Who We Are - Michigan Falcon Project
Founded in 2026
The Michigan Falcon Project was founded in 2026 in direct response to the Michigan DNR's decision to discontinue its Peregrine Falcon nest monitoring and banding program. What began as a gap in state-funded conservation quickly became an opportunity — to build a dedicated, volunteer-driven organization committed to ensuring Michigan's recovering Peregrine population continues to receive the monitoring, research, and support it needs. We are falconers, wildlife professionals, citizen scientists, and passionate bird enthusiasts united by a shared belief that the Peregrine Falcon's recovery in Michigan is worth protecting.
The Michigan Falcon Project is currently seeking 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Danielle Durham | Founder
Danielle is the founder of the Michigan Falcon Project and has actively participated in the study, monitoring, and conservation of Peregrine Falcons in Michigan. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management and served as the Southeast Michigan Peregrine Falcon Nest Coordinator for the Michigan DNR from 2019 through 2024, overseeing nest monitoring, eyas banding coordination, and data reporting for the region. When the DNR discontinued the program, Danielle continued the work independently through the 2025 season, driven by a passion for the species and a commitment to keeping Michigan's monitoring efforts alive. A master falconer with a deep and lifelong passion for birds, Danielle brings a rare combination of formal training, field experience, and hands-on raptor expertise to everything she does. She currently serves as an Assistant Naturalist at the Stage Nature Center in Troy, Michigan, where she continues to connect people with the natural world every day.
Kim Harvey | Secretary
Kim Harvey is a founding member of the Michigan Falcon Project and serves as Secretary. A retired General Motors engineer, Kim has been the site contact for the GM Technical Center nest for years, building relationships and keeping a watchful eye on one of Southeast Michigan's most productive nest sites. She runs a dedicated website documenting the nest's activity and history, and coordinates an annual fledge watch party that has become a beloved tradition for falcon enthusiasts across the region. Kim's long-standing dedication to this nest is a perfect example of the kind of passionate, boots-on-the-ground commitment that makes Peregrine monitoring possible.