Raptors, Laughs, and a Full House with Biologist Jackie Fallon

Saturday’s event was one for the books—or should we say, one for the birds? With 141 attendees packed into the room, all eyes were on biologist Jackie Fallon as she delivered a fascinating and entertaining presentation on Peregrine Falcons and other raptors.

Jackie’s mix of humor and expertise had the crowd engaged from the start as she broke down the unique adaptations that make these birds such incredible hunters. As a veteran researcher and educator with the Midwest Peregrine Society and Mayo Clinic’s Peregrine Falcon Program, she shared firsthand insights into the dramatic comeback of the Peregrine Falcon—from the brink of extinction due to DDT to today’s stable and growing population.

And then came the showstoppers: a non-releasable Peregrine Falcon and an American Kestrel! Attendees had the rare chance to see these majestic birds up close, learning about their behaviors, conservation efforts, and the vital research still being done today. If that wasn’t enough, folks got to touch raptor artifacts, take home activity sheets, and load up on educational resources to continue their birding journey.

Huge thanks to Jackie Fallon for bringing her knowledge, enthusiasm, and feathered friends to Stillwater for an unforgettable night! Want to support her research and education programs? Visit The Midwest Peregrine Society.

If you’re feeling inspired to take action for bird conservation, join Bird City Stillwater! This initiative, part of Sustainable Stillwater MN, helps protect local bird populations through conservation efforts. Reach out to Allison at allison@sustainablestillwatermn.org to get involved!

From start to finish, this event was falcon-tastic—thank you to everyone who came out to make it such a success!