News Release

Webcam Follows Wild Peregrine Falcon Chicks on the Channel Islands

Date: April 30, 2018
Contact: Yonne Menard, 805-658-5725

A new webcam on Anacapa Island provides viewers an intimate look into a nest with a recently hatched peregrine falcon chick and two eggs expected to hatch in the next few days. 

The webcam is believed to be the first live camera viewing a peregrine falcon nest in a natural setting (not on a man-made structure). Viewers will be able to watch the chicks as they grow and are fed and cared for by the adult peregrine pair. 

The webcam is available thanks to the generous support of explore.org and the Institute for Wildlife Studies.
Peregrine falcon numbers plummeted across North America in the late 1940s due to DDT contamination, which impacted their ability to successfully hatch their eggs.

Historically, peregrine falcons were common residents, with an estimated 15 to 30 resident pairs on the eight California Channel Islands.

The last reported breeding pair occurred on Anacapa Island in 1949. They completely disappeared from the Channel Islands by 1955.  

Between 1983 and 1998, biologists with the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group released 37 peregrine falcons on the Channel Islands. 

Since then their recovery has been remarkable with over 50 resident pairs currently. In 2017, there were at least 49 chicks that fledged from nests found throughout all eight islands. 

Peregrine falcons are found in almost every habitat on Earth from the Arctic tundra, to the deserts, high mountains, and tropical rainforest. They are one of the most widely found bird species and the most widespread raptor.
 
They have a lifespan in the wild of about 12 to16 years and start breeding around two years of age. Diving for prey, they have been clocked at speeds reaching 242 miles per hour, making them the fastest ever recorded animal. 

To view a peregrine falcon webcam on Anacapa Island visit explore.org or peregrine-webcam