Mae, the King plant's matriarch

From our photo archives: Mae and hatchling, May 14, 2002

Mae, the original power plant nesting peregrine falcon who raised 37 young falcons between 1990 and 2003 at the King plant nest box, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1988. 

She was one of the first falcons to successfully fledge from a wild nest in the central United States after the elimination of the pesticide DDT.

Her mother, a falcon called MF1, achieved fame as one the first downtown Minneapolis peregrines, maintaining her territory atop the Multifoods Tower for many years.

Mae was the first falcon to nest at a power plant.  Here is how that came about:

In 1989, as an immature bird, she was observed by a plant employee at the A.S. King plant. Bob Anderson of the Raptor Resource Project worked with plant management to build and install a falcon nest box high on the plant stack to encourage her to stay. She claimed the King plant nest box from then on, and successfully raised 37 young falcons here, starting in 1990.

She typically wintered over in the King plant area and along the St. Croix River rather than migrating to warmer climes as most peregrines do.

The King Falcon Cam has followed the nesting activities of Mae since the camera was installed in 1997.  

Watching her and her several mates raise young peregrines has been an informative and delightful educational experience for Web visitors from all over the world.

We are grateful to her for playing a starring role in the peregrine power plant nesting program for 15 years and for providing a powerful example of active, attentive parenting.