Xcel Energy Birds of Prey

Scroll down the page to watch the Xcel Energy Fort St. Vrain bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and great blue herons on Xcel power plant grounds.

Xcel Energy Fort St. Vrain Bald Eagles

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We hope you enjoy watching the Xcel Energy Fort St. Vrain eagles. The eagles usually lay eggs between mid-February and early March. The eggs hatch in late March to early April and young fledge in June.
Top Cam

Side Cam

What does the Fort St. Vrain bald eagle site look like? The eagles’ nest (FSV-N0) is 9 x 8 feet wide, eight feet high, and 57 feet off the ground. It has a perimeter of about 26 feet, a total area of about 56 feet, probably weighs between 2200 and 2700 feet, and is large enough to be seen on satellite! The nest is located in a cottonwood on the banks of the St. Vrain River near Platteville, CO, on property owned by Xcel Energy. We’re not sure how old it is, but Bob Anderson and Rob MacIntyre put the first cam system up in 2003, when the nest was already well established. FSV-N0 is built primarily of cottonwood branches (the dominant tree in many river systems out west) and lined with prairie grass.

As the eagles look out of their nest, they might view the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, roughly 15 miles west of the nest, or the junction of the St. Vrain and south Platte rivers roughly 2 miles north. The land can be broadly characterized as sweeping and open – beautiful, but very different from the folded hills and forests of Decorah and Eagle Valley. Primary food sources include the river systems (fish and turtles) and a nearby prairie dog colony that was just re-established after serious flooding two years ago.

Xcel Energy High Bridge Peregrine Falcons

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The High Bridge falcons are nesting on a turbine building at Xcel’s High Bridge natural gas plant in St. Paul, MN. A large meadow over the site of the plant’s former coalyard also contains chimney swift towers and beehives, and the Mississippi River and the City of St. Paul provide ample prey – especially pigeons and other urban species. This site was first productive in 2000.

Xcel Energy Riverside Peregrine Falcons and Great Blue Heron Rookery

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The Riverside falcons are nesting on a turbine building at Xcel’s Riverside natural gas plant in Minneapolis, MN. The plant grounds are also home to a colony of Great Blue Herons that nest on an island in the Mississippi River, along with kestrels, owls, muskrats, and a family of foxes. This site was first productive in 1998.

Xcel Energy Allen S. King Plant Peregrine Falcons

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The King Plant falcons are nesting in a nest box at the 400′ level on a stack at the Allen S. King plant next to the Saint Croix River in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota. This nest was first productive in 1990 and was the first energy site in the world to house peregrine falcons.

Xcel Energy Pawnee Kestrels

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Click the stream to watch the Pawnee American Kestrels live from Xcel Energy’s Pawnee Station! The kestrels should start laying eggs in early April, but we’ll see them before that. Or we’ll see and hear European Starlings, who are also visiting this box.
Xcel Energy Sherco Peregrine Falcons

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The Sherco falcons are nesting on the 400′ level of a stack at the Sherco power plant near the Minnesota river. The plant grounds are very large and contain abundant resources. Falcon talons or eggs may at times look a little dirty. The plant is a coal-fired plant and the falcons sometimes catch birds in or near the coal yard. This nest was first productive in 1992. Click here for nest records.