Webcam Offers Peek At Peregrine Falcons Nesting Above Downtown Phoenix

Published: Thursday, March 10, 2016 - 12:44pm
Updated: Monday, March 28, 2016 - 12:06pm
(Photo courtesy Arizona Game and Fish Department)
One of the peregrine falcons guards an egg in the nest on March 28, 2016.
(Photo courtesy Arizona Game and Fish Department)
A peregrine falcons in the Phoenix nesting box on March 10, 2016.

High above downtown Phoenix, peregrine falcons have been nesting for more than a decade — and now the public can get the best the view of them yet.

Arizona Game and Fish Department recently renovated the falcons' nesting box atop the Maricopa County Administration Building on Third Avenue and Jefferson Street. The agency also upgraded the video equipment and relaunched the livestream, which is now available on Game and Fish's website.

“This is a perfect example of wildlife being everywhere. We think people will be fascinated watching this pair of peregrine falcons and getting a glimpse into nesting, incubating eggs and rearing young, all in live time,” said Randy Babb, watchable wildlife program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

It hasn't always been easy to attract breeding pairs to the box, and only a few chicks have survived long enough to leave the nest. But since the site's renovation, "the peregrines have been spending more time at the nest box, indicating they intend to nest there again this year," the agency said.

But the department warns some images of wild-animal behavior may be disturbing:

"It is not uncommon for one or more of the young birds to die before reaching fledging age. It is the intention of the department not to interfere with these nesting birds. While you are viewing the camera, you may witness a variety of behaviors that may seem cruel, including predation on other wild birds and even the young of the nesting peregrines themselves. It is important to remember, wild animals are neither cruel nor kind, good nor bad, but merely animals that are the products of countless years of evolution.”

So while you're probably more likely to catch the birds preening and snoozing — not hunting prey — viewer discretion is advised.

The Peregrine Cam in Phoenix is the second livestream maintained by Game and Fish. A webcam featuring sandhill cranes in southern Arizona went online in January.

Watch The Peregrine Cam

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