HOUGHTON, MI-- The Michigan Department of Transportation is removing peregrine falcon nesting boxes from the Portage Lake Lift Bridge.
Necessary bridge repairs and future maintenance raised concerns over potentially disturbing the birds while they’re nesting.
Peregrine falcons have nested on the bridge since 2013, when the boxes were placed on the structure by MDOT and the DNR. More than 20 chicks have hatched on the bridge over the years.
The nest boxes have been relocated on top of Michigan Tech’s Electrical Energy Resources building and atop the Quincy Mine shaft house.
Despite the removal of the boxes a pair of peregrines has been seen at the bridge again this year. If they build a nest MDOT will try to minimize their disturbance during bridge operations.
