches in those nest boxes statewide. They can travel great distances, and having these bands on allows us to document that. In February, Septon was presented with a Certificate of Commendation from Governor Tony Evers. On top of that, the WeEnergy Foundation surprised him, donating $15,000 to name a raptor recovery cage at the Wisconsin Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Septon's honor. So it's gratifying to see all these sites producing young, finally, you know, and then regularly. Septon conditioned the Peregrine Falcons to camera movements so that through that lens, anyone at home can see the birds up close. The program took off, gaining popularity and interest across Wisconsin. Taking five or ten minutes out of their lives to do this benefits the species as a whole. It allows us to find out what's going wrong, if they're dying, what's happening to them. This year, Septon added a solar-powered tracking system, like an AirTag, to see where the Peregrine Falcons go when they leave the nest site. Their new transmitters are about as big as my thumbnail, and they clamp on the back of the band on their leg. Septon says there's a high mortality rate during the first year of life. More than half the Falcons die. Despite that, he's always wanted to know where they go after they leave the nest. Once they get beyond that first year, chances of living three to five years are good. I've got a lot of birds that are seven, eight, nine, ten, and I've had a few females that live to be 13 and 14. So they can live a very healthy, long life. A healthy life and a long-standing program. After four decades, the work isn't finished. But the skies are a little fuller than they used to be. I'm happy, I don't know, probably happy with the fact that if I want to take my daughter out and show her a Peregrine, now I can do that. Christina Van Zylst, Fox 6 News. Get this. Septon has banded more than 1,500 Falcon chicks across the state. As for the trackers, WeEnergy says they continue to get signals from Falcons and they'll update us if a public map becomes available. You cannot put enough credit on this man. He has done so much. He is so passionate about it. Did you see the video where they were going out to check in the nest and two people walked out with brooms? That's because the mom and dad are protective. And they'll go for the brooms. Or you. Hopefully the brooms. They have the Peregrine Falcon named after you. That's Teddy. Any word from him? Her. Teddy's are her. Salamone has a Geno Falcon. And that's mine. There was a contest. If you don't know what we're talking about. There was a contest by WeEnergy. And I was fortunate enough to get enough votes to have a Peregrine named after me. I can't track her. I don't have access to the information. But Christina did show me where she had been flying. She goes out over the lake a lot. It makes me worry. And every time I look up I go, is that you girl? Are you doing okay?