Winter hit the United States hard, but spring is drawing nearer, and with it comes a beautiful cycle that includes the arrival of new birds along with their plans to start families. The people at Chesapeake Conservancy decided to share all the activity of the peregrine falcons over the Web, installing a webcam on the 33rd floor of the Transamerica Building in Baltimore.
Following one of these webcams is exciting and painful at the same time. More than once, nature plays a bad trick, and the bird we have followed for weeks becomes the lunch of another creature. On the other hand, the time to say goodbye also arrives. The chicks hatch, grow, gain strength, learn from their parents, catch their first prey, and finally leave the nest in search of more promising skies. Still, with each spring come new cameras, ready to create new stories. This time, we came across the Chesapeake Conservancy camera, dedicated to filming the peregrine falcons that live on the 33rd floor of the Transamerica Building in Baltimore. Winter held nothing back across the pond, but both cold and ice are beginning to give way to fabulous specimens.
A Conservation Success Story
The peregrine falcon represents one of the most forceful global recovery successes, after a drastic population reduction between 1950 and 1970. This bird can accumulate chemicals in its system with relative ease, a detail that, combined with the massive use of DDT in those years, turned the peregrine falcon into a vulnerable species. The peregrine falcon lives up to 17 years on average, its reproductive cycle produces 2-5 eggs per year, and the incubation period ranges from 29 to 35 days. Cliffs, skyscrapers, and tall constructions are its favorite places, and in the specific case of the Transamerica Building, they have been installed there during the last 35 years.
Watch the Live Feed
At the time of writing, it was five in the morning in Baltimore, and although the feed is active, we will have to wait a few more hours to observe the falcons. The presence of these birds in Baltimore is not only another expression of their astonishing recovery, but also a testament to the relatively friendly environment that city offers them. An excellent opportunity, and at the same time something different to watch on the Web, without any cost.
