LOUISVILLE — Love is in the air at Louisville Gas and Electric Co. and Kentucky Utilities Co.’s Mill Creek Generating Station. That’s where Diana, the resident peregrine falcon, has returned to the utility’s webcam-equipped nesting box — just in time for Valentine’s Day. Diana also won’t have to fly far for love, as her long-time mate, Perry the Peregrine, is already in sight. Viewers can catch them both on LG&E and KU’s live peregrine falcon cam 24/7 at lge-ku.com/falcon.
“The nesting boxes at our generating stations provide peregrine falcons a perfect location in which to raise their families and thrive in a safe environment,” said Cody Gibbons, an environmental coordinator with LG&E and KU. “Our falcon cam is not only entertaining for birdwatchers, but it provides educational opportunities to students in classrooms around the world.”
LG&E and KU have partnered with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) to grow the peregrine falcon population since the 1990s.
“Peregrine falcons, which were once an endangered species, have made a remarkable comeback in Kentucky. From the 1930s until 1997, there were no nesting pairs of peregrine falcons in the state,” said Michael Patton, KDFWR avian biologist. “With the support of committed partners like LG&E and KU, the peregrine falcon population has continued to increase. We now have 19 known pairs of peregrine falcons in Kentucky, and many are using nest boxes at LG&E and KU generating stations.”
In 2023, a total of eight peregrine falcon chicks successfully “flew the coop” at LG&E and KU’s Mill Creek, Trimble County and Ghent plants. Since 1999, 190 peregrine falcons have been successfully raised and banded at LG&E and KU generating stations.
Viewers can expect to see their first glimpse of eggs starting in March, with chicks hatching mid-April or early May. Watch the falcons live from any computer or mobile device with internet access at lge-ku.com/falcon.
LG&E and KU, part of the PPL Corp., are regulated utilities that serve more than 1.3 million customers. LG&E serves 334,000 natural gas and 433,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 569,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.
