PA Peregrine Falcon Cam
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Camera Information
PENNSYLVANIA PEREGRINE FALCON LIVE CAMERA
Brought to you by the PA Department of Environmental Protection • Powered by HDOnTap
About the Falcon Cam
The peregrine falcon has made its home year after year on the 15th floor of the Rachel Carson State office building in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. There are 4 webcams, including infrared for nighttime viewing, streaming full-time to give the world a glimpse into the life of this magnificent creature!
The first male peregrine falcon was seen in Harrisburg, PA in 1996. Officials from the Pennsylvania Game Commission scouted downtown locations for a suitable site to place a nest tray to see if it would attract a pair of peregrine falcons. The Rachel Carson State Office building was selected since it had a covered ledge 15 stories above the ground. A nest tray was placed on the ledge, and the following spring, the male returned with a female peregrine. For more information about the history visit the PA Department of Environmental Protection website.
A peregrine's diet consists of songbirds and other migratory birds. Living in an urban environment, the resident falcons tend to feed on pigeons, blue jays, woodpeckers and other small birds.
Peregrine falcons are strong fliers and reportedly the fastest bird in the world. Their average cruising flight speed is 24 to 33 mph, increasing to 67 mph when in pursuit of prey. When stooping, or dropping on prey with closed wings, it has been calculated that this falcon can achieve speeds of over 200 mph. That's approximately 50 mph faster than the top speed of the Golden Eagle.
Mortality is very high in the first year of life -- between 60 and 80 percent. Those few peregrines that survive to old age may reach 12 to 15 years. Most peregrines become sexually mature at two or three years of age.
Like some other raptors, the female is larger than the male, but their markings and colors are very similar.
History
2022 Season
Season Summary: TBD
- March 3, 2022 - Both adults from previous season, 48/AE (female) and 85/AK (male) have been sighted on the ledge, normal behaviors prior to mating have taken place.
- March 7, 2022 - First Egg Laid!
- March 9, 2022 - Second Egg Laid
- March 11, 2022 - Third Egg Laid
- March 14, 2022 - Fourth Egg Laid
- March 15, 2022 - Fifth Egg Laid!
2021 Season
Season Summary: Four Eggs Laid, Four Eggs Hatch, Two Successful Fledges
- February 10, 2021 - Two falcons were seen in a territorial dispute on the ledge
- February 24, 2021 - W/V the 18 year old resident male falcon seen on the ledge
- March 12, 2021 - Multiple fights witnessed between two males
- March 16, 2021 - First Egg of the Season
- March 17, 2021 - Confirmed that W/V the long time male Falcon of this nest flew into the side of a building and passed away, likely in mid-air a territorial dispute.
- March 18, 2021 - Second Egg Laid
- March 21, 2021 - Third Egg Laid
- March 24, 2021 - Fourth Egg Laid
- April 23, 2021 - First Pip
- April 24, 2021 - First Hatch & Second Hatch shortly after
- April 26, 2021 - Third Hatch
- April 27, 2021 - Four Hatches
- May 1, 2021 - Fourth Hatch does not survive
- May 18, 2021 - Three Juvenille Falcons are examined, in good health and banded.
- June 2, 2021 - Yellow is first to fledge and Green Fledges later that day. Green lands on sidewalk, was released on roof of Rachel Carson State Office Buildling
- June 4, 2021 - Red attempts to return to ledge from around the column to the short ledge, he is seriously injured and taken to rehabilitator, but Red did not survive. The falcon was taken to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in compliance with state and federal regulations.
2020 Season
Season Summary: TBD!
- March 12, 2020 - First Egg Laid
- March 14, 2020 - Second Egg Laid
- March 17, 2020 - Third Egg Laid
- March 20, 2020 - Fourth Egg Laid
- April 19, 2020 - First Hatch
- April 20, 2020 - Second Hatch
- April 23, 2020 - Third Hatch
2019 Season
Season Summary:
4 eggs laid, 4 hatches, 4 fledges
- March 18, 2019 - First egg laid @ 7:28pm Eastern
- March 20, 2019 - Second egg laid
- March 23, 2019 - Third egg laid
- March 25, 2019 - Fourth egg laid
- April 25, 2019 - First Hatch
- April 25-26, 2019 - Second Hatch
- April 26, 2019 - Third Hatch
- April 28, 2019 - Fourth Hatch
- June, 4, 2019 - First Fledge "Yellow"
- June 5, 2019 - Second Fledge "White"
- June 6, 2019 - Third Fledge "Blue"
- June 7, 2019 - Fourth Fledge "Red"
2018 Season
Season Summary: 4 eggs laid, 4 hatches, 4 fledges
- March 13, 2018 - First egg laid
- March 16, 2018 - Second egg laid
- March 18, 2018 - Third egg laid
- March 20, 2018 - Fourth egg laid
- April 19, 2018 - First and second hatch
- April 21, 2018 - Third hatch
- April 22, 2018 - Fourth hatch
- May 14, 2018 - Eyasses banded by the PA DEP and the PA Game Commission
- May 28, 2018 - First fledge by yellow-banded falcon (watch clip)
2017 Season
Season Summary:
Clutch of four eggs, three hatches, two fledges and one intervention
- March 8, 2017 - First egg laid
- March 10, 2017 - Second egg laid
- March 12, 2017 - Third egg laid
- March 15, 2017 - Fourth egg laid
- April 16, 2017 - First hatch
- April 18, 2017 - Second and third hatch
- May 10, 2017 - Banding by the PGC
The cameras were temporarily shut off while the Pennsylvania Game Commission banded the nestlings, during which time it was also determined that the eyasses numbered two males (blue- and red- banded) and one female (white-banded). - May 25, 2017 - First fledge
"Blue" took an accidental first flight, landing on the roof of a nearby building. On May 26, 2017, the Environmental Education Center staff and interns recovered "Blue" and placed him on the nest ledge. - May 26, 2017 - Second fledge
"Red" took his first flight, successfully landing on the nearby Harrisburg University Building and other nearby buildings. - May 27, 2017 - Third fledge & Blue's accident
"White" took her first flight. "Blue" collided with nearby buildings. The young male landed in the street and was subsequently rescued by the falcon watch and rescue volunteers. The volunteers transported "blue" to a nearby wildlife rehabilitator, where it recovered from a concussion. - June 13, 2017 and beyond- "Blue" released and subsequent injuries
"Blue" was returned and released onto the building's roof. After a possible collision with a nearby building, the young falcon became grounded and was rescued and moved to the Red Creed Wildlife Center. It was determined on June 22, 2017, via X-ray that the bird's liver was underdeveloped and may be the root cause of the overall development delays. It was announced on September 8, 2017, that "Blue" will never fully develop and cannot be released into the wild.
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