In 1996, PPL placed a nest box for peregrine falcons in the outer wall of the emissions monitoring station encircling one of the Montour power plant's emission stacks. The monitoring station with the nest box is located about 470 feet above the ground.

Over the next 10 years a peregrine falcon appeared infrequently near the Montour plant in December and January.

In March 2007, workers at the Montour power plant spotted two peregrine falcons on a regular basis and soon they discovered that a female peregrine was sitting on two eggs!

With the installation of pollution control equipment known as scrubbers, the emissions stack at Montour was retired. The plant has kept the elevators on the stacks in operation to be able to maintain the falcon nest for years to come.

Jon Beam, a naturalist at the PPL Montour Environmental Preserve, provides updates on the falcons at Montour.

	05/31/2008 First flight Well, while we were at a staff meeting at Holtwood, the eyases fledged so the webcam shows only an empty nest box. For most of this week the young peregrines had been flapping their wings and taking short, hopping "flights" around the nest box or sitting at the front edge of the perch looking down. That first step is a mighty looong one, after all. Now it will be a matter of getting stronger and refining their flight skills and learning how to hunt for themselves before they leave the area.
	05/23/2008 The awkward phase Three of the four falcons continue to hang out around the edge of the nest testing out their wingspans. They are more active than ever and look very gangly at this stage...almost like they haven't quite grown into their wings yet.
	05/21/08 Getting ready to fly The young male peregrine falcons at the Montour power plant will probably fledge this week. The young female will take to the skies a few days later.
	05/15/08 It's a boy, and a boy, and a boy and a girl! The banding yesterday went great. We banded three tiercels (males) and one falcon (female). All looked very healthy. Mom and Dad were not too thrilled with the whole event. However, we were able to treat their little ones for feather lice and other avian issues. The photo at left shows Mom and Dad watching over us as we take care of their little ones.
	04/19/08 Chicks are here During the Pike-Wayne Earth Day Festival on Saturday, we had the chance to log into the webcam page and show people what the Montour falcons were up to. We witnessed the hatching of some of the chicks as well. Many festival participants got to see the chicks being fed and fussed upon by the mama bird. Very exciting! The photo at left shows the mama bird watching over the first chick.
	05/08/08 Growing fast The peregrine falcon chicks are growing fast. They have tripled their size since they hatched.
	04/19/08 Chicks are here During the Pike-Wayne Earth Day Festival on Saturday, we had the chance to log into the webcam page and show people what the Montour falcons were up to. We witnessed the hatching of some of the chicks as well. Many festival participants got to see the chicks being fed and fussed upon by the mama bird. Very exciting! The photo at left shows the mama bird watching over the first chick.
	06/04/2007 What a view The nest box –- located about 470 feet above ground -- is on the outer wall of the emissions monitoring station encircling one of the Montour power plant's emission stacks.
	06/04/2007 A fluffy start Chicks are born with fluffy white plumage. Although it doesn't look so tough here, peregrine falcons can reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour when they dive for prey.
	06/04/2007 A watchful eye The adult female keeps watch as the chicks are taken from the nesting box to be banded.
	06/04/2007 Banding This is one of the chicks from 2007 being banded. The Pennsylvania Game Commission works with PPL to band the birds so their progress can be monitored.
	05/12/2007 Not quite ready to fly Peregrine falcons have been known to live up to 15 years.