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March 28, 2007
PEREGRINE FALCONS BEGIN NESTING SEASON IN OHIO
 COLUMBUS, OH - Six pairs of peregrine falcons have produced eggs, kicking off the 2007 nesting season in Ohio. The nests are located:
- Rhodes State Office Tower in downtown Columbus
- Stuart Power Plant near Aberdeen in Brown County
- Miami Fort Station Power Plant near the village of Cleves in Hamilton County
- Bohn Building, Terminal Tower in Cleveland
- Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland
State wildlife biologists say early reports indicate that there are at least 23 pairs of peregrine falcons across Ohio, including three new pairs at new nesting sites. The new pairs are located in Springfield at Wittenberg University; Toledo on the University of Toledo campus; and in Moscow at the Zimmer Power Plant. A single peregrine has been seen around Ohio Stadium on The Ohio State University campus. Internet users can follow the progress of these and other peregrine nests at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife's peregrine falcon web page at ohiodnr.com/wildlife.
By April, most peregrine falcons will have chosen or re-bonded with a mate and selected a nesting site. As the nesting season progresses, key events such as egg laying, hatching and fledging will be noted on the web page for each Ohio nest.
Along with multiple pairs in the Cleveland area, Ohio communities with one reported pair of peregrine falcons are Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Eastlake, Ironton, Lakewood, Lima, Lorain and Youngstown. Nests are expected at most of these sites within the next month.
Although removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999, peregrine falcons remain on Ohio's endangered species list. Along with several other Midwestern states, Ohio began introducing the birds in 1989. Several pairs were released in cities between 1989 and 1992. Last year in Ohio, 18 nesting pairs of peregrine falcons successfully hatched and fledged a record 60 young falcons.
The division's peregrine falcon management program is funded by the sale of cardinal license plates and by contributions to the state Wildlife Diversity & Endangered Species Fund. Taxpayers may donate directly or designate all or part of their state income tax refunds to the effort by checking the box on line 28 of the 2006 Ohio Income Tax Form or line 21 on the Ohio 1040 EZ form. Donations can also be made online at ohiodnr.com/wildlife. Click on the red "donate" button on the left side of the page.
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