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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