MARQUETTE, MI-- Peregrine falcons have successfully raised chicks on two Upper Peninsula bridges this year.
A pair of the raptors nested on the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie this spring. Nest boxes were installed on the bridge linking Canada and the U.S. in 2010. This year the birds raised three chicks. The pair has hatched 28 chicks since the box was installed and bridge officials started counting.
Last year the International Bridge Authority added a video camera that’s trained on the nest. The “FalCam” can be accessed at saultbridge.com/falcam.
A pair of peregrines also used a nest box on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge between Houghton and Hancock this spring. Four chicks hatched in the south tower box, bringing the total to 19 chicks hatched since 2012.
People can watch live nesting activity on the Lift Bridge at pasty.com/nestbox.html.
