International Bridge Administration

Back to the nest: Falcons return to the International Bridge

  • Post category:Peregrine

Fast facts:

  • Another pair of the endangered falcons successfully nested on the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, where the birds have been returning for years, hatching four chicks. 
  • A pair of peregrine falcons has returned to nest on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge again this year, successfully hatching three chicks.
  • The DNR recently installed an upgraded nesting box at the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, built by area students.
  • A video news release on falcons and falcon banding at the International Bridge and Portage Lake Lift Bridge are online at https://youtu.be/4DQp0kU4ph4

Another pair of peregrine falcons successfully nested on the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, hatching four chicks this year.

During banding operations last month, a member of a Michigan DNR team holds one of the four peregrine falcons chicks that successfully hatched at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge. (IBA photo by Liz Stewart)
During banding operations last month, a member of a Michigan DNR team holds one of the four peregrine falcons chicks that successfully hatched at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge. (IBA photo by Liz Stewart)

“This site has hatched 24 falcon chicks since 2010, when we put in the nest box and started counting,” said International Bridge Engineer Karl Hansen, “There were more before that but we don’t know the number.” Hansen said a falcon cam for the International Bridge is also planned.

Peregrine falcons have also returned to the Portage Lake Lift Bridge between Houghton and Hancock again this year – the same nesting spot, but this year with a choice between new and familiar nests.

The chicks at the International Bridge were banded by a DNR team on June 19, while the Lift Bridge birds were banded on June 23. They were also named. (more…)

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Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council Honors the International Bridge Authority with Organization Award

CONTACTS: Joanna I. Johnson, TAMC Chair 269-381-3170 ext. 220 jjohnson@kalamazoocountyroads.com

Roger Belknap, TAMC Coordinator 517-373-2249 belknapr@michigan.gov

May 26, 2017 — The Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) has honored the International Bridge Authority (IBA) with the 2017 TAMC Organization Award. The award was presented to Bridge Engineer, Karl Hansen, General Manager Peter Petainen, and Thomas Buckingham of the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority Board of Directors by TAMC Chair Joanna I. Johnson and other members of the council at the annual Transportation Asset Management Conference held yesterday, Thursday, May 25, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

The IBA’s primary responsibility is to operate and manage the 1.9-mile International Bridge structure and international crossing plaza between United States and Canada (more…)

Continue ReadingMichigan Transportation Asset Management Council Honors the International Bridge Authority with Organization Award