Chesapeake Conservancy Peregrine Falcon Webcam

In March, the Chesapeake Conservancy announced the launch of its latest wildlife webcam featuring downtown Baltimore’s famous peregrine falcons. Located on the 33rd-floor ledge of the Transamerica skyscraper at 100 Light Street in downtown Baltimore, the live stream will bring viewers up close and personal with these long-term Baltimore City residents that have been living near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for more than 35 years.

The pubic may view the peregrine falcon webcam at http://www.chesapeakeconservancy.org/peregrine-falcon-webcam. The Chesapeake Conservancy’s osprey cam will also be available soon. The ospreys’ nesting platform was damaged during a recent winter storm and is being repaired.

Found on every continent except Antarctica, peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) are one of the best-known conservation success stories and are believed to be the fastest bird in the world, traveling up to 200 mph during hunts. These amazing birds have recovered from near eradication in eastern North America, now making many large cities and coastal areas their homes.

After a drastic population decline from 1950-1970 due to pesticide poisoning, peregrine populations have rebounded due to a large-scale captive breeding and release program. As part of this effort, Scarlett, the building’s first falcon, was released by the Peregrine Fund at the Edgewood Arsenal area on the Chesapeake Bay in 1977.

Her first successful mating in 1984 with a wild peregrine, later named Beauregard, produced the first natural-born peregrines bred in an urban environment on the East Coast in three decades. Now, peregrine falcons are pervasive throughout the U.S., nesting on skyscrapers, water towers, cliffs, and more.

Maryland’s restored peregrines have preferred man-made structures, like the 100 Light Street skyscraper, to make their nest in the region. Structures like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Francis Scott Key Bridge, and Route 301 Potomac River Bridge have been known to have nesting peregrines as well.

Because peregrines prey on other birds, they are particularly susceptible to changes in the health of the surrounding environment. There is potential for a tremendous amount of bioaccumulation of chemicals in their bodies, threatening the health and productivity of any future offspring. To make sure this charismatic bird continues to thrive, we are working to ensure that river corridors remain protected and that the Chesapeake Bay can support abundant fish and smaller bird populations.

In addition to the peregrine falcon cam, the Chesapeake Conservancy also works closely with the City of Baltimore on the Greater Baltimore Wilderness Initiative, spearheaded by the Chesapeake Bay Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Greater Baltimore Wilderness Initiative works to create a resilient network of parks and open spaces in Maryland and D.C.’s urban areas.

source: Chesapeake Conservancy