How Conservationists Got the World’s Fastest Bird Back in Iowa: The Peregrine Falcon’s Return

Overview

Bob Freeman’s fascination with birds started when he was a kid. After moving to Iowa, he got to know chickens and ducks, but the peregrine falcon quickly became his favorite.

There’s something about their speed and elegance that really grabbed him. Freeman’s love for birds even showed up in his school art projects and shaped some of his friendships.

He works as an instrumentation and control technician at Muscatine Power and Water. In 2015, he pitched an idea: put a nest box for peregrine falcons on the power plant grounds.

The site already attracted falcons thanks to the high bluffs along the Mississippi River. Before the nest box, though, the birds nested on unprotected roofs where wind and heat could be a real problem.

Freeman and his supervisor installed the nest box over a weekend. The local falcons wasted no time – within days, a pair checked out the new spot and moved in.

Some staff members worried at first, but the nest box soon became a source of pride. Each year, the young birds hatched there get names inspired by Muscatine Power and Water employees.

Over the past decade, almost 25 young peregrine falcons have grown up in this single nest. Freeman keeps an eye on each new arrival and watches the parent falcons teach their chicks how to hunt.

The falcons learn to fly and survive in an urban environment, with a little help from people when needed. It’s a hands-on process, but one that’s clearly paying off.

Freeman’s work in Muscatine ties into a bigger effort to help peregrine falcon populations return to Iowa. Between 1959 and 1989, peregrine falcons disappeared from the state.

Hunting and pesticide use, especially DDT, caused the loss. DDT, once common in agriculture, messed up eggshell development and left eggs too fragile to survive.

The EPA banned DDT in 1972, hoping to give birds like the falcon a fighting chance.

Timeline of Peregrine Falcon Conservation in Iowa:

In the late 1980s, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) began efforts to bring the falcons back. Conservationists raised young falcons in captivity using hack boxes—large enclosures that protected them from predators and bad weather.

These boxes let people leave food on external boards, so the chicks could eat as they learned to fly and hunt. Flying comes naturally, but hunting takes practice.

As more birds were released, some falcons quickly adapted to city life and artificial nest sites. Others slowly returned to their old cliffside homes along the Mississippi River.

The Raptor Resource Project built and maintained natural nest sites to encourage the falcons to reclaim their historic territory. It’s a slow process, but it’s working.

Nesting boxes and cliffside nests both matter now. Live nest cameras give people a front-row seat to falcon family life.

You can watch parents feed their chicks and see the young birds, called fledglings, try out their wings. That first flight – fledging – is always a bit nerve-wracking for everyone watching.

Young falcons can be clumsy, sometimes landing far from the nest. When that happens, people like Freeman step in to help them back to safety.

At the Muscatine site, falcons lay their eggs in a box 225 feet up, perched on a smokestack. The eggs and chicks face plenty of challenges.

Cold snaps and high winds can mean fewer eggs hatch. Black fly infestations have killed chicks in some years.

Still, the Muscatine nest box has averaged more than two chicks per year over the last decade. That’s a solid track record, all things considered.

The relationship between people and peregrine falcons in Iowa shows how much local involvement matters. Having someone keep an eye on the site, knowing the birds’ habits, and staying in touch with researchers really helps.

For volunteers and staff, working with falcons is more than just a job – it’s a chance to combine passion with real conservation work.

Key Factors in Peregrine Falcon Recovery

• Habitat creation: Building nest boxes on buildings and cliffs helps falcons breed in both cities and natural habitats.
• Pesticide bans: Removing DDT has allowed eggshells to develop normally, raising successful hatch rates.
• Community involvement: Local enthusiasts play a hands-on role in monitoring nests and helping injured or stranded chicks.
• Statewide and regional cooperation: Agencies and nonprofit organizations coordinate to track nests, release birds, and train volunteers.
• Modern technology: Live cameras on nests offer insights into falcon behavior and boost public interest in conservation.

Falcon conservation in Iowa is a team effort between professionals and laypeople.

Urban nest boxes often show results quickly, but restoring natural cliff nests takes a bit longer.

The state now monitors multiple active nests.

Familiar sites tend to produce young each spring, which is always a hopeful sign.

Each year’s brood matters, with fledglings picking up hunting skills from their parents.

When learning to fly, young falcons sometimes tumble into thick weeds or end up on rooftops.

People who keep an eye out can make sure falcons that struggle get another shot.

Volunteers work with expert bird banders, making it possible to track individual birds and gather data on their survival and movement.

Peregrine falcons still face threats – harsh weather, disease, and all sorts of human-built obstacles.

Chicks raised in Iowa’s monitored nests usually have a strong chance at survival, though not every egg will hatch.

Naming young falcons for staff and local supporters is a small gesture, but it builds community pride.

It helps people feel invested in the birds and their future, which keeps interest and stewardship alive.

As more young falcons take to the sky, the process repeats: watching for first flights, helping if needed, and hoping for a successful transition to life in the wild.

Highlighted Successes:

• The reappearance of nesting pairs after decades of absence
• A growing number of wild-born falcons thriving in both urban and cliff habitats
• Technology, such as nest cameras, making falcon conservation visible to many
• A model of teamwork between individuals, companies, and wildlife groups

Support for these birds – through projects like nest box placements, constant monitoring, and dedicated volunteers – really shows how even small, local actions matter for wildlife.

The story of peregrine falcons at Muscatine Power and Water fits into Iowa’s bigger recovery picture, blending hobby, expertise, and a little bit of luck.

With determined individuals, scientific know-how, and a community that cares, the peregrine falcon isn’t just hanging on – it’s setting down new roots and raising families each year.

The project in Muscatine gives us a glimpse into the species’ broader recovery in the region.

Honestly, bringing a species back from the brink usually happens one nest at a time.