Peregrine falcons nesting under bridge

WILDLIFE: Mother dive-bombed bird banders

Posted By STEPHEN TAIT, SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER, PORT HURON TIMES HERALD

As Tonga dive-bombed them, biologists from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) banded her babies — four fledgling peregrine falcons that live beneath the Blue Water Bridge.

The biologists also gave the birds names — Helen, Desmond, Claire and Liberty — and determined their sex — two males and two females.

DNR biologists banded Helen and her siblings Tuesday morning at the bridge with a handful of Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) workers, some media members and DNR volunteers looking on.

MDOT workers have built a nesting platform for the rare and endangered birds on the underside of the old westbound span of the twinned bridges, 150 feet above the St. Clair River.

It was there this week — with a stiff, cool wind from the north — that Tonga, an adult falcon, and her unnamed mate put on a show for onlookers.

As a cherry-picker bucket was put into position, Tonga started swooping toward the workers, producing a loud and constant scream, what DNR volunteer Tom Heatley called an “alarm call.”

Occasionally, Tonga dove toward the workers, causing MDOT worker Larry McClelland to duck and flinch on several occasions.

“They are getting dive-bombed,” said Barb Baldinger, another volunteer from the DNR.

At times, Tonga would land on a nearby beam and watch as the workers handled her offspring, producing her menacing alarm call.

“She’s right there on the beam, right in their face,” said Bill Fockler, MDOT’s maintenance supervisor for the bridge.

Baldinger, Heatley and others looked on from the eastbound bridge as the small falcons were banded.