Five falcon chicks that hatched this spring are getting ready to leave the nest on a mission to help researchers study their population.

Minnesota Power got a visit from longtime partner, Raptor Resource Project (RRP) in Iowa to band the falcons to allow researchers to track the falcons and their behavior.

This does not harm the birds.

The power company had nest boxes for the chicks where they have been named and banded for research.

During the process, adult peregrines typically leave the nest box during banding, showing their displeasure with the intrusion from a distance, but this parent didn’t want to leave the chicks.

The researchers say the peregrine falcon has made a "remarkable" comeback after use of the pesticide DDT nearly wiped out the population.

Banding was canceled last year because of the pandemic.

To see the original post and read related stories, follow this link to the KBJR-TV website. https://kbjr6.com/2021/06/18/minnesota-power-research-specialists-continue-study-on-young-falcon-beh...