People looking up at the high stacks of the Clay Boswell Power Plant in Grand Rapids saw more than just clouds Thursday. Power plant officials united with environmentalists to help the Peregrine Falcon population get back on its feet as Boua Xiong reports.

Bird watching with hard hats? Ask Daryl Councilman about it and he won't stop moving or talking.

That's because a project that he helped start 18 years ago when he worked for Minnesota Power, has flown to new heights.

"I used to come out here when I was still working, I came here on my days off and I'd spend hundreds and hundreds of hours watching them and trying to read the bands on 'em."

This bird lover has kept notes on all the falcons that have come to the power plant since its partnership with the Raptor Research Project or RRP.

Since falcons like to live in high places, the project helps put nesting boxes on these stacks.

Today, three baby Peregrine Falcons, born at the plant last month, had bands put on their feet. Bob Anderson and Amy Ries of the RRP climbed up the stack and banded the little chicks.

The bands will tell researchers where the falcons came from, plus they'll allow conservationists like Bob and Amy, to track their activities through the years.

Bob says that's important because it helps tell the falcon's story.

"By the 1950's it was on the brink of extinction. Many people worked together. Many individuals, many agencies, federal, state, universities and then private organizations like our own. We joined hands to bring the Peregrine falcon back . It's a stunning conversation success story."

"When most people think of power plants, they don't necessarily think environmentally friendly. But here at this plant, there have been 50 falcon births."

"This proves what a marriage this has made between industry and conservation.

This is proof that we can make environmental corrections."

If you want to track these falcons you can check out Minnesota Power's Falcon-cam at MNPower.com.