Peregrine Falcon Chicks All Fledge Safely From Minnesota Nest Box

The Last Falcon Has Fledged the Falcon Cam nest. It happened when I wasn't watching, but it feels like we were just celebrating the first egg.

Now, just a few months later, the final peregrine falcon chick has officially taken flight, wrapping up another incredible season on the Minnesota DNR's Falcon Cam.

HISTORY WAS MADE THIS SEASON

It was an incredibly successful season for Acadia, our St. Cloud-born falcon and her beau. They made history with 5 eggs in the nest, and the three that hatched all survived and fledged. The five-egg clutch was the first ever recorded at this nest box since it was installed in 1987.

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According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, only about seven percent of peregrine falcon clutches in the Midwest contain five eggs, so it was amazing to see this happen.

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

The last of the three chicks finally fledged on July 19th, more than a week after its two siblings. I have to say, I had so much going on over the weekend that I forgot to watch! It's just a reminder: if you don't check every day, you may miss the big moments.

THE SEASON IN A WRAP

The first youngster left the nest on July 7th, followed by the second on July 9th. I was getting a little concerned about that last one surviving, but the parents continued to feed it and raise it until it was time to take flight.

It's my understanding that Acadia and her beau will still keep a close eye on their young, but soon, they'll be all on their own.

IT'S BITTERSWEET SAYING GOODBYE

If you've been checking in on the Falcon Cam as I have, you probably feel some relief that the season was so successful.

Now we wait. What will happen next year? Will Acadia return to the nest for another season? Will she stay with her current mate? Will she lay another clutch of five eggs? We'll have to wait and see.