WoodmenLife Homepage LinkFalconWatch Homepage Link

woodmenlife falcon history

WoodmenLife Falcons

History of The WoodmenLife Falcons

Learn about the conservation effort that brought them here in 1988 and how they've soared since.

How Did They Get Here?

In the 1950s, the peregrine falcon population plummeted. The species was placed on the endangered list as scientists bred peregrines in captivity and released them into wild areas.

Some of these birds migrated to skyscrapers in eastern cities. As cliff dwellers, peregrine falcons flourished in urban settings, where tall buildings are plentiful. An abundance of pigeons and starlings supplied the falcons' diet.

Biologists recognized this adaptation to city buildings and began releasing them on urban rooftops. In 1988, the Nebraska Peregrine Falcon Project released a pair of peregrine falcons atop the WoodmenLife Tower, which was the tallest building in downtown Omaha at the time.

Early Milestones for the WoodmenLife Tower Falcons

1988: Seven falcons hatched atop WoodmenLife Tower. Five survive. None return the following year.

1989: Five falcons hatched. Two of the five, Woody and Sky King, return in later years to establish nests.

1992: Woody and mate, Windy, hatch three chicks – Aerial, Zenith and Skywalker. These chicks are the first to hatch in Nebraska in nearly a century.

Falcons develop a family tree as every year following, a nesting pair hatches chicks atop the WoodmenLife Tower.

Where Are They Now?

Willow, a female who hatched in 2009, was found nesting in Elgin, Ill. with an unbanded male. In 2011, she laid three eggs, but unfortunately, none hatched. Visit the Chicago Peregrine Falcon Blog to learn more about Willow and other peregrine falcons in the Chicago area.

Hope and Doorly have been nesting atop the Westar Energy building in Topeka, Kan., the past five years. Hope, a female who hatched to Zeus and Amelia in 2002, and Doorly, a male who hatched to Zeus and Winnie in 1999, were driven off this spring by a pair of peregrines from Lincoln, Neb., named Boreas and Nemaha. There are more than 800 videos of Hope and Doorly on YouTube.com. Search on Topeka Falcon Cam.

Zenith, who hatched in 1992, has nested in Cleveland, OH, since 1993. She is one of the top producers of chicks in the midwest. On March 28, 2002, Zenith was killed in a battle for territory by SW, a female falcon from Pittsburgh, PA.

Sky King, who was released in 1989, was sighted in Paracas, Peru, in South America in February 1995. Paracas is located 124 miles south of Lima, Peru. He is believed to be part of a nesting pair in Lincoln, NE.

Sokol, who hatched in 1994, was killed in Chicago, IL in 1999, in a battle for territory.

Goldie, who hatched in 1999, was nesting in Fargo, ND. She did not return in the spring of 2002 and presumably did not survive the winter.

Doorly, a male who hatched in 1999, and, Hope, a female hatched in 2002, are nesting in Topeka, KS.

Husker, a female who hatched in 1998, is nesting in Red Wing, MN Husker was originally thought to be a male until DNA tests on its blood proved it was, in fact, a female.

If you know the whereabouts of WoodmenLife Tower falcons, please e-mail us: service@woodmen.org

WoodmenLife Falcons Family Tree

Learn about the dozens of birds that ruled the Downtown Omaha skyline.

View the Full Family Tree

WoodmenLife Falcons Timeline

Explore the highs and lows of each falcon season since 1988.

Falcon Cameras Around the Country
Lincoln, NE WebCam at the Capital
Rochester, N.Y. Rfalconcam
Fort Wayne, Ind., Camera
Minnesota Power
Pennsylvania's Peregrine Falcon Page
Waukegan, Illinois EarthCam

Peregrine Falcon Information
Fontenelle Forest Raptor Recovery
The Raptor Center
The Peregrine Fund
National Audubon Society
Audubon Society of Omaha
All About Birds
The Raptor Center News Blog

Bird Watching Information
Bird Watching
Bird Watching for Couch Potatos

Web 508 R-3/21

Life Insurance

Retirement Plans

Extras

About WoodmenLife

FAQs

WoodmenLife in Your Inbox

Email Sign Up

1-800-225-3108

Monday – Thursday

7:00 AM – 5:00 PM CT

Friday

7:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT

For Medicare Supplement

1-800-894-1317

Fraud, Ethics and
EEO Reporting Hotline

1-844-339-3053
WoodmenLife.EthicsPoint.com

Do Not Sell or Share My Information

Our Mission

Uniting hardworking Americans to secure their financial future while strengthening our communities and country.

This is a solicitation of insurance and an agent may contact you.

Securities are offered through Woodmen Financial Services, Inc. (WFS), 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102, member FINRA/SIPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society (collectively “WoodmenLife”). Securities other than the WoodmenLife Variable Annuity are issued by companies that are not affiliated with WoodmenLife. This material is intended for general use with the public. WFS is not providing investment advice for any individual or any individual situation, and you should not look to this material for any investment advice. WFS has financial interests that are served by the sale of these products or services.

WoodmenLife Extras are available to members. An individual becomes a member by joining our shared commitment to family, community and country, and by purchasing a product. These extras are not contractual, are subject to change and have specific eligibility requirements, such as length of membership, number of qualifying members in household and/or qualifying event.

Check out the background of Woodmen Financial Services, Inc. on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

Business Continuity Plan | All products may not be available in all states. | Not all Representatives are licensed to sell all products.

A+ Financial Rating

Effective Feb. 1, 2024, WoodmenLife is rated A+ Superior, the second highest ranking out of 13, by AM Best for our financial strength and operating performance. For the latest Best’s Credit Rating, access www.ambest.com

International Use

This Site is not intended for access outside of the United States, including those individuals who reside in the European Economic Area (“EEA”). WoodmenLife makes no representation that materials on the Site are appropriate or available for use in locations outside of the United States, and accessing them from territories where their contents are illegal is prohibited. Those who choose to access the Site from outside of the United States do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws.

Ratings & Awards

View All
This company was issued a secure rating by the A.M. Best A+ Superior Company

A proud member of:

WoodmenLife is a proud member of American Fraternal Alliance

© 2024 Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society
Omaha, Nebraska