Peregrine Webcam Now On-Line

Peregrine Project Continues Mission of Helping Nature Take Flight
Nesting Activity Available for Viewing on Webcam

St. Louis, Mo., (March 13, 2012) — Ameren Missouri, in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the World Bird Sanctuary (WBS), has once again provided a nesting box for Peregrine Falcons at the Sioux Energy Center. For the first time, the activity in the nest can be viewed online. Officials from MDC and WBS will offer ongoing commentary on what’s happening in the nest and a video camera near the nest will provide live feeds to each organization’s website.

“The Peregrine Falcon has made an incredible comeback from the brink of extinction. What we will see at Ameren Missouri’s Sioux Energy Center nest box is the fruit of tens of thousands of hours of labor to make the Peregrine Falcon a common sight again,” Jeff Meshach, director of the World Bird Sanctuary, said. “Yet, there is always something to learn about any of our world's birds and animals. Our camera will provide a window into the nesting life of the world's fastest creature, and I personally will find it hard to get any desk work done as I watch my favorite of the world's bird species.”

“We have worked on projects with the World Bird Sanctuary for more than 25 years to help preserve the biological diversity of the world around us,” said Richard Mark, Senior Vice President, Customer Operations, for Ameren Missouri. “The Peregrine Falcon project has been one of the most exciting projects we’ve been involved in, and this year via video, we’re able to share with visitors to our website the amazing lives these birds lead in raising their young. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to being responsible stewards of the environment.”

The nest can be viewed on Ameren Missouri’s website at AmerenMissouri.com/FalconWatch.  Viewers can link to the falcon camera on the websites of WBS at www.worldbirdsanctuary.org and MDC at www.mdc.mo.gov.

The falcon nesting at the Sioux Energy Center this year was first spotted in the beginning of February. Since then, researchers at WBS and MDC have been following the bird’s habits daily and are posting their observations on the website as updates warrant. Peregrine falcons have been seen at Sioux since early 2011.

The websites will be available until nesting activity is complete and the mother’s young have left the nest.

““This peregrine project will help Missourians discover nature right in the nest of these amazing raptors,” Bob Ziehmer, MDC director, said. “The project illustrates the power of partnerships between private and public sector organizations to help conserve native wildlife.”