Xcel King Plant, Bayport, MN (cam
link)
In 1990, Xcel's King plant became the first power
plant in the United States to provide a home for nesting falcons. Its success
has led to similar installations at power plants around the world. In 2004,
female baby Goldstar Zipster became the 300th falcon to hatch from a power
plant. 
Year 2009 Comments ::
The nestbox here is mounted to a platform on a cat-walk 400’ up the stack. Adult falcon W/E appeared to over-winter at this plant.
About
this Site
Year site first became active: 1990
Total young: 50 (2009)
List
of young banded
at the King Plant (may be incomplete)
Multimedia
Star Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/local/48006962.html
KSTP: http://kstp.com/news/stories/S957064.shtml?cat=206
2009 Site Summary Adults First egg laid in 2009: 4/5/2009 Eyasses Banded on 6/03/2009. This event marked the 1,000 falcon hatched at a power plant. The falcons were named by Mary, a plant employee who won the naming rights in an auction to raise money for United Way. The falcons are named after her nieces and nephew. Mary really enjoyed meeting her falcons and also got to go up the elevator. Bob's sister JoAnne, a 4th grade school teacher at Falcon Heights Elementary school, has her class following the falcons. The class got to come to the banding today, and take a tour of the power plant afterwards. They were very enthusiastic about both activities! We drew blood from Alex. |