March 27, 2025



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*Minnesota DNR News
*




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*

March 27, 2025




*For more information:* <steve.carroll@state.mn.us>

Contact the DNR Information Center
by email  <info.dnr@state.mn.us>or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* Minnesota DNR FalconCam pair preparing for eggs [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* Private woodland owners help grow Minnesota’s forest inventory [ #link_1 ]

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Minnesota DNR FalconCam pair preparing for eggs
A screenshot of the DNR FalconCam

A pair of peregrine falcons have returned to the nest box featured on the popular Minnesota Department of Natural Resources FalconCam [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/falconcam). The webcam has captured this pair of falcons demonstrating courtship displays and preparing for eggs by creating a nest in the gravel, called a scrape. 

The two adult falcons using this nest box have been identified by the Midwest Peregrine Society as the same pair who used it last year, a 12-year-old female and a 16-year-old male. This female falcon fledged from St. Cloud, Minnesota and has nested in this box since 2016. The male fledged from Gary, Indiana and this represents his second year paired with this female.  

The FalconCam, located inside a nest box in downtown St. Paul, became the DNR’s first live webcam 14 years ago. Building tenants at Sentinel Properties provide funding for the live camera stream and the building managers oversee the nest box and camera. The webcam provides an intimate view into the lives of nesting peregrine falcons each year. 

“We hope the FalconCam generates appreciation of this fascinating species of special concern and helps connect Minnesotans to the incredible wildlife around them,” DNR Wildlife Engagement Supervisor Jessica Ruthenberg said.  “Last year, this pair successfully fledged two chicks from their nest. We hope for a chance to see them rear a family again this year.”

Peregrine falcons are a Minnesota success story. In the 1970s, they were on the brink of extinction in North America. Populations were restored with the help of Minnesota falconers, the Midwest Peregrine Society and the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program. Donations from generous Minnesotans on income tax forms helped to fund the peregrine falcon restoration project and the DNR FalconCam.

Since 1987, Minnesotans have been able to donate to the Nongame Wildlife Fund on state tax forms to fund projects that support the future of our state’s rare and vulnerable wildlife.  

Watch the DNR FalconCam to see the falcons engaged in courtship and maintaining their scrape, as they prepare for their nesting season. Last year, this pair laid their first egg on April 11, so an egg could potentially appear around that same time this year.

Stay informed on FalconCam happenings by signing up for updates on the FalconCam webpage. Learn more about peregrine falcons and the Minnesota restoration project on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/eco/nongame/projects/peregrine.html).

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Private woodland owners help grow Minnesota’s forest inventory

The Minnesota DNR has reached nearly 1,000 participants but there is still room for more

Last January, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources launched a new enrollment program for private woodland owners to participate in the forest inventory program, aimed at developing a broader understanding of Minnesota’s forests across all landscapes. Minnesotans responded enthusiastically, with more than 800 private landowners signing up within six months, but more are needed to help complete the work. Areas of greatest need include Otter Tail, Todd, Clearwater, Kittson, Winona, Houston, Fillmore, and Goodhue counties. 

“We want to thank all the woodland owners who have participated in our forest inventory program so far,” said Keb Guralski, DNR forestry inventory scientist. “This data helps us understand the structure and composition of our forests and how they are changing and provides clues about their overall health.”

The information can be used to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest management, and plan for the long-term health and resilience of woodlands across the landscape.

This data has already been collected on all of Minnesota’s public lands. With nearly half of the state’s woodlands privately owned, private woodland owners are a vital part of creating an accurate picture of Minnesota’s forests. Hundreds more plots are needed to create a robust inventory representing all of Minnesota.

Participants will work with professional foresters and receive high-resolution maps and a report detailing the information collected on their woods, all at no cost. This information can help participants better understand their woodlands and guide forest management decisions to improve wildlife habitat, trails, or timber on their property.

Landowners with at least two acres of forested property can visit the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/forestry/resource-assessment/forest-inventory.html) to learn more and enroll. Priority will be given to areas that currently have fewer landowner enrollments. Signing up does not guarantee the land will be selected for data collection. 

Funding for the program includes dollars from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

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