Hawk Nest Webcam at We Valley Power Plant, Milwaukee

Hawk Nest at We Valley Power Plant in Milwaukee

In the south of Milwaukee, in the industrial zone along the Menomonee River, there is an unusual natural observation point — a bird of prey nest right on the territory of an active power plant. The live webcam broadcasts the life of a hawk that has settled on the We Energies industrial site — Valley Power Plant. This is a rare case where wildlife and urban infrastructure exist side by side, and viewers can observe the predator in real time via the internet.

Valley Power Plant — History and Specifications

Valley Power Plant is a cogeneration power station built in 1968 on the banks of the Menomonee River about a mile and a half southwest of downtown Milwaukee. Today it is a 280 MW facility running on natural gas. The station performs a critical function: it not only generates electricity but also supplies steam for the district heating system of more than 480 customers in the city's business center.

In 2015–2016, the power plant underwent a major modernization — the switch from coal to natural gas significantly reduced emissions. It was during this period that the first nesting platforms for birds of prey appeared on the site. Tall smokestacks, metal structures, and open spaces of the industrial zone attracted raptors that found ideal nesting conditions here.

Birds of Prey in Milwaukee: Hawks and Peregrine Falcons

Milwaukee is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan — the third largest of the Great Lakes of North America, covering 57,800 km². The coastal zone and industrial areas of the city have become home to several species of birds of prey. Both hawks and peregrine falcons inhabit Valley Power Plant — the fastest birds in the world, capable of reaching speeds up to 390 km/h during a dive.

The hawk nest camera shows a dark-plumaged bird sitting on the artificial turf of the nesting platform. Feathers are scattered around the nest — evidence of the predator's daily life. In the background, typical industrial architecture is visible: cylindrical tanks, pipelines, a parking lot with trucks, and grain elevators in the distance.

We Energies Peregrine Falcon Recovery Program

Since 1991, We Energies has been implementing a program to restore the peregrine falcon population in Wisconsin — in 2022, the 30th anniversary of this initiative was celebrated. Since the program's launch, several hundred peregrine falcon chicks have been born and banded at the company's power plants.

Nesting boxes for peregrine falcons began to be installed at power plants in 1992. Today, six facilities participate in the program: Valley Power Plant in Milwaukee, Port Washington Generating Station, Oak Creek Power Plant, Weston Power Plant in Rothschild, and the WPS building in Green Bay. Valley Power Plant is home to a male named Hercules and his mate.

In total, more than 200 peregrine falcon chicks have hatched at Wisconsin power plants. Each one was named and banded to track migrations. The program has become one of the most successful projects for restoring bird of prey populations in industrial regions of the United States.

Geography of Milwaukee and the Industrial Zone

Milwaukee is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, about an hour and a half drive north of Chicago. The city with a population of about 600,000 is the largest in Wisconsin and an important industrial center of the region. The Menomonee Valley industrial zone, where the power plant is located, has historically been the center of the city's manufacturing activity.

The tall structures of the power plant — smokestacks, elevators, metal structures — create an ideal imitation of natural rocky ledges on which birds of prey typically nest in the wild. The absence of human disturbance, an abundance of prey in the form of pigeons and small rodents, as well as good visibility of the territory, have made the industrial site an attractive place for hawks and peregrine falcons.

Nesting Season: What Happens in the Nest

The nesting season for birds of prey at We Valley Power Plant usually begins in early spring. In March–April, the female lays eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them. The incubation period lasts about 30–35 days. After hatching, the chicks spend 6–8 weeks in the nest before making their first flight.

Through the webcam, you can observe all stages of the nest's life: from building and repairing the nesting platform to feeding the chicks. During the cold season, the camera shows birds using the nest as an observation post for hunting. Even in winter, hawks remain on the power plant territory, patrolling the industrial zone in search of prey.

Technical Features of the Broadcast

The camera is installed directly at the nesting platform, allowing close-up views of the birds without using a telephoto lens. The broadcast is conducted in real time via YouTube, ensuring stable access for viewers worldwide. The image quality allows you to distinguish plumage details and behavioral characteristics of the predator.

The webcam operates around the clock, so you can watch the nest at any time of day. The greatest bird activity usually occurs in the morning and evening hours when hawks go out to hunt. During the day, the bird often rests in the nest, periodically surveying the territory.

What You Can See on the Camera

The webcam broadcast shows the hawk's nesting platform, located on an elevated section of the industrial site. In the foreground is a large dark-plumaged bird of prey sitting on artificial turf. Feathers and prey remains are scattered around the nest. In the background, industrial infrastructure comes into view: large cylindrical metal tanks, circular settling basins with a pipeline system, a parking lot with cars and trucks, and large grain elevators and silos in the distance. Individual trees are visible at the edges of the frame. The camera is positioned at an elevation overlooking the industrial area, creating the feeling of a predator's observation post.