The children came up with many unique names for male and female Peregrines, since we didn't know the chicks' sex until yesterday. Project Director Bob Anderson of the Raptor Research Project of Ridgeway, Iowa, climbed Boswell's stack to assess the chicks' health and affix leg bands. The bands help identify and track the Peregrines so raptor experts can learn more about migration activity. Anderson was assisted by Joe Muller, environmental compliance specialist II-Boswell Business Unit 3, and Mike Rodenberg, environmental systems operator-Boswell Business Unit 4, who also climbed the stack.

After banding was completed, Boswell's Jodi Piekarski and Lori Jellison went to Southwest Elementary to inform students that the chicks are all female — and congratulate winners in MP's Name the Chicks Contest. They reported the students were quite excited about the contest. The winners were presented with a plush Peregrine toy from the Audubon Society that sounds an actual recorded Peregrine cry when a button is pushed. Although Honza Cervenka was not in the room, Mrs. Roy-Dahline accepted the toy Peregrine on his behalf and sent Honza his prize.

MP and the electric utility industry have played a key role in Peregrine recovery efforts in Minnesota and the upper Midwest, so these beautiful raptors have now been taken off the Endangered Species List.