Welcome Monarch, Warthog and Cwik
Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel, in collaboration with officials from the Michigan Hawking Club, proudly announced the banding of three baby Peregrine Falcons whose nest sits atop the Old County Building in downtown Mount Clemens.
Hackel named the chicks Monarch, Warthog and Cwik. Monarch represents Macomb Community College, as the school recently unveiled a Monarch mascot featuring a lion wearing a crown, symbolizing sport prowess. Warthog is in reference to the A-10 Warthog, which is based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Those planes will be replaced by a mission of new F-15X Eagles II, as announced several weeks ago. Finally, Cwik pays homage to the county’s longtime public information officer, and Mount Clemens resident, John Cwikla.
Macomb County bands three baby Peregrine Falcons from a nest atop the Old County Building in Mount Clemens
Macomb County adopts two baby Peregrine Falcons, rehomes them in Mount Clemens
Past photos of our Macomb Falcons
Q/A: Macomb County's Peregrine Falcons
Here's a breakdown via the Michigan Audubon Society:
- With a wingspan of 41 inches and about the size of a crow, the peregrine is a relatively large falcon.
- Females are larger than males; both have a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and an almost black head. Juveniles are heavily marked, with vertical streaks instead of horizontal bars on the breast.
- The barring of the peregrine feather pattern makes for visual similarities to Merlins.
Yes. Peregrine Falcons have nested atop Macomb County buildings for many years. Since 2005, these birds have chosen the rocky perches of County office buildings to lay their eggs and raise their hatchlings. Some years have been successful, while others have not. Nature determines the outcome.
It's simple. They're a stunning specimen. But there are other reasons, according to the Michigan Audubon Society:
"In Michigan, the Peregrine Falcon remains on the state endangered species list, which affords them additional legal protections beyond the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Peregrine Falcon is not, at present, a federally listed endangered species, and its global rank is considered secure.
A big push was made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reestablish the Peregrine Falcon population in Michigan after it was listed on the state’s endangered species list, and the agency continues to monitor this bird of prey statewide.
Surveying for peregrines involves visually scanning for individuals during the daytime from the fourth week of March to the fourth week of August annually. For birders, the best way to contribute to monitoring is to participate in local and regional migration counts and breeding bird surveys, and to enter their sightings into eBird. In addition to increased monitoring efforts, which have been largely collaborative in nature with other groups and individuals like citizen scientists, Audubon chapters, and other nonprofit organizations, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources also established (and reached) their goal to maintain a population of at least 10 nesting pairs of Peregrine Falcons in Michigan.
With this goal met, monitoring continues, as does the outreach and education efforts required to better share with people how they can help us better understand, appreciate, and conserve the Peregrine Falcon."
Other Macomb County Peregrines
Interested in other nesting pairs? Current residents Fred and Wilma can be found on the campus of General Motors in Warren, Michigan. The Warren Peregrine Falcons maintain a year-round presence on EarthCam
Additionally, Peregrine Falcons of Southeast Michigan maintains an active profile on Facebook.