Executive Mark Hackel today marked a long-standing tradition for the county, joining with officials from the Michigan Hawking Club to band and announce the names of Peregrine Falcon chicks whose nest sits atop the Old County Building in downtown Mount Clemens.
“For more than 15 years we’ve been celebrating the arrival of our Peregrine Falcon nests and it’s something I look forward to every spring,” Hackel said. “Because it’s not just about baby chicks – it’s about protecting and promoting an incredible species that was once considered endangered. Through our efforts with banding and naming, Macomb County is proud to play a small part in the recovery of that local population.”
The three chicks hatched in late April and have been watched via a live EarthCam positioned nearby. Executive Hackel named them:
- Donahue – Named after Cindy Donahue, former County employee and go-to person about historical records pertaining to Macomb County
- Ruthie – Named after Ruthie Stevenson, a longtime Mount Clemens resident, advocate and community organizer
- DeVault – Named after Michael DeVault, Superintendent, Macomb Intermediate School District and educational champion for Macomb County, helping to transform K-12 education across our community
Currently the chicks have a cream-colored down plumage. But once mature, MSU Extension describes them as:
“...Relatively large for a falcon, with a wingspan of 41 inches (108 cm). Its body is stocky, with pointed wings and a short tail. The adult falcon has a slate gray back, white breast, finely barred underparts, a black cap, white cheek patch and distinctive dark, heavy sideburns.”
Other successful nests from atop the Old Macomb County Building include:
2025: Monarch, Warthog and Cwik
2024: Gabe, adopted falcons - Dorothy and Bonner
2016-2023 we had several successful nests but were not able to band.
2016: Grace
2015: Peace, Aggie, COMTEC II
2014: Hero, COMTEC, Jo, Max
2013: Oakland and Wayne
2012: Webber and Otis
2011: Diana, Edna, and Rosie
2010: Harwell, Martha, and Packard
2009: Cass, Tucker, and Wetzel
2008: Clair, Clementine, and Lenny
2005: Alexa
Photos of the naming and banding are available here.
For further insights into Macomb County’s Peregrine Falcons, visit the county’s falcon page.
