There is obviously something about the Bank of the West building that is very appealing from a falcon's point of view. Since 1990, a succession of peregrines have visited this location. In recent years, the Bank of the West building has served as the home-base for several territorial pairs. In 2001, history was made when a successful nesting occurred at this site. This was the first time in almost half a century that peregrine falcons had nested in North Dakota.

In May, 1990, two peregrines were observed near the top of what was then the First Interstate Bank building. One bird was a mature female, the other was a juvenile male. The female was unbanded. The young male was banded, and had presumably been released into the wild the previous year. Initially, these birds appeared to be a pair looking for a nest site. Accordingly, a nest tray was hastily constructed and installed near the top of the east wall. Even before this was accomplished, however, the female had departed. The male stayed longer, but after several weeks he also moved on.

In hindsight, it is reasonably clear this first sighting was mostly coincidental. The female was probably a "wild" bird on her way to the arctic tundra, where one subspecies of the peregrine falcon has traditionally nested. The young male bird was likely also doing what comes naturally, wandering about looking for a mate and a territory of his own.

Between 1991 and 1999, a single, mature peregrine was seen on what was then the Community First National Bank building for several days each May. Presumably this was the same - unbanded - female first sighted in 1990, stopping for a rest on her long migration north. During this same period, the building changed hands and new signs were placed. Fortunately, Community First National Bank took steps to keep the nest tray in place, waiting for use.

In the spring of 2000, Fargo experienced what can only be characterized as an invasion of peregrines. Moreover, these falcons were clearly looking for a home of their own. At times, three or even four birds were simultaneously attempting to lay claim to the nest tray on the Community First National Bank building. It took a few weeks for this process to work itself out, but in the end we had Fargo's first true territorial pair of falcons. The male was a mature bird named Dakota Ace. He was hatched in captivity in 1997, and released as a fledgling in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The female was a juvenile, named Goldie, who had hatched the previous year in Omaha, Nebraska.

First year peregrines rarely breed or nest. However, they can establish territories and pair bonds that set the stage for subsequent nestings. That is exactly what happened in 2001. Both Dakota Ace and Goldie returned to the Community First National Bank building early that year. By late April eggs were being incubated, and those eggs began to hatch around the first of June. On June 22, the young were temporarily removed from the nest tray for banding. At the same time, the tray itself was replaced with a larger, covered structure.

The young birds, two females and a male, left the nest box in mid-July. Over the next month they became increasingly independent and self-sufficient, ultimately striking out on their own.

2002 was a disappointing year for Fargo's falcons. Goldie who had nested in 2001 failed to return. Presumably she did not survive the winter. Surprisingly, Dakota Ace seemed to have no difficulty finding a replacement. In succession, he paired with at least three different females. The last to arrive was a bird named Frieda, who had hatched a year earlier near Alma, Wisconsin. Frieda was first sighted at the nest box on June 4, 2002. She and Dakota Ace were together through the end of September, but no nesting occurred.

In 2003, Dakota Ace and Frieda returned to Fargo. By this point a different nest structure had been installed, complete with a web camera in one corner. Four young were raised, three males and one female.

At first, 2004 looked to be a repeat of 2003. Four eggs were laid and the web camera continued to broadcast these events to a large audience of viewers. Unfortunately, two of the eggs were blown out of the nest tray by freak winds. It is suspected that the open design of the structure contributed to this loss. The two remaining eggs hatched and the young, both males, successfully fledged.

In late 2004, the Community First system was acquired by Bank of the West. From the outset, the new owners were committed to sharing the falcons with the community by continuing to provide a home for Fargo’s peregrine falcons. In addition, improvements were made, both in the design of the nest structure and the quality of the camera which records nesting activities.

- Information provided by Wick Corwin