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The Richmond Falcon Cam is Back and Better Than Ever
Richmond, VA — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is pleased to announce that the popular Richmond Falcon Cam is now live for the 2024 season at virginiawildlife.gov/falcon-cam. Falcon Cam, a live-streaming camera, follows a peregrine falcon pair as they nest in downtown Richmond, Virginia, atop the 21st floor of the Riverfront Plaza building.
This year, the Falcon Cam received a major upgrade with the installation of a 4K camera. Ultra-high- definition video, and a suite of other enhancements, will greatly improve the quality of the stream. Added infrared technology will provide a clear look inside the nest box at night, and the improved reach offers greater zooming capabilities on some of the birds’ frequent perching locations. Finally, a new microphone will build on the acoustic enhancement of the past two falcon seasons. “We’re incredibly excited about this new technology, especially the infrared capability,” said Meagan Thomas, DWR watchable wildlife biologist. “I expect our falcon fans are going to be delighted by the sharper picture and the ability to see into the nest box at night.”
Viewers shouldn’t have to wait long to catch a glimpse of the falcon pair. Biologists have observed the same birds that have nested and raised chicks at this site since 2021 on an almost daily basis throughout the past month. “Last year we had our first egg laid during the overnight hours of March 19, and my suspicion is that this year’s first egg will be laid sometime during the third week of March,” said Thomas. Until then, viewers can expect to see the falcons maintaining their gravel nest, known as a “scrape,” and continuing to engage in courtship behaviors such as sharing prey items and repeatedly bowing to one another.
This year marks the seventh year that DWR has partnered with Comcast Business, which provides the internet connection for the camera. This continued support from Comcast Business has been instrumental in facilitating the livestream that allows hundreds of thousands of wildlife lovers to follow the falcons each year.
“Connecting people to what they love is at the heart of our mission, and we know how much wildlife fans across the region enjoy the Richmond Falcon Cam,” said Dan Carr, Vice President, Comcast Business Beltway Region. “We are proud to partner with DWR for another exciting year. With a suite of new technology enhancements being implemented, we look forward to continuing to provide fast, reliable internet service so viewers can track the falcons in real time.”
Peregrine falcons are listed as state-threatened in Virginia with more than 30 pairs, including the Richmond birds, nesting across the Commonwealth each spring. The camera gives viewers the opportunity to follow along with the pair as they nest and raise their offspring. And, like any TV nature show, past years have documented quite a bit of drama—territorial disputes, chicks taking their first nail-biting flights, and even the failure of the nest. It is impossible to predict exactly what 2024 has in store for the birds, but there is no doubt that falcon fans across the country will be rooting for their success.
If the birds nest successfully, the Falcon Cam will remain active through egg laying, incubation, hatching, and development, following the growth of the chicks until they fledge (take their first flight) in the summer.
