MN DNR Falcon Cam: And Then There Were THREE! Update
THE FALCON CAM IS ON!
The DNR Falcon Cam is up and running, and since we don't have an eagle nest to focus on this year, I love to watch our falcons care for their young.
WE HAVE THREE HATCHED EGGS!
As of the April 2024 report, the first egg for the pair at this location this season was laid on Thursday, April 11th, and the second was laid on Saturday, April 13th.
As of this morning, a third eyass has hatched. It's a couple days behind the other two, so it is quite a bit smaller than the others. There is still one egg left to hatch in the nest, and if it's going to hatch, I'm expecting it to be in the next 24 hours.
ABOUT THE PARENTS
The Falcon parents are an 11-year-old female that has nested in this box since 2016, and this year she has a new partner, a 15-year-old male. He was banded as a chick in 2009 in Indiana and is a new partner for the female.
ABOUT THE BABIES
As of April 22nd, four eggs had been laid. Now with three of the four eggs hatched, we are watching and waiting to see if the 4th egg will be abandoned, or if the parents will patiently wait and see if it hatches.
If you'd like to watch the Falcon Cam, click HERE.
LOCATION
The location of the nest is Bremer Tower in St. Paul. Last year, the female's partner was a 3-year-old male; who didn't seem to help her out much. ( I watched this nest for a long time last year). The mother falcon waited for the male day after day, and I wondered if something happened to him.
HISTORY
The nesting box at the location was placed there in 1987 and was first used by a pair of falcons in 1988. Many falcons have chosen this spot to raise their young, as they have a great view of the Mississippi River, and since their diet is almost exclusively eating other birds, they've got a pretty good perching spot to watch for their prey. 65 baby chicks have hatched in that box through 2012. The current female has been in the box since 2016.
If you would like to learn about the Peregrine Falcon Project, click HERE.
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