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Cholena is banded 25 days after hatching.

Cane Run employees helped name the chicks. The female is “Cholena,” an American Indian name meaning “that which soars.” The male is “Cinco,” a nod to the five years the nesting box has been at Cane Run.

KDFWR estimates the chicks are 25 days old. Kate Heyden, avian biologist for KDFWR, said it’s the perfect time to band the falcons because their bone structure is almost fully grown.

“From here on out, they are going to be growing feather and muscle,” she said, adding that the falcons will shed most of their white feathers in the next two weeks. Once their new feathers come in, Cholena and Cinco will start learning to fly.

Heyden says the female falcons are typically larger than the males, so Cholena will wear a bigger band. “Each bird gets a unique alphanumeric code on its leg. The colors and codes are unique for all the falcons in North America,” said Heyden. The information from the leg bands are entered into a database available to all departments of fish and wildlife in North America to track the falcons once they leave the nest.

KDFWR employees apply a spray to Cinco to prevent feather mites.

Yet the birds are making a big comeback in Kentucky, thanks in part to falcon releases in the ‘90s and the placement of nest boxes around the state. KDFWR has placed nest boxes at five LG&E and KU power plants because the crevices and alcoves remind the falcons of their natural nesting locations and provide ample food supply.

Two falcons, known as a nesting pair, will occupy a nest box during the spring. This year, 14 falcons have hatched from the nest boxes placed at our power plants.

Peregrine falcons were first spotted near Cane Run several years ago and this is the first year falcons have actively used the nest box at that facility.


Related Article:
Our falcons are stretching their wings at Mill Creek

Two years ago, a red-tail hawk landed at our Mill Creek Station with little hope of flying again.

Found on the side of the plant road by employees, the emaciated raptor hid under a vehicle that stopped out of concern for its safety.

Thanks to our ongoing partnership with Raptor Rehab, employees knew the right people to call and cared for the injured hawk until officials took him in.



After several months of aggressive treatment, the hawk took flight again earlier this week close to the spot where it originally landed, with a few of the plant’s employees gathered in support.

Protecting Kentucky’s raptors is not a new concept for LG&E and KU. Since the 1990s, our utilities’ power plants have played host to many raptor species through our nesting box initiative, which was highlighted last year on KET’s Kentucky Afield.

And, as part of our Avian Protection Plan, we continue to provide resources and financial support for the rehabilitation of injured or malnourished raptors, like the one released at Mill Creek.

We also cover or mark power lines where needed to allow safe perching.

These are just a few of the ways we’re protecting Kentucky’s natural resources.

If you’d like to help us in our support of Raptor Rehab, check out their website for information on how to volunteer or donate.

Until next time, keep using energy safely and wisely.

And, keep an eye to the sky for that red-tail hawk.

After a month-long contest that solicited more than 118 entries from our employees to name Raptor Rehab’s Golden Eagle, officials from the organization announced the winner during a presentation to our employees today.

Judges selected the name Aurelia, Latin for “golden,” as the winning entry. Annalee Worthington, a senior communications specialist at LG&E and KU, submitted the name.

It’s a suitable name for an incredibly beautiful bird.

In case you have never heard of them, Raptor Rehab is a nonprofit, all-volunteer group which focuses on rehabilitating sick, injured or orphaned raptors.

As a token of appreciation to LG&E and KU for our pledged financial support for the care and feeding of the eagle for the rest of her life, Raptor Rehab asked our employees to name the rescued raptor, which has been in captivity for more than 18 years due to a wing amputation.

I was one of the folks who attended the presentation, and it was an amazing experience to get an up-close and personal look at this magnificent bird.

It also reiterated the importance of protecting these raptors for future generations.

Here at LG&E and KU, we’re doing our part with a complete avian protection plan to help many different species of raptors thrive across the Commonwealth.

Whether it’s installing nesting boxes at our power plants for peregrine falcons or ospreys, or special guards designed to prevent birds from having accidental contact with our electrical equipment, our employees are passionate about caring for these creatures.

View a brief interview below on Raptor Rehab’s mission to learn more about the organization’s partnership with LG&E and KU and discover how you can get involved:



Until next time, keep using energy safely and wisely.