Community Corner
Peregrine Falcon Chicks Leave their Wauwatosa Nest
For the eighth year, medical center employees watched as the birds of prey nested atop the thermal power plant on campus
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Medical Regional Center (MRMC) and MRMC Thermal Power Plant have bid farewell to Trident, Polaris and Poseidon – the three Peregrine Falcons that hatched this Spring in a nesting box located at the medical center’s thermal power plant.
“We have been thrilled to watch Trident, Polaris and Poseidon grow from mere eggs to juvenile falcons that are now ready to leave the nest,” said Mark Geronime, Vice President of Operations at MRMC. “For the eighth year, the public and our team at MRMC have been able to witness this miracle of nature thanks to around-the-clock remote monitoring technology and the sustainability commitments on our campus that ensure a healthy environment for patients, our community, and this protected species of incredible birds of prey.”
Considered among the fastest fliers in the world, this species of bird was recognized as a protected species by the United States after they faced a rapid decline in population. The MRMC Thermal Power Plant has housed the Peregrine Falcon nesting box since 2013 as a part of the statewide Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project. The Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project, managed by biologist Greg Septon, helps the falcons get a head start on the nesting season, provides increased security from predators, and decreases exposure to harmful chemicals.
Find out what's happening in Wauwatosafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
MRMC Thermal’s feathery trio, who hatched this year in mid-May, are the 27th, 28th, and 29th falcons to grow into fledglings on MRMC’s campus. More information about the Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project and MRMC’s participation can be found online at www.mrmccampus.org/about-us/sustainability/peregrine-falcon-project.
The MRMC Thermal Power Plant supplies more than just a vital service to Peregrine Falcons nesting on site, it also provides the steam and chilled water that heats and cools the hospitals and buildings on the medical campus, including biomedical research facilities and the region’s only adult and pediatric Level 1 trauma center. Last year, improvements to the plant were completed, which will further sustainability and eco-friendliness by eliminating the use of coal and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent.