As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Rare falcon finds residency on Vermont nuclear smokestack

April 21,2015

VERNON — A rare falcon has found a permanent home on a nuclear power plant smokestack. 

Employees at Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station have played an active role in creating and maintaining a home for peregrine falcons, the Brattleboro Reformer reported. 

The falcon is listed as state-threatened in New Hampshire, and Vermont has roughly 40 pairs across the state. 

Employees of the now-closing plant became aware of the falcons in 2009 after receiving a call from a New Hampshire Audubon biologist. Employees received permission from management to install a nest box on the smokestack, built by Steve Skibniowski, a longtime Yankee employee who now serves as a consultant at the plant. Audubon experts sent him the plans for a wooden box with an open front and a special perch. 

“I’m surprised it’s held up as well as it has, because it’s very severe weather up there,” he said. 

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