PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department added a second wildlife live stream camera to its offerings this week. Now, anyone with a computer, smart phone or tablet can get a peek into the lives of a breeding pair of peregrine falcons living atop the Maricopa County Administration building in downtown Phoenix.
Peregrine falcons have been nesting in the downtown Phoenix area for more than a decade.
“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.
Maricopa County partnered with the department and is allowing biologists to monitor the birds and access the nest site when necessary.
This February, a nest box previously installed by the department was renovated and state-of-the-art streaming video and audio equipment was installed in anticipation of the falcons using the nest box again this season. Since the renovation, the birds have been spending more time at the nest box indicating they intend to nest there again this year. Peregrine falcons tend to use the same nest sites season after season for many years.
The department also launched a live feed of sandhill cranes earlier this year showing the birds wintering in southern Arizona.
“It’s a priority for the department to connect and engage the public with their wildlife. Live feed wildlife cameras are just one tool for doing that,” Babb continued. “If you check the camera and the birds aren’t present, keep checking. If they lay eggs, viewing will be more consistent and predictable.”
Both the peregrine and sandhill crane live streams can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/livecams.
Peregrine falcons are one of the world’s most widespread raptors and are found on nearly every continent. The species nearly went extinct in North American from pesticide poisoning, but thanks to recovery efforts, the species was removed from the U.S.’s Endangered Species Act in 1999. This falcon feeds almost exclusively on medium-sized birds such as pigeons and doves, which are plentiful in urban areas.